2021 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

The 2021 Ford F-150 has a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds when properly equipped. That’s seven tons of weight!

Do you want to get the most out of your F-150 pickup in the Plainfield, Indianapolis, and Brownsburg, IN, areas? Then keep reading this guide to the Ford F-150 towing capacity. When you’re ready to try it out for yourself, contact Andy Mohr Ford, and we’ll get you out for a test drive.

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Maximum Trailer Tow Package for the F-150

We mentioned that the 2021 Ford F-150 can tow up to an impressive 14,000 pounds when properly equipped, but properly equipped with what? There are several factors at play here, as we’ll continue to discuss in our guide. However, if you want to reach that maximum towing capacity, you’re going to need to equip your truck with the available Max Trailer Tow Package.

The Max Trailer Tow Package includes:

• Electronic-locking rear axle
• Integrated trailer brake controller
• Class IV trailer hitch receiver
• Smart Trailer Tow Connector
• 36-gallon fuel tank
• Upgraded rear bumper
• Pro Trailer Backup Assist™

This package is optional on the XL, XLT, LARIAT, King Ranch, and Platinum trim levels. However, only XLT, LARIAT, King Ranch, and Platinum offer Pro Trailer Backup Assist™.

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2021 Ford F-150 Towing and Engine Specs

When it comes to towing, much of the capability comes down to what kind of engine your Ford truck runs on. With the F-150, you’ll have six different engines to pick from, including a turbo diesel. Here’s how they compare:

Engine	Horsepower	Torque	Maximum Towing Capacity
3.3L V6	290 HP	265 lb-ft	8,200 pounds
2.7L EcoBoost® V6	325 HP	400 lb-ft	10,100 pounds
5.0L Ti-VCT V8	400 HP	410 lb-ft	13,000 pounds
3.5L EcoBoost® V6	400 HP	500 lb-ft	14,000 pounds
3.0L Power Stroke® Turbo Diesel	250 HP	440 lb-ft	12,100 pounds
3.5L PowerBoost™ full Hybrid V6	430 HP	570 lb-ft	12,700 pounds

Capability is found in that careful horsepower-to-torque ratio. As you can see, all six F-150 engines nail it, providing impressive towing capacities across the board. However, if you want to reach the maximum towing capability, you’ll want to choose a trim level that comes with the 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine.

The 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine is optional on all trim levels and comes standard on the elite Limited trim.

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Drivetrain Specs and Towing

It’s not just the engine that you need to look at, though. The drivetrain can also be a major factor in how the engine you choose lives up to its full hauling capabilities. The 2021 Ford F-150 can come with either rear-wheel drive (4x2) or 4-wheel drive (4x4), and each drivetrain has its benefits.

For example, the 4x2 drivetrain is ideal for heavy hauls because it tends to boost towing capacity, as you can see:

• 4x2 towing capacity: 14,000 pounds
• 4x4 towing capacity: 13,900 pounds

It’s important to note that the 4x4 drivetrain only lowers your maximum towing capacity by 100 pounds, compared to the 4x2 drivetrain when properly equipped. Still, if you tend to tow massive weights often, that 100 pounds can make a big difference.

On the other hand, if you like to split your time between working hard at the site and letting loose on the trail, the off-roading capabilities of the 4x4 drivetrain may be worth that 100-pound drop in towing capacity.

The 4x4 system is also the preferred drivetrain for businesses that attach snowplows to their trucks and need extra traction control to take on those slippery roadways.

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Cab Configuration and Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

The last factor to consider when it comes to towing capacity is your cab configuration. This can have a major impact on how much you can tow because your cabin’s size can affect your curb weight, which in turn affects both your towing and payload capacities.

With the 2021 Ford F-150, you’ll have three different cabins: Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew. Let’s observe their dimensions and towing capacities:

	Seating Capacity	Rear legroom	Maximum Towing Capacity
Regular Cab	3	N/A	13,300 pounds
SuperCab	5-6	33.5 inches	14,000 pounds
SuperCrew	5-6	43.6 inches	14,000 pounds

Overall, the SuperCrew and SuperCab are the configurations you’ll want if you do a lot of towing because they are both capable of reaching a 14,000-pound towing capacity when properly equipped. However, the Regular Cab isn’t too far behind, providing you with a maximum haul of 13,300 pounds with the proper equipment.

The SuperCrew also offers the most passenger space. It has two rows of seats and gives rear-seat riders 43.6 inches of overall rear legroom. The Regular Cab, conversely, has just one row of seats. All three cabins have 43.9 inches of front legroom.

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Towing Technology and the Ford F-150

Now that we have all the specs out of the way, let’s talk about the standard and available towing tech you can get with the 2021 Ford F-150:

• BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert and Trailer Tow Coverage
• Tow/haul mode
• Trailer Sway Control
• Pro Trailer Backup Assist™
• Rear View Camera with Dynamic Hitch Assist guidelines

We’ll start with the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross-Traffic Alert and Trailer Tow Coverage. BLIS® watches your side blind spots for other vehicles and provides a visual alert on your side view mirror if the coast isn’t clear. With Trailer Tow Coverage, BLIS® is extended along the length of your trailer, so you can change lanes more safely and confidently while towing.

Then, when you get to your destination, available Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ can help you back up your trailer. While in reverse, you’ll be able to control your trailer’s direction via a knob on the bottom of the driver dashboard.

The standard Rear View Camera can help you navigate while backing up, while Dynamic Hitch Assist guidelines make it easier to line up your trailer and hitch when you’re getting ready to hit the road.

Finally, let’s talk about the standard 10-speed SelectShift® automatic transmissions. This transmission has up to eight selectable drive modes, including Tow/Haul mode, which calibrates your shift schedules to accommodate the heavy weight. This prevents your transmission from using precious time and fuel to hunt for the right gear.

Trailer Sway Control comes standard on all trims as well. This system selectively applies brakes and steering adjustments as needed to counteract and control trailer sway.

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Explore the 2021 Ford F-150 Towing Capacity

Do you want to see the 2021 Ford F-150 towing capacity in action? Then stop by Andy Mohr Ford, and we’ll show you what this truck brings to the Plainfield, Brownsburg, and Indianapolis, Indiana, roadways.

Contact us to schedule your test drive today!