If you’ve got a 2009 Ford F150 then you need to know its towing capacity before pulling or hauling anything with it.
Towing heavy trailers weighing greater than the 2009 Ford F150’s max towing capacity will affect engine performance and it’s equally important for towing safety. Now, what is the 2009 Ford F150 Towing Capacity?
The 2009 F150 Towing Capacity (Maximum) ranges between 5,100 – 11,300 lbs. (2,268 – 5,126 kg) depending on different configurations, engine types, GCWR, cab styles, axle ratio codes, drivetrains, and the tow package installed.
The following table will show you the 2009 Ford F150 towing capacity, and payload capacity by each engine type.
| Type of Engine | Cab Style | Max Towing Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 2-Valve V8 | RegularCab SuperCab SuperCrew | 6,000 lbs. 5,800 lbs. 5,700 lbs. | 1,890 lbs. 1,610 lbs. 1,620 lbs. |
| 4.6L 3-Valve V8 | RegularCab SuperCab SuperCrew | 8,400 lbs. 9,500 lbs. 9,500 lbs. | 1,930 lbs. 1,650 lbs. 1,690 lbs. |
| 5.4L 3-Valve V8 | RegularCab SuperCab SuperCrew | 11,300 lbs. 11,300 lbs. 11,300 lbs. | 3,030 lbs. 2,650 lbs. 1,760 lbs. |
The 5.4L 3-valve V8 engine is the most powerful in the 2009 Ford F150 lineup and delivers a max. power of 320 hp and max. torque of 390 lb. -ft. with E65 fuel. This engine can provide a maximum towing capacity of 11,300 lbs. with all cabs and a maximum payload capacity of 3,030 lbs. if configured with a Regular Cab.
Towing and payload 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 2009 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 or Max Trailer Towing Package and a proper weight distribution hitch.
Here I’ve collected all the 2009 Ford F150 towing and payload capacity information from the official Ford resources that include the 2009 Ford F150 Pickup Brochure and 2009 Ford RV Trailor Towing Guide.
2009 Ford F150 Cab Styles & Trims
There are 3 body styles in the 2009 Ford F150: Regular Cab, SuperCab (Extended), and SuperCrew (Crew Cab) as listed in the below table.
| Cab Style | Passenger Capacity | Bed Lengths | Seat Rows | Doors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Cab | 3 | 6.5 ft. and 8 ft. | 1 | 2 |
| SuperCab | 6 | 6.5 ft. and 8 ft. | 2 | 4 |
| SuperCrew | 6 | 5.5 ft., 6.5 ft., and 8 ft. | 2 | 4 |
Different cab styles and bed lengths will result in different Payload Capacities and GCWR resulting in different Towing Capacities.
There are 7 different Trim Levels in the 2009 Ford F150. 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.
- XL
- STX
- XLT
- FX4
- Lariat
- King Ranch
- Platinum
2009 Ford F150 Towing Capacity by Engines
Let’s look into the towing capacities of each of the 4 engine options in the 2009 F150. You can find your truck specifications and engine type by using the VIN decoder or simply by checking the Truck Safety Compliance Certification Label (Door Jamb Label).
| Type of Engine | Power (HP @ rpm) | Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm) | Max Towing Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 2-Valve V8 | 248 @ 4750 | 294 @ 4,000 | 6,000 lbs. Regular Cab 5,800 lbs. SuperCab 5,700 lbs. SuperCrew | 1,890 lbs. Regular Cab 1,610 lbs. SuperCab 1,620 lbs. SuperCrew |
| 4.6L 3-Valve V8 | 292 @ 5,700 292 @ 5,700 (SFE) | 320 @ 4,000 320 @ 4,000 | 8,400 lbs. Regular Cab 9,500 lbs. SuperCab 9,500 lbs. SuperCrew | 1,930 lbs. Regular Cab 1,650 lbs. SuperCab 1,690 lbs. SuperCrew |
| 5.4L 3-Valve V8 | 310 @ 5,000 (gas) 320 @ 5,200 (E85) | 365 @ 3,500 390 @ 3,500 | 11,300 lbs. Regular Cab 11,300 lbs. SuperCab 11,300 lbs. SuperCrew | 3,030 lbs. Regular Cab 2,650 lbs. SuperCab 1,760 lbs. SuperCrew |
4.6L 2-Valve V8 Towing Capacity
The maximum towing capacity of the 2009 Ford F150 with a 4.6L 2-valve V8 automatic transmission engine is between 5,700 – 6,000 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.
This engine delivers a power of 248 hp @ 4,750 rpm and a torque of 294 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity between 1,610 – 1,890 lbs.
4.6L 3-Valve V8 Towing Capacity
The maximum towing capacity of the 2009 Ford F150 with a 4.6L 3-Valve V8 automatic transmission engine is between 5,500 – 6,100 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.
This engine delivers a power of 292 hp @ 5,700 rpm and a torque of 320 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity between 1,650 – 1,930 lbs.
5.4L 3-Valve V8 Towing Capacity
The maximum towing capacity of the 2009 Ford F150 with a 5.4L 3-Valve V8 automatic transmission engine is 11,300 lbs. for all cabs when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.
This engine delivers a power of 310 hp @ 5,000 rpm and a torque of 365 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,760 – 3,030 lbs.
This engine is the most powerful and has a max towing capacity of 11,300 lbs and a payload capacity of 3,030 lbs.
2009 Ford F150 Towing Capacity Charts
The below charts describe the conventional and 5th-wheel trailer towing capacity of the 2009 Ford F150.
Axle Ratio Codes Chart
2009 F150 axle ratio codes can be seen on the charts. You can find your truck axle ratio codes from the VIN decoder or simply by checking the Truck Safety Compliance Certification Label (Door Jamb Label).
Trailer Towing Packages
The following chart will show you the 2009 F150 trailer towing packages (Option Code 535 and 53M).
What is included in these packages? The below chart shows the towing equipment which is part of the above-mentioned packages.
Frontal Area Considerations/Limitations
The frontal area can also affect the towing performance of your F150 truck.
Frontal Area Consideration/Limitation refers to the total area from the front of the vehicle and the trailer exposed to air resistance while moving. The area is measured in square feet. For the 2009 F150 Frontal Area Limitations/Considerations are given in this chart:
Rear Step Bumper vs. Hitch Receiver
The 2009 F150 Pickup rear step bumper can tow a maximum of 5,000 lbs weight-carrying Trailers with a maximum tongue load of 500 lbs. You must not exceed this limit when towing with a bumper only.
To tow greater loads, your truck will require a particular hitch receiver (Class III or Class IV), weight-distributing hitches, and a max trailer tow package.
With this equipment installed, you can get a max towing capacity of 11,300 lbs with a max tongue load not exceeding 1,130 lbs (10% of conventional trailer weight).
Max Cargo Weight with Slide-in Camper Chart
You can add a slide-in camper to your 2009 F150 Truck only if it has 3.5L EcoBoost V6, 5.0 V8, 6.7L V8, and 6.2L V8 equipped with a Heavy-Duty Payload Package. You should consider the information given in the below chart if you want to add a slide-in camper to your truck.
Useful Resources
2009 Ford RV and Trailer Towing Guide PDF
Conclusion
The max towing capacity of the 2009 Ford F-150 is between 5,100 – 11,300 lbs. I’ve done deep research to find out and broken down as much information as possible within this article and made it an easy 2009 F150 towing capacity guide using charts, tables, and helpful resources, and recommended the best towing equipment.
You should always determine towing capacity and choose the necessary equipment considering the truck configuration and after contacting your local dealer.
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