2012 Ford F150 Towing Capacity & Payload (with Charts)
If you’ve got a 2012 Ford F150 then you need to know its towing capacity before pulling or hauling anything with it.
Towing heavy trailers weighing greater than the 2012 Ford F150’s max towing capacity will affect engine performance and it’s equally important for towing safety. Now, what is the 2012 Ford F150 Towing Capacity?
The 2012 F150 Towing Capacity (Maximum) ranges between 5,000 – 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 2012 Ford F150 towing capacity, payload capacity, power, and torque by each engine type.
Type of Engine | Power (HP @ rpm) | Torque | Max Towing Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|
3.7L Ti-VCT V6 | 302 @ 6,500 | 278 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 | 5,500-6,100 lbs. | 1,930 lbs. |
5.0L Ti-VCT V8 | 360 @ 5,500 | 380 lb.-ft. @ 4,250 | 7,600-10,000 lbs. | 3,120 lbs. |
6.2L VCT V8 | 411 @ 5,500 | 434 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 | 6,000-11,300 lbs. | 2,010 lbs. |
3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 365 @ 5,000 | 420 lb.-ft. @ 2,500 | 8,000-11,300 lbs. | 3,100 lbs. |
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. Some other factors must be considered while calculating the actual towing capacity of your specific 2012 F-150 configuration.
Ford says that for all 2012 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 2012 Ford F150 towing and payload capacity information from the official Ford resources that includes the 2012 Ford F150 Pickup Brochure and 2012 Ford RV Trailor Towing Guide.
2012 Ford F150 Cab Styles & Trim Levels
There are 3 body styles in the 2012 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 Capabilities and GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) resulting in different Towing capabilities.
There are 9 different Trim Levels in the 2012 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
- FX2/FX4
- Lariat
- King Ranch
- Platinum
- Ford Harley-Davidson F-150
- SVT Raptor
2012 F150 Towing Capacity Charts by Engine Type
Let’s look into the towing capacities of each of the 4 engine options in the 2012 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 | Max Towing Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
---|---|---|
3.7L Ti-VCT V6 | 5,500-6,100 lbs. | 1,930 lbs. |
5.0L Ti-VCT V8 | 7,600-10,000 lbs. | 3,120 lbs. |
6.2L VCT V8 | 6,000-11,300 lbs. | 1,810 lbs. |
3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 8,000-11,300 lbs. | 3,100 lbs. |
5.0L Ti-VCT V8 Towing Capacity
2012 F150 with 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity between 7,600 – 10,000 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.
This engine delivers a power of 360 hp @ 5,500 rpm and a torque of 380 lb.-ft. @ 4,250 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 3,120 lbs.
Among the other 2012 F150 engine options, this engine has the highest payload capacity.
3.7L Ti-VCT V6 Towing Capacity
2012 F150 with a 3.7L Ti-VCT V6 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity between 5,500 – 6,100 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
This engine delivers a power of 302 hp @ 6,500 rpm and a torque of 278 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,930 lbs.
6.2L VCT V8 Towing Capacity
2012 F150 with a 6.2L VCT V8 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity between 6,000-11,300 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
This engine delivers a power of 411 hp @ 5,500 rpm and a torque of 434 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,810 lbs.
This engine is the most powerful and has a max 11,300 lbs towing capacity.
3.5L EcoBoost V6 Towing Capacity
2012 F150 with a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity between 8,000-11,300 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
This engine delivers a power of 365 hp @ 5,000 rpm and a torque of 420 lb.-ft. @ 2,500 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 3,100 lbs.
This engine has a little lower power and torque than a 6.2L V8 but provides the same towing capacity of 11,300 lbs.
2012 F150 Towing Capacity Charts
The below charts describe the conventional and 5th-wheel trailer towing capacity of the 2012 Ford F150.
More 2012 Ford F150 charts
Axle Ratio Codes Chart
2012 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 components included in the trailer towing packages (option codes 535, 60M, 60P, and 60C).
What is included in these packages? The below chart will show 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 2012 F150 Frontal Area Limitations/Considerations are given in this chart:
Rear Step Bumper vs. Hitch Receiver
The 2012 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 trailer weight).
Max Cargo Weight with Slide-in Camper Chart
You can add a slide-in camper to your 2012 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
2012 Ford RV and Trailer Towing Guide PDF
Conclusion
The max towing capacity of the 2012 Ford F-150 is between 5,000 – 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 2012 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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