Ford F-150 Towing Guide: How Much Can an F-150 Tow?
Ford F-150 Towing Guide: How Much Can an F-150 Tow?
If you need a pickup that can handle everything from a small utility trailer to a sizable camper or boat, the Ford F-150 offers a wide range of towing configurations. The 2026 Ford F-150 can tow up to 13,500 pounds when properly equipped, although actual towing capacity depends on the engine, cab and bed configuration, drivetrain, axle ratio, available towing equipment, payload, passengers, and cargo.
For drivers in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, and throughout the Flathead Valley, choosing the right F-150 configuration is important if towing is a major part of how you use your truck.
How Much Can a Ford F-150 Tow?
The maximum available towing capacity for the 2026 Ford F-150 is 13,500 pounds with the properly equipped 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Ford’s official towing information notes that maximum towing varies based on vehicle configuration, cargo, accessories, and passengers.
Here is how the major 2026 F-150 powertrains compare:
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: Up to 8,400 pounds
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: Up to 13,500 pounds
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: Up to 11,600 pounds
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: Up to 12,800 pounds
- 3.5L High-Output EcoBoost V6: Up to 8,200 pounds
- 5.2L Supercharged V8: Up to 8,700 pounds
These are maximum available ratings, not universal ratings for every F-150 equipped with that engine.
Which F-150 Engine Is Best for Towing?
The right engine depends on what you plan to tow.
3.5L EcoBoost V6
If maximum conventional towing capacity is your priority, the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is the F-150 powertrain to look at. It produces 382 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of torque and can reach the F-150’s maximum available 13,500-pound towing rating when properly equipped.
For heavier campers, larger boats, livestock trailers, and equipment trailers, this is one of the key F-150 configurations to consider.
5.0L V8
The available 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 produces 400 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque and can tow up to 12,800 pounds in the appropriate configuration.
The V8 can be a strong choice for drivers who want traditional naturally aspirated V8 performance while still having substantial towing capability.
3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid
The 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 combines a gasoline engine with electric assistance and produces 420 horsepower and 570 lb.-ft. of torque. Its maximum available towing capacity is 11,600 pounds.
That makes the PowerBoost worth considering if you want strong towing capability along with the additional functionality of a hybrid powertrain.
2.7L EcoBoost V6
The 2.7L EcoBoost produces 325 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque and can tow up to 8,400 pounds when properly equipped.
For smaller campers, boats, utility trailers, and other moderate towing needs, the 2.7L EcoBoost can provide plenty of capability without stepping up to one of the F-150’s larger powertrains.
Does Every F-150 Tow 13,500 Pounds?
No. This is one of the most important things to understand about F-150 towing capacity.
The 13,500-pound rating represents the maximum available towing capacity, not the rating of every F-150.
Ford states that towing capacity can vary based on:
- Engine
- Cab configuration
- Bed length
- 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain
- Axle ratio
- Tow package
- Max Tow Axle upgrade
- Vehicle accessories
- Passenger weight
- Cargo and payload
For example, Ford identifies the XLT SuperCrew 4×4 with a 6.5-foot box, Tow/Haul Package, and Max Tow Axle upgrade as the configuration associated with the highest available F-150 towing rating.
That means you should look at the specifications of the specific F-150 you are considering rather than relying solely on the engine’s maximum rating.
What Is the F-150 Tow/Haul Package?
The Tow/Haul Package is designed to give an F-150 additional equipment for towing applications. Depending on configuration, it can include equipment such as an integrated trailer brake controller and upgraded rear axle components. Ford’s maximum 13,500-pound F-150 towing configuration requires the Tow/Haul Package and Max Tow Axle upgrade.
If you’re shopping for an F-150 specifically because you regularly tow, make sure the truck has the equipment required for the trailer weight you intend to pull.
How Much Can an F-150 Tow for a Camper or Boat?
The answer depends on the loaded weight of the trailer, not simply its empty or advertised weight.
For example, if a travel trailer is advertised at 6,500 pounds dry, adding water, propane, batteries, camping equipment, food, clothing, and other cargo can increase its actual towing weight.
The same principle applies to boats. A boat’s advertised weight may not include the trailer, fuel, equipment, or other items being transported.
Before choosing an F-150, determine the approximate fully loaded trailer weight you expect to tow.
Don’t Forget About Payload Capacity
Towing capacity isn’t the only number that matters.
The F-150 also has a payload rating, which is the amount of weight the truck can carry. This includes passengers, cargo in the cab and bed, accessories, and the portion of the trailer’s weight carried by the hitch.
The 2026 F-150 has a maximum available payload rating of 2,440 pounds, but Ford notes that actual payload varies according to vehicle configuration and equipment.
For example, imagine an F-150 has 1,800 pounds of available payload. If the truck has several passengers, tools in the bed, and a trailer with significant tongue weight, all of that counts toward the truck’s payload capacity.
This is why a truck’s maximum tow rating alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
What Can an F-150 Tow in Montana?
The F-150 is well suited to many of the towing jobs common around Northwest Montana, including:
- Travel trailers
- Boats
- Utility trailers
- ATVs and UTVs
- Snowmobiles
- Landscaping equipment
- Construction equipment
- Enclosed cargo trailers
- Livestock trailers
If you regularly travel through mountainous areas around the Flathead Valley, remember that towing conditions can differ from flat-road testing. Trailer weight, road grade, weather, altitude, payload, and driving conditions all affect the experience.
How Do I Know Which F-150 Is Right for My Trailer?
Start with the trailer rather than the truck.
Determine:
- Your trailer’s loaded weight
- Expected tongue weight
- How much cargo you’ll carry in the truck
- How many passengers you’ll have
- Whether you’ll tow regularly or occasionally
- Whether you need 4×4
- Whether you need a specific cab or bed configuration
From there, compare the F-150 configurations that meet those requirements.
If you’re towing near the upper end of an F-150’s capability, it’s particularly important to verify the exact truck’s tow rating, payload rating, axle configuration, and required equipment before purchasing.
Ford F-150 Towing Capacity FAQ
What is the maximum towing capacity of the Ford F-150?
The 2026 Ford F-150 has a maximum available conventional towing capacity of 13,500 pounds when properly equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and required towing equipment.
Can an F-150 tow a 10,000-pound trailer?
Some F-150 configurations can tow a 10,000-pound trailer, but not every F-150 is rated for that weight. The specific truck’s configuration, equipment, payload, and trailer weight must be considered.
Which F-150 engine has the highest towing capacity?
For the 2026 F-150, the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 has the highest available conventional towing rating at 13,500 pounds when properly equipped.
Is the F-150 good for towing a travel trailer?
Yes. The F-150 is available in configurations capable of towing a wide range of travel trailers. The appropriate configuration depends on the trailer’s loaded weight, tongue weight, passengers, cargo, and other requirements.
Does 4×4 reduce F-150 towing capacity?
Towing capacity can vary between 4×2 and 4×4 configurations. The exact rating should be checked for the specific F-150 configuration rather than assuming all 4×4 models have the same capacity.
Find the Right Ford F-150 for Towing in Kalispell
Whether you’re pulling a camper toward Glacier National Park, hauling a boat to Flathead Lake, or using your truck for work around the Flathead Valley, choosing the right F-150 configuration starts with understanding your actual towing needs.
Visit Kalispell Ford to explore available F-150 trucks and talk with our team about the towing capacity and equipment you need.
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