Ford Towing Capacity chart – (2025-2026)

Determining a Ford vehicle’s towing capacity is one of the most critical calculations a driver can make, whether for work, recreation, or daily utility. However, the process is far more complex than simply looking at a single advertised number. The “maximum” towing capacity prominently featured in brochures and on websites represents a best-case scenario—a specific, and often uncommon, combination of engine, drivetrain, axle ratio, and optional equipment. In reality, towing capacity is a dynamic figure that varies significantly across a model lineup.

This guide provides a comprehensive, data-driven breakdown of the entire Ford truck and SUV lineup. It moves beyond the marketing figures to deliver the detailed charts and foundational knowledge necessary for making an informed decision. Understanding that a vehicle’s true capability is a calculated range, not a fixed number, is the first step toward safe and confident towing.

The maximum advertised rating is an engineering ceiling achieved only under ideal conditions. For example, the headline rating for an F-150 is often achieved with the powerful 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine, a specific cab and bed configuration, the highest available numerical axle ratio, and the mandatory Max Trailer Tow Package.

Any deviation from this precise formula will result in a different, and typically lower, towing capacity. The key for any owner or prospective buyer is to understand the specific rating for their exact vehicle configuration to ensure safety and prevent damage.

Decoding the Lingo – Your Essential Towing Glossary

Before diving into the specific charts for each model, it is essential to understand the terminology that governs all towing calculations. These terms are found on the vehicle’s door jamb stickers and are the building blocks of every towing capacity figure provided by Ford.

Payload Capacity

Payload is arguably the most important and most frequently misunderstood metric in towing. It is defined as the maximum weight of all cargo and occupants that a vehicle can safely carry. This includes everything from passengers and pets to coolers in the cab and tools in the bed. Critically, it also includes the tongue weight of any trailer being towed.

The payload capacity for a specific vehicle is not found in a brochure but on the “Tire and Loading Information” label, typically located on the driver’s side door jamb. It is calculated using a simple formula:

Payload Capacity=GVWR−Curb Weight

For example, if a truck has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 7,500 pounds and a curb weight of 5,000 pounds, its maximum payload capacity is 2,500 pounds.

Tongue Weight is the Hidden Payload Killer

A vehicle’s ability to tow is often limited by its payload capacity long before it reaches its maximum trailer weight rating. This is because the trailer’s tongue weight—the downward force exerted by the trailer on the vehicle’s hitch—counts directly against the vehicle’s payload.

Consider an F-150 with a payload capacity of 1,800 pounds. If this truck is hitched to a 10,000-pound travel trailer, the trailer’s tongue weight will be between 1,000 and 1,500 pounds (10-15% of the trailer weight). Using a conservative 1,200-pound tongue weight, the available payload on the truck is immediately reduced to just 600 pounds. The remaining 600 pounds must account for the driver, all passengers, and any other gear inside the truck.

A family of four could easily exceed this limit, making the setup unsafe and overweight, even while being thousands of pounds under the truck’s advertised maximum tow rating. This demonstrates that for safe towing, payload capacity is the first number to check.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the absolute maximum permissible weight of a fully loaded vehicle, as determined by the manufacturer. This weight includes the vehicle itself (curb weight) plus all passengers, cargo, and the trailer’s tongue weight. The GVWR is a critical safety limit that should never be exceeded. It is listed on the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver’s side door jamb.

Exceeding the GVWR can overstress the vehicle’s frame, suspension, axles, and brakes, leading to component failure and a loss of control.

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)

The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded tow vehicle and the fully loaded trailer combined. This rating represents the total mass that the vehicle’s powertrain (engine and transmission) is designed to move and that its braking system can help to safely control.

Like GVWR, the GCWR is a non-negotiable safety limit set by the manufacturer. The actual measured weight of the truck and trailer combination must never exceed the vehicle’s GCWR.

Tongue Weight / King Pin Weight

Tongue weight is the downward static force that the trailer coupler exerts on the hitch ball of the tow vehicle. For 5th-wheel and gooseneck trailers, this is referred to as kingpin weight. Proper tongue weight is essential for stable, safe towing. Too little tongue weight can cause dangerous trailer sway, while too much can overload the tow vehicle’s rear axle and negatively affect steering control.

Ford recommends the following guidelines:

• Conventional Towing: Tongue weight should be 10-15% of the total loaded trailer weight.
• 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Towing: Kingpin weight should be 15-25% of the total loaded trailer weight.

The Role of Axle Ratio

The axle ratio describes the relationship between the speed of the driveshaft and the speed of the axles. A higher numerical ratio (e.g., 3.73:1 or 4.10:1) means the driveshaft turns more times for each single rotation of the wheels.¹⁵ This acts as a torque multiplier, giving the vehicle more leverage to pull heavy loads from a standstill and on inclines. The trade-off is that the engine must run at a higher RPM at cruising speed, which can reduce fuel efficiency.

Conversely, a lower numerical ratio (e.g., 3.31:1) is better for fuel economy but provides less towing force. As an example of its impact, a Ford F-250 with a Power Stroke diesel engine and a 3.31 axle can tow 15,800 pounds, but the same truck equipped with a 3.55 axle can tow up to 22,000 pounds.

Conventional vs. 5th-Wheel vs. Gooseneck Towing

The type of hitch used fundamentally changes a truck’s towing dynamics and maximum capacity.

• Conventional Towing: This involves a hitch receiver mounted to the vehicle’s frame, typically below the rear bumper. This is the most common type for towing boats, utility trailers, and most travel trailers.
• 5th-Wheel and Gooseneck Towing: These systems mount a hitch in the bed of the pickup truck, positioned directly over or slightly ahead of the rear axle. A 5th-wheel uses a large, flat plate and a kingpin connection (similar to a semi-truck), while a gooseneck uses a ball-and-coupler connection. By placing the trailer’s load point directly over the truck’s rear axle, these hitches provide vastly superior stability and allow the truck to handle significantly heavier and larger trailers compared to a conventional hitch. This is why the highest tow ratings for Super Duty trucks are always for 5th-wheel or gooseneck applications.

Ford Truck Towing Capacity Charts (2025-2026)

Ford’s truck lineup is the cornerstone of its brand, offering a range of capabilities from the versatile Maverick to the formidable Super Duty. The following charts provide a detailed look at the towing capacities for each model, highlighting how different configurations affect their ratings.

2025 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

As America’s best-selling truck for decades, the Ford F-150 is engineered for versatility, with a wide array of powertrains designed to meet nearly any light-duty towing need.¹ Its capacity varies significantly based on engine choice, cab size, bed length, and optional packages.

The maximum towing potential of each F-150 engine provides a clear hierarchy of capability. While traditional wisdom often favors V8 engines for towing, the F-150’s powertrain lineup tells a different story. The 3.5L EcoBoost® V6, with its twin turbochargers, generates 500 lb-ft of torque, significantly more than the 5.0L V8’s 410 lb-ft. Since towing heavy loads requires immense low-end torque to get moving and climb grades,

the EcoBoost’s superior torque output allows it to achieve a higher maximum tow rating than its V8 counterpart. This makes the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 the premier choice for maximizing conventional towing performance in the F-150 lineup.

2025 Ford F-150 Maximum Conventional Towing Capacity (lbs.) by Engine

To achieve the F-150’s highest ratings, specific equipment is mandatory. The maximum 13,500-pound capacity requires the Max Trailer Tow Package, which includes a 3.73 electronic locking rear axle, an integrated trailer brake controller, and an upgraded rear bumper. Without this package, towing capacities are significantly lower. Once you’ve found the right powertrain, you can explore our inventory of new Ford F-150 trucks to see available configurations.

2025-2026 Ford Super Duty® (F-250, F-350, F-450) Towing Capacity

The Ford Super Duty lineup is built for the most extreme towing and hauling tasks. These trucks are engineered to handle the immense weight of large construction equipment, multi-horse trailers, and the biggest recreational vehicles on the market. The key to unlocking their ultimate potential lies in utilizing 5th-wheel and gooseneck hitches, which dramatically increase capacity over conventional methods.

While the F-250 and F-350 Single Rear Wheel (SRW) models post impressive numbers, the gateway to elite towing capability is the Dual Rear Wheel (DRW) configuration, commonly known as a “dually.” The data shows a monumental leap in 5th-wheel/gooseneck capacity when moving from an F-350 SRW (up to 27,600 lbs) to an F-350 DRW (up to 38,000 lbs).

This is because the primary limiting factor for extreme loads is not just engine power, but stability and tire capacity. The DRW setup distributes the immense kingpin weight across four rear tires instead of two, doubling the tire load capacity and creating a wider, more stable platform. This engineering is what makes it possible to safely manage trailers in the 30,000 to 40,000-pound range, making a DRW configuration essential for the heaviest hauling jobs.

2025/2026 Ford Super Duty Max Towing Capacity (lbs.) by Model & Engine

2025 Ford Ranger Towing Capacity

The thoroughly redesigned Ford Ranger brings impressive capability to the mid-size truck segment, offering a powerful and more maneuverable alternative to a full-size pickup. Its towing capacity is robust for its class, but achieving its maximum potential is entirely dependent on selecting the correct optional equipment.

The standard Ranger models, equipped with either the 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 or the available 2.7L EcoBoost® V6, can tow up to 7,500 pounds. This rating, however, is only achievable with the available Trailer Tow Package (53R). Without this package, towing is limited to 3,500 pounds using the bumper hitch. The high-performance Ranger Raptor has a lower tow rating of 5,510 pounds. This reduction is a direct result of its specialized long-travel suspension, which is tuned for high-speed off-road compliance rather than maximum load-bearing stiffness—a crucial engineering trade-off for its intended purpose.

2025 Ford Ranger Max Towing Capacity (lbs.)

2025 Ford Maverick Towing Capacity

The Ford Maverick has redefined the compact truck segment by offering the efficiency and comfort of a unibody platform with the utility of an open bed. Its towing capabilities are tailored for lighter-duty tasks like pulling small campers, utility trailers, or jet skis, with a clear distinction between its standard and upgraded capacities.

The Maverick’s towing story is a simple, binary choice. The standard powertrain, whether the 2.5L Hybrid or the 2.0L EcoBoost®, provides a base towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. To unlock the vehicle’s full potential, buyers must opt for the 2.0L EcoBoost® engine with all-wheel drive and select the 4K Tow Package. This package is a comprehensive upgrade that doubles the towing capacity to 4,000 pounds by adding a Class III hitch,

an integrated trailer brake controller, and enhanced cooling systems for the engine and transmission. This presents a clear decision for consumers: prioritize maximum fuel efficiency with the hybrid’s 2,000-pound capacity or choose the EcoBoost with the 4K package for significantly more hauling power.

2025 Ford Maverick Max Towing Capacity (lbs.)

Data synthesized from.34

Ford SUV Towing Capacity Charts (2025)

Ford’s SUV lineup extends the brand’s reputation for capability into family-focused vehicles. From the truck-based Expedition to the versatile Explorer, these models offer significant towing power for hauling boats, campers, and other recreational trailers without requiring a dedicated pickup.

2025 Ford Expedition Towing Capacity

The Ford Expedition is a body-on-frame SUV, sharing its underpinnings with the F-150. This construction gives it truck-like strength and makes it a class leader for families with serious towing needs.³⁶ Its capacity is influenced by its wheelbase (standard vs. the longer MAX version) and the crucial Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package.

Interestingly, the largest model is not the most capable tower. Data shows that the standard-wheelbase Expedition 4×4, when properly equipped, has the highest tow rating in the lineup at 9,600 pounds. The longer Expedition MAX 4×4 is rated slightly lower at 9,000 pounds.

This counterintuitive result is due to the MAX model’s higher curb weight, which reduces the overall Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) available for the trailer. For buyers looking to maximize their towing capacity in an Expedition, the standard-wheelbase 4×4 with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package is the optimal configuration.

2025 Ford Expedition Max Towing Capacity (lbs.)

2025 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity

The Ford Explorer is a three-row unibody crossover SUV designed for versatility, comfort, and family adventures. For the 2025 model year, Ford has simplified the Explorer’s towing capabilities, making it more straightforward for consumers.

The most significant update is that the Class III Trailer Tow Package is now standard equipment on all 2025 Explorer models.⁴² This decision streamlines the lineup and provides a consistent and robust maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds across every trim level and engine choice, including both the standard 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 and the powerful 3.0L EcoBoost® V6.

This represents a change from previous model years, where towing capacity varied and the tow package was an optional extra.⁴¹ For 2025, every Explorer leaves the factory ready to tow up to 5,000 pounds, enough for many small travel trailers and mid-size boats.

2025 Ford Explorer Max Towing Capacity (lbs.)

Ford’s Smart Towing Technology

Modern towing is defined as much by intelligent technology as it is by raw power. Ford integrates a suite of advanced features designed to make the process of hitching, backing up, and driving with a trailer safer and less stressful.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ & Pro Trailer Hitch Assist™

These innovative systems help to remove the guesswork from two of the most challenging towing tasks. Pro Trailer Hitch Assist™ uses cameras and sensors to automatically control the steering, throttle, and brakes to line the hitch ball directly up to the trailer coupler. Once hitched, Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ allows the driver to steer the trailer while reversing using a simple knob on the dashboard. The driver rotates the knob in the direction they want the trailer to go, and the system handles the complex steering inputs automatically.

Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (TBC)

Included in most Ford tow packages, the factory-installed Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (TBC) synchronizes the vehicle’s brakes with the electric or electric-over-hydraulic brakes on the trailer. This provides proportional braking based on the driver’s input, resulting in smoother, more controlled stops compared to aftermarket controllers. The TBC can be adjusted from the driver’s seat to account for different trailer weights and driving conditions.

Trailer Sway Control

Trailer Sway Control is an electronic safety feature integrated with Ford’s AdvanceTrac™ with Roll Stability Control™ system. It can detect the beginning of trailer sway by monitoring vehicle movements. If sway is detected, the system automatically takes corrective action by precisely applying the brakes to individual wheels and, if necessary, reducing engine torque to help bring both the vehicle and the trailer back under control. Understanding the physics of trailer sway is critical for any tower. Experts at Equalizer Hitch offer a great explanation of why sway control is so important.

Part 6: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What Ford has the highest towing capacity?

The Ford F-450 Super Duty with the 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel engine has the highest towing capacity in the lineup. When properly equipped with a gooseneck hitch, it can tow a maximum of 40,000 pounds.

Q2: How do I find my specific Ford’s towing capacity?

The most accurate way is to use a multi-step process. First, find the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver’s side door jamb to identify your vehicle’s GVWR and axle code. Next, consult the official Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide for your specific model year, which provides detailed charts based on configuration. For a more personalized calculation, Ford offers an official online(https://www.ford.com/towing/) where you can input your vehicle’s VIN.

Q3: Does payload capacity affect towing capacity?

Yes, payload capacity is a critical and often primary limiting factor for towing. A trailer’s tongue weight (typically 10-15% of its total weight) is carried by the tow vehicle and must be subtracted from the vehicle’s payload capacity. It is common for a vehicle to exceed its payload limit (and GVWR) before reaching its maximum advertised tow rating.

Q4: Can a Ford F-150 really tow 10,000 pounds?

Yes, many configurations of the 2025 F-150 can tow 10,000 pounds or more. To achieve this, the truck generally needs to be equipped with the 5.0L V8, 3.5L EcoBoost® V6, or 3.5L PowerBoost® Full Hybrid V6 engine, along with the appropriate axle ratio and a trailer tow package.

Q5: What is the difference between conventional and gooseneck towing?

Conventional towing uses a hitch receiver located below the rear bumper. Gooseneck and 5th-wheel hitches are mounted in the truck bed directly over the rear axle. This placement provides significantly greater stability and allows the truck to handle much heavier loads, which is why they are used for the highest towing ratings on Super Duty trucks.

Q6: What is included in the F-150’s Max Trailer Tow Package?

The contents can vary slightly by model year and configuration, but the Max Trailer Tow Package for the F-150 typically includes essential upgrades needed to reach the highest tow ratings. Key components generally include a 3.73 electronic locking rear axle, an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller, an upgraded rear bumper, and enhanced cooling hardware.