One of the main reasons people get a Ford F150 is its ability to haul things and tow heavy trailers. For decades, the F150 has been considered the definition of a proper utility truck. Simply put, this Ford is immensely practical, reliable, and can do almost any work, while also being comfortable for everyday driving.
With that said, there are a number of available drivetrain configurations for the 2021 model, and choosing one of the many F150 trims can be almost overwhelming. So, which option gives you the best F150 towing capacity for your money?
Advanced in All Aspects
The 2021 Ford F150 marks the 14th generation of this famous model. On the outside, it would not be hard to mistake it for the older model. After all, Ford has slowed down their design language recently. But under the skin, the F150 could not be more different. In fact, 92% of all parts have been redesigned.
What makes this generation one of the most advanced of all pickup trucks is the Lightning variant. The Lightning is a fully electric model, which has never been seen before in the F150 lineup. Don’t worry, you’ll know an F150 Lightning when you see one. It features a distinct styling but also some extra room in the frunk thanks to the more compact drivetrain. It is also the fastest and most powerful F150 ever!
That said, the ICE F150s are nothing to frown at either. All F150s pack some serious features. The old-school needle gauge cluster can be replaced by an all-new digital instrument panel, which shows the driver various useful information including the navigation data or roll and incline angle in the off-road mode.
The 2021 Ford F150 comes with improved full LED headlights and a new Sync 4 infotainment system with swiping gestures. The F150 is now basically a luxury vehicle, and the audio system matches that. Optionally, the F150 can be equipped with a Bang & Olufsen sound system, which consists of 18 speakers and is powered by 1080 Watts. The speakers are everywhere, even on the headrests.
Of course, there is also a load of safety features, including automatic high-beam headlights, emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring system, adaptive cruise control, and much more. These are only a few points from the long list of features.
A Plethora of Configurations to Choose From
The EV pickup model called the F150 Lightning is available in four trim levels and with two basic drivetrain options, which we will talk about in greater detail later. The only chassis configuration available for the EV model is the SuperCrew cab and a 5.5-ft. bed
Moving to the conventionally powered F150s, the base offering starts with a 3.3L Ti-VCT V6. This engine generates 290 hp and 265 lb.-ft of torque. As the base engine, it also has the lowest F150 towing capacity at 8,200 lb. MPG is rated at 19 city and 24 highway.
Next in the line is a 2.7L EcoBoost V6, which produces 325 hp and 400 lb.-ft, which is a major improvement to the base engine. As such, this engine can tow 10,100 lb. and achieves a fuel economy of 20 city and 26 highway. The 2.7-liter comes at only $1,285 extra over the base 3.3L on the XT trim, which makes it almost a bargain.
The largest displacement engine is a 5.0L Ti-VCT. That said, it is not the most powerful, although it has more than plenty of power. It is rated at 400 hp and 410 lb.-ft of torque and it also improves the towing capacity to 13,000 lb., compared to the 2.7L V6.
There are three other options, all comprised of variations of a 3.5L V6. The standard one outputs 400 hp and 500 lb.-ft of torque. This is quite impressive, given that the power is greater than on the much larger displacement 5.0L V8. Not only that but the EcoBoost is more efficient at 18 MPG city 24 highway. However, the most impressive is certainly the F150 towing capacity with this engine — 14,000 lb.
If you are looking for the best fuel efficiency, the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost is also offered as a full hybrid. In that case, the engine is paired with a 47-hp electric motor for a combined power of 430 hp and 570 lb.-ft of torque. This is the most torque you can get from any of the conventionally powered F150s.
With the electric motor also comes a 1.5-kWh battery. Such an F150 can even drive in electric-only mode! Given the hybrid drivetrain, the MPG rating received a significant boost in city driving, where it now achieves 25 MPG and 25 on the highway. Surprisingly, towing capacity has not suffered and is still at a respectable 12,700 lb. The hybrid option has one more trick up its sleeve. Equipped with 3.6kW generators, the truck can run in Generator mode, which makes it possible to power high-draw electrical accessories.
If you are looking at the EcoBoost engines but wish for even more power, there is one last option: a High-output 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. This variation is boosted by 50 hp and 10 lb.-ft of torque compared to the standard EcoBoost engine and as such, it is only available on the famous Raptor model. Unfortunately, this one can tow the least. Only 8,200 lb.
Virtually all engines come paired with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic gearbox and are available as either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Typically, 4×2 models will achieve higher towing capacities thanks to the lower overall weight of the truck. The F150s are also offered with various axle ratios and as a general rule, higher ratios increase the towing options.
Bed and Cab Sizes
Configuring your Ford F150 can also get somewhat overwhelming when considering all of the possible bed sizes and cabs. However, it is not as complicated as it might appear.
The base configuration is the Regular Cab. This one has room for three passengers. Then, there are the SuperCrew and SuperCab models, which both seat five or six passengers. The advantage of the SuperCrew is that it has four doors, allowing for easier entry to the back seats. On the other hand, it compromises the bed size.
Both the Regular Cab and Super Cab are available with 6.5-foot and 8-foot beds. The four-door SuperCrew is offered with a 5.5-foot or a larger 6.5-foot bed.
The Perfect Drivetrain for the Ultimate Hauler
Based on the commercial released in 2019, it might seem like the Lightning model might be the best for towing. In the advertisement, the F150 managed to set a new record by towing 1,250,000 pounds on train rails. However, the truth is that while the Lightning does have immense power, and a high tow capacity, it is still not ideal in terms of range.
Lightning is offered in two configurations. The base one generates 426 hp and an immense 775 lb.-ft of torque. The range is rated at 240 miles. The more powerful model has 563 hp and the same amount of torque. In addition, it also has a larger battery, which allows it to exceed 300 miles on a full battery, at least on paper.
The F150 towing capacity with the EV drivetrain is rated at 10,000 lb. and for improved handling and off-road performance, it also has a permanent four-wheel drive. After looking at the specs, this model seems perfect for towing except for the not-so-great range, which is even worse in reality, and almost non-usable when towing a trailer. In testing, it barely passed 100 miles when attached to a 3,500 lb. trailer.
This is not to say, that the Lightning is a bad car, not at all. It is the most comfortable, fastest, and most revolutionary of all F150 pickup trucks ever released. That said, the limited range does not cut the edge to make it the ultimate hauler.
This is where the more conventional, and truly ultimate hauler comes into play. The 3.5L EcoBoost V6 can tow up to 14,000 lb. This is in case you opt for either the SuperCab with an 8-ft. box, or SuperCrew with a 6.5-ft. box. In both cases, it will be equipped with a 4×2 configuration and a Max Trailer Tow Package.
This package includes additional features that make towing simpler, such as the Pro Trailer Backup Assist. You surely know that reversing with a trailer can get tricky but with the backup assist, it will be no longer. All you have to do when parking a trailer is to control the accelerator and brake pedals, and the F150 will do the rest for you. Moreover, the Max Trailer Tow package also equips the F150 with a number of mechanical improvements.
This way, your F150 will get an electronic-locking rear axle with either a 3.55 or 3.73 ratio, an integrated trailer brake controller, a smart trailer tow connector, a class IV trailer hitch receiver, and a wiring harness. The package also entails an upgraded rear bumper. Furthermore, this engine is also equipped with two turbos, so consistent power delivery from low RPMs is ensured.
With the 3.5L V6, you also get an impressive payload capacity. If equipped with the Heavy Duty Payload Package, your F150 payload capacity will be rated at 3,250 lb. The only drivetrain better in this regard is the 5.0L Ti-VCT, which gives you an extra 75 lb. but the increased costs are not really worth the upgrade. Especially since it decreases the F150 towing capacity to 13,000 lb. and achieves a slightly worse fuel economy.
Given the impressively high tow and payload capacities, fuel economy, and power, the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost is an obvious winner. With this engine, towing will be as convenient and easy as it can be. The second-best pick would then be the V8. The 5.0L Coyote engine has been offered by Ford for many years, and it is considered to be one of the most reliable engines.
While the hybrid EcoBoost also seems like an appealing choice, its advantages are only really usable in cities. When towing, the electric motor will not provide much more extra power. On the contrary, it makes the pickup truck heavier, thus reducing the maximum towing capacity.
F150 Towing Capacity – Only One of the Many Benefits
The F150 towing capacity is really impressive. However, it is not the only thing that makes this pickup truck so special. After 14 generations and 74 years of production, Ford has almost perfected it. It can offer almost as much comfort and luxury as premium sedans, it is extremely reliable, and can be had for a reasonable price.
Ford has even started to experiment with unconventional solutions such as the EV Lightning model, and while it is not perfect, it shows what the next generations will be capable of. For now, the conventionally powered F150 with the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost remains the ultimate hauler and tower. There is almost nothing that it could not bear.
