Determining Towing Capacity of 2014 Ford F-150 and Upgrade Options to Improve Performance

Updated 09/06/2019 | Published 09/05/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class IV - 2"

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Derale Radiator Adapter Fittings for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury

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Derale Series 8000 Plate-Fin Transmission Cooler Kit w/Barb Inlets - Class IV - Efficient

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Superchips Flashpaq F5 Performance Tuner - Ford - Gas/Diesel

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Question:

Have a 2014 F150 4x4 supercrew 5.0 145wb 3.55 gears. I seen on a recent post you say it can pull 7700 lb traliler and thats what our ford dealer said it can pull so thats how we planned our purchase well needless to say it doesnt feel comfortable pulling that much weight. The truck doesnt have the tow package so I guess my question is with no tow package doesnt that reduce my trailer GVW. Owners manual says CGVW is like 13900 so wouldnt you have to subtract the trucks GVW from that to get the weight you can pull with this truck.Hope this makes sense and you can help me with this. Thank you

asked by: Rex R

Helpful Expert Reply:

Subtracting the CGVW (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight) from the GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) is indeed the most accurate way to determine a particular vehicle's true towing capacity. Because there are so many potential variables as to what was actually added to the truck at the factory, this is the ideal method.

With that being said I wasn't able to find any specifics on if or by how much not having the factory tow package would decrease the towing capacity of your F-150.

It's also important to keep in mind that even if your truck does have a towing weight capacity of 7,700 pounds, creeping up towards this limit is still going to cause the type of experience you mentioned. Regardless of the truck's size or what kind of package it's equipped with you're going to pretty easily feel the truck working a lot harder as you approach its capacity.

The truck's official capacity and a driver's comfort level in the cab aren't necessarily on the same scale.

The good news is that there are many aftermarket components that you could add to help the truck better handle trailer weights within its limits. A larger transmission cooler like the Derale # D13504 with Hose Fitting # D13025 will prolong the life of its transmission while improving its overall performance and a performance tuner like the Superchips # SU1845 will work great to get the most out of your 5.0L engine. This particular unit can increase your F-150's horsepower and torque by up to 24.4 and 24.6 respectively.

If you are noticing any rear sag with the trailer hooked up I also recommend adding a weight distribution system with sway control. This will work to re-distribute weight over the axles of the trailer and truck for a level setup that helps to relieve the rear suspension.

If you can tell me the loaded weight of your trailer I will be happy to make a specific recommendation. I have also attached a great article on the subject that you can look through.