Another Towing Confusion Thread

[throughitalldude]

So I just bought my 2023 3.5 Tremor and when I bought the truck my wife and I had no intentions of towing a Toy Hauler so I didnt focus too hard on tow capacity. I did a quick google search and it came up at 10,900LBS which was 400LBS higher then my 2017 Tundra 5.7 that I traded in for my F150. Now we are looking at picking up a toy hauler for our family nothing crazy. Typing my vin online it states 7000lbs max door seal tag state 1690lbs Payload. Another odd thing about my truck is i have the back up assist knob on my truck but no trailer brake which I planned to add because i do tow a small dump trailer once and a while. I called my local Ford dealer and asked what the higher tow packages would bring my truck to be able to handle 10,900lbs and they legit said I am not allowed to say that. I asked in a different way "if I add the trailer brake and have the trailer back up assist knob already is there anything MECHANICALLY that my truck lacks making towing above 7000lbs unsafe?" Again, she said I am not allowed to say. Is the tow packages a upcharge gimmick that all of our trucks truly can tow 10900lbs but if you want Ford to say that your gonna pay?

I am looking at toy hauler trailers between dry weight of 5800-6900lbs. To me these seem like pretty light units but they will 100% exceed my tow capacity once loaded. Anyone have any clear cut answers as to what my truck might lack causing me not to be able to tow higher then 7000?

 

[ErlichBachman]

Ford's guide says to get over the 7000lbs you have to have the trailer tow package (53A). Trailer tow package 53A gets you the following over "standard" equipment:

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten...pdf/2023-Ford-RV-and-Trailer-Towing-Guide.pdf (page 19)

7-Wire Harness & 4-/7-Pin Connector
Hitch Receiver
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Trailer Brake Controller
Tailgate LED
Pro Trailer Backup Assist

some people have said there may be upgraded cooling/radiator or other things such as springs. but my guess is the difference between the 7000 and 1000lb trailer capacity is the hitch, trailer brake controller, and door jamb stickers. but i think all tremors have hitches and ford's guide states that bumper max is 5000 lbs. if there are changes to other specs from "standard" they are not listed anywhere by ford in their towing guides that i can tell.

The same guide on page 17 does say though that for trailers over 5000 lobs trailer tow package 53A is required or you may have warranty issues if you tow and something comes up.

my tremor has the trailer tow package and ford's vin calculator says my capacity is 10k.

 

[throughitalldude]

Ford's guide says to get over the 7000lbs you have to have the trailer tow package (53A). Trailer tow package 53A gets you the following over "standard" equipment:

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten...pdf/2023-Ford-RV-and-Trailer-Towing-Guide.pdf (page 19)

7-Wire Harness & 4-/7-Pin Connector
Hitch Receiver
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Trailer Brake Controller
Tailgate LED
Pro Trailer Backup Assist

some people have said there may be upgraded cooling/radiator or other things such as springs. but my guess is the difference between the 7000 and 1000lb trailer capacity is the hitch, trailer brake controller, and door jamb stickers. but i think all tremors have hitches and ford's guide states that bumper max is 5000 lbs. if there are changes to other specs from "standard" they are not listed anywhere by ford in their towing guides that i can tell.

The same guide on page 17 does say though that for trailers over 5000 lobs trailer tow package 53A is required or you may have warranty issues if you tow and something comes up.

my tremor has the trailer tow package and ford's vin calculator says my capacity is 10k.

Whats weird is my truck has everything you listed that yours has except for the trailer brake which is a ebay parts order and a 15 minute install. Then i spoke to my local ford they said they'd flash the truck for $175. After that Ill have everything you listed there. Im just beyond confused because the 7000lb rating is really limiting me on what we can purchase.

 

[zx12-iowa]

I’d just go off of the payload and the 10.9K. At the weights you’re talking about, it’s not a worry at all in my mind.

 

[ErlichBachman]

Whats weird is my truck has everything you listed that yours has except for the trailer brake which is a ebay parts order and a 15 minute install. Then i spoke to my local ford they said they'd flash the truck for $175. After that Ill have everything you listed there. Im just beyond confused because the 7000lb rating is really limiting me on what we can purchase.

I agree with you. it is silly but there is no definitive guide as to anything structural beyond those bits.

i also agree with iowa. payload is usually the limiting factor and i don't see how anything objectively shown on the 53A package limits you to mechanically pulling above 7k.

 

[treceveu]

I agree with you. it is silly but there is no definitive guide as to anything structural beyond those bits.

i also agree with iowa. payload is usually the limiting factor and i don't see how anything objectively shown on the 53A package limits you to mechanically pulling above 7k.

Ditto re: the payload limitations. I tow a 6400lb (dry) travel trailer and weight on the hitch is allegedly 10 to 15%, but by the time I add two 6v batteries and two 30lb propane tanks, my hitch weight tests at over 1100lbs. Plus I have a fibreglass canopy so I’m getting very close to max cap even though I’m way under the 10k limit (I have full tow package). BTW, I have air bags - help very nicely though they don’t change your capacity

 

[throughitalldude]

Just called my dealer per recommendation of a trailer dealer and turns out I have a 10,000lb tow max. Dealer said the vin look up is not accurate and also said they have a worksheet which is good to following with all tow capacities listed.

 

[DRJ]

Yep. All 2023 Tremors are 10k tow package. According to Ford towing chart.

 

[tremornewbie]

If you are unsure (because I was as I did not see a tow package listed) you can check on the ford site with your vin.

https://www.ford.com/support/towing-calculator