Ready for that outdoor adventure in the F-150? People often wonder how much weight an F-150 can hold. Unfortunately, there is no one way to answer this question regarding multiple weight distribution factors on the F-150.
The payload or cab carrying weight is limited to the Truck’s ability to safely carry any weight, which ranges from 1400 to 3300 pounds depending on several factors, including the wheelbase, gear ratio, truck model, and engine size.
Before loading the Ford F-150, making sure that the numbers are correct is critical to a good trip. There are several distinct factors to include in figuring out the proper load-bearing capability of the F-150, including the payload, curb weight, tongue weight (usually ten percent of the tow weight), and the towing capacity.
How Much of a Payload Can the Ford F-150 Hold?
The payload is the weight a truck can take on in addition to the gross vehicle weight. Think of the payload as the amount of cargo that can be added to the Truck instead of the weight already on the Truck. The towing capacity incorporates the gross vehicle weight into this number, while the payload strictly focuses on the cargo.
The maximum payload a Ford F-150 can carry is between 1400 and 3300 pounds depending on the engine size. The larger the engine, the higher the payload capacity the F-150 can hold. Payload is separate from the towing capacity discussed below.
Payload is the total amount of weight that can be added to the vehicle, including passengers, so considering that not all trucks are created equal. Typically, when people consider the payload of a vehicle, the towing capacity is a consideration mainly because of the vehicle’s weight. The more the vehicle weighs, the less of a payload it can take generally.
Imlay city Ford has provided (source) a nice chart which Is summarized below:
| Engine | Payload Capacity (Lbs) |
|---|---|
| 3.3 l ti-VCT v6 | 1985 |
| 2.7L v6 | 2480 |
| 5.0L ti-VCT | 3325 |
| 3.5L Ecoboost V6 | 3250 |
| 3.5L Powerboost full Hybrid v6 | 2120 |
| 3.5 L Eco Boost | 1410 |
What is the Difference between The Ford F-150 Towing and Payload Capacity?
Towing capacity is the weight the vehicle can tow safely atop the payload and weight of the vehicle (also known as curb weight). Each engine and model package will have a slight variation as to the exact capabilities of each vehicle option.
These charts are available online to precisely break down the gross combined weight rating based on each vehicle’s axle ratios, engine, and drive train. There may even be specific information in the owner’s manual. (source)
The basic premise is that you subtract the GCWR and the weight of the vehicle to get the towing capability of the specific Ford F-150 you own. Finding a truck scale at a truck stop can help with this task, simply weigh your Truck empty and subtract that number from the GCWR.
Trailer weight is also included in the calculation; let us use an example here to clarify things. Let us say you want to haul a boat to the lake, a boat that weighs approximately fifteen hundred pounds.
The boat’s trailer weighs about six hundred pounds, and the towing capacity is separate from the payload, so let us not forget to add that later.
So, we will use the big boy for the heck of it: the super crew four-wheel-drive five liters with the three-point seven three gear ratio and the one hundred- and fifty-seven-point two-inch wheelbase can tow thirteen thousand pounds.
So even though the GCWR is eighteen thousand and six hundred pounds, the payload is only thirty-two twenty-five pounds (notice how the v6 gets slightly better payload rates).
So, we have ten thousand and nine hundred pounds left, right? Well, not precisely see; the payload is thirty-three twenty-five, so let us say we max out the payload with all our friends and family in the cab, and the fun things we plan to do on the boat are gone. So, we only have seven thousand six hundred and fifty pounds available for towing left.
How Much Can a Ford F-150 Carry in the Bed?
The payload is the total weight of items that can be added to the bed and safely driven down the road. This does not count anything added to the towing capacity via a trailer.
The Truck’s bed can only carry what you add to it safely, and although the vehicle may hold the weight, it is unsafe to overload the bed of any truck.
- A Ford-F150 has numerous payloads depending on several varied factors.
- To be on the safe side, if you have a half-ton truck, or 1500, that is the max payload you can have.
As you can see from the chart above, the smallest payload is one thousand four hundred and ten pounds, so one thousand pounds of a payload plus two average-sized passengers would be the max payload for even the smallest Ford F-150.
Some people may be able to overload the Truck’s bed within a specified capacity without doing much damage to the Truck. Still, this is not a practical approach over time and will cause multiple issues with the suspension system.
Not only does overloading the Truck present an issue with the suspension, but it also makes other parts of the truck work harder, which could increase the cost of repairs on subsequent systems. In addition, overloading the Truck makes the vehicle take longer to stop and wears out the braking system faster on descents in the mountain ranges.
The Ford F-150 is Great for Many Adventures Year Round
Whether a trip to the lake is afoot or a nice camping trip, the Ford F-150 is the truck of choice for many outdoor adventures. Knowing the payload, towing capacity, and the different requirements and what they mean will help provide a ton of fun for a ton of time. Load the Truck safely, and the F-150 will be a staple vehicle in many future adventures.