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Understanding Towing Specs for Ford Trucks

Whether you need to tow a trailer full of machinery to the next job site or take your boat to the lake for a fun-filled weekend, you may wonder if your Ford truck can do the job. While every Ford is different, here are some things to keep in mind.

Check Your Manual

The towing specs for every Ford truck are different, and the same make and model may have different towing capacities. The best place to look for your specific vehicle is in your truck's owner's manual. Look for a rating indicating the full towing capacity or how much weight your vehicle can handle. This takes into consideration factors like engine power, type of transmission and axle ratio. You may also want to look for other related ratings for your vehicle, such as how much weight the truck can handle or what the gross vehicle weight rating is. There's also the gross combination weight rating, which combines your vehicle's towing capacity and the gross vehicle weight rating. The gross axle weight rating is what one axle on your truck can handle if weight isn't evenly distributed.

Towing Equipment

In some cases, your truck can tow better if you use additional equipment. If you purchased the truck with a Ford Trailer Tow Package, you may even have some of this equipment available, such as a trailer wiring harness or a hitch. If you don't have the Ford Trailer Tow Package, you can talk to your local dealership about what you can do to make your truck more tow-friendly. Trailer brakes and trailer lamps are also key for safe towing.

Best Ford Trucks for Towing

Again, every truck has a different towing capacity, and Rome Ford and Lincoln notes the following weight limits for Ford models when the trucks are properly equipped:

  • As a general rule, the F150 can handle light towing of up to 12,100 pounds, which includes most boats and small trailers.
  • The Ford F-250 Super Duty can also handle most general towing needs, but it can handle bigger boats, camping trailers and cargo trailers up 18,000 pounds.
  • The Ford F-350 Super Duty can handle up to 21,600 pounds and is ideal for horse trailers and flatbed trailers.

Again, always check your manual before you tow anything, and make sure your truck is equipped for the job. These numbers do not apply to every single Ford Truck.

Know What You're Towing

It's not enough to know the specs of your truck; you also need to know the specs of the trailer or item you're pulling before you hitch it up to your vehicle. Chances are you'll pull a flatbed trailer, a boat trailer, an enclosed trailer or a trailer made for recreational vehicles. They typically fall into four classes: light, medium, heavy and extra heavy duty. RV and camping trailers tend to be in classes of their own.

Tips for Towing

Don't tow a trailer if you haven't driven at least 1,000 miles in your truck, and never exceed the towing ratings presented in your driver's manual, notes Ford. If you don't understand them or don't have your manual, take your truck to a Ford dealership for more information. When you do tow something, make sure you distribute the weight as evenly as possible, and allow more distance between you and the vehicle in front of you when you brake. When you park, always look for flat surfaces if you can.

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