2024 FORD RV & TRAILER TOWING GUIDE

[wyoming]

My buddy just picked up a ‘23 PB, and as we were looking through towing guides for 23 vs. 24, I noticed there is a decent reduction in towing capacity for the ‘24 PB (both conventional and 5th wheel), but no change in GCWR. The math isn’t making sense to me here.

Anybody have any insight as to why? Is this related to the new “Max-tow axle” referenced in the order guide?

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[AndreB]

I never had any problems with stones/rocks. The stainless rock guards on the front corners of the Airstream do their jobs very well. I think I may have 1 ding in one side of them but that is after several thousand miles of being dragged all over this country. I keep them polished with wax though but they are a good quality stainless and I have never seen any hint of rust as seen from lower quality stainless.


This reply will take much longer but I'm glad someone mentioned it because life is too short to not be well informed. I'll start with the numbers with math (this will be boring to most). Then, I'll add the various pics to support the math and prove that a F150 is more than capable of towing a 25' travel trailer. But first, the F150 is NOT a half-ton truck. When it has a payload capacity of 1500 lbs., it is a 3/4 truck. My truck in this example, has a payload capacity of 1820 lbs. This is more than a 3/4 ton truck but less than a 1-ton...think of it like a "heavy 3/4 ton".

Payload capacity of my 2021 F150: 1820 lbs.
Front Axle GAWR: 3525 lbs.
Rear Axle GAWR: 3800 lbs.
Total Towing Capacity (5.0 with 3.31 gears): 9400 lbs.
Maximum GCWR for my engine/gearing combination: 14,800 lbs.

36 gallons of fuel (7 lbs./gallon): *252 lbs.
Me and my GF even after I have eaten a tub of ice cream: *350 lbs.
Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH): *150 lbs.
Miscellaneous cargo plus girlfriends purse filled with the content of 2 Walmart stores: *125 lbs.
Total weight of payload BEFORE trailer tongue weight: *877 lbs.
Trailer Tongue Weight: 850 lbs. (more on that later)
Total Payload: 1727 lbs. (nearly 100 lbs. under maximum rating but the above numbers are very liberal)

* All weight provided is very generous. Unleaded fuel for example, weighs 6.25-6.35 lbs./gallon and my girlfriend and I don't weigh anywhere near 350 lbs. even with heavy winter clothes despite my username.

Trailer Weight: 5563 lbs. (EMPTY LP tanks and with no water)
Trailer GVWR: 7300 lbs.

CAT Scale Weight for entire rig: 11,520 lbs. (3280 lbs. under GCWR)
CAT Scale Front Axle (Loaded): 2940 lbs. (585 lbs. under GAWR)
CAT Scale Rear Axle (Loaded): 3480 lbs. (320 lbs. under GAWR)
CAT Scale Trailer Axle (Loaded): 5100 lbs. (2200 lbs. under Trailer GVWR)
Tongue Weight applied using Weigh Safe Weight Distribution Hitch (no pics unfortunately): 850 lbs. (550 lbs. under Ford's 1400 lbs. of maximum tongue weight using a WDH...Page 41 of the 2021 Towing Guide)

Seeing all of the numbers and math above, I am well within the manufacturer's advised maximum towing limits as tested using SAE J2807 standards. Furthermore, the 850 lbs. of tongue weight was dialed in using a Weigh Safe brand WDH (the only hitch I will ever buy). When loading this weight and using it's app to set up, it dialed me directly into having a 50% Weight Distribution Correction Factor (sometimes called "Front Axle Load Ratio" or Front Axle Load Restoration") as instructed on Page 42 of Ford's 2021 Towing Guide (the same year for my truck used during this discussion). The Weigh Safe WDH has a dial that allows you to properly and immediately adjust your distributed weight to your front axles and set your tongue weight. It completely takes the guess work out of setting up your trailer and after about an hour of initial set-up, it takes less than 5 minutes to adjust every time you hook up your trailer. Plus, you don't need that fancy new "Pro-Access Tailgate" because the hitch sets back far enough to where you can lower your tailgate without hitting your trailer jack when hooked up.

As for Frontal Area, yeah I am slightly over (8' wide X 9'6" tall = 76). The Frontal Area Consideration recommended from Ford on Page 16 of the 2021 Towing Guide is 60 square feet. However, I know that the curvature of trailers aren't added into this consideration and they can't be because every trailer is shaped differently so the Frontal Consideration is a literal straight up and down brick wall moving through the air while an Airstream is extremely slick comparatively speaking. When towing, I would regularly get 13-13.5 MPG while others at the RV park were getting 10-11 MPG with different trailers (admittedly different engine and gearing as well). With that said, even Ford calls it a "consideration" and says "exceeding these limitations may significantly reduce the performance of your towing vehicle." It DOES NOT say it is unsafe hence, the weights discussed above.

To the original comment, "life is too short", I would also submit that others agree. For this reason all auto manufacturers have voluntarily submitted themselves to the testing standards outline in SAE J2807. It is the results of these tests that allow a manufacturer to say thinks like "most payload in it's class" or "highest tow rating of any truck in it's class".
Note: no manufacturer uses the term 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, or etc. anymore and haven't for a long time. The media and auto bloggers still do but that hasn't been an accurate term since the mid-70's. As a matter of fact, the F150 was never a 1/2 ton truck, the F100 was. These trucks are now advertised by their "class". The capabilities, like the horsepower and efficiency ratings continue to go up with better technologies and that is why they are rated by "class" and not simply 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and etc.

Cheers!

Pics below:

Thank you for this exhaustive and complete information. I would like to add to all of this information. We can all use the Ford towing calculator that uses our VIN to take into account all the options in our builds.

Canadian site;
https://www.ford.ca/support/how-tos...lers/using-the-ford-online-towing-calculator/

US/International site;
https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...or-to-find-the-towing-capacity-of-my-vehicle/

Canadian site;
https://www.ford.ca/support/towing-calculator

US/International site;
https://www.ford.com/support/towing-calculator

 

[lrb_35128]

@fatBatman / @Buyer2021

Let's talk tires. Not brand or version, but load indexes and ratings. - What are you gent's rolling on when towing your trailers (and) what percentage of your time is spent towing?

(Anyone else is welcome to chime in as well...)

 

[Buyer2021]

@fatBatman / @Buyer2021

Let's talk tires. Not brand or version, but load indexes and ratings. - What are you gent's rolling on when towing your trailers (and) what percentage of your time is spent towing?

(Anyone else is welcome to chime in as well...)

At about 11k miles on the odometer I'm still on the OE tires for my 2022 Lariat, which are Load Range "SL" (Standard Load) and Load Index "116" (Carrying Capacity 2750#).

Perhaps of interest, below is data I compiled for a discussion on an Escape trailer forum (my small 5th wheel is an Escape brand trailer). In this table the per-tire load data, for the truck alone and for the truck with trailer hitched, is derived by dividing actual CAT Scale per-axle weights by 2. Note that in my case the truck's axle / tire loads are coincidentally 'perfectly balanced' front-to-rear with my trailer hitched.

^This^ demonstrates that with my particular rig the OE tires are comfortably within the middle of their rated load capacity with my trailer hitched.

This truck is both my daily-driver and my tow-vehicle; no guess on % of time towing but it's a fraction of my total use. Note too that the 'lateral loads' imposed on the tires when towing my small 5th-wheel may be less 'severe' than with a similar or higher-weight bumper-pull trailer (?).

Tire pressure is the inevitable follow-up question .... I've experimented with increasing pressure when towing but found that I'm happiest at the 35psi placard pressure, all things considered (ride comfort, handling, etc), with my relatively sedate driving style.

Bottom line in my specific case: at ~11k miles I'm happy with the handling, ride comfort, and overall behavior provided by the OE tires both daily driving and towing my trailer. I'm particularly happy with how quiet they are; we'll see how they do as the miles add-up.

BTW, I do maintain all of my CAT Scale weight data on an Excel spreadsheet, and don't hesitate to visit my very convenient CAT Scale (Pilot truck stop 12 miles from home) when I alter my load conditions. I like actual hard data and don't trust my ability to 'guesstimate'. ​

 

[fatBatman]

@fatBatman / @Buyer2021

Let's talk tires. Not brand or version, but load indexes and ratings. - What are you gent's rolling on when towing your trailers (and) what percentage of your time is spent towing?

(Anyone else is welcome to chime in as well...)

I had the same factory tires as @Buyer2021. Being a child of the 80's, I particularly liked that they came from Ford with the white letters facing out. I also ran about the same 35 PSI.

I don't think people give enough credit to factory tires. These trucks earned their placards with those tires and they are certainly capable of performing just as advertised in terms of towing and payload (rain and snow performance is another topic all in itself and typically don't favor factory shoes). A stiffer sidewall will normally have a higher load index but will be heavier (reduced fuel economy) and have a harsher ride when empty (your spine will agree) but depending on your lifestyle, may be better suited to your needs. If I worked on a ranch or towed my RV down National Park/Forestry roads that were unpaved to go boondocking, I'd definitely have a stiffer sidewall.

 

[Buyer2021]

I had the same factory tires as @Buyer2021. Being a child of the 80's, I particularly liked that they came from Ford with the white letters facing out.

Mine have no white letters, inside or out

that's OK, I'm a child of the 50's (just glad they aren't wide white sidewalls )

Oh, and also glad the spare is a match, just on a same-size steel wheel which I'm OK with

 

[lrb_35128]

(Note: Carriage returns inserted and intermingling of quotes were used to highlight/separate talking points.)

I'm still on the OE tires for my 2022 Lariat, which are Load Range "SL" (Standard Load) and Load Index "116" (Carrying Capacity 2750#).

This truck is both my daily-driver and my tow-vehicle; no guess on % of time towing but it's a fraction of my total use.

Note too that the 'lateral loads' imposed on the tires when towing my small 5th-wheel may be less 'severe' than with a similar or higher-weight bumper-pull trailer (?).

I don't think people give enough credit to factory tires. These trucks earned their placards with those tires and they are certainly capable of performing just as advertised in terms of towing and payload (rain and snow performance is another topic all in itself and typically don't favor factory shoes).

A stiffer sidewall will normally have a higher load index but will be heavier (reduced fuel economy) and have a harsher ride when empty (your spine will agree) but depending on your lifestyle, may be better suited to your needs.

If I worked on a ranch or towed my RV down National Park/Forestry roads that were unpaved to go boondocking, I'd definitely have a stiffer sidewall.

I agree, OE tires should be our benchmark because they are the manufacturer's benchmark for establishing published specifications. Just glad to hear others who are actively towing feel the same way.

As you both note, lateral forces incurred due to (a) towing style [eg: 5th-wheel (vs) bumper-pull] -and- the surface on which you tow are going to influence sidewall rigidity requirements.

For example, in my use cases, it's going to be towing/launching/recovering a boat from prepared sites and highway towing a couple's trailer to semi-glamping sites, not boondocking whilst attempting to forge a new crossing of the Rockies. - The probability of needing to defend against gravel & granite cuts in the sidewalls is low. Definitely not worth the weight (MPG) and ride penalty of an E-series set of tires.

Tire pressure is the inevitable follow-up question .... I've experimented with increasing pressure when towing but found that I'm happiest at the 35psi placard pressure, all things considered (ride comfort, handling, etc), with my relatively sedate driving style.

BTW, I do maintain all of my CAT Scale weight data on an Excel spreadsheet, and don't hesitate to visit my very convenient CAT Scale (Pilot truck stop 12 miles from home) when I alter my load conditions. I like actual hard data and don't trust my ability to 'guesstimate'.

Ah, yes, tire pressure... yet another too frequently overlooked, taken-for-granted piece of the puzzle.

Appreciate both of your replies.


My closest CAT Scale is the Love's Truck Stop 25 miles from home. (Or "only" 20 miles from the lake house...)

 

[Buyer2021]

..... not boondocking whilst attempting to forge a new crossing of the Rockies.

For me, "boondocking" is a reasonably maintained road (maybe not always "paved") to a site without hookups

 

[rpeterslll]

Can anyone confirm if the Tow/Haul Package (53T) package also add's the heavier rear springs? Previous models with Max Tow usually included an extra leaf in the spring as well as the heavier axel.

 

[Bossharp]

Now that I have my order in (Regular cab XL short bed) I took a look at the tow rating.. I was really really surprised that it was 9,000 lbs! I have no plans to buy or tow anything BUT it's nice to know that even Ford's smallest lightest F-150 IS fairly capable.

 

[Mr. Mike]

Thank you! The truck is gone but it will soon be replaced with a '24 King Ranch PowerBoost (so I can power the trailer and spend less time at parks with hookups).

What configuration did you settle on with the King Ranch. I’m in the market for that exact truck and I have the same trailer. Is your payload ok to take the tongue weight and a few hundred pounds in the truck? Just curious.

 

[fatBatman]

What configuration did you settle on with the King Ranch. I’m in the market for that exact truck and I have the same trailer. Is your payload ok to take the tongue weight and a few hundred pounds in the truck? Just curious.

Yes. I lost a good deal of payload with the PowerBoost King Ranch but I am still within tolerances albeit, I am on the ragged edge on payload...but on the good side of the edge. I use the Weigh Safe hitch pictured below and set the tongue weight between 800-850 lbs. (this is what the Weigh Safe app tells me to do after inputting my measurements to get a perfect distribution of weight). depending on how it is loaded. Keep in mind, if I am setting the weight on the hitch, I am not in the truck. With my weight, this would give me another 300 lbs. +/- with a passenger. I also have a hard rolling tonneau cover and that 50 lb. weight is already calculated into my numbers. At the end of the day, If I need to carry more weight, I put it in the trailer and equalize the load in there. The truck still has plenty of towing capacity, I am only shifting weight from the truck into the trailer and being mindful of the placement in order to keep my tongue weight numbers where I need them.

Airstream says their tongue weight is 800 or more pounds unloaded with empty LP tanks but I've found those numbers to be a little high. Then again, my Airstream has the rear bed and the extra storage under the bed in the rear. Nevertheless, Airstreams have a very good center of balance.

A side note about the Weigh Safe hitch: I have the older model. I think now, they have a medium and a heavy duty. I think mine would be equivalent with the heavy duty and it is by far the bets hitch on the market sans a Pro Pride. Wight Safe is expensive but not Pro Pride expensive and it will perfectly dial in your distributed weight so there is absolutely no guessing game. I have ZERO porpoising when driving the terrible roads in Louisiana and ZERO sway even when going 70 MPH though the mountain passes in Colorado on a gusty day. Initial set up takes about an hour...2 if your drinking "soda" but after that, it take 5 minutes to completely load and set your trailer for every trip. No, I am not a sponsor or salesman for them, I am just a consumer and feel they have the best, most safest hitch for the money.

 

[Buyer2021]

I use the Weigh Safe hitch pictured below and set the tongue weight between 800-850 lbs. (this is what the Weigh Safe app tells me to do after inputting my measurements to get a perfect distribution of weight). depending on how it is loaded.

Just curious, what's your actual total trailer weight when loaded for travel?

Does the Weigh Safe App require you to know and input the actual total trailer weight to give you its tongue weight recommendation?

 

[Mr. Mike]

Yes. I lost a good deal of payload with the PowerBoost King Ranch but I am still within tolerances albeit, I am on the edge...but on the good side of the edge. I use the Weigh Safe hitch pictured below and set the tongue weight between 850-900 lbs. (this is what the Weigh Safe app tells me to do after inputting my measurements to get a perfect distribution of weight). depending on how it is loaded. Keep in mind, if I am setting the weight on the hitch, I am not in the truck. With my weight, this would give me another 400 lbs. +/-. I also have a hard rolling tonneau cover and that 50 lb. weight is already calculated into my numbers.

Airstream says their tongue weight is 800 or more pounds unloaded with empty LP tanks but I've found those numbers to be a little high. Then again, my Airstream has the rear bed and the extra storage under the bed in the rear. Nevertheless, Airstreams have a very good center of balance.

A side note about the Weigh Safe hitch: I have the older model. I think now, they have a medium and a heavy duty. I think mine would be equivalent with the heavy duty and it is by far the bets hitch on the market sans a Pro Pride. Wight Safe is expensive but not Pro Pride expensive and it will perfectly dial in your distributed weight so there is absolutely no guessing game. I have ZERO porpoising when driving the terrible roads in Louisiana and ZERO sway even when going 70 MPH though the mountain passes in Colorado on a gusty day. Initial set up takes about an hour...2 if your drinking "soda" but after that, it take 5 minutes to completely load and set your trailer for every trip. No, I am not a sponsor or salesman for them, I am just a consumer and feel they have the best, most safest hitch for the money.

Thanks for the information, do you have the 145” or 157” wheelbase?

 

[fatBatman]

Just curious, what's your actual total trailer weight when loaded for travel?

Does the Weigh Safe App require you to know and input the actual total trailer weight to give you its tongue weight recommendation?

I don't really travel heavy and always keep my water tanks empty. Still, with a heavier mattress, a few pots and pans, griddle, hoses, cables, and a collapsible ladder, I am sitting anywhere between 5800 (if I am really light) to 6100 lbs. (if I am loaded for a longer trip). As for the truck, I really don't keep anything in the truck or carry anything except myself and my girlfriend. We may have a small, 50 lbs. of stuff and her combat loaded purse but the truck bed is usually empty since I am not carrying around a generator anymore thanks to the PowerBoost. With a 1352 lb. payload capacity in the PowerBoost, I only have 500 lbs. after I load the tongue weight (850 lbs.) so with me and the girlfriend, I may have 200-250 lbs. left over (after re-crunching the numbers, my initial response of "300 lbs. +/-" may be a touch high but not by much).

Yes, the Weigh Safe app asks for a gross weight of the trailer. It also asks for truck measurements during the initial set-up (which is why it takes an hour or two "soda" consumption dependent). It'll ask for the measurement from the center of your axle to the center of the ball on the hitch, length from the center of your trailer axle or center between both axled (dual axle trailer) to the center of the tongue, and other measurements. It isn't a gimmick and does use math to calculate the numbers for your safety.

Thanks for the information, do you have the 145” or 157” wheelbase?

I have the 145" wheel base truck. Oddly, in the 2024 Towing Guide, the 145" wheelbase trucks with the Tow/Haul Package can tow 11,200 lbs. while the 157" wheelbase trucks can only tow 11,000 lbs. I am using these numbers since all King Ranch trucks come standard with the Tow/Haul Package even though they can't get the optional "Max Tow Axle".

On another separate and completely unrelated note, the 2024 Trailer Towing Guide makes no mention of the F150's optional "Max Tow Axle". The guide only references the Tow/Haul Package (53T) and says this is what is required for the maximum towing numbers. This is optional on Lariat and below trims but standard on King Ranch and Platinum. Knowing this, I do not see it's purpose. What is the "Max Tow Axle" giving you that the standard axle isn't when getting the Tow/Haul Package (53T)?
* All PowerBoosts are ineligible and can't get the "Max Tow Axle" even if we wanted so this is irrelevant to my life but I'd still like for a smart person to tell me since it is not mentioned in the towing guide.

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