I have to admit that i'm confused with the HD package and the Max Tow.
as i read the numbers, the Max Tow gets you a 11,100lbs tow rating, but does not increase the GVWR.

a 11,000lb 5'er will have a pin weight beyond the capacity of a half ton truck without the HD package. which leaves you only a couple options:
assuming your hitch is rated for 11,000lbs, you can safely tow an 11,000lb travel trailer and have about 400lbs left on your GVWR, (1500lbs payload IIRC)

short of that, i suppose you could tow a 7000lb 5'er with a 3000lb boat behind that and still be in spec, but that is not leagle everywhere (it is here)

to me, the max tow is really not getting you much capacity without the HD payload to raise your GVWR.

my opinion.... the regular tow package should come with all the perks that you currently get with the max tow.... just because my boat is 'only" 3000lbs, doesnt mean i don't need the better mirrors or trailer brake controller.

i guess that's my itch for the day ....

 

A lot of the reasoning is marketing, I am sure.

 

I agree with you it doesn't make a lot of sense to me either. My boat is about 3400 lbs. with fuel and gear and I would be worried pulling both with a 1/2 ton.

 

The Max Tow package (only available with EcoBoost) gives you a 7700lb GVWR (350lbs more than base Screw rating), upgraded rear bumper and hitch to handle that 11,100lb tow rating. It also includes the telescopic mirrors and trailer brake controller.

The HD payload package adds another 500lbs to the payload rating, for a total of 8200lb GVWR (850lbs more than base GVWR). It includes the 17" 7-lug rims with LT tires.

My truck (Screw 4x4 5.0L HD) has a 2250lb payload capacity. Therefore, it would theoretically only be about 1750lbs without the HD payload (I say "theoretically" since you can't get the Max Tow with the 5.0, but I'm just showing the difference the HD payload makes).

As far as the reasoning for not including the telescopic mirrors and trailer brake controller with the regular towing package, it is probably because A.) packages make more profit and B.) Ford assumes that most consumers who do not opt for the maximum towing capability are towing such small/infrequent loads that the towing extras aren't necessary. Read as: if a customer isn't serious enough about towing to get the Max Tow, they don't need the brake controller and mirrors.

 

The base GVWR of the screw 4x4 is 7,200 lbs, right? That's for the EB, 145". That truck as 4x2 has a GVWR of 7,100 lbs. The numbers are actually all over the place when you look at the "payload selector".