If you’ve got a 2018 Ford F150 then you need to know its towing capacity before pulling or hauling anything with it.
Towing heavy trailers weighing greater than the 2018 Ford F150’s max towing capacity will affect engine performance and it’s equally important for towing safety. Now, what is the 2018 Ford F150 Towing Capacity?
The 2018 F150 Towing Capacity (Maximum) ranges between 5,000 – 13,200 lbs. (2,268 – 5,987 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 2018 Ford F150 towing capacity, payload capacity, power, and torque by each engine type.
| Type of Engine | Power (HP @ rpm) | Torque @ rpm | Max Towing Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 | 290 @ 6,500 | 265 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 | 7,700 lbs. | 1,990 lbs. |
| 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | 325 @ 5,000 | 400 lb.-ft. @ 2,750 | 9,000 lbs. | 2,470 lbs. |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 375 @ 5,000 | 470 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 | 13,200 lbs. | 3,230 lbs. |
| 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 | 395 @ 5,750 | 400 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 | 11,600 lbs. | 3,270 lbs. |
| 3.5L EcoBoost H.O. V6 | 450 @ 5,000 | 510 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 | 8,000 lbs. | 1,200 lbs. |
| 3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 | 250 @ 3,250 | 440 lb.-ft. @ 1,750 | 11,400 lbs. | 2,020 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 2018 F-150 configuration.
Ford says that for all 2018 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 2018 Ford F150 towing and payload capacity information from the official Ford resources that includes the 2018 Ford F150 Pickup Brochure and 2018 Ford RV Trailer Towing Guide.
Table of Contents
Cab Styles and Bed Lengths
There are 3 Cab Styles in the 2018 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.
2018 Ford F150 Towing and Payload Capacity by Trim Levels
There are 7 different Trim Levels in this 2018 Ford F150.
| Engine | Trim levels | Max Towing Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L Ti-VCT | XL, XLT | 7,700 lbs. | 1,990 lbs. |
| 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | XL, XLT, Lariat | 9,000 lbs. | 2,470 lbs. |
| 3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 | Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum | 11,500 lbs. | 1,940 lbs. |
| 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 | XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Limited | 11,600 lbs. | 3,270 lbs. |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum | 13,200 lbs. | 3,230 lbs. |
| H.O. EcoBoost V6 | Raptor, Limited | 8,000 lbs. | 1,200 lbs. |
2018 F150 Towing Capacity Charts by Engine Type
Let’s look into the towing capacities of each of the 6 engine options in the 2018 F150.
You can find your truck specifications and engine types by using the VIN decoder or simply by checking the Truck Safety Compliance Certification Label (Door Jamb Label).
| Engine | Max Towing Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 | 7,700 lbs. | 1,990 lbs. |
| 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | 9,000 lbs. | 2,470 lbs. |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 13,200 lbs. | 3,230 lbs. |
| 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 | 11,600 lbs. | 3,270 lbs. |
| 3.5L EcoBoost H.O. V6 | 8,000 lbs. | 1,200 lbs. |
| 3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 | 11,400 lbs. | 2,020 lbs. |
3.3L Ti-VCT V6 Towing Capacity
The 2018 F150 with a 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
3.3L V6 engine has a power of 290 hp @ 6,500 rpm and a torque of 265 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,990 lbs.
2.7L EcoBoost V6 Towing Capacity
The 2018 F150 with a 2.7L EcoBoost V6 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity of 9,000 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages.
2.7L Ecoboost V6 engine has a power of 325 @ 5,000 rpm and a torque of 400 lb.-ft. @ 2,750 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 2,470 lbs.
Your truck will require a 2.7 Ecoboost Payload Package for trailer weights exceeding 8,200 lbs.
3.5L EcoBoost V6 Towing Capacity
The 2018 F150 with a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity of 13,200 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
3.5L Ecoboost V6 engine has a power of 375 @ 5,000 rpm and a torque of 470 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 3,230 lbs.
This engine is the most powerful and has a max 13,200 lbs towing capacity.
The trailer weight must not exceed 7,000 lbs (3,175 kg) with only the Class IV hitch (53B), without the Trailer Tow Package (53A).
As you can see, that max towing capacity of 13,200 lbs. can be achieved on SuperCab 8ft. 4×2 drivetrain and SuperCrew 4×2 configurations with 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine and truck will require Max Trailer Tow Package (53C) with a Class IV hitch installed.
3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 Towing Capacity
The 2018 F150 with a 3.5L Turbo Diesel V6 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity of 11,400 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
3.0L Turbo Diesel V6 engine has a power of 250 @ 3,250 rpm and a torque of 440 lb.-ft. @ 1,750 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 2,020 lbs.
5.0L Ti-VCT V8 Towing Capacity
The 2018 F150 with a 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity of 11,600 lbs. when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine has a power of 395 @ 5,750 rpm and a torque of 400 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 3,270 lbs.
3.5L EcoBoost H.O. V6 Towing Capacity
The 2018 F150 with 3.5L EcoBoost H.O. V6 automatic transmission engine can have a maximum towing capacity of 11,100 lbs when properly equipped with Trailer Tow Packages or Max Trailer Tow Packages.
3.5L EcoBoost H.O. V6 engine has a power of 450 @ 5,000 rpm and a torque of 510 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,200 lbs.
2018 F150 Trailer Towing Capacity Charts
The below charts show the conventional and 5th-wheel trailer towing capacity of the 2018 Ford F150.
Conventional Trailer Towing Charts
5th Wheel Towing Capacity Charts
More Information from charts
Axle Ratio Codes Chart
2018 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).
2018 F150 Axle Ratio Codes Chart
Trailer Towing Packages
The following chart will show you the components included in the trailer towing packages (option codes 53A, 53B, and 53C).
2018 F150 Trailer Towing Packages Chart
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 2018 F150 Frontal Area Limitations/Considerations are given in this chart:
2018 Ford F-150 Frontal Area Consideration while Towing Trailer – Chart
Rear Step Bumper vs. Hitch Receiver
The 2018 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 13,200 lbs with a max tongue load not exceeding 1,320 lbs (10% of max towing capacity).
On the 2018 F150 Raptor model, you can get a max towing capacity of 8,000 lbs with a max tongue load not exceeding 8,00 lbs (10% of max towing capacity).
2018 Ford F150 Rear Step Bumper vs. Hitch Receiver Chart
Max Cargo Weight with Slide-in Camper Chart
You can add a slide-in camper to your 2018 F150 Truck only if it has 3.5L EcoBoost V6 or 5.0 V8 engine 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.
2018 Ford F150 Max Cargo Weight with Slide-in Camper Chart
Useful Resources
Conclusion
The max towing capacity of the 2018 Ford F-150 is between 5,000 – 13,200 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 2018 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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