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2018 Max Tow pkg: not really

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Old May 26, 2018 | 10:56 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by ATX SD
It's just a little floaty/wobbly to my taste, so I'll tighten it up a bit before hooking up. Thanks for the help.
A set of air bags took care of that "Floaty/wobbly" that I had along with +10psi in the tires. Goes nice and straight loaded or unloaded.

Oh and personally I believe that requirement for 20" tires is just to sell more expensive options.
 
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Old May 26, 2018 | 12:37 PM
  #17  
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Rereading the charts I posted it gets even more confusing the 8200 GVWR truck gets a .15 thick frame, the following frame sheet list the frame for the HDPP which has the most capacity as having a a .11 inch frame. So the F150 now has 4 frames instead of 3? The frames vary in thickness on the same frame so I think where you measure has an influence. I don't think the whole frame on the HDPP is thicker. The whole package only weighs 204 pounds more then the standard. Just for interest the bumpers seem the same, the hitch varies by a little more capacity it almost looks like an extra weld, and the tow hook attachment is bent not straight, they are different part number.

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Old May 26, 2018 | 03:49 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by BrandonFoxValleyFord
I pulled my order manual and my spec sheet. I did not see any reference to a 20" vs 18" and do not have any footnotes indicating the specifications differ based on wheel size. The max trailer tow package in the 2018 manual consists of the pro trailer backup assist with trailer hook up lamp. It does not change your springs or capacities on any model. The capacity related towing package is the "trailer tow package" which comes with the 4/7 pin, trans cooler, class iv hitch receiver, smart tow connector, and the front stabilizer. The trailer tow package is required for towing up to 11,100.
Brandon - Thanks for your reply. This info is a little inconsistent with the publications I have; for instance in the Trailer Towing Guide it says that Max Tow pkg gets upgraded front stabilizer and rear axle, but doesn't mention springs or steering gear. Also see footnote (1), that seems to say you only get upgraded steering, stabilizer, and springs with 20" wheels. This footnote is also present in the Order Guide, and the Specifications. It's not clear what it means.

 
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Old May 26, 2018 | 03:56 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by tree10
Rereading the charts I posted it gets even more confusing the 8200 GVWR truck gets a .15 thick frame [...]

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I know, I get more confused every time I look. I think I'm going to have to take my local Fleet manager to an Express game (triple-A team for the Texans) and see if he'll do some digging. I stopped by today and got a build sheet. The only thing that stood out was the 9.75 axle is on there. It's strange though, again, because I have the electric parking brake. I also have a couple of screen shots with part numbers for the steering and stabilizer that I can research to see which variant they are, so that's my next objective.

Thanks to everyone who has chimed in. It's been helpful.
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 12:06 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by smokewagun
I'm close to purchasing a new F150. I am having a rough time finding the MTTP with tow mirrors. In my search, I find a truck equipped with the Trailer Tow Package, the 36 Gallon Fuel Tank, and the Trailer Brake Controller cost $30 more, but includes the same goodies as the MTTP. The only differences I find are a true MTTP truck has a different rear bumper (no one knows what's different), and a 7050# GVWR instead of the 7000# in a non-MTTP truck. The other difference is the 3.55 rear end in the MTTP, versus the 3.31 in the non-MTTP. That gets you about 3,000# more trailer tow capacity than the non-MTTP truck.
If I can't find another major difference, I may go with the individually optioned truck. The 3.31 rear end will net better daily driving fuel economy, but the reduction in trailer capacity shouldn't mean much. I'd never consider towing anywhere near the 10,000# trailer capacity with a 1/2 ton, and certainly not the 13,300 with a MTTP truck.
I did a lot of searching to find my Max Tow package with tow mirrors. Initially I bought a non max tow with 3.31 gears (not thinking) but I made the dealer throw In tow mirrors. Took the truck home and got a call a few days later. The dealer informed me they couldn’t guarantee the mirrors would work in the truck that they didn’t know if the truck had the right plug for all the functions. I immediately drove to the dealer and informed them had I not made them throw in the tiwnmirrors as part of the sale I would have possibly had to spend the m8ney for wiring myself. I use the tow mirrors in my old truck to see the eaves in my house when backing my trailer.
I told the dealer they can have the truck back it’s not as advertised In the sale. They scrambled and found another f150 (with Max Tow, the 3.55 EL rear and equipped with tow mirrors). They wanted an additional 3 grand. I said no way in heck my wife is going for that. They offered me another grand on my trade, spray in bedliner. I said it still doesn’t cover it and that I would speak with my wife. In The meantime I made them give me my 2011 back. Ya, they weren’t happy. After the weekend I came back in to find out what the final outcome was. They had found another grand in incentives. So now I had a 2018 instead of the 2017;I had originally purchased. The difference was about 500 bucks which the bedliner actually covered.
While my wife was still pretty upset at the deal I told her we really had a better truck. Drove out of there happy boy.

 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 01:58 AM
  #21  
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Anyone want to post up there spring part numbers or part number from the front stabilizer? I will go find mine and post them, I just purchased a 2018 157" wb MTP with 20" wheels and am curious what's really different when you get the 20" wheels.
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 06:34 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by ford390gashog
Anyone want to post up there spring part numbers or part number from the front stabilizer? I will go find mine and post them, I just purchased a 2018 157" wb MTP with 20" wheels and am curious what's really different when you get the 20" wheels.
My questions would be how many leafs on the rear springs and how many turns lock to lock on the steering. Thanks
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 10:02 AM
  #23  
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My 2018 F-150 Platinum FX4 with a 3.5L Ecoboost, 3:55.1 gears, max tow package and 145.0" WB can pull 11,700 lbs I think. A friend that had to pull his loaded cattle hauler to the sale barn had a RAM 2500 that wouldn't run for some reason asked me if I would pull if for him. I wasn't sure my truck was capable until I looked up the spec's. My truck didn't have any problem pulling the 12,000 lb. trailer loaded with 10 cows but I don't think I would want to do that often.
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 01:31 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by ford390gashog
Anyone want to post up there spring part numbers or part number from the front stabilizer? I will go find mine and post them, I just purchased a 2018 157" wb MTP with 20" wheels and am curious what's really different when you get the 20" wheels.
Mine is a 2018 157" Max Tow Lariat with 18" wheels and shows part# FL3Z-5482-B for the front stabilizer in the service department's lookup program.
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 02:00 PM
  #25  
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2018 Max Tow 3.5 Ecoboost 157” FX4, I’ve got the same front stabilizer 5482-B. This is the heavier duty bar as it’s listed at just over 25lbs where the standard is a bit over 14lbs.

Rear springs are FL-34-5560-CH

Frame on my truck is marked 156.8 4x4HD

Upgraded received hitch HL3A-19D534-BC

GVWR 7050lbs and I do have the 9.75” rear end w/ 3.55 e-lock.

Truck was optioned with the LT275/65/18C Goodyear Wrangler Adventure all terrain tires. Door sticker payload is 1680lbs.
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 02:15 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Rlee628
2018 Max Tow 3.5 Ecoboost 157” FX4, I’ve got the same front stabilizer 5482-B. This is the heavier duty bar as it’s listed at just over 25lbs where the standard is a bit over 14lbs.

Rear springs are FL-34-5560-CH

Frame on my truck is marked 156.8 4x4HD

Upgraded received hitch HL3A-19D534-BC

GVWR 7050lbs and I do have the 9.75” rear end w/ 3.55 e-lock.

Truck was optioned with the LT275/65/18C Goodyear Wrangler Adventure all terrain tires. Door sticker payload is 1680lbs.
Thanks for this. I'll have to do a comparison on mine when I'm back at the service dept. next week. Unless there's some online tool that lets me look this up?
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 02:40 PM
  #27  
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Interesting to note but the rear frame section from rear cab back is .147 thickness from what I can measure. The frame sticker also shows HPP for the frame but this truck does not have the heavy payload package.
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 06:51 PM
  #28  
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I'm looking at a 2018 now, with the trailer tow package, 36 gallon tank, trailer brake control, and 20's. Its payload is 1850#. The three max tow trucks next to it on the lot are at 1750#. I can't see any reason why I need the max tow if I'm not dragging a trailer that is up at the 13k weight level. All have the 3.55 locker. That is the bigger need over the 3.31. The rest is fluff. After dragging trailers from 8 feet to 40 feet, I don't think the steering gear means squat. I can't recall ever buying a truck 20 years ago that had a special steering gear for trailering.
 
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Old May 27, 2018 | 11:04 PM
  #29  
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Weird that they are so low. Here is mine with max tow
 
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Old May 28, 2018 | 04:53 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by ford390gashog

Weird that they are so low. Here is mine with max tow

Yours is 20# from my max tow with the 18" wheels.

 
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