2022 Lariat PowerBoost: Tow Tech (17T) vs Trailer Tow (53A)

[jj4567]

There are numerous posts already on this forum - all helpful - regarding the collective effort to scrutinize the difference between the 2021 F-150's Tow Technology package (17T) and the 2021 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A) on trim levels that already include the 7-wire harness and the Class IV hitch receiver.

Quick Reminder:
- 2020 Trailer Towing Selector, page 6, lists various items in the 2020 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A) that are not included in the base F-150 (e.g. engine oil cooler, a radiator upgrade, upgraded front stabilizer bar).
- 2021 RV & Trailer Tow Guide has an updated chart, as does the 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide. The previous equipment additions/upgrades on the 2020 F-150's are no longer listed for the 2021/2022 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A). On the surface, 17T and 53A appear to be the same thing for the 2021 F-150.
- 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide, page 22, states that a PowerBoost F-150 should "not exceed a trailer weight of 7K-lbs with only the Class IV hitch (53B), without the Trailer Tow Package (53A)."
- What's different between 17T and 53A? The F150gen14 jury appears to have concluded it simply boils down to a 36mm solid front stabilizer bar in place of a 36mm hollow front stabilizer bar (per 2021 F-150 eSourceBook). Apparently that increases your max tow capacity from 7k-lbs to 11k-lbs (4WD SCrew) per Ford.

2021 Price Comparison, Lariat Powerboost:
- Tow Technology package (17T): $880 addition; includes 360 Camera package for free (763).
- Trailer Tow package (53A): $1090 addition.
- 360 Camera package (763): $765 addition; 360 cameras are required for Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 (43B).
--> Lariat PB w/ Co-Pilot Assist: Extra 4k-lbs of towing will cost $975 extra (17T/43B vs 53A/43B).

Reason for this post . . . to make us all feel worse in 2022 .

Per Ford's 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide, the 2022 F-150's Tow Technology package (17) now also includes the Onboard Scales (55S) for free; that's another $650 value added. So to recap: a 53A/43B/55S will now cost you $1625 more than a 17T/43B/55S equipped 4WD SCrew Lariat PowerBoost. That's one expensive 36mm solid front stabilizer.

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[Jeff1024]

I honestly don't understand why Ford has to make this so difficult. I guess it's a double edge sword. I love that you can option the truck so many different ways, but a side affect of that is that is some overlap between packages.

I don't feel quite as bad I ordered a 701a truck with a 3.5 Ecoboost with MaxTow. I chose MaxTow because I tow close to 7k so that required a tow package. I was going to get the 3:55 and bigger fuel tank anyway so I figured MaxTow was a bit cheaper. I also ordered the onboard scales as a stand alone option.

701a includes tow tech so had the scales also been part of that package it would have made it much more difficult to just throw caution to the wind - not option a tow package at all and just bump up against that 7k limit.

What would make this all a bit easier to stomach is if Ford would do a better job of crediting upgrade packages based on the standard features of the truck. For example if I drop TowTech on a 701a truck that includes it standard the MaxTow price should drop substantially. Difficult to do I am sure but would sure be nice.

 

[Platimatter]

There are a few posts clarifying that for the 21’s the stabilizer bars on certain levels of 21’s are the same regardless of tow package which only adds to the confusion

 

[Platimatter]

3.5, 5.0, Diesel and PB get solid bars

 

[dmac]

On my truck (Powerboost tow tech) I have not found 1 part I dont have that a Trailer Tow package truck has - same leaf springs, sway bar, transmission, radiator, brakes, parking brake, ect.

Basically nothing that will make my truck tow worse than a trailer tow truck in the 6 to 9k range.

Honestly though, if you are looking at towing much greater than 7k routinely, a super duty, or a 5.0/3.5 with more payload and Max tow may be a better fit.

 

[jj4567]

3.5, 5.0, Diesel and PB get solid bars

Any documentation showing this?

 

[jj4567]

On my truck (Powerboost tow tech) I have not found 1 part I dont have that a Trailer Tow package truck has - same leaf springs, sway bar, transmission, radiator, brakes, parking brake, ect.

Basically nothing that will make my truck tow worse than a trailer tow truck in the 6 to 9k range.

Honestly though, if you are looking at towing much greater than 7k routinely, a super duty, or a 5.0/3.5 with more payload and Max tow may be a better fit.

Trailer weight loaded will almost always be in the 6-7k lbs range. I just want the cushion/assurance.

 

[dmac]

Trailer weight loaded will almost always be in the 6-7k lbs range. I just want the cushion/assurance.

https://www.google.com/url?q=https:...UQFnoECAoQAg&usg=AOvVaw04GJd6SuXlTajaBpgdD83Z

That's an older version of the document - a newer one shows that all PB models have the solid sta-bar somewhere on this forum. Multiple people have confirmed that including me - see this https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...tow-vs-max-tow-updated-doc-v4.1188/post-33292

That doc also shows that the powerboost has the same cooling and brakes as trailer tow trucks, which imo is the most important part with GVWR.

 

[dmac]

I also updated my post here - https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...tow-vs-max-tow-updated-doc-v4.1188/post-67394


I think that Ford just had to include everything beefy standard in powerboost since it needs a heavier frame to support battery and motor begin with. They left the packaging there just to "streamline" their model offering choices and trick people into giving a few more $$. Super confusing on their end. For eg my Powerboost is a $5 switch install, $40 of extra skid plates and a sticker away from FX4, which costs $1k.

I would say that if you are under going to be towing what you say you are, PB tow tech trucks already have max cooling (not true with EB trucks), same brakes, and same suspension as trailer tow trucks, so I would feel just as comfortable based on that.

The biggest issue though is the trailer brake controller issues people have been having on this forum. Very scary. Hopefully a fix is coming.

 

[Platimatter]

Any documentation showing this?

See page 9 of this thread:
Towing Specs Consolidated Document - Bumper vs. Class IV vs. Tow vs. Max Tow - UPDATED DOC v4

 

[elsinore]

Thanks for the update. I just ordered a PB with standard tow package. Will the standard tow come with onboard scale's considering the tow tech has that included now? That was an option I was thinking of adding but didn't.

 

[jj4567]

Not per the most recent Order Guide.

 

[elsinore]

wow. so you get the scale with tow tech but not the tow package? That seems weird.

Thanks again

 

[jj4567]

Agreed.

Per 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide:
-Tow tech (17T): Includes 360 cameras & scales for free, but limited tow weight (7K-lbs on PowerBoost).
- Trailer Tow (53A)ull more (up 11k-lbs on PowerBoost).
*No one has yet identified what parts - if any - are different on PB build between the two.

 

[bward02]

Agreed.

Per 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide:
-Tow tech (17T): Includes 360 cameras & scales for free, but limited tow weight (7K-lbs on PowerBoost).
- Trailer Tow (53A)ull more (up 11k-lbs on PowerBoost).
*No one has yet identified what parts - if any - are different on PB build between the two.

Has anyone confirmed yet that the 22’s tow tech actually have the scales for free . Or was this a typo ? I looked at my window sticker and it doesn’t show the tow scales but I did get the tow tech package ?

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