I just got off the Ford site dealing with the Gross Combined Weight Ratings for F150's and F250's and have discovered that with the 5.4 L engine that I don't really need to get a F250 truck for towing.

The max allowed on the F150 is 15,000 GCWR with 9500 lbs trailer tow capacity with a 3.73 axle.

The max allowed on the F250/F350 is 15,000 GCWR with only 8700 lbs trailer tow capacity with the 4.10 axle, or 13500 GCWR with the same 8700 lbs. trailer tow capacity on the 3.73 axle.

Am I missing something here? I would have thought that the F250/F350 would have had a higher rating regardless of the axle size. I notice that the V10 is a higher rating, but if the V8 will do, why bother with the V10. I presently have a 2001 Supercrew with a 4.6L engine 3.55 axle, and am shopping for a new truck preferrably the F250, but after visiting the Ford site, I don't think I really need the F250. On paper, the F150 looks adequate.

The trailer we are looking at weighs in at a GVW of 8900 lbs.

Some advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

I would not plan to tow a four and a half ton trailer with a gas engine.

If I had to I would but, if I had a chance to plan...
Diesel.

 

On paper, it does look like it'll work, but when you hit that first 5% grade, you'll curse at yourself for only getting a 5.4l engine....... No matter what chassis it comes in..... A trailer with a GVWR of #8900 will weigh at least #7500 when it's loaded up. Does not matter what the "dry" weight says that trailer weighs either.......

My dad tried to tow a trailer with a GVWR of #8800 with a '96 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 5.9 gas engine (yes, I know it was a POS Dodge, but all the numbers worked out on paper for it too.)

He had 4.10 gears in the thing too. Thing could not get out of it's own way. He upgraded to the Cummins diesel and it was like night and day. Plus he gets over 15mpg while towing now!

If you get the V10 with 4.30 gears, you have a whopping #20000 GCWR!! Same as the diesel! Won't get the same mpgs, but you can buy a lot of gas for $5000.00!!

Good luck with whatever you decide on!

 

On the F150, you really need to take the max tow ratings with a grain of salt. It's only a slight exageration to say that for some of our trucks, the only way you can legally pull the max rating is if you take off the tailgate, drain the gas tank to 1/8 tank, drive alone and go on a diet.

If you plan to have a few people in the cab, some tools under the seat, some load in the bed, some aftermarket equipment (tonneau cover, etc...), a full tank of gas, etc... you will find the max allowable trailer weight in the manual will put you way over the F150's GC weight rating.

 

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I need the V10 in the F250.

Thanks

 

I had an F-150 once.

I wont ever go back for anything other than to tow a jet-ski and get groceries in.

Night and day difference. The F-250 is a truck. Auto manufacturers go back and forth to boast 1/2 ton pulling capacities and base them solely off of power output and gear ratios. Appearently suspension and braking isn't part of their rating.


The reason in the difference for ratings is because an F-250 weighs more dry. Manufacturers say that a 5.4L with 3.73 gears and an automatic tranny can have xx,xxx # of pounds rolling down the road. If your truck is heavier, they reduce what your listed to carry.

I would reccomend:

F-150 if you make regular trips to the grocery store and have a small boat for the weekend or pull a car every couple of months.

F-250 6.0L pwstk if your going to pull a heavy trailer frequently. The power will be well worthwhile if pulling heavy loads. My buddy has one and its a completely different trailering vehicle than a gas engine.

F-250 v-10 4:10 if your going to pull a heavy trailer semi-regularly (over 7,500lbs). The $5,000 will go a long way for the extra fuel and the pep empty is uncomparable to a diesel.

F-250 5.4L 4:10 if your going to pull a heavy trailer only occasionally but still pull a trailer on a semi-regular basis. regular basis. Again, the $5,000 will go a long way for the extra fuel and the pep empty is uncomparable to a diesel.

 

Well, I've got an F150 I'm happy with. It tows 3+ tons without any trouble. I'll match it against an F250 with the same engine/trans/rearend. Thats because everything from the belt line down IS F250. All Ford F150s are not created equal.

 

Mike, did you ever consider that Corkys' heart condition may be due to him looking out the back window?

 

Raoul, Corky had the big one a couple months ago. I really should change my sig. It was his time. He had 16 good years (100+ people years) and was happy right up to the end. Hope we can all be that lucky.

 

"Am I missing something here?..... YES!!!

Youre interpretation of the Info you have is WRONG


Here are the Ratings of my 99 F250 straight from the owners Manual

GVWR (amount of weight i can put IN the *TRUCK*)= 8,800 lbs
GTWR (Gross Trailer Weight- How heavy of a trailer i can tow)= 13,100 lbs
GCWR (The amount of the tow vehicle plus the amount of the trailer) = 20,000 lbs

So im not sure where youre getting that a F250 can only two 8900 lbs..

Says right there i can tow up to 13,100 pounds as long as my truck fully loaded with trailer and toys etc weighs less than 20,000 pounds (GCWR) I hope this clarifies a little bit for you...

PS the 15,000 you got for the f250 is for the newer 6.0 trucks who have a Gross Trailer Weight Restriction of 15,000 pounds.. meaning they can pull up to 15000 pounds

 

Uhh - tx - this thread is over FIVE YEARS old.........

 

Who says the search function doesnt work.

 

True, but people should really check post dates before making replies like that.

 

Well... it can't hurt to beat a dead horse *cough, cough*, I mean thread, everyone once and a while. Besides, it cleans up the thread with good information.

I've brought up threads-from-the-dead as old as 2002...

 

The 6.8L V10 is about an $800 option (or it was when I bought my F250)... with a V10 and 4.30s you can tow anything you want! Just be ready to stop for gas at regular intervals.