Extreme tow capacities on the new trucks?

[The motor guy]

Is your 07 a 6.7l? The late 07.5+ trucks 6 speed auto and factory exhaust brake are a major leap forward in towing performance. Let alone the trq increase from displacement.

A 2025 ram 3500 front rotor diameter is 14.17" vs your 13.99. (No real difference, my opinion)

Maybe an improvement in brake pad and caliper?

Yeah. Maybe they added more pistons. I have 4 wheel disc brakes with dual piston calipers and it really does not matter if the trailer brakes work or not on my 5,000 pound trailer i tow. My older 2nd gen depends on them to work to save its life

 

[CKN]

These newer ratings fall into the category of: just because it can, doesn’t mean you should. If you need to stop quickly you’ll learn in that second that the heavier object behind you can shove you around.

This is an often repeated "Internet thing"-usually repeated by people who don't tow at all-or very much. The trailer has brakes-if the brake controller and the brakes shoes on the trailer are ADJUSTED CORRECTLY it will stop fine.

 

[The motor guy]

This is an often repeated "Internet thing"-usually repeated by people who don't tow at all-or very much. The trailer has brakes-if the brake controller and the brakes shoes on the trailer are ADJUSTED CORRECTLY it will stop fine.

They never are though even though theyre claimed to be self adjusting

 

[02SE]

They never are though even though theyre claimed to be self adjusting

I'd suggest you spend more time maintaining your equipment. The brakes on our last 5th wheel always worked perfectly.

 

[PontiacHO]

This is an often repeated "Internet thing"-usually repeated by people who don't tow at all-or very much. The trailer has brakes-if the brake controller and the brakes shoes on the trailer are ADJUSTED CORRECTLY it will stop fine.

Understood. You’re referring to me as have not towed “at all-or very much”. I laughed! You are correct in theory and perfect world scenario in your grand assessment. Tow down a mountain incline with any 1/2 ton truck that’s rated to tow 13k with a 13k trailer behind… Let me know what you experience - trailer brakes ADJUSTED CORRECTLY or not.

 

[The motor guy]

Understood. You’re referring to me as have not towed “at all-or very much”. I laughed! You are correct in theory and perfect world scenario in your grand assessment. Tow down a mountain incline with any 1/2 ton truck that’s rated to tow 13k with a 13k trailer behind… Let me know what you experience - trailer brakes ADJUSTED CORRECTLY or not.

I towed a friends18ft flatbed landscape trailer with a 1500 hemi 5.7 and a side by side on it. It actually towed better than my cummins, but when it came to braking is where the difference came in. Eek is all I had to say. Doubt that rig weighed more than 3500 pounds and it felt like the incredible hulk was back there pushing me with the brakes on

 

[CKN]

Understood. You’re referring to me as have not towed “at all-or very much”. I laughed! You are correct in theory and perfect world scenario in your grand assessment. Tow down a mountain incline with any 1/2 ton truck that’s rated to tow 13k with a 13k trailer behind… Let me know what you experience - trailer brakes ADJUSTED CORRECTLY or not.

No problem. Here is the formula. You go down the hill in the same gear you go up the hill...using the vehicles manual shifting capabilities-with prudent braking pulses.

Now-based on what I described-and having towed well over 30,000 miles-let me know if you can rationally think that I would have any issues.

I know diesel guys have a hard time accepting the capabilities of a modern half-ton truck-with a competent driver.

 

[PontiacHO]

I towed a friends18ft flatbed landscape trailer with a 1500 hemi 5.7 and a side by side on it. It actually towed better than my cummins, but when it came to braking is where the difference came in. Eek is all I had to say. Doubt that rig weighed more than 3500 pounds and it felt like the incredible hulk was back there pushing me with the brakes on

As it always does in the real world. My boat weighs right at 5k with a double axle trailer and disc brakes on both axles. It’s not fun braking a half ton truck even when the trailer brakes engaged. The inherent loss of full control (steering and braking) in a heavy traffic situation isn’t fun.

 

[97prizm]

"when properly equipped."

It's a whizzing match between the big players to make a "halo" truck in its class which is probably not going to be terribly available.

The "properly equipped " usually stated in the fine print RWD, tow package, ho engine usually diesel, etc.

 

[dfarr67]

The "properly equipped " usually stated in the fine print RWD, tow package, ho engine usually diesel, etc.

For a NEW truck in ideal conditions. Age will degrade performance.
Just have to be realistic about towing skill and capacity and when to move up.

 

[Donald]

If you are going to tow a heavy trailer you need a 3/4 ton or larger pickup. Period.

Forget what the sticker says on a 1/2 ton. A heavy trailer will push a 1/2 ton pickup around.

And consider a diesel.

Everything on a 3/4 ton pickup is heavy. The tires, rotor, caliper and everything else are heavy.

The caliper for a F250 without pads is 21 lbs.

And when you are over 70 they feel even heavier when you try and lift them.

 

[ctechbob]

One of the biggest problems with 1/2 tons is feature bloat and that effect on payload.

Sure, the 3.5 F150 can tow 13.5k, but you'll never get that number out of a Lariat or above optioned truck. They're so weighed down with crap that their payload numbers are abysmal. It isn't hard to find a truck with a payload number way WORSE than one of the Rangers. Those are the trucks people are buying. I see them all the time in campgrounds. Lariats, Limiteds, Platinums towing 30 foot campers that would be well over my payload, let alone one of the trucks with more features.

Even my F150 is slightly worse than the Ranger I had before, granted, it is only on the lines of 20#, but still.

Like has been mentioned further up in the thread. Those max numbers are from very specifically (not) optioned trucks.

The 40,000 pound Ford truck is one no one has ever seen outside of Ford and their promotional videos. It is a single cab, short bed dually F450.

This thing.

I almost wonder if they've ever sold one.

As memory serves, Ford actually got in trouble some years back for creating a truck for their max payload rating that you couldn't even buy if you wanted it. Something along the lines of it was missing several interior parts:

"The attorneys general, in this case, claimed that Ford calculated the maximum payload capacity based on a hypothetical truck configuration that omitted standard items such as the spare wheel, tire and jack, center floor console (replacing it with a mini console), and radio. But they said the hypothetical payload capacity increased “just enough” for Ford to support the advertising claim. "

 

[AZjeff]

This is an often repeated "Internet thing"-usually repeated by people who don't tow at all-or very much. The trailer has brakes-if the brake controller and the brakes shoes on the trailer are ADJUSTED CORRECTLY it will stop fine.

@CKN touches on the trouble with towing and towing heavy, it's not the equipment, a 1/2 ton truck could tow a 20k trailer if driven properly and the trailer brakes and controller are set up properly. It's the 1/2 ton driver not used to the new 12k travel trailer after the 6k trailer he traded in. It's the driver who doesn't know the physical brakes on the trailer have to be adjusted properly and the controller has to be adjusted properly. It's the driver who goes into the downhill at 65 and lets it roll up to 75 before trying to get slowed down and smokes the brakes.

I've never heard going downhill in the gear you'd use going up the hill, that sounds pretty true.

Still don't think a 1/2 ton truck should be towing 12k.

 

[CKN]

@CKN touches on the trouble with towing and towing heavy, it's not the equipment, a 1/2 ton truck could tow a 20k trailer if driven properly and the trailer brakes and controller are set up properly. It's the 1/2 ton driver not used to the new 12k travel trailer after the 6k trailer he traded in. It's the driver who doesn't know the physical brakes on the trailer have to be adjusted properly and the controller has to be adjusted properly. It's the driver who goes into the downhill at 65 and lets it roll up to 75 before trying to get slowed down and smokes the brakes.

I've never heard going downhill in the gear you'd use going up the hill, that sounds pretty true.

Still don't think a 1/2 ton truck should be towing 12k.

It's a general rule by those who tow. It works the vast majority of the time.

 

[2013ecof150]

One of the biggest problems with 1/2 tons is feature bloat and that effect on payload.

Sure, the 3.5 F150 can tow 13.5k, but you'll never get that number out of a Lariat or above optioned truck. They're so weighed down with crap that their payload numbers are abysmal. It isn't hard to find a truck with a payload number way WORSE than one of the Rangers. Those are the trucks people are buying. I see them all the time in campgrounds. Lariats, Limiteds, Platinums towing 30 foot campers that would be well over my payload, let alone one of the trucks with more features.

Even my F150 is slightly worse than the Ranger I had before, granted, it is only on the lines of 20#, but still.

Like has been mentioned further up in the thread. Those max numbers are from very specifically (not) optioned trucks.

The 40,000 pound Ford truck is one no one has ever seen outside of Ford and their promotional videos. It is a single cab, short bed dually F450.

This thing.

View attachment 318230

I almost wonder if they've ever sold one.

As memory serves, Ford actually got in trouble some years back for creating a truck for their max payload rating that you couldn't even buy if you wanted it. Something along the lines of it was missing several interior parts:

"The attorneys general, in this case, claimed that Ford calculated the maximum payload capacity based on a hypothetical truck configuration that omitted standard items such as the spare wheel, tire and jack, center floor console (replacing it with a mini console), and radio. But they said the hypothetical payload capacity increased “just enough” for Ford to support the advertising claim. "

I’ve actually seen 1 of these oddball F450’s in person. It had a huge gooseneck trailer behind it delivering concrete pipe.

 

[ctechbob]

I’ve actually seen 1 of these oddball F450’s in person. It had a huge gooseneck trailer behind it delivering concrete pipe.

I'd be super curious how many of those they actually build. It has to be a super tiny %.

 

[Rmay635703]

My 07 dodge ram 2500 diesel has a tow capacity of 12,500 poinds if I remember right. The gcvw is 23,000. Anyways, what have they done to the new trucks that allow them to tow so much? A 2026 dodge ram 3500 has a tow capacity of like 37,000 pounds

There are the actual limits and then there is marketing.

Your engine/transmission and cooling “could” be the reason as could braking but many times it’s a lot of marketing at play combined with incremental improvements.

As an example many 5000lb plus vehicles have ZERO weight rating, buy the same platform with a different body style and voila weight rating.

 

[AZjeff]

It's a general rule by those who tow. It works the vast majority of the time.

I've towed the current travel trailer over 30k miles and have been towing things forever and never heard that. My rule is the steeper the hill looks at the top the more I slow down and downshift. I'll be thinking about uphill speed/gearing while going downhill next trip. Lots of opportunity around here.

 

[ctechbob]

It's a general rule by those who tow. It works the vast majority of the time.

Maybe for an NA V8, but for turbo motors you're going to go flaming down the mountain.

My Hybrid will grunt its way up a fairly steep hill in 6th/7th, but you want it in 3rd/4th on the way down.

That is one downside to small turbo motors, their engine braking is lacking. If there's one thing my Ranger was bad at is that the little 2.3L had just about zero engine braking, so you had to tow accordingly. Just like the bigger truck, it would pull up the hill in a higher gear, but you really need to slow down on the downside and pull it down to 2/3.

 

[CKN]

Maybe for an NA V8, but for turbo motors you're going to go flaming down the mountain.

My Hybrid will grunt its way up a fairly steep hill in 6th/7th, but you want it in 3rd/4th on the way down.

I said a general rule. Even in a turbo I don't know if one wants to go tearing up a mountain. Verses moderate rpms.