Confused: can I tow 7700lbs?

[Ricksc]

Try to get dealer to do it for misleading you. Worth a shot. It’s easy usually plug and play then a forscan to add it on. If you can get dealer to add it no cost to you

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[JEB]

Oh I am absolutely fine with every number when doing the math where towing capacity is GCWR - curb weight - contents of the truck. plugging the numbers I get are similar what the VIN says or what the the dealer showed me, or what the table shows if you ignore the footnote. The Tongue weight should probably be limited to 10% of the trailer weight, this calculator uses 12.5% for some reason, but again no issue for the type of trailers I'm looking at (7500-8000lbs)
That's why I'm trying to understand if this is just a Ford Perspective or if I am truly missing a component of the Tow Package that would explain why I truly am going to damage the truck

Curb Weight	5,020​
GVWR	7,050​
GCVWR	16,800​
Payload	2,030​
Max Tongue Weight	1,400​
Towing Capacity	11,200​

That last number is incorrect. Your VIN check confirmed that you do not have a tow package or a max tow package. Using @Buyer2021 ’s nomenclature, Ford’s Perspective is that you are limited to 7,000 lbs towing capacity. And, from Ford’s Perspective, there’s nothing you can do about that. I freely admit that I always take the conservative approach to towing. I would not keep this truck if I needed more than 7000.

 

[Ricksc]

The brake controller will give you what you need. No trailer brake controller you can’t tow more then basic utility trailer.

 

[CompleteTruckNewbie]

That last number is incorrect. Your VIN check confirmed that you do not have a tow package or a max tow package. Using @Buyer2021 ’s nomenclature, Ford’s Perspective is that you are limited to 7,000 lbs towing capacity. And, from Ford’s Perspective, there’s nothing you can do about that. I freely admit that I always take the conservative approach to towing. I would not keep this truck if I needed more than 7000.

Understood. Ford says 7000 because I don't have the package. If I had the package is would be 11,200 or similar. While adding the brake controller doesn't officially make the truck compliant from the Ford Perspective, the numbers work out and I have a truck that is mechanically fit by the numbers, but not from the Ford Perspective.

 

[Ricksc]

This should help you out. Under 3000 pounds you won’t need a brake controller. Trailers have brakes therefor you will need one. Boat trailers have surge brakes that work by surge pressure.

 

[22Platinum]

I got to the bottom of "what's my truck missing without a 53A/B" once; it's in my post history somewhere. Recalling from memory it's a slightly bigger radiator, rear sway bar, bigger e-brake. More apt Tires and rims.

7700# with the right tires, WDH and brake controller will be fine. Tongue weight is going to be more than 10% and probably put you over payload but it'll probably be okay too; recommend rear air bags or helper springs.

You can find all of this in my various threads

 

[NoSnow]

If you decide to return the truck please give us an update on how the dealership responds. Hopefully no drama

 

[NMMIKE]

@Buyer2021, thanks for clarifying the "Ford Perspective"

I may have to return that truck then. It was a great deal used but not if it doesn't meet my needs.

I think that is Ur best decision. It sounds like Ur dealer is not reliable and did not really care about selling U a truck that meets Ur needs. I have dealt with dealers that knew far less about towing than I did. Even with a properly equipped truck that meets Ur towing spec requirements, lotsa towing experts recommend towing at only 75-80 % of manufacturers specs for a number of reasons, including the method used to calculate specs (e.g. they use 150 lbs / person). I would return the truck.

 

[tomcaudell]

I’m sorry for the your confusion, whim I bought my 23 xlt 5.0 super crew 6.6’ bed I was told that the truck came with the truck pre wired for trailer brakes just needed the switch. I looked under the dash next to the kick panel left side was the control module and a place to plug the switch in. I bought the truck on a Sunday so no service dept. I drove 4 hours to get the truck I wanted, nothing available locally. I went to the local dealer in Folsom Ca. They said the module needed upgraded and I needed both the switch and module plus another $250 to turn it on.when I tried to schedule it was 2 weeks out. I went home with the parts and contacted a local shop in Jackson Ca they “ turned it on” it was a little more than hooking up forscan it was changing things in several modules. Cost $100. They switched the modules but showed me that they had the same part number and “run” number meaning the old one was already upgraded. Money wasted $300 my point is buy what you need equipped with what you need or prepare to open your wallet. BTW I regularly tow my backhoe on a tandem trailer around 8k pounds. The traffic enforcement here looks for trailer brakes and tire load ratings I’ve been told. I’ve never been pulled over in this truck, so far.

 

[JExpedition07]

The only number the law cares about is your GVWR, GAWR. Do with that what you will.

As far as warranty, how will Ford ever prove you were towing 700 LBS over? They can’t…that also is not likely to cause any issues.

 

[Billflangjr]

That tools shows max trailer 7000 regardless of what I plug in for passenger/cargo (to a limit)
The GCVWR of 16,800 would imply more

so Ford is telling me that I will void my warranty if I tow more than 7000lbs?

Is the tow package something I can retrofit?

I have a 14 day return on this truck/ I contacted the dealer about why they quoted me 11,200 (alhtough I see why, both the VIN decoder and the towing guide imply so unless you look at the footnote)

If you got 14 days to take it back , Getty up !! Go get what you need ! Sale's people will tell you anything to get that Sale !! I never saw a F 250 with a 3.5 in it ? We pull a 36 foot boat with a F-250 V-8 !! From what I read you have a F 150 and your gas mileage is going to suck , but it doesn't matter pulling that much weight. your gas mileage is going to suck anyway. With either one!!

 

[CompleteTruckNewbie]

I decided against returning it in the end. I wanted to, my wife did not (mostly because it was hard to find a Gold Certified used in our budget that was as clean as this one is). We ended up talking to a couple of friends that own trucks (one owns a similar earlier vintage F150).
The tradeoff is that we will limit ourselves to the lower end of the range of trailer we would consider (the heaviest one is rated 7600lbs fully loaded). That's still be low the minimum listed on the VIN and seems something the truck should handle without stress, even though the towing calculator says we don't want to exceed 7000lbs.

I will of course add a trailer break controller (already ordered)
We will get a Weight Distribution Hitch (I have 3 on my radar: Equal-i-zer 4, Weight Safe Mid, or B&W Continuum)

Maybe after a couple of years with this truck and trailer, we'll learn what we really want, and if that's bigger/heavier (like a 5th wheeler) we'll swap trucks to match the new specs . Heck I think this truck could do a 9800lbs 5th wheeler (mostly kidding, I'm not even sure you can tow a 5th-wheeler with a short bed)

I appreciate everyone's help and thoughts here, you helped me see both side of the argument, and in the end the decision moving forward is mine.

The dealer is still going to get a bad review wherever I can.

 

[Star Lord]

This is one way to tell if you have the max tow package but no integrated brake controller is also a dead giveaway.

 

[CompleteTruckNewbie]

This is one way to tell if you have the max tow package but no integrated brake controller is also a dead giveaway.

Well my sticker says 11,600, right in between The sticker looks a lot like the max tow except it's white on black. don't know if the V-5 or part number on the side has any more meaning (the part number shows not found when I try to look it up on the Ford site)

I do have the "bent forward" hook receivers though:

 

[{tpc}]

I think they use the same receiver for the standard tow as well as a max tow, but the brakes, axles and frame are different? Someone will correct me I am sure. Then I think they use a different sticker, which slightly increases those numbers on the receiver.

I don't have a max tow, but I do have whatever towing package came with the truck (brake controller, pro backup stuff) and I have the same receiver as you do. My previous truck was a max tow and I believe it also had the same receiver but it had the white sticker.

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