Upgrades to improve towing capabilities?

[Old-Raptor-guy]

Lets say you have a payload of 1200lbs and a tow rating of 8500 lbs. With 10% tongue weight (850lbs) you can tow 8500lbs and still have 350lbs of payload left. That's 350lbs you can laden the truck with and still pull max weight.

Also, the payload sticker on the door jamb takes into account all the options you got from the factory.

Nope, and I dare you to try it around here in the mountains. I know where the OP lives (city not exact address) and there not a single direction in 300 + miles that is not a climb over 7000 ft, before you start dropping in altitude.

Says in red print on the towing guide I linked to, that you obviously have not read.

Towing capacity WILL be reduced based on trim series, option content, AND payload.

 

[Old-Raptor-guy]

I just gave you a scenario above. Adding options CAN reduce max towing if you don't have enough payload left to configure a safe tongue weight, but that's on a case by case basis. It's hardly a given that your max tow will be reduced. If you can dial in 10% tongue weight and not exceed payload, you can pull it safely and legally.

I kind of see where you are coming from now.

 

[jabroni619]

I kind of see where you are coming from now.

Honestly I think we are both kind of saying the same thing, just looking at it from two different perspectives. I don't disagree IN the specific examples you're providing, but there are examples where you can have loaded options and still pull 8500lbs.

I will also agree, if you need to bust out a calculator because you're running this close to the limit, have as much squat as in the photo and have concerns with overheating, you probably bought the wrong truck. My Gen 2 does great pulling an open trailer loaded with a SxS and ATV to the desert, which includes going up and over about mile high elevations. No power issues, no temp issues, no stopping issues, no excessive squat issues. An enclosed trailer is another ball game with significantly increased wind resistance.

 

[Old-Raptor-guy]

Honestly I think we are both kind of saying the same thing, just looking at it from two different perspectives. I don't disagree IN the specific examples you're providing, but there are examples where you can have loaded options and still pull 8500lbs.

I will also agree, if you need to bust out a calculator because you're running this close to the limit, have as much squat as in the photo and have concerns with overheating, you probably bought the wrong truck. My Gen 2 does great pulling an open trailer loaded with a SxS and ATV to the desert, which includes going up and over about mile high elevations. No power issues, no temp issues, no stopping issues, no excessive squat issues. An enclosed trailer is another ball game with significantly increased wind resistance.

I Agree, we are basically taking two paths to the same destination.

I also enjoy a good conversation, so thanks for not telling me to F-off.

 

[GordoJay]

….but there are examples where you can have loaded options and still pull 8500lbs.

Maybe. But marginal. If your trailer is stable with only 10% tongue weight, that’s 850lb on the hitch. More than that is loaded onto the rear axle because some is transferred from the front. There is also a spec for maximum axle loading. The point is that all the stars have to align to tow max. The spec is written the way it is to make the numbers look bigger. You’d best know exactly what you’re doing if you max any spec. Don’t be the dumbf#ck that puts 1200lb in the bed and then puts the whole damn family in the cab.

 

[Wolfman66]

My experience towing says keep your regular tow loads to about 60% of what you think max tow is or drive slow as turtle. Higher wind drag trailer will limit speeds and stability as well. Use tow/haul and set suspension to stiff. Also, for camper/toy hauler use load distribution hitch with antisway. Run premium gas to limit power loss and detonation damage.

 

[warrior]

All this towing talk is crazy, why buy a truck you cant use? The Raptor is fine to tow, haul appropriate loads.

 

[GordoJay]

All this towing talk is crazy, why buy a truck you cant use? The Raptor is fine to tow, haul appropriate loads.

The whole question is what is that appropriate load. Just casually running one spec at max without doing some homework and looking at the others is a recipe for disaster. It doesn't matter whether it's a Yugo, a Raptor, or a Peterbilt.

 

[Old-Raptor-guy]

All this towing talk is crazy, why buy a truck you cant use? The Raptor is fine to tow, haul appropriate loads.

Properly equipped F150 is rated to tow 14,000 lbs. If towing is an important factor why buy a truck that is rated at only 58% of that.

People want the "look", but the don't actually want the draw backs.

I am quite the opposite, I want the performance and could care less about towing.

 

[Wolfman66]

Well the tires on my 22 Raptor are class C load rating or around 2300#/tire, they make the identical tire in a class E load rating or around 3100#\tire. Six ply vs ten ply old school or light truck vs heavy truck. I know there is probably a trade off with ride comfort but extra payload safety could be improved maybe. Just asking, cause I don’t know answer but I do think tires are one of raptors main limits to towing. Look at a tire selector for K02 and you will see both tires.