Towing capacity question
https://www.fleet.ford.com/resources...e_r2_Nov27.pdf
Question is ...
Are you going to be realistic with your expectations for acceleration, braking, turning, limited load capacity (at or over the GCWR I suspect), wind buffeting, etc?
Today's trucks are quite capable, but they are not miracles. Operating at or near the max will always leave some folks wanting "more" (acceleration, control, stopping power, etc).
Ford says my truck has a "towing capacity" of 11,800#. Ever wonder how they got that number?
My truck has a payload rating of 1895#. A truck HAS to have a driver, so subtract 150# from that, giving 1745#.
Since a trailer should have 13% to 15% of its weight as tongue weight, Ford went conservative and used the 15% figure. Dividing 1745# by 15% gives a towing capacity of 11,600#.
Ford wants that "towing capacity" to look as high as possible, so they used a base model XL with no options which weighs less than my truck. When they did the "towing capacity" math with the lighter base model XL and one 150# driver, they came up with a "towing capacity" of 11,800#.
Now, if you add weight to the truck, you reduce its payload capacity, pound for pound. All your options add weight. All your camping gear adds weight. All your passengers add weight. Every pound of weight you add, from any source, subtracts a pound of payload capacity. Every pound of lost payload capacity (using the 15% number) reduces your "towing capacity" by 7#.








