Max haul package ride difference vs standard tow package

[doit100us]

Does anyone know if the ride/handling is that much different with the max haul vs standard tow package? Only towing 5000lb boat or enclosed 20' sxs trailer 6000lb but is a huge sail in the wind. Just wondering if max haul is really necessary or not. Looking to buy a 25' xlt 5.0 with 3.73 gear. Also if anyone knows if the fx4 package changes the ride also from std. xlt or max haul. What I have on order is a 25 supercrew 145" with 5.0, black out plus package, 3.73 locker max tow fx4 and it is still not in production and have a chance to buy one on lot that is 5.0l 3.73 std tow package and wondering if I am over thinking the fx4 and max haul. Thanks.

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My experiences are this:

5.0 4x4 sport, no max tow.
3.5 4x4 sport, max tow.
3.5 4x4 fx4, no max tow.

I will say I really can't see a difference in the ride between the 5.0 and the fx4 package, unloaded. As for while loaded, I didn't recognize much difference if any at all while towing between my max tow and fx4 package. However, I feel like the fx4 squats a little more in the rear than my max tow did, but after I reset the hitch (and really didn't change anything), it seems to sit about the same.

You will see that the leaf springs are different on all of them. I think standard is 2 leaf? Max tow is 3 leaf? and FX4 is 2 leaf but one leaf is significantly thicker than the other.

I can't speak for the CCD shocks I don't think I have those. Must be an option. So if you are getting FX4 for that, then I might want to wait for it.

 

[Samson16]

The ride is generally better in a PowerBoost because it’s always in front.

 

[Jeff1024]

I went back and forth a few times with the same questions when we ordered our 22. Luckily a local dealer had a max tow and non-max tow on the lot so we were able to drive both back to back on the same loop.

Everyone is different, but after driving both my wife and I both came away thinking the non-max tow truck did ride a bit softer. It makes sense, its a mono-leaf design where the max tow trucks are a three leaf pack. It's nothing drastic, but it is there.

We tow relatively heavy so I went ahead and sacrificed a bit of ride quality and prioritized what I believe is a better setup for Towing in the max tow three leaf traditional suspension. I am glad I did, because we did have a few trailers behind the truck that put a considerable amount of tongue weight on the hitch.

Remember, the Powerboost is the 3 leaf pack no matter if you order max tow or not. In my opinion the fact that Ford options the 3 leaf pack to carry the heavy weight of the PowerBoost battery is very telling about their confidence in the monoleaf design when it is has a large amount of weight on it.

 

[NMMIKE]

I went back and forth a few times with the same questions when we ordered our 22. Luckily a local dealer had a max tow and non-max tow on the lot so we were able to drive both back to back on the same loop.

Everyone is different, but after driving both my wife and I both came away thinking the non-max tow truck did ride a bit softer. It makes sense, its a mono-leaf design where the max tow trucks are a three leaf pack. It's nothing drastic, but it is there.

We tow relatively heavy so I went ahead and sacrificed a bit of ride quality and prioritized what I believe is a better setup for Towing in the max tow three leaf traditional suspension. I am glad I did, because we did have a few trailers behind the truck that put a considerable amount of tongue weight on the hitch.

Remember, the Powerboost is the 3 leaf pack no matter if you order max tow or not. In my opinion the fact that Ford options the 3 leaf pack to carry the heavy weight of the PowerBoost battery is very telling about their confidence in the monoleaf design when it is has a large amount of weight on it.

Howdy, I own a 2024 F150 cc, FX4 , 3.5 eb,,, added Bilstein 5100 rear shocks, standard tow pkg. Would I get some benefit adding a leaf?

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

FX4 shocks are valved SLIGHTY stiffer……that’s about all you get with FX4. Oh…..and a cool sticker

 

[Pigpenffx]

I have a 2022 4x4 lariat with both the Max Tow and FX4 packages.

A bit of a weird combo. like you I’m towing a 5000lb boat, coming from a non max tow f-150 the ride is very slightly stiffer when unloaded. When towing it’s more composed, if you’re towing for longer distances I think it’s worth it.

Some of the jitter when unladen is likely owing to the stiffer shocks of the FX4. In short, it’s not something that’s going to be noticeable, the truck does not ride harsh…though it’s still a truck. If your traveling longer distances like I am you’ll likely have some weight in the bed that helps to dampen some of the jitter and makes it a much smoother ride, you’ll likely feel the same in the non-max tow as well.

 

[Samson16]

In my opinion the fact that Ford options the 3 leaf pack to carry the heavy weight of the PowerBoost battery is

I don’t think the PB HV battery is that heavy. @HammaMan how much does the hv battery weigh?

 

[Samson16]

Here it is. The additional heft of the PowerBoost is a result of multiple improvements not the least of which is the frame strengthening.

 

[Samson16]

I’m saying 75lbs for the entire battery pack. If that.

 

[Calson]

I have seen too many tow vehicles in the water when 2WD did not provide enough traction on boat ramps to not have 4WD with my vehicles. Even AWD with my SUV was the bare minimum.

My own 2022 max tow truck had as smooth a ride as any sedan or SUV I have been in over the years. With low load rated passenger tires at 35 PSI the ride is quite smooth.

 

[cujet]

My 2024 Lariat FX4 5.0 with 3.73 axle is rated to tow 11,000. The 2ea 2024 Max tow versions with 3.73 axles that I extensively test drove were 'stickered' (under the tow hitch) at 14,000. But rated in the manual to 13,500 pounds.

I can't tell any difference at all in ride. If anything, My Lariat FX4 front end tends to gently cycle up/down at speed over a bridge bump (supposedly has monotube shocks). A touch too soft in rebound damping. But otherwise I found the trucks identical in ride. Both ride very nicely

 

[Jeff1024]

I have seen too many tow vehicles in the water when 2WD did not provide enough traction on boat ramps to not have 4WD with my vehicles. Even AWD with my SUV was the bare minimum.

My own 2022 max tow truck had as smooth a ride as any sedan or SUV I have been in over the years. With low load rated passenger tires at 35 PSI the ride is quite smooth.

Agree, I do shake my head at videos of people who spin tires at a boat ramp because they tried to save a few thousand dollars and bought a RWD truck.

That said you can option Max Tow on a 2WD truck. As an added bonus doing so will result in a nice bump in payload - turns out transfer cases are heavy.

 

[Chuck Woolery]

What tires come on the max tow?

FWIW, I have a standard tow Powerboost and could tell a difference in ride quality between the stock tires and E-rated tires. Stock tires it feels like I'm riding on a cloud, but the rear end gets a little waggy when towing real heavy loads. E rated tires I felt every bump, but much more stable with a heavy load, and I'm not afraid to tow heavy loads (just got done hauling 3 tons of stone in a dump trailer, 16,800 pounds fully loaded on the scale).

 

[Jeff1024]

What tires come on the max tow?

From what I have seen adding Max Tow does not change the tires on the truck. My Max Tow came with the Hankook's.

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