One of the most popular pickup trucks on the road today is the Ford F150. And for good reason too – it has an awesome towing capacity. It’s also renowned as being so dependable that not only is it the best-selling pickup truck, it’s also the best-selling vehicle.
Many people who buy this pickup do so for the towing capabilities. But, this can differ from model to model. With that in mind, I decided to investigate how much an F150 can pull. In other words, what the Ford F150 towing capacity from the last few years, plus see which F150 has the highest towing capacity and is best for towing.
What is the towing capacity of a Ford F150? The towing capacity of a Ford F150 can range from 6,000 to 13,200 pounds, depending on variables such as the engine size, two or four-wheel drive capabilities, and towing package.
Below you can see a list of the various models and years form recent times.
Ford F150 towing capacity examples
As there are so many different models and specs on the market, I thought it best to go back as far as 2014. I have then selected a few of the best-selling models, including which Ford F150 engine is best for towing from each year.
- 2020 F150 2.7L Turbo EcoBoost: Towing capacity of 8,500 pounds
- 2020 F150 3.5L EcoBoost: Towing capacity of 13,200 pounds
- 2020 F150 3.3L Ti-VCT V6: Towing capacity of 7,700 pounds
- 2020 F150 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: Towing capacity of 11,600 pounds
- 2020 F150 3.0L PowerStroke Turbo Diesel: Towing capacity of 11,500 pounds
- 2019 F150 2.7L Turbocharged EcoBoost: Towing capacity of 9,000 pounds
- 2019 F150 3.0L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel: Towing capacity of 11,500 pounds
- 2019 F150 3.3L TI-VCT V6: Towing capacity of 7,700 pounds
- 2019 F150 3.5L EcoBoost: Towing capacity of 13,200 pounds
- 2019 F150 High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost: Towing capacity of 11,100 pounds
- 2019 F150 5.0L TI-VCT V8: Towing capacity of 11,500 pounds
- 2018 F150 2.7L EcoBoost V6: Towing capacity of 9,000 pounds
- 2018 F150 3.0L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel: Towing capacity of 11,500 pounds
- 2018 F150 3.3L TI-VCT V6: Towing capacity of 7,700 pounds
- 2018 F150 3.5L EcoBoost V6: Towing capacity of 13200 pounds
- 2018 F150 3.5L EcoBoost H.O V6: Towing capacity of 8,000 pounds
- 2018 F150 5.0L TI-VCT V8: Towing capacity of 11,600 pounds
- 2017 F150 5.0L EcoBoost V8: Towing capacity of 11,000 pounds
- 2017 F150 3.5L EcoBoost V6: Towing capacity of 12,200 pounds
- 2017 F150 XL 3.5L V6: Towing capacity of 5,000 pounds
- 2016 F150 3.5L Ti-VCT V6: Towing capacity of 5,000 pounds
- 2016 F150 3.5L GTDI V6: Towing capacity of 12,200 pounds
- 2016 F150 2.7L EcoBoost V6: Towing capacity of 8,500 pounds
- 2016 F150 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: Towing capacity of 11,100 pounds
- 2015 F150 3.5L: Towing capacity of 7,600 pounds
- 2015 F150 2.7L EcoBoost: Towing capacity of 8,500 pounds
- 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost: Towing capacity of 12,200 pounds
- 2015 F150 5.0L: Towing capacity of 11,100 pounds
- 2014 F150 3.7L XL 2WD V6: Towing capacity of 11,300 pounds
- 2014 F150 Lariat Extended Cab 2WD: Towing capacity of 11,300 pounds
- 2014 F150 King Ranch 2WD: Towing capacity of 11,300 pounds
- 2014 F150 SBVT Raptor Extended Cab 4WD: Towing capacity of 6,000 pounds
Which Ford F150 engine is best for towing?
In more modern years, the best Ford F150 engine with the best and highest towing capacity tends to be the EcoBoost 3.5L models. They can tow as high as 13,200 pounds.
If the truck has four-wheel drive, it brings that number down to 12,900 pounds.
With the Max Trailer Tow Package, an F150 also has to be the base rear-wheel-drive SuperCrew with an extended cab and a 3.5L engine to reach its maximum towing capacity.
Engine sizes and F150 towing capacities: what can F150’s pull?
The Ford F150 has varying towing capacities depending on a few key elements.
The engine size plays a huge part since a bigger engine will provide more power and a higher towing capacity.
As I’ve mentioned, there are also special towing packages a truck can have to enhance its towing abilities. Weight capacities can be broken down into categories by which version of the F150 is doing the towing.
What can a Ford F150 pull?
3.3 Liter V-6
Coming in at 290 horsepower and 265 pounds-feet of torque, this version of the F150 has a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. This tow rating can be achieved in either the regular cab with a 6.5-foot bed or the regular cab with an 8-foot bed. Both versions having two-wheel drive.
The second-highest two rating for this truck is 7,500 pounds, which comes with the four-wheel-drive version.
The third highest tow rating for this truck comes in at 7,400 pounds. The regular cab 4×4 long bed, the SuperCab 6.5-foot bed, both in 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive, is rated at this tow capacity. The SuperCrew 5.5-foot bed is also rated at this tow capacity.
5.0 Liter V-8
This version of the F150 has a horsepower rating of 395 pounds with 400 pounds-feet of torque. The highest tow rating for this version of the F150 comes with the four-wheel-drive SuperCrew 6.5-foot bed at 11,500 pounds.
Rating second at 11,300 pounds is the four-wheel-drive SuperCab with a 6.5-foot bed.
Coming in third at 11,200 pounds is the four-wheel-drive SuperCab with the 8-foot bed as well as the regular cab version. A unique feature with this engine is the option to bring the towing capacity up past 10,000 pounds on any version in two-wheel or four-wheel drive.
3.0 Liter V-6 Diesel
The horsepower on this version of the F150 ranks in at 250 with 400 pounds-feet of torque. The highest two capacity for this version is 11,500 pounds with the 6.5-foot bed SuperCab in two-wheel drive.
The second highest two capacity is 11,300 pounds on the 6.5-foot bed Super Cab in four-wheel drive. Same goes for the four-wheel-drive SuperCrew with either a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed.
The third highest rating is 11,200 pounds, which comes in two variations: the four-wheel-drive SuperCab with a 6.5-foot bed and two-speed automatic 4×4 transfer case and the two-wheel-drive SuperCrew with a 5.5-foot bed.
2.7 Liter EcoBoost V-6
The horsepower for this version of the F150 is 325 pounds with 400 pounds-feet of torque. The maximum town rate for this engine is 9,000 pounds.
To achieve the maximum rating, the four-wheel-drive version with the 8-foot bed and the regular cab are capable of this weight.
Also, the two-wheel-drive SuperCab with an 8-foot bed, the four-wheel-drive SuperCab with a 2.5-footbed and the two-wheel-drive SuperCrew with a 6.5-foot bed can handle this weight. The EcoBoost Payload Package will allow vehicle owners to reach the maximum tow rating for the vehicle.
Coming in second at 8,900 pounds maximum two-weight is the four-wheel-drive SuperCrew with a 5.5-foot bed.
And coming in third with a maximum tow weight at 8,500 pounds is the two-wheel-drive regular cab with a 6.5-foot bed or an 8-foot bed. The EcoBoost Payload Package does not need to be installed for these last two options to achieve maximum tow weight.
3.5 Liter EcoBoost V-6
This engine weighs in at 375 horsepower and 470 pounds-feet of torque. The highest tow weight for this engine is 13,200 and comes with the two-wheel-drive SuperCrew with a 6.5-foot bed.
As mentioned, this is the version that requires the EcoBoost Package along with the Maximum Tow Package to achieve full towing capacity. It also requires a 3.55 axle ratio and 20-inch wheels to get to this weight. These items are also required for the three F150’s with the top-rated tow weights.
Second highest is the four-wheel-drive SuperCrew with a 6.5-foot bed, which rates in with a maximum tow weight of 12,900 pounds.
Third highest is the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive SuperCrew with a 5.5-foot bed having a max tow weight of 12,700 pounds.
3.5 Liter EcoBoost V-6 High Output Limited
This special package for your F150 provides a horsepower rating of 450 horsepower and 510 pounds-foot of torque. This is only available with the SuperCrew 5.5-foot bed layout.
This engine provides a best F150 towing capacity of 11,000 pounds in the two-wheel-drive configurations and 9,400 pounds in the four-wheel-drive configurations. The Trailer Tow Package must also be installed in these versions of the F150 to reach your maximum tow weights.
3.5 Liter EcoBoost V-6 High Output Raptor
This version of the F150 also provides horsepower rated at 450 and a torque rating of 510 pounds-foot. This truck has a maximum tow weight of 8,000 pounds with the SuperCrew and 6,000 pounds with the SuperCab configuration. The Trailer Tow Package is required to achieve these weights, but luckily it comes standard on all Raptor versions.
Clearly, we have tons of different options when it comes to the F150. Being the most purchased vehicle on the road allows for a vehicle manufacturer such as Ford to create many different special configurations and setups to handle all sorts of different types of towing, along with a wide range of maximum tow weights.
This allows for an accommodation for every driver’s towing needs. Some require a higher towing weight ability than others, depending on what’s being towed.
But Ford can meet most vehicle owners’ needs with the different versions of the F150.
Holding up as the USA’s most popular vehicle
It’s no wonder the Ford F150 holds up as America’s most popular vehicle on the road. The variety of choices and options available on a standard truck create an ability to cater to the driver’s needs.
They also create numerous specific options, so drivers don’t necessarily have to go all-out when setting up their new truck for towing.
There are also millions of used F150’s on the road today that are in great shape and have held up to the elements over the years.
With it being the most popular vehicle, there is quite the plethora of used versions in all the different engine sizes and packages to meet a vehicle owner’s needs. So, it’s not always necessary to purchase a brand-new F150 with so many great, used versions that exist on the road today to meet all of your towing needs.
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