Alright, I have a question about the F-150 HD payload package now available on the 157" WB screw. From what I've read so far, I know one can get an extra 500 lbs. payload (along with 8200 lbs GVWR) 7-bolt wheels, a 3.73 LS differential and a few other items. The question is how did they get the extra 500 lbs payload on the truck? I found no indication that Ford has changed its frame and the 2012 source book doesn't say anything about adding leaf springs.

If all Ford did was beef up the rear end a bit more, the why can't one just add a set of air bags and LT tires at a later date and save the price difference?Everything else seems to be the same including the 9.75 rear end.

Does anyone have any inside information on this?

Thanks in advance!

 

No, the rear end is not the same, I believe.

Here is the list of upgrades with the HD payload package as far as I know:
- high capacity wheels
- LT tires
- HD shocks
- upgraded rear axle: 9.75" gear set (instead of 8.80")
- upgraded springs
- upgraded radiator and aux. transmission oil cooler
- stronger frame on all but screw (0.150 instead of 0.110 rail thickness). Screw has 0.150 rail thickness regardless of HD payload package already.

Also, it is an extra 500lbs of GVWR, not payload, from the max tow package. It's a full 1,000lbs extra GVW from the regular (none max tow / none HD payload) F-150.
If you really want to haul in the 2,000lbs weight range, I would recommend to get the HD payload package, because then no lawyer can argue that you were over the limits should you ever get involved in a nasty accident.

 

The 9.75" gear set is already standard fare on the 3.5L, 5.0 and 6.2L trucks. The HD package a hoss of a truck and will do anything that a fella with a half ton wants to do. The 7 lug wheels even look much better than in years past.

 

That's interesting, I was not aware of that.
How can Ford officially (and in all documentation) claim an upgraded gear set then for the HD payload package? Tim, is that information listed somewhere? I have the 2012 source book, but it's not clear to me which truck gets what gear set from that document.

 

As for the gear set, since it steps up to 7 lugs the axles would have to be different...so I'm wondering if there are more splines on the HD axles than a non-HD truck. Also, a stronger gear set could be possible if the material of the rings was changed.

 

My '88 had an 8.8 Ford rear end. I've seen many many 2004-2008 F-150's with the same size rear axle and many with the larger axle.

My 2011 EB has a larger rear axle housing than my '88 did and every EB truck that I've seen has the same size axle housing.

I very well could be jumping to conclusions in assuming that I have a 9.75 just because it looks bigger. It in fact may not be as I can't prove in any reading that I've done that a 9.75" is standard fare. Perhaps I should digress until someone more informed chimes in.

 

Tim, my '06 with standard payload is a 9.75" ring

 

same rear end, they already made it stronger when the ecoboost was busting gears while in the testing phase. The only difference that I see is the 7 lugs, big deal. you can go with some airbags do the same thing and have adjustability. As far as I know the axle is not different, you would have to ask the guys at the Sterling axle plant

 

So what you are saying is that the HD payload package really is nothing but a marketing game? If so, it would be an expensive one.
One good thing still is that one would be covered in case of an accident as long as you were not over the rating of even the HD payload truck.
But yes, in that case it would kind of suck what Ford is doing here .... $1,700 is one heck of an expense for 7-lug wheels.

 

If you check you will see that Ford "deleted" the additional helper spring several years ago too. So the extra lug bolts and possibly thicker rim are what you are getting

 

Well, I think there is a little more to it .... helper springs deleted? Or replaced by "upgraded springs", so I'd assume heavier springs in that case?
You get the LT tires, upgraded shocks, upgraded springs?
That's above and beyond of what's included in the max tow package, right?

And I guess the rear axle IS different. I searched axle on partsguyed.com. There are different parts for the HD payload package. One example:

• axle shafts, f150, 9.75" axle, right, base payload pkg.
  vs.
• axle shafts, f150, 9.75" axle, right, heavy duty payload pkg.

The HD payload version costs $327 vs. $280 for the regular payload version. The shafts are one example, I noticed the housing is different as well. Not sure about anything else.
But it looks like there are a few improvements for that price - so the rims are not quite the only thing.

 

It sounds like the HD pkg is worth it in just tires, rims, shocks and springs. I would get it for sure if I could have. I will be paying way more just for LT tires when it comes around to replacing my stock ones. That's a no brainer to me. $47 extra??!! Good deal.

 

$47 extra????

 

I thought that is what you quoted above? Maybe I didn't read it right?
"The HD payload version costs $327 vs. $280 for the regular payload version."

 

That's for the axle shafts. :-)
The HD payload package is like $1,400 or something like that.