High Capacity Tow Package
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Trailering
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
High Capacity Tow Package
I have a 2018 Platinum 250 with the High Capacity Tow Package. My understanding is that this package adds a 4th leaf spring, a 3" receiver hitch, and an upgraded axle. The stickered payload on this vehicle is just under 2,000 lbs.
From what I can tell, the only difference between this truck and a 350 is that the 350 has 5 leaf springs instead of 4, and has a payload over 3,000 lbs.
Does the 5th spring really make that big of a difference to increase the payload by over #1,000?
From what I can tell, the only difference between this truck and a 350 is that the 350 has 5 leaf springs instead of 4, and has a payload over 3,000 lbs.
Does the 5th spring really make that big of a difference to increase the payload by over #1,000?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 787
Likes: 72
From: Lansing MI
No, what gives the 350 the extra 1000+# of payload is the GVWR cap on 10,000# on the 250. Mechanically I wold say most (more likely ALL) 250s are able ti handle more than 10,000#, but the certification is only offered up to that limit.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Well as you found it essentially makes it a F350 truck but with such a low payload it isn't able to achieve huge towing numbers because you will exceed GVWR. So the high capacity tow package at least gets you the M275 axle and 3.55 gears.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
A pair of four-leaf rear springs are rated for 6,340 lbs., and a pair of SRW five-leaf springs are rated for 7230 lbs. This officially accounts for 890 lbs. of the up to 1500 lbs. GVWR difference.
Another factor in the GVWR equation is Ford often uses lower inflation pressure specs for tires on the F250 vs the F350. Lower pressure equals lower load rating.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Another factor in the GVWR equation is Ford often uses lower inflation pressure specs for tires on the F250 vs the F350. Lower pressure equals lower load rating.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 643
Likes: 154
From: Poway, CA
You are one leaf spring shy of being a F350 but you have the same GVWR as every other F250. That 10,000 pound GVWR says nothing about your specific truck other than the fact that Ford wanted it to be a Class 2 vehicle for marketing purposes. A 6.2 with 3950 lbs. front springs, a lighter duty transmission, no overloads, and a Sterling rear axle has the same GVWR as your truck, but not because they are equally capable.
I would never recommend the F250 HCTTP over a F350 because they cost the same and you end up with lower capacities on paper. But if that's the truck you have, know that from a mechanical standpoint, it's capability far exceeds it's paper capacities. Aim to stay under the objective ratings (tires, wheels, axles, etc.) of your truck and it will safely and efficiently do everything you want or ask of it.
I would never recommend the F250 HCTTP over a F350 because they cost the same and you end up with lower capacities on paper. But if that's the truck you have, know that from a mechanical standpoint, it's capability far exceeds it's paper capacities. Aim to stay under the objective ratings (tires, wheels, axles, etc.) of your truck and it will safely and efficiently do everything you want or ask of it.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 643
Likes: 154
From: Poway, CA
A pair of four-leaf rear springs are rated for 6,340 lbs., and a pair of SRW five-leaf springs are rated for 7230 lbs. This officially accounts for 890 lbs. of the up to 1500 lbs. GVWR difference.
Another factor in the GVWR equation is Ford often uses lower inflation pressure specs for tires on the F250 vs the F350. Lower pressure equals lower load rating.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Another factor in the GVWR equation is Ford often uses lower inflation pressure specs for tires on the F250 vs the F350. Lower pressure equals lower load rating.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 787
Likes: 72
From: Lansing MI
The package does not require the 3.55. It can be had with the 3.31 as well.
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More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 643
Likes: 154
From: Poway, CA
I don't think that is correct. On the build site, it defaults to 3.55 non-limited slip and the only available option is the 3.55 locking. Selecting any other ratio forces you to remove the HCTTP option. I recall that also being the case when I ordered my truck.
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Trailering
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
A pair of four-leaf rear springs are rated for 6,340 lbs., and a pair of SRW five-leaf springs are rated for 7230 lbs. This officially accounts for 890 lbs. of the up to 1500 lbs. GVWR difference.
Another factor in the GVWR equation is Ford often uses lower inflation pressure specs for tires on the F250 vs the F350. Lower pressure equals lower load rating.
Another factor in the GVWR equation is Ford often uses lower inflation pressure specs for tires on the F250 vs the F350. Lower pressure equals lower load rating.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
The 250's rear GAWR is de-rated on paper just like it's GVWR. Bottom line is payload, GVWR, and GAWR are not engineering based on the F250. The HC tow version is even more neutered on paper than the standard 250. As you have figured out... it is essentially a SRW 350 minus one spring... and that one spring isn't what the de-rate is based off of...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
If I may add to Rodney’s comment, it looks to me like some of the specs are “application engineered”. For example, the 6340 lbs. spring spec for the base F250 (three leaves) and the F250 with certain HD options (i.e., camper package and HCTTP; four leaves), and the base F350 gas (four leaves) is suspiciously close to the max load rating for the base LT245/75R17E tires (3195 lbs.each @ 80 psi; 6390 lbs. for the pair).
And, despite the same load ratings, the three-leaf springs are rated as “two stage”, and the four-leaf springs as “there stage”. I’d expect for them to behave differently when heavily loaded.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
And, despite the same load ratings, the three-leaf springs are rated as “two stage”, and the four-leaf springs as “there stage”. I’d expect for them to behave differently when heavily loaded.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 643
Likes: 154
From: Poway, CA
I agree that on paper, those numbers are "Yikes" worthy. If the payload sticker is your focus, you may believe that the two trucks have similar capabilities. This is a huge fallacy in the "weight police" mindset. They look at the sticker and fail to look at the truck and it's specific components. In reality, a F150 and a F250 with similar payloads are vastly different vehicles. Even more so when you get into a HCTTP; same rear axle as an F350, same front axle as a F450, same breaks as a F350, same frame as an F450, same diesel engine as a F450, and same transmission as a F450. To prepare my truck for fifth wheel towing, I added a set of StableLoads which engage the upper overloads sooner. The truck squats to level under the pin weight.
My truck is not challenged in the slightest by my 12,000 pound GVW fifth wheel and the towing experience is excellent...effortless really. In contrast, I refused to tow any trailer over 7500 pounds with my 2016 max tow F150. It was fine at that weight but my personal standards for the towing experience demand more than just fine. The payload sticker on on my F-250 is only a couple hundred pounds more than the F150 but it is twice the truck. There is really no comparison.
My truck is not challenged in the slightest by my 12,000 pound GVW fifth wheel and the towing experience is excellent...effortless really. In contrast, I refused to tow any trailer over 7500 pounds with my 2016 max tow F150. It was fine at that weight but my personal standards for the towing experience demand more than just fine. The payload sticker on on my F-250 is only a couple hundred pounds more than the F150 but it is twice the truck. There is really no comparison.
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Trailering
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Thanks for the feedback so far.
With a GCVWR of 25,700 I was finding it hard to believe that a truck which can easily tow a 11,000# travel trailer with a tongue weight of 1,500# would have trouble with a 12,000# 5th wheel with a pin weight of 2,300#.
I like the look of JD's setup. What's the approx. pin weight on that one?
With a GCVWR of 25,700 I was finding it hard to believe that a truck which can easily tow a 11,000# travel trailer with a tongue weight of 1,500# would have trouble with a 12,000# 5th wheel with a pin weight of 2,300#.
I like the look of JD's setup. What's the approx. pin weight on that one?