Itching For Hitching? Ford Trucks Make Towing Easy

Trucks For Towing

When you’re searching the market for a new vehicle, and you intend to do some towing, there are many factors you must consider regarding your vehicle’s capabilities, well beyond horsepower and torque. Towing can be achieved on a multitude of different vehicle types, although you’ll find the most success with heavy-duty trucks as their engines and overall build quality are especially suited for that type of work. Towing is not impossible by any means on smaller vehicles as you can still tow up to 5,000 lbs with a specially fitted SUV. Although, if you’re shopping for a vehicle that you plan on utilizing for towing, we must recommend you begin your search with the latest offerings of Ford trucks for sale. Ford’s stellar lineup features vehicles with incredible towing capabilities that fans and enthusiasts will enjoy, such as the 2020 F-250, which is capable of towing between 12,300 to 15,000 lbs when properly equipped.

Understanding Towing

There’s a lot to familiarize yourself with before you start towing, such as fully understanding the maximum towing capacity your vehicle supports along with its payload capacity. Simply put, these capabilities are not dependent solely on your vehicle’s horsepower output or torque, but rather a plethora of factors that result in ample towing performance. First, horsepower and torque are still vital parts to successful towing, so you should keep in mind that a high horsepower output is important, but a lower RPM torque is crucial. It’s also important to note that it’s recommended to drive your vehicle on a lower gear on your transmission as it’ll be less stressful for the engine while adding more torque to your wheels.

Of course, upgrading your engine from stock to a more powerful option will net you a better towing experience. For example, The 2020 Ford F-150 is a strong contender in the market for those looking to tow, and with the F-150 XL SuperCrew, the engine can be upgraded from the base 3.3L TI-VCT V6 engine to a 3.5L EcoBoost V6. This engine produces 375 hp with 470 lb-ft of torque, which is best-in-class for a gas engine, according to Ford. When combined with the available max trailer towing package offered by Ford, this truck can tow up to 13,200 lbs.

Other than horsepower and torque, there is much more to take into consideration including axle ratio, transmission, size of your brakes, the design of your vehicle’s frame, as well as the ratings for your tire, wheel, and suspension load to name a few. This may seem intimidating at first, but many manufacturers such as Ford meticulously design their vehicles with these aspects in mind, so they’re performant right out of the gate. Often, this information is easily accessible for your desired vehicle, including various packages exclusively designed to improve the towing experience.

Studying Your Vehicle

Getting to know the various meanings associated with towing is important. When it comes to towing, it’s helpful to know info such as your Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), which is simply the weight of your vehicle after everything is taken into consideration, such as passengers, onboard cargo, etc. To find the information regarding your vehicle’s maximum capacity for its gross weight, you’ll want to refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Similarly, the Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is simply the weight of your trailer plus cargo, and in order to find your vehicle’s maximum capacity, you’ll want to locate the Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR).

Combining both the GVW and the GTW results in something called the Gross Combination Weight (GCVW), and the rating associated with this is known as the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCWR). Lastly, it’s important to know that towing requires a proper axle ratio, and finding information regarding the maximum weight capacity for one of your axles to tow is found in the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).

Importance of Payload Capacity

Payload capacity is the maximum weight your vehicle allows and a bit separate from towing. What a payload basically refers to is any added weight such as passengers or anything being stored in your truck’s bed. Although a vehicle’s maximum payload capacity is stated by the manufacturer, it’s important to understand how payload capacity works. First, to fully grasp the meaning of payload capacity, you’ll want to identify your truck’s curb weight. Curb weight is simply the weight of your vehicle without any passengers, cargo, etc. Once you know your truck’s curb weight, you’ll want to subtract it from the GVW, and the resulting number will be your vehicle’s payload capacity. It’s important to never exceed your vehicle’s payload capacity for multiple reasons, so be mindful of how many passengers you’re with when transporting cargo.

The 2020 Ford F-150 is an impressive machine that offers a best-in-class payload capacity of 3,270 lbs when equipped with Ford’s 5.0L TI-VCT V8 engine. This engine utilizes Ford’s port-fuel and direct-injection technologies, including two injectors on each cylinder. According to Ford, one of these injectors is in the air intake port while the other one is located inside the cylinder, ultimately adding to its overall power while also being more efficient. This V8 is capable of producing 395 hp and that aforementioned best-in-class 400 lb-ft of torque.

Helpful Features

It’s often recommended that you should invest in any available tow-centric packages that manufacturers offer. Trucks such as the 2020 F-150 come standard with a variety of features aimed towards efficient towing such as AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control (RSC), which includes trailer sway control. A smart trailer tow connector also comes standard and provides you with alerts should anything be malfunctioning, such as the battery, lights, or the connection itself.

Ford offers several additional towing features available for purchase, including dynamic hitch assist, which includes a built-in line-of-sight guide. A trailer brake controller can also be purchased as well as an 8-inch screen in your interior that will display information regarding your trailer. Pro Trailer Backup Assist is another available option built to help you line up your truck and trailer better when backing up your truck. It’s important to focus on the safety of you and everyone around you while towing as it comes with added risks, so Ford offers a Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), which supports trailer coverage as well. This information system is able to alert you if an approaching vehicle is in your blind spot as well as the side of your trailer, which is extremely helpful.

Getting Started

For those who are interested in towing and are shopping for a new Ford truck, we recommend you visit us at Kings Ford where we offer a wide array of Jeep vehicles with a knowledgeable and friendly sales staff serving the greater area of Cincinnati with top-notch service and commendable vehicles from Ford’s latest lineups. Our sales staff are happy to answer any questions you may have, and we can help you identify exactly what you’re looking for and get you driving your new vehicle in no time. Whether you’re window shopping or looking to take a vehicle from Ford’s 2020 lineup for a test drive, we’ve got you covered. Come visit us at our dealership located at 9555 Kings Auto Mall Road in Cincinnati, Ohio, to get started.