Max Trailer Weight
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Freshman User
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Max Trailer Weight
I am a little confused about the max trailer weight that I can tow on the rear hitch. Not that I haul anything over 7,000lb but I am just curious. In the owners manual, it said that my '09 F250 can only have a 6,000 lb trailer on the rear hitch without a weight distribution hitch. But on my window sticker it says that my hitch can tow 12,500 lb. Am I reading the owner's manual wrong? Any insight would be appreciated for this weekend warrior.
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From: Itinerant
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
Lets start here.
You have a bumper that is capable of having a ball on it and then you can tow. 6K is the max and I think 500 lbs tounge weight. You will never use the bumper for that purpose.
Your truck came with a reciever just under the bumper. That is what is capable of the 12.5 K towing and 1200lbs on the hitch. That is what your window sticker is telling you.
So you can tow up to 12.5K trailer.
So you say nothing more than 7K is all you will towing, therefore you are good to go.
Lets talk about one other item..we know we can tow 12.5K, but can we stop that? Did your truck come with the trailer brake controller? If not then you would need to add that item so that you can use the trailer brakes when towing.
I always recommend that when you have a trailer over 5K that it has brakes. In fact, some states have it as law.
So you have the reciever hitch and the TBC and this will give you the 12.5 max towing.
Hope this helps.
You have a bumper that is capable of having a ball on it and then you can tow. 6K is the max and I think 500 lbs tounge weight. You will never use the bumper for that purpose.
Your truck came with a reciever just under the bumper. That is what is capable of the 12.5 K towing and 1200lbs on the hitch. That is what your window sticker is telling you.
So you can tow up to 12.5K trailer.
So you say nothing more than 7K is all you will towing, therefore you are good to go.
Lets talk about one other item..we know we can tow 12.5K, but can we stop that? Did your truck come with the trailer brake controller? If not then you would need to add that item so that you can use the trailer brakes when towing.
I always recommend that when you have a trailer over 5K that it has brakes. In fact, some states have it as law.
So you have the reciever hitch and the TBC and this will give you the 12.5 max towing.
Hope this helps.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
I am a little confused about the max trailer weight that I can tow on the rear hitch. Not that I haul anything over 7,000lb but I am just curious. In the owners manual, it said that my '09 F250 can only have a 6,000 lb trailer on the rear hitch without a weight distribution hitch. But on my window sticker it says that my hitch can tow 12,500 lb. Am I reading the owner's manual wrong? Any insight would be appreciated for this weekend warrior.
you can tow up to 6,000 lbs on the hitch without weight distribution assistance..
12,500 with it.
the sticker says the max, just doesn't say how.
I have an F350, with the 2.5 in receiver, which adds even MORE fun..
using an adapter so that I can use a 2 in drawbar, its 6,000lbs.
if I buy a fancy 2.5in drawbar, then I get 8,000lbs, both non-WD,
still only 12,500 with WD.
Sam
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Stillwater, OK
no reason to put a ball on the bumper of a newer SD... they all come with reciever hitches...
the reciever hitch is rated for 12,500# draw and 1,250# load when using a weight distribution setup
but only 6,000# draw and 600# load when using a straight tounge.
this, however, has no influence on your GVW Rating or GCVW Recommendation.
For instance... an F250 diesel CC, long box, can't take too much tounge weight.
the reciever hitch is rated for 12,500# draw and 1,250# load when using a weight distribution setup
but only 6,000# draw and 600# load when using a straight tounge.
this, however, has no influence on your GVW Rating or GCVW Recommendation.
For instance... an F250 diesel CC, long box, can't take too much tounge weight.
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From: Stephensville WI
The 12.5k rating is for the hitch. Only the hitch, not the truck. It has nothing to do with how much your truck can tow. Some Super Duty trucks can tow a lot more, some a bit less.
Your truck's towing capacity is different. it depends on which chassis, engine, transmission and gearing you have. A 2009 F-250 is rated to tow anywhere from 9200 pounds to 12,500 pounds.
See
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...erDutyConv.pdf
for more details.
But, it doesn't end there. You also have to think about tongue weight, how much cargo the truck is hauling and how much weight your tires can support.
Your truck's towing capacity is different. it depends on which chassis, engine, transmission and gearing you have. A 2009 F-250 is rated to tow anywhere from 9200 pounds to 12,500 pounds.
See
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...erDutyConv.pdf
for more details.
But, it doesn't end there. You also have to think about tongue weight, how much cargo the truck is hauling and how much weight your tires can support.
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From: Frederick, MD
Nope. They all come standard with the hitch and the trailer wiring. The TBC is called the tow command system I beleive. A separate item. An option still.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: TX
sdetweil...
I think you may be slightly a$$ over tea kettle on that one.
Its 6k max. capacity on the bumper and 12.5k on the reciever hitch.
That is regardless of any sway control or none at all.
Sway control does not allow you to carry more weight, it just
gives you the ability to carry that weight safer, with more control.
***
Some bumpers like RANCHHAND brand can handle up to 15k on the
bumper itself, because it is made of thick steel like a receiver.
RECEIVERS:
class III can handle 10k
class IV can handle 12.5k
class V can handle about 15k-16k
G.N. & 5th wheels handle 15k-26k
I think you may be slightly a$$ over tea kettle on that one.
Its 6k max. capacity on the bumper and 12.5k on the reciever hitch.
That is regardless of any sway control or none at all.
Sway control does not allow you to carry more weight, it just
gives you the ability to carry that weight safer, with more control.
***
Some bumpers like RANCHHAND brand can handle up to 15k on the
bumper itself, because it is made of thick steel like a receiver.
RECEIVERS:
class III can handle 10k
class IV can handle 12.5k
class V can handle about 15k-16k
G.N. & 5th wheels handle 15k-26k
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
sdetweil...
I think you may be slightly a$$ over tea kettle on that one.
Its 6k max. capacity on the bumper and 12.5k on the reciever hitch.
That is regardless of any sway control or none at all.
Sway control does not allow you to carry more weight, it just
gives you the ability to carry that weight safer, with more control.
***
Some bumpers like RANCHHAND brand can handle up to 15k on the
bumper itself, because it is made of thick steel like a receiver.
RECEIVERS:
class III can handle 10k
class IV can handle 12.5k
class V can handle about 15k-16k
G.N. & 5th wheels handle 15k-26k
I think you may be slightly a$$ over tea kettle on that one.
Its 6k max. capacity on the bumper and 12.5k on the reciever hitch.
That is regardless of any sway control or none at all.
Sway control does not allow you to carry more weight, it just
gives you the ability to carry that weight safer, with more control.
***
Some bumpers like RANCHHAND brand can handle up to 15k on the
bumper itself, because it is made of thick steel like a receiver.
RECEIVERS:
class III can handle 10k
class IV can handle 12.5k
class V can handle about 15k-16k
G.N. & 5th wheels handle 15k-26k
from the Ford Towing Guide (2008), page 29,
http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/p...TTgdeMay07.pdf
bumper, hitch, and hitch wd are shown..
F250/F350 SRW, 2in receiver
bumper is 5k, hitch is 5k, wd is 12.5k
F350 DRW 2.5in receiver
bumper is 5k, hitch is 8k, wd is 15k, (with adapter only 6k, and 12.5k respectively)
(8k is not show on this table, but is on the hitch, and the paper doc,
and on the online doc here http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../0860l6d4e.pdf)
its my truck..(see sig), so I know it personally..
page 29 image attached.
and, sorry, 09 is unchanged from the 08 in this regard
sam
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,384
Likes: 1,867
From: Frederick, MD
from the Ford Towing Guide (2008), page 29,
http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/p...TTgdeMay07.pdf
bumper, hitch, and hitch wd are shown..
bumper is 5k, hitch is 6k, wd is 15k, (with adapter only 12.5k)
its my truck..(see sig), so I know it personally..
page 29 image attached.
sam
http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/p...TTgdeMay07.pdf
bumper, hitch, and hitch wd are shown..
bumper is 5k, hitch is 6k, wd is 15k, (with adapter only 12.5k)
its my truck..(see sig), so I know it personally..
page 29 image attached.
sam
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 226
Likes: 1
From: TX
The chart says about the same as what I stated earlier.
But...you dont need the extra equipment to be able to tow
the full 12.5k trailer weight, it just makes the trip safer.
Class III & IV hitches are 2" reciever.
Class V hitches are 2.5" receiver.
Even paperwork sometimes gives wrong information.
Hell, I am wrong on occasion (according to my wife).
But...you dont need the extra equipment to be able to tow
the full 12.5k trailer weight, it just makes the trip safer.
Class III & IV hitches are 2" reciever.
Class V hitches are 2.5" receiver.
Even paperwork sometimes gives wrong information.
Hell, I am wrong on occasion (according to my wife).
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Freshman User
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Yeah, I have the OEM TBC.
Thank you for all the comments. I have no current plans to pull more than I do now but wanted to know my limits. I have seen my share of vehicle/trailer mishaps over the years and don't want to be "that guy".