[SilverFX4EB2012]

Heres a pic of the door tags. I believe it is just heavy duty. Can it be changed to max tow?

 

[mass-hole]

In all honesty, I am not that well versed in towing. With that being said, I am trying to educate myself as much as possible in the art of towing, learning the weight ratings, tongue weight, etc as well as trying to decide whether to go with a bumper pull or 5th wheel. I do not want to overload the truck by any means, and i dont want to bite off more than I can chew. I will be traveling all over the country, for either my or my girfriends jobs. I believe, after looking at the hitch, it is just the heavy duty and not the max tow package. I saw the chart last night farther up in the thread and I can say that my truck has all the equipment stated in the 535 column. My question is this: if i were to simply add the trailer brake controller and swap the hitches, would that give me the max tow package? Im not sure what the difference is in the bumpers, or if that really matters to the tow value itself...

Well thats exactly it, a max tow truck is never really going to be able to tow 11,000 lbs+ without exceeding payload or max tongue weight or something unless you have an odd trailer that has a light tongue. Reality is that it wont tow a lot more than a non-max tow truck once all these things get factored in.

Where the non-max tow truck is really gunna suffer is in the payload department. You hook up a trailer with an 1100 lb tongue weight and you will have very little payload left before you exceed GVWR.

Heres a pic of the door tags. I believe it is just heavy duty. Can it be changed to max tow?

View attachment 90161 View attachment 90169

No it cannot be changed. You could add the components from the max-tow(better radiators/trans cooler/gears/hitch/etc) to help the truck tow better, but it wont ever increase your payload capacity or towing capacity as those are determined at the factrory.

 

[SilverFX4EB2012]

Based on what I am reading, I think ill look more into 5th wheels. From what I am seeing, i think it would be a better fit pulling wise, and from what ive read, a lot more stable. Has anyone here installed the OEM trailer brake controller?

 

[RMINC]

Based on what I am reading, I think ill look more into 5th wheels. From what I am seeing, i think it would be a better fit pulling wise, and from what ive read, a lot more stable. Has anyone here installed the OEM trailer brake controller?

It's pretty easy. The hook up is pre wired under the dash. Just have to have the dealer install the program to run it. Seen prices between 75 to 150 for that service.

 

[mass-hole]

Based on what I am reading, I think ill look more into 5th wheels. From what I am seeing, i think it would be a better fit pulling wise, and from what ive read, a lot more stable. Has anyone here installed the OEM trailer brake controller?

It would have to be a VERY light 5th wheel to not exceed your 12xx lb payload. I dont know if you could even find one.

 

[Mitchf150]

But, most 5th wheels have 20-25% PIN WEIGHT, so with only #1270 payload before there is any actual body in the truck, you'll have to settle for a pretty small 5th wheel if your goal is to not exceed your trucks weight ratings...

Once I have my truck loaded up with stuff in the bed and my #230 ass in the truck, plus the wifes, which is an undisclosed amount I only have about #400 of rear GAWR left and about #600 of GVWR on my truck... The tongue weight on my #5000 fully loaded trailer is around #650.. So, I'm FAR from the trucks "tow rating", yet I'm not far from exceeding it.. I figure I could go to around a #7500 fully loaded trailer and be right around the max ratings of my truck..

I have to pay for #8000 GVWR tags on my truck to register it in WA state.. So, as far as my trucks GVWR, I can go to #8000 because that's what I'm actually registered for.. But, I'd exceed my rear axle ratings long before that, since I'm already only #400 under it as it is..

Anyway, good luck with it.. You are just going to have to decide what weight ratings you are going to go with and you will need to get some actual weights to determine that, since noting weighs what the brochures say they weigh..

Mitch

 

[Mitchf150]

Nice rig, you have 245 lbs of payload on mine. Every little bit helps!

I'm up in Burien, btw. I'll keep my eyes open for your truck when I head down towards South Hill

Hey devin.. Yes, I'm in the South Hill area, but try to avoid Meridian at all costs! My truck is that really dark green, so not too many of those around! Thanks! Mitch

 

[JD Moore]

Ha, I knew I had these photo's saved somewhere. The difference in tow vs. max-tow hitch. You can see the difference in weight rating and reinforcement behind the receiver sleeve and next to the frame mounts.

Awesome! Thanks for the pics!

 

[JD Moore]

Looked at an FX4 today with the luxury package but the GVWR was 7200lbs with 3:55s. Loved the truck but I'm going to hold out for a Max Tow. Had a '13 Limited out for a test drive a few weeks ago and loved it as well but the tow rating sucks! It had 3:73s but only a 7300lbs rating. Anyone know why the Limited is so "limited"?

 

[ecoboosteagle]

My truck is a 2012 max tow 3.73 156 wb, lariat. 7700 lbs gvwr. But notice on these pics of similar trucks that my front axle gvwr is 3900 lbs not 3750. Rear is the same at 4050. 18" tires. Why the difference?


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[madmaxmutt]

Looked at an FX4 today with the luxury package but the GVWR was 7200lbs with 3:55s. Loved the truck but I'm going to hold out for a Max Tow. Had a '13 Limited out for a test drive a few weeks ago and loved it as well but the tow rating sucks! It had 3:73s but only a 7300lbs rating. Anyone know why the Limited is so "limited"?

The 22" wheels were not weight rated, at least in the spec book. The short tire sidewall probably doesn't help either. Limited pretty much has the softest of everything and the heaviest of everything. It is still a great truck, but they were made as luxury trucks instead of work trucks.

 

[Mitchf150]

My truck is a 2012 max tow 3.73 156 wb, lariat. 7700 lbs gvwr. But notice on these pics of similar trucks that my front axle gvwr is 3900 lbs not 3750. Rear is the same at 4050. 18" tires. Why the difference?


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Could be a "snow plow package" option?

Mitch

 

[PGT_cruzer]

Looked at an FX4 today with the luxury package but the GVWR was 7200lbs with 3:55s. Loved the truck but I'm going to hold out for a Max Tow. Had a '13 Limited out for a test drive a few weeks ago and loved it as well but the tow rating sucks! It had 3:73s but only a 7300lbs rating. Anyone know why the Limited is so "limited"?

Every option adds weight, and a limited has almost all of them. power running boards, slider, sun roof, heated seats, subwoofer=extra weight means less payload.

 

[MMCdude]

Silver, it's all about the GVWR sticker.. If it ain't #7700, it ain't "Max Tow"...

My #8200 is "Max Tow"...

 

[defiant1]

Speaking solely of Max Tow vs 535 (not including HD Payload equipped trucks) . . . For these years, the difference could be just a few items or a lot of items. There are a lot of variables, but technically, the truck had to have 3.73 rear end in order to select Max Tow, so yes all Max Tow trucks had to have 3.73s. As you can see by the chart Max Tow (far right) and 535 (center) are different. However, many 535 equipped trucks include several of the unchecked items. Max tow would have a 4050 rear suspension no matter what. 535 would only have that if it came with 20" wheels.
View attachment 89937

You can lookup your truck by VIN on etis. It will not only tell you if you have the supercooling radiator, aux trans cooler, trailer brake and/or 7 pin connector, but will also state Max Tow or 535 in the following form. Max Tow would be listed as "load leveling" towing. 535 would be listed as "heavy duty" towing.

http://www.f150ecoboost.net/forum/6.../forum/6-f150-ecoboost-chat/4746-your-ford-vehicle-information-lookup-site.html

Ok, could I get some clarification? I have a '13 F150 FX4 6.5 bed SCREW with 3.73 gears. It has the trailer brake controller and transmission auxiliary cooler. When I look up the truck's VIN info via the ETIS website, it also say it has the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package. The GVWR sticker on the door says 7350. But the Ford technical data indicates that if you have the Heavy Duty towing package the GVWR becomes 8200.
Thoughts?

 

[PGT_cruzer]

Don't forget there was three tow versions offered by Ford. Tow, Max-tow, and HD. The HD's were produced in fewer numbers and were focused toward 5th or in bed campers featuring a stronger rear spring and 7 lug wheels.

 

[madmaxmutt]

Ok, could I get some clarification? I have a '13 F150 FX4 6.5 bed SCREW with 3.73 gears. It has the trailer brake controller and transmission auxiliary cooler. When I look up the truck's VIN info via the ETIS website, it also say it has the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package. The GVWR sticker on the door says 7350. But the Ford technical data indicates that if you have the Heavy Duty towing package the GVWR becomes 8200.
Thoughts?

You are confusing Heavy Duty Towing (AKA 535) package with HD Payload Package. HD Payload would be 8200 GVWR.

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[PGT_cruzer]

You are confusing Heavy Duty Towing (AKA 535) package with HD Payload Package. HD Payload would be 8200 GVWR.

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Just for my own knowledge. Weren't the HD payloads only available in lower level models and non SCREW cabs? When I was shopping I only found ones that were XLT's with regular or extended cabs.

 

[defiant1]

You are confusing Heavy Duty Towing (AKA 535) package with HD Payload Package. HD Payload would be 8200 GVWR.

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That does make more sense. Thank you for clearing that up.

d1

 

[madmaxmutt]

Just for my own knowledge. Weren't the HD payloads only available in lower level models and non SCREW cabs? When I was shopping I only found ones that were XLT's with regular or extended cabs.

I wouldn't rule anything out with special orders, but the online configuratormabob would not let you select Lariat and HD at the same time.