We want to upgrade Wife's ride to a 5.5' box crew cab 4x4 F-150. Anyone who's ordered a truck might be able to answer this: We're going through the Ford online configuration and there's no place I see to add the Heavy Payload package (627), or up the rear springs. We did a test on a 2015 with the 7000 GVWR package dropping our horse trailer on it and it dropped the rear 3". Wife didn't like that at all - worried about some of the trail heads she has to get into and out of.

I'm wondering if the system at the dealer that they actually enter the order into has more options? My neighbor has a '14 (same configuration) with Max Tow and his door sticker shows a GVWR of over 7600# and his barely drops when he puts his 800# tongue weight trailer on it before hooking up his WD hitch.

I'd prefer not going into this new truck having to put air bags on it right off the bat, and rather have a bit higher rate spring package.

Any help is appreciated!
Scott

 

Heavy Payload package isn't available on a short bed truck. You also can't get the option in the US after 301a package anymore. There is another way to get the spring and suspension upgrade, you would need to get a max tow equipped truck with 20" wheels and if you need full upgrades and highest towing it will need to be a 157wb truck.

 

Unfortunately, HDPP isn't available with 5.5' box which is why you're not seeing it on the configurator.

• Reg cab + 8'
• SCab + 8'
• SCrew + 6.5'

Additionally, only available on XL & XLT trim (used to be included on lariat but that was dropped). You're very limited on equipment groups that can be added to either trim.

 

Thanks guys - Bummer... Yes she wants a Lariat that is optioned up.... :-(

Guess I'll be putting air bags on her brand new truck. Here I was having a tough time between the 3.5EB and going 5.0 with a 3.73 gear set - for some reason you can't do the tow package and 3.55s in a short box either. 5.0 + tow package = 3.31 by default, but yet I can select 3.73 and keep tow, go figure... I was thinking there had to be a bug in their system, because it makes no logical sense to me...

It used to be fun to order a new truck... :-(

Scott

 

3.55s and 3.73s are available with elocker on the 5.0 and 3.55s are available on the 3.5 EB. You are correct that a standard open diff isn't available - you have to get the elocker if you want to change gears.

If I would getting something to pull horse trailers would strongly consider the max tow package. Has EB engine, 3.55 e locker and 36 gallon tank plus TBC.

Be sure if she wants tow mirrors to add them NOW. The are very expensive to get after the fact.

 

E locker for sure, but I could Not get the 3.55 option and have a tow package with the 5.0, well on the Ford configuration tool anyway. And we absolutely want the larger tow mirrors! Thanks for pointing that out but once I saw them I knew she'd be all: oh-yeah baby...

I took the specs of our current Expy engine and we have 3.55s with it btw, and put them along side both the 3.5EB and the 5.0. I'm not all that afraid of the EB complexity and it makes nice lower rpm grunt, but that is the only way the Max Tow is available, is the 3.5 and 3.55s. Our Expy handles the trailer fine, so I was even thinking of 3.31 with the extra power? Does the axle ratio matter as much with that nifty 10 speed trans??

We're going to get our friend with the '15 to come back over and try another draw bar and see how level it looks with the trailer. We started with our 4" drop that is perfect with our current Expy with air suspension, then went with a 2" drop, but didn't try the ball on top of the draw bar (I think I have the terms correct, so that would be a 0" or no drop?).
I am leaning towards the 3.5 - we have a twin hot-turbo sedan and it makes ridiculous power, especially noticeable how low it will lug and pull strong...

Maybe I should just start a "help me spec our truck" thread...

Thanks for all the help,
Scott

 

The 3.5EB is a workhorse. I would argue that the wider range on the 10-speed makes the differential gear ratio somewhat moot. However, if you're doing hills/mountains (I see you're in the foothills), going up to a 3.55 might be a wise choice.

 

Thanks, with three OD gears to choose from, my bet is 3.55 or 3.73 are just fine... But power brings greed, and I'm a greedy bast*rd... So when I drive Her truck, it'd be fun to run it in Sport mode and have some funnnnn... So I'm leaning 3.5 twin turbo...

 

Update: We had our friend with the very similar to what we'd order F150, bring his truck back over this morning to play around more with it and our horse trailer - different draw bar drops, etc. Good news! The truck dropped 2 1/2" at the hitch with a 2" drop drawbar & ball and the trailer was almost perfectly level. Measured the front of the truck and it rose 3/4" with the trailer on. Looked very straight with maybe an inch or so bed high still.

Don't need no stinking air bags! One thing that surprised me was our old Expy's hitch looks way stouter than the new F150's - mostly thicker steel and massive mount that attached further up the frame with 8 bolts. The F150's is only 6 bolts and is attached to the end of the frame tubes. I have to assume Ford has gone to stronger steel on this new hitch. Has anyone heard of one failing?! Chevy had hitch problems back in the mid 2000s as I recall - they over-rated and under-built them...

Over the weekend we configured a truck exactly like my Wife would like. So if the dealer I'm working with doesn't come through with one in inventory, we're just going to order it...
Thanks again for all of your help!
Scott

 

The base hitch and the max tow hitch are two very different designs. If you go with max tow its a more substantial hitch with bumper bracing and frame attachment.

 

Thank you, Sir! We placed an order for the truck Today and went with the Max Tow - have come up with some interesting threads googling the Max Tow, and found what you have said on the hitch to be the same. It's gonna' take a good long while to get it built and here, but I'm happy we did the build and ordered it exactly how we want...

Joining the F150 crowd someday soon...
Scott

 

Just one comment, if that truck you ordered doesn't put a smile on your face while in sport mode, like mine does for me, there would be something seriously wrong with it.

 

I had 2 3.5 trucks and now have a 5.0. All of them put a smile on my face, the 5.0 just takes a few more RPM.

 

Can you point me to any pictures or threads with comparison of the two hitches? My next door neighbor has a '14 with Max Tow (I know a different model series) - I crawled under his truck and the way the hitch is connected and the thickness of the steel, etc. were a huge difference from the standard hitch my other friend with the '15 has. Heck it was even welded to the rear spring perches!

I'd like to see a closer to current MY Max Tow receiver...

Thanks,
Scott

 

I hate to send you to another forum (sorry mods) but I know I've seen it there. Take a look here through the first couple pages. There are some comparison pics there. I will say, the place where the safety chains attach is much beefier on the Max tow hitch.