2023 F-150 Towing Capacity & Payload

If you’re looking for a highly capable pickup truck in Dallas, Texas, come to Planet Ford Dallas to check out the awesome 2023 Ford F-150. With its tough body-on-frame construction and powerful engines, this iconic full-size truck can handle virtually any task you throw its way, from transporting construction materials to lugging a camper trailer. Depending on what kind of job you need to be done, you can choose from a wide selection of engines and trim levels that offer varying work capabilities. Let’s find out the tow and payload ratings of the latest Ford F-150 versions.

Towing and Payload Capacities of the 2023 Ford F-150

Your engine choice is the main factor affecting the towing and hauling capacities of the 2023 Ford F-150. This pickup comes with seven engine options, ranging from the standard 3.3-liter V-6 to the top-of-the-line 5.2-liter supercharged V-8. To determine which power plant best suits your needs, take a look at the chart below:

To unleash the full towing and hauling potential of the Ford F-150, you should choose a model equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine. For towing, you also need to get the optional max trailer tow package to achieve maximum capacity. With a tow rating of 14,000 lbs. and a payload rating of 3,235 lbs., the F-150 is the most capable full-size pickup truck on the market. Its closest rival, the Chevrolet Silverado, can only tow up to 13,400 lbs.

Almost every engine of the F-150 is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that delivers crisp and clean shifts. The PowerBoost hybrid V-6 is the exception, as it works with an equally smooth 10-speed hybrid transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but you can opt for a four-wheel drive instead. However, the drivetrain configuration can impact your truck’s work capabilities. You’ll be better off getting a rear-wheel-drive model if you want higher tow and payload ratings.

Available Engines on Different F-150 Trims

When you’re shopping for a 2023 Ford F-150, bear in mind that the engine options available may vary from one trim level to another. So, you have to make sure that you select a trim that offers the engine you want, whether as standard equipment or an option. Check out the following table to find out which engines are available on each of the eight F-150 trims:

As you can see, the base XL and XLT are the two most customizable F-150 trim levels in power. They can be fitted with almost every engine in the lineup, including the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that provides the highest tow and payload ratings. This power mill is available on the LARIAT, King Ranch, and Platinum.

If you frequently venture away from the pavement, we recommend the Raptor. The top-spec F-150 model features exclusive power-packed engines and specialized off-road features that enable it to tackle the most challenging. With a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 lbs., it can also handle light- to medium-duty towing.

Towing Features and Packages of the F-150

Besides powerful engines, the new Ford F-150 offers plenty of towing features that enable it to lug extremely heavy loads easily and safely. This Ford truck comes standard with a tow/haul mode that improves power delivery and reduces gear hunting, resulting in a smooth and confident towing or hauling experience. It also features a trailer-sway control system that helps it stay composed and stable while towing a trailer.

There’s also a variety of available towing features and packages that you can get to further enhance your F-150’s towing capabilities and safety. These options include:

• Trailer brake controller: The controller uses vehicle speed, braking input, and other data to balance the performance of the truck’s brakes and the trailer’s brakes.
• Pro trailer backup assist: This feature makes backing up a trailer a breeze by taking control of the accelerator, brakes, and steering wheel while letting you easily steer with a control knob.
• Blind-spot information system: Working together with trailer tow monitoring, this system alerts you if it detects something in your trailer’s blind spot.
• On-board scales: These scales provide real-time estimates of the total weight and cargo weight of your truck so that you’ll know if it’s within the maximum ratings.
• Trailer tow package: This package consists of a class IV trailer hitch receiver, a rowing harness and adapter, a trailer brake controller, and trailer backup assist.
• Max trailer tow package: Required for maximum towing capacity, the max trailer tow package includes a class IV trailer hitch receiver, an electronic-locking rear axle, a smart trailer tow connector, an upgraded rear bumper, a trailer brake controller, and trailer backup assist.

Regardless of your towing and hauling needs, when you visit us at Planet Ford Dallas, we’ll make sure you get a new Ford that suits you perfectly. Serving Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, Plano, McKinney, and Denton, our dealership has one of the largest inventories of new F-150 models in North Central Texas, which means we can cater to all kinds of truck buyers.

Even if you have a specific trim, engine, cab style, bed length, or package in mind, we’ve got you covered. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information or want to schedule a test drive.

Photo Credit: Ford F-150 Lariat Sport 2022 by RL GNZLZ is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

Ford’s F-150 continues to defend its position at the top of the truck sales list, where it has remained unchallenged for over four decades. One of the main reasons for this is the F-150’s unbeatable towing capabilities. On top of an excellent towing capacity, Ford’s full-sized pickup offers several helpful towing features in a series of towing packages to make your job that much easier. Our truck experts here at Planet Ford Dallas have prepared a rundown of the main towing features you should know about.

F-150 Towing Capacity

No full-sized pickup can match the F-150 when it comes to towing and hauling. The F-150 has a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds and a hauling limit of 3,325 pounds in its cargo bed. You’ll need to choose an F-150 with the 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 engine and the longest cargo bed to get the maximum towing capacity.

Even if you don’t opt for the maximum towing capacity, most of the F-150’s possible engine, cab, and cargo bed configurations achieve more than 13,000 pounds of towing. That’s more than enough to handle most tasks on the job site or haul a large camper out of town for the weekend.

Ford F-150 Towing Packages

A truck’s towing capacity isn’t the only thing you need to keep in mind if you plan to pull a trailer or something else. When you’re towing a heavy load at the rear, you also require additional features to help you stay safe on the road and make it easier to hitch up your trailer. These features are provided in Ford’s towing packages.

The F-150 is available with three main towing packages: Towing Technology, Trailer Tow, and Max Trailer Tow. Deciding between the three options will depend mainly on how often you use your truck for towing and what you tow.

The Towing Technology package includes a surround-view camera with a split display, which can come in handy when you’re lining up your trailer with the hitch or maneuvering into a parking position. You also get the Smart Trailer Tow Connector, which acts as a guide when you’re hitching up your load. On top of that, you’ll get an integrated trailer brake and trailer reverse guidance, so you have more control of your cargo.

The Trailer Tow package takes the F-150’s capabilities to the next level with a wiring harness so your trailer’s lights can be powered by your truck. In addition, you gain a class IV hitch receiver, integrated trailer brake, and the Smart Trailer Tow Connector. Additional features include Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which offers more settings to customize the different types of trailers you haul, and tailgate LED lighting.

The most capable towing package is the Max Trailer Tow. This is the best option if you regularly engage in professional towing tasks. It includes a heavy-duty rear axle, upgraded rear bumper, a larger fuel tank, and many of the towing features contained in the other packages.

F-150 Engine Specs

The engine you choose will have a big impact on how much your F-150 can tow. There are five engine options with the F-150. However, if towing is your top priority, there are two options you’ll want to focus on: the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 and the 5.0-liter V-8.

The 3.5-liter V-6 can put out 400 horsepower in its normal configuration. You can add an electric motor to the F-150’s hybrid setup to boost its output to 430 horsepower. In some of the higher F-150 trims, the 3.5-liter V-6 is engineered for even an even higher output of 450 horsepower.

The 5.0-liter V-8 can crank out 400 horsepower. The other engine options are more than capable of hauling a heavy load. For many buyers who require a truck for hauling a camper or trailer on the weekend, the base 3.3-liter V-6 with 290 horsepower may provide enough power to satisfy your needs. If not, you could step up to the 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V-6, which pumps out 325 horsepower.

Cargo Bed Capacity

The cargo bed you choose will have an impact on the amount you can carry as well as your truck’s towing capacity. Ford’s 14,000-pound towing limit is available in models equipped with an 8-foot-long bed. The other two bed options measure 6 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 5 inches, respectively.

The bed you choose will also have an impact on the type of cab you can have. The largest cab is called SuperCrew and can seat up to six people. It’s only available with the two shorter bed options. The Super cab can also seat six people but has a more compact rear row. This cab style is available in all 3 bed lengths.

Why Shop for a Ford F-150 at Planet Ford Dallas

At Planet Ford Dallas, we have an extensive inventory of F-150 trucks for you to choose from. The trims we offer range from the functional XL, ideal for the job site, to the upscale Limited, with all the luxuries you could want. Off-roading fans will want to check out the F-150 Raptor, which is equipped with 34-inch tires and many other features to help it cope with rough terrain.

Making Planet Ford Dallas, your dealership of choice also gets you access to our competitive auto financing offers. Whatever F-150 trim you choose, our finance team can sit down with you and craft an auto loan to help fund your purchase. We can offer attractive low-interest deals or extended repayment periods to help you manage your monthly costs.

Our Ford-certified service center can help you protect your investment by offering regular maintenance for your F-150. This includes services like oil changes, tire rotations, battery tests, and fluid top-ups. For the best protection, you could consider purchasing one of our service contracts to guard against any unexpected auto repair costs down the line.

As you can see, the F-150 has a lot to offer when it comes to towing. If you’d like to learn more about this popular truck, don’t hesitate to contact us . Our Ford experts will be happy to talk you through the F-150’s off-roading abilities, its infotainment tech, and driver safety features. In addition, we’d be delighted to arrange a test drive for you in Dallas so you can feel what it’s like to get behind the wheel of America’s most popular pickup before you make a final decision on the purchase.

Photo Credit: Silver F150 by Truck Hardware licensed with CC BY 2.0