2001 Ford F150 Towing Capacity and Payload (with Charts)

Owning a 2001 Ford F150? Before you hitch up a trailer or haul that hefty load, it’s crucial to acquaint yourself with the truck’s towing capacity. Not only is staying within these bounds key to maintaining optimal engine performance, but it’s also a cornerstone of road safety.

Towing heavy trailers weighing greater than the 2001 Ford F150’s max towing capacity will affect engine performance and it’s equally important for towing safety. Now, what is the 2001 Ford F150 Towing Capacity and how much weight can your 2001 Ford F150 handle?

The 2001 Ford F150 Maximum Towing Capacity ranges between 2,000 – 8,800 lbs. (907- 3,992 kg) depending on different truck configurations, engine types, GCWR, cab styles, axle ratio codes, drivetrains, transmission, and wheelbase.

The following table covers the 2001 Ford F150 towing capacity by each engine type and GCWR.

Towing capacities, shown in the above table, are the maximum capacities that can be achieved if your truck has one of these engine types.

Ford says that for all 2001 F150 trim levels and configurations, the trailer weight must not exceed 5,000 lbs when towing with or by bumper only. For trailer weights exceeding 5,000 lbs., your truck must be equipped with either Trailer Towing Package, Heavy Duty Payload Package, and a proper weight distribution hitch for easy towing.

Here I’ve collected all the 2001 Ford F150 towing and payload capacity information from the official Ford resources that include the 2001 Ford F150 Pickup Brochure and 2001 Ford RV and Trailor Towing Guide.

2001 Ford F150 Trim Levels

There are 6 different Trim Levels in the 2001 Ford F150.

1. XL
2. XLT
3. Lightning
4. King Ranch
5. LARIAT
6. Harley-Davidson

These trim levels are different from each other based on the features and other cosmetic additions. They may have different configurations, engine types, towing capacities, etc.

There are 3 body styles in the 2001 Ford F150:  Regular Cab, SuperCab (Extended), and SuperCrew (Crew Cab).

Different cab styles and bed lengths will result in different Payload Capacities and GCWR resulting in different Towing Capacities.

2001 Ford F150 Towing Capacity Charts

The below charts describe the conventional and 5th-wheel trailer towing capacity of the 2000 Ford F150. There are 2 charts that I found on the towing capacity guide by Ford.

In the following conventional and 5th-wheel towing charts you can see the engines, axle ratio codes, GCWR of the truck with a specific engine, two- and four-wheel drive, and available cab configurations.

In the conventional towing chart, you can find the towing capacity for both manual and automatic transmissions but in the 5th-wheel towing chart, the manual transmission part is not given because it’s not recommended to tow 5th wheels on manual transmission engines.

Conventional Trailer Towing

5th-Wheel Towing Capacity

Tire Information: For those targeting the 13,000 lbs GCWR, either the 16-inch tires or the 4×2 P275 17-inch tires are mandatory. Conversely, the 12,500 lbs GCWR necessitates the use of 4×4 P265 or LT265 17-inch tires.

SuperCrew Compatibility: While the F-150 SuperCrew can tow up to 8,000 lbs and its box can house a fifth-wheel hitch, it’s imperative to understand that certain fifth-wheel trailer designs might not be compatible with the SuperCrew configuration. Always ensure compatibility before proceeding.

2001 Ford F150 Payload Capacity Chart

The 2001 Ford F150 offers a diverse payload range, with payload capacities ranging from 1,875 to 3,180 lbs depending on the cab style you have.

The following charts show the 2001 Ford F150 payload capacity by each engine type, cab style, and wheelbase. There are two charts; one is for the Styleside F-150 payload package selector and the other is for Flareside.

With varying payload capacities tailored to distinct cab designs, understanding these metrics can greatly enhance the ownership experience.

2001 Ford F150 Towing Capacity by Engines

Let’s look into the towing capacities of each of the 3 engine options in the 2001 F150.

You can find your truck specifications and engine type by using the VIN decoder, vehicle specs by VIN, or simply by checking the Truck Safety Compliance Certification Label (Door Jamb Label).

4.2L V6 Manual Towing Capacity

The maximum towing capacity of the 2001 Ford F150 with a 4.2L EFI V6 manual transmission engine is between 2,000 – 3,500 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.

• GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): This model possesses a GCWR ranging between 6,500 – 7,800 lbs. This indicates the combined maximum allowable weight of the vehicle, cargo, passengers, and trailer.
• Maximum Towing Capacity: When appropriately outfitted with the Trailer Tow Packages, the vehicle can tow between 2,000 – 3,500 lbs. This is a suitable range for light to moderate towing needs.
• Engine Specifications: The 4.2L V6 manual engine outputs a power of 202 hp at 4,800 rpm, combined with a torque of 252 lb.-ft. at 3,400 rpm. This provides the necessary force to move and tow such weights efficiently.

4.2L V6 Automatic Towing Capacity

The maximum towing capacity of the 2001 Ford F150 with a 4.2L EFI V6 automatic transmission engine is between 4,800 – 5,800 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.

• GCWR: 9,000 – 10,000 lbs.
• Maximum Towing Capacity: 4,800 – 5,800 lbs. with the Trailer Tow Packages equipped.
• Engine Specifications: The engine, while having the same power and torque specifications as the manual counterpart (202 hp @ 4,800 rpm and 252 lb.-ft. @ 3,400 rpm), benefits from the automatic transmission, allowing it to tow heavier loads.

4.6L V8 Manual Towing Capacity

The maximum towing capacity of the 2001 Ford F150 with a 4.6L Triton V8 manual transmission engine is between 2,000 – 3,400 lbs. for all cabs when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.

• GCWR: 6,500 – 7,800 lbs.
• Maximum Towing Capacity: This variant can tow between 2,000 – 3,400 lbs. for all cab configurations when equipped with the Trailer Tow Packages.
• Engine Specifications: The 4.6L V8 engine produces a power of 220 hp at 4,500 rpm and a torque of 290 lb.-ft. at 3,250 rpm, offering more pulling power than the V6.

4.6L V8 Automatic Towing Capacity

The maximum towing capacity of the 2001 Ford F150 with a 4.6L Triton V8 automatic transmission engine is between 2,000 – 7,200 lbs. for all cabs when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.

• GCWR: 10,000 – 11,500 lbs.
• Maximum Towing Capacity: This model, even with the same engine as its manual counterpart, has a wider towing range of 2,000 – 7,200 lbs. for all cabs when outfitted with the Trailer Tow Packages.
• Engine Specifications: The power and torque specifications remain at 220 hp @ 4,500 rpm and 290 lb.-ft. @ 3,250 rpm.

5.4L V8 Towing Capacity

The maximum towing capacity of the 2001 Ford F150 with a 5.4L 3V Triton V8 automatic transmission engine is between 7,000 – 8,800 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.

• GCWR: 12,000 – 13,500 lbs., making it the highest in this series.
• Maximum Towing Capacity: Towing capacity ranges from 7,000 – 8,800 lbs. when equipped with the Trailer Tow Packages.
• Engine Specifications: This powerful engine outputs 260 hp at 4,500 rpm with a torque of 350 lb.-ft. at 2,500 rpm. With its higher power and torque, it can handle heavier loads with ease.

More Useful Charts from 2001 Ford F150 Brochure

I also put together some chunks of relevant information that can be helpful for you.

2001 Ford F150 GCWR and TWR

One important thing you need to know to calculate the towing capacity of your truck is the GCWR. This is the Gross Combined Weight Rating that can be seen on your truck manuals.

This value is set by the vehicle manufacturers and is used while calculating the actual towing capacity of the truck.

The below chart gallery contains all the GCWR and TWR of the 2001 Ford F150.

How to Calculate 2001 F150 Towing Capacity?

The ratings written on the Owner’s Manuals or Ford Towing Guides are the maximum ratings that must not be exceeded and are calculated with assumed passengers, cargo weight, and base configurations.

You may have a different no. of passengers, cargo weight, payload, and body additions to your truck. The situation can be different in your case.

While measuring the actual towing capacity of your specific 2001 F-150 truck configuration, you must calculate it considering GCWR, curb weight, passenger weight, cargo weight, and any truck body additions.

The simple formula for calculating the 2001 F150 towing capacity is GCWR – Curb Weight – Passengers Weight – Cargo Weight – Truck Body Additions ≥ Maximum Trailer Weight.

GCWR is the Gross Combined Weight Rating which is the max. combined weight of fully loaded vehicle and trailer set by the Ford.

If you apply the above formula, this will minus all the weights from GCWR, and the resulting value will give the max. trailer towing capacity of your truck (the max. weight your truck can tow safely).

You can find the GCWR and curb weight of your 2001 F150 by VIN decoder. Simply enter the 17-digit VIN of your 2001 F150 truck and press the decode button. You’ll find all the information needed to calculate the towing capacity.

Note down the ratings and use the following calculator to find the max towing capacity (the max trailer weight your truck can tow).

The tongue load is the downward force that the tongue of the trailer exerts on the rear step bumper or the hitch receiver. It’s usually 10-15% of the trailer weight.

• For conventional trailer towing, the tongue load weight is calculated as 10% of the total loaded trailer weight.
• For 5th-wheel towing, the tongue load weight is calculated as 15% of the total loaded trailer weight.

Let’s take an example; if the max trailer weight (max towing capacity) is 8,000 lbs then the tongue weight must not exceed 800 lbs (or 10% of the total trailer weight).

Use of Tow/Haul Mode in 2001 Ford F150

For the 2001 Ford F150, the Tow/Haul Mode remains an essential feature, emphasizing its utility for those who frequently tow or haul. The benefits of the 2001 model are:

1. Enhanced transmission response for heavy loads.
2. Protection against potential overheating.
3. Assists in downhill driving with engine braking.
4. Ensures the engine operates within optimal power and torque ranges.
5. Minimizes constant shifting or gear “hunting.”

Useful Resources

2001 Ford RV and Trailer Towing Guide PDF

FAQs

Conclusion

The 2001 Ford F-150 boasts a towing capacity ranging from 2,000 to 8,800 lbs (907- 3,992 kg). This comprehensive guide simplifies the F150’s towing prowess with charts and tools.