F150 vs F350?

[EddieK82]

Why would you need an F250 or F350 if the F150 can tow just as much? I don't get it. Can someone please explain to me why and how that is possible? I truly am curious.

[jkwilson]

Because an F150 can’t come anywhere close to towing what the heavier trucks can.

[EddieK82]

The new 2020 F150 can now tow up to 13K pounds I believe.

[Ynot4me2]

Payload

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[Ynot4me2]

13k is only on a very specific f150. My last f150 was rated for 11k and I once pulled an excavator and trailer totalling 10k. Never again. Going up hill was a challenge, going downhill was scary white knuckle. Pulling is one thing, stopping and safely handling is another.

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[bertschb]

Why would you need an F250 or F350 if the F150 can tow just as much? I don't get it. Can someone please explain to me why and how that is possible? I truly am curious.

Towing RV's is all about the PAYLOAD ratings, not "towing". All well equipped modern trucks have enough power to pull very large and heavy loads. The problem with the F-150 and diesel F-250 is they don't have enough payload capacity to tow heavier RV's and stay within the truck's payload rating.

The payload rating of a typical F-150 is around 1,500lbs. A diesel F-250 is around 2,500lbs. A diesel F-350 (SRW) is around 3,700lbs. Very rough numbers but you get the idea.

The F-150 (properly equipped) is great for towing small to medium sized trailers.

[Richter]

There is a difference between the ability to “tug” (tow) something down the road and the ability to “carry” a large portion of that weight with the truck (otherwise known as payload capacity).

Imagine if you had a load of lumber that was just about balanced over a couple of axles that were near the center of the load. You could probably move the load without too much difficulty.

Now, imagine if the axles were moved back, away from the front of the load, and much more weight were on the front. You might not be able to lift the load and, if you could, you might not be able to support it for the long haul.

The first example describes towing capacity, the second is an example of payload. They are much different.

A lighter truck might be able to pull something down the road, with most of the load balanced on the trailer wheels, but unable to “lift and carry” it if more of that weight is on the nose. The tongue weight on a travel trailer is usually about 12-15%. However, the pin weight (what the truck has to support/lift) on a fifth-wheel is usually about 25% of the total trailer weight. It can be as high as 30% or higher with some of the toy haulers, if the rear of the trailer is empty.

So, for a fifth wheel that weighs 12,000#, the pin weight, which the truck will need to be able to support (payload capacity) could be around 3,000# or more. The tongue weight on a travel trailer with the same weight might only be 1200-1800#.

If you are towing a travel trailer, you can often get by with a lighter truck. A fifth-wheel needs something with more payload capacity.

[Walaby]

A Toyota Tundra can "pull" a Space Shuttle too, but.....

Mike

[LMychajluk]

Generally, it's more of a question of hitch weight. Besides weight limits on the hitches themselves, each truck has a max cargo weight - how much it can 'carry'. The weight that is exerted by the trailer on the coupling point (either the bumper hitch or the 5th wheel hitch in the bed) counts as 'cargo'. The cargo rating is a function of the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, minus all the factory-installed options. The trailer's hitch weight, plus everything and anyone else in the truck, shouldn't exceed the cargo rating of the truck. The F150, depending on configuration, may have a cargo rating of up to around 3000# for a single-cab 2wd, but probably more like around 1300-1800# for most privately owned models you see on the road. An SRW F350 may have a cargo capacity of 3000# to a bit over 4000#, depending on factory options, and a DRW F350/F450 may have a cargo capacity of over 6000# because the weight can be carried on a heavier rear axles and more wheels/tires. Those cargo capacities are what give the F350 on up the ability to tow 20000# trailers on the 5th wheel or gooseneck (well over 30000# in the case of some DRW configs).

The hitch is also a limiting factor, seperate from cargo capacity. The F150 also has a 1100# limit on the 2" receiver hitch itself, and I think the 2.5 Class IV on the F350 is 2250# (IIRC).

Your trailer has a hitch weight rating of 690#. Let's assume an F150 Lariat has a cargo capacity of 1500#. That leaves 810# for you, anything in the bed, and additional passengers and stuff in the truck. A larger travel trailer that is closer to 10000# will put close to the 1100# hitch limit on the F150 while leaving only 400# for other stuff in the truck. A 13200# travel trailer will overload the hitch on the F150 and will leave almost no cargo capacity. Now, because of the weight distribution of the trailer, if you were towing a boat, you may be able to pull a heavier boat than 10000# because there's less tongue weight on the hitch with that style trailer, so you may be able to pull a 13000# boat and still be within all the specs. But, in any case, the Super Duties have much more capacity and wiggle room when it comes to cargo capacity and weight on the hitch.

You may want to peruse the tables in the Ford Tow Guide to get a better idea of the different capacities.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/content/d...owingGuide.pdf

[huntindog]

The new 2020 F150 can now tow up to 13K pounds I believe.

My 2020 Silverado 3500 can tow well over 30K, IIRCC it is 32K +