People sometimes get confused. Max Tow and HD Payload are 2 different things. IMO, you need the Max Tow but you do not need the HD Payload. Max Tow DOES give you some extra payload capacity vs the Regular Tow Pkg. GVW goes up about 500 lbs and payload up about 350 lbs. Max Tow gets you an upgraded hitch, the big mirrors, integrated brake controller, a 51 tube radiator vs 42, heavier rear springs, upgraded front suspension, and an upgraded rear axle (but not the 7 lug). IMO the salesperson gave you good advice.
Bob & Wendy; Spanky & Piper the Fox Terriers
2012 Race Red FX4 Ecoboost, Max Tow, Luxury Pkg
Surveyor 235RKS
Reese Dual Cam
I did not read all the responses, but I think the dealership is a little lacking in their research department, and is continuing to order the wrong trucks for it's customers, and then following up by switching the customer to the trucks they have, instead of the trucks that SHOULD have been ordered by the truck department, had they not had their head stuck up their . . . .
If you want to tow a heavy trailer, why settle for a lighter duty rated truck than the maximum GVWR? So you get a truck with 100# less GVWR, and then find out you can tow the trailer fine, but have to leave the kids behind? Or not take firewood?
No I don't know the exact differences in GVWR between the Maximum that you want and probably need, and what the dealership is trying to push off because they are still ordering the wrong thing. If it is 500# less Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, then it means this truck on the lot can not carry as much firewood before it goes over the GVWR as the truck you wanted, and the Dealership should have been ordering.
You can go to Ford.com enter your zip code and search for local trucks in the Build and Price section.
Select the truck first, then build and price, then "Search local inventory" and they can show you your closest 5 dealers and normally if they have it together, you are able to search what trucks should be on their lot at this time. Yes they may have sold 2-3 of them before you arrived, yet it should reflect current inventory as of a few days back. My local dealership also lists the trucks placed on order, not arrived at this time, you can see the window sticker, print it out, and compare trucks this way.
Bottom line is you are investing more than $30,000 in a new truck, get exactly what you want! Get the right color, and then get a good price. Certainly not the MSRP for something you don't even want, because the dealership is not ordering the right trucks. A ordered in truck should be less than the MSRP, because the dealership does not have to pay flooring charges, and you have to wait on arrival of the truck, so it certainly will not cost the dealership nearly as much to sell you a truck still being produced compared to a truck on their lot they have to pay interest on the truck and other flooring charges.
It helps to find a truck with the Maximum GVWR, color that you wanted, and this will include the Max tow package, even if in another town. Enter the zip codes for Pittsburgh or another large town and see if a dealership has one, print out that window sticker, and take it with you, say "I don't want to drive all that way to buy, but I guess I will have to," and walk out. If they have your phone number, they will leave a message on your phone before you get home, "Sure we can have that truck shipped to our lot in 24 hours" and start talking price over the phone, you probably can get it lower - a lot lower than the MSRP especially if you are willing to go to another state to pick one up.
I guess you will have to educate the local dealership that the truck, passengers and hitch weight is more than 1,600 pounds in many cases, and you don't want to tell the wife "Lose weight or drive the kids over to the campground in the minivan" (PS Don't say this in front of your wife)
4 wheel drive is already a pretty heavy option on the truck, so you probably need even higher GVWR than most 2 WD drive trucks towing your trailer, because 4 WD option is about 400 pounds extra weight.
You will probably not find many, if any at all, F-150's with the Max Payload package on the lots. That package adds about $1000 to the price and limits you to 17" aluminum wheels. It's just not what Joe Public is looking for in a pickup. They know the sale will be lost to the dealer across town who has the cheaper truck with 18 or 20 inch chrome wheels.
The only way I've found to spec the Max Payload package with an ecoboost on the ford.com website is to pick the 3.73 limited slip (not electronic locking) differential on the first screen. At least that's the only way I could package it with a crew cab.
I would agree withte salesman, you don't need max payload to pull what you now have, max tow will do. My view though is that it would be prudent to pay the extra 1k on a 40k vehicle to get the optional HD payload for possible future growth.
Happy Motoring
Bob & Deb
W Ma.
12 F150 HD SCAB EcoBoost LB 4x4
06 Starcraft 18SB
You could, but you shouldn't, IMHO. That's a fairly heavy trailer. Get the HD/trailer towing package, even if you have to order it and wait for it to arrive.
I see you're in central PA. If you want the name of a salesman from whom to order it from (in North VA), send me a PM.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
Good info thus far. Keep in mind that the OEM tow rating does not mean RV tow rating, something salesmen of TVs and RVs rarely understand. A 4x4 XLT Supercrew Ecoboost you will have about 1600 pounds of payload for the regular trucks, 1900 for Max Trailer Towing, and 2300 for HD payload. You should estimate something like Goo has done above with your numbers:
Family -
Pets -
Trailer Tongue Weight -
Tonneau cover -
Misc stuff in truck bed -
TOTAL:
You may not have a canoe, or pets, but I have never seen a pickup pull into a campsite with and empty bed. Mine was always full. It's a great place to put dirty/wet stuff, toys, bikes, firewood, etc. For your TT, plan for 1000 pounds of tongue weight starting at 785 dry.
I highly recommend the max trailer towing package. It is a good value at about $500 for the equipment you need (towing mirrors, brake controller) and want (3.73LS, more payload). The only penalty for some is the large mirrors for city parking.
As mentioned in another thread, you regret not spending the extra money once, but regret not getting what you want many times over. Any salesmen worth working with will sell you want you want. He is just doing his job, though of trying to sell what is easiest and quickest for him. He's trying to make a living too.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009 2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS 2012 VW Passat TDI
I often wonder just what the actual knowedge of the individual at the dealership who does the actual ordering is as I've seen many trucks with all the towing goodies EXCEPT the mirrors. I've walked away from quite a few for this reason. Always told that "we can put them on" and I say "you can put on just about anything on anything, but why weren't they ordered from the factory"? No brainer seems to me. JMHO
Thanks for the input everyone. I went searching today and found a dealer with 2 max tow package trucks. No HD payload - besides they look at me like I have 3 heads when I ask about it. We have opted not to get the HD payload option. We will go Monday and start negotiating - that gives me a headache. I'm going to miss our suburban.
"No HD payload - besides they look at me like I have 3 heads when I ask about it. We have opted not to get the HD payload option."
Isn't that odd? From their advertisements, and some on here, F-150's that can tow 11,000 pounds or more are commonplace. (I couldn't find one either, when I was shopping last fall)
Turbo Diesel Dude wrote: I often wonder just what the actual knowedge of the individual at the dealership who does the actual ordering is as I've seen many trucks with all the towing goodies EXCEPT the mirrors. I've walked away from quite a few for this reason. Always told that "we can put them on" and I say "you can put on just about anything on anything, but why weren't they ordered from the factory"? No brainer seems to me. JMHO
Somehow I think the guy a this dealership is ordering the Max tow package thinking it is much less expensive than the Max payload package, and then it telling all the salespeople it is the same as the Max Payload - all the while being totally confused about the subject, and not reading the Ford information provided to all dealerships.
WHile it might be the same maximum towing capacity, it really is not, because you can not take the Family camping if the GVWR is exceeded by 250 pounds with the lower GVWR, instead of having the Max GVWR and the correct higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for the intended load.
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