Here is my truck a 16 xlt 301a sport with the 5.0 and 3.31.
I was going through my owners manual and Ford rates a screw 5.0 v8 with 3.31s at 14100 gcw. There is a footnote that lists the sport pkg at 13500 gcw. Payload and tow ratings are the same it's just the gcw that's different does anybody know why an appearance pkg would knock 600lbs off of the gcw?

 

Probably the 20's

 

It could be. Is that the only package that gets the 20's?

 

My first thought was the 20s as well but you can also get the sport pkg with 18s. Also lariat platinum and king ranch all have 20s and they're listed at 14100 gcw.

 

But with which axle ratio? Never mind, it's gotta be the 20's.

 

331s. The only difference is see between a sport with 20s and a lariat with 20s is the sport runs Hankook tires and the lariat, king ranch run Goodyear wrangler

 

I went on Ford's website last night before posting and the towing specs calls for 4-5 different GCWR's for Screw trucks with the 5.0L and 3.31's. 4x2, 4x4, 5.5' bed, 6.5' bed, etc.

At the bottom of the page, it illustrates that trucks with the 17/18's have a higher towing rating. To be honest, I think Ford's page a tad bit ambiguous.

 

Ambiguous is a good term. Lots of info, but it's tough to digest.

I can't figure out the lower GCWR either. Even went into the order guide and looked at the details for the sport package, and nothing makes sense as to why it should be rated lower.

 

I did the same thing and had the same head scratching moment.

 

Maybe it's the hankook tires then, maybe a softer tread or something who knows

 

Definitely not the Hankooks. Mine carried a 38 PSI rating and I had no issues towing with them. Tom proved beyond a shadow that the P rated tires are really all the F-150's need though an LT may feel more stable, it's not necessary on a non HD payload rated truck.

 

So I've been doing more digging and I still cannot find a reason as to why the gcw is 600lbs lower on the sport. I did scale the truck on the weekend and it scaled in at 5089lbs with a full tank I was not in the truck.

After I scaled the truck I stopped at the government scales and asked the officers what would happen if I were to go over the gcwr on my truck even tho I would still be under my payload rating on the door sticker. Their answer surprised me; they told me that first it would extremely rare for them to pull a half ton truck I towing for personal use. Second they said if I was to get pulled in they go by the tire and axle rating so as long as I'm under those I would have no fines.

 

Yup. I've always been surprised at the people who think the law enforcement officers have time to pull GCWR and towing charts for every possible combination out there. There's a reason the information is on the door sticker...everything else is impractical for them to check.

 

Yeah I always figured you would really have to do something dumb for them to hassle you. In all honesty I wouldn't hesitate to go over the gcwr on this truck if I had to, the way I look at it is the brakes and axles are the same on my truck as the trucks rated for a 17100gcwr and I would never get near that rating. All in all I'm happy with my new truck

 

Yep, I'm the same way. I pay close attention to GAWRs on all axles, as well as the tongue weight rating on the hitch. I'll exceed others sometimes depending on circumstance.