Upgrading the hitch worth it?

[Tall Tail]

^^^this

I cant see how the hitch could have a WD tongue weight ~3x greater than no WD. Some funny business from Ford on a calculator.

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[Tall Tail]

Note that the OE hitch serves as a 'bumper brace' and trucks without the receiver have a different 'bumper brace without the receiver'. When you remove the OE hitch to install the Draw-Tite do you intend to also install the ''bumper brace without the receiver' in its place?

Pics from Gen 14 Workshop Manual bumper R&R section showing bumper brace with receiver and without receiver:

Nope, I've never looked and have no idea of the Ford PN or cost for the 'bumper brace without receiver' shown above.

Does anyone know if the hitches have different part numbers for different trims?
The stickers are different, but if its the same part for all, then the wt capacity is not based on the hitch but on other truck components (suspension, trans, engine, etc.)

 

[KBKEITH]

That sticker is one of the things that I was not happy with. Ford Motor Company
advertised it as a class IV then put a jenky derating sticker on it. By definition, a Class IV has a 10,000 lb GTW capacity and a 1,000 lb TW capacity. I would like to see Ford justify there numbers and eliminate there false advertising.

Just a WAG, but perhaps it’s derated for legal purposes? I have no idea.

I have no doubt that it could handle the class IV numbers that you posted above.

 

[Tall Tail]

Just a WAG, but perhaps it’s derated for legal purposes? I have no idea.

I have no doubt that it could handle the class IV numbers that you posted above.

My guess is thats i

That sticker is one of the things that I was not happy with. Ford Motor Company
advertised it as a class IV then put a jenky derating sticker on it. By definition, a Class IV has a 10,000 lb GTW capacity and a 1,000 lb TW capacity. I would like to see Ford justify there numbers and eliminate there false advertising.

I should be clear that SAE lists these numbers as up to x lbs. So between 5k and 10k lbs. But I haven't seen another class IV rated for 5k lbs. Class III can do up to 5k lbs non WD.

 

[towpro]

I did a thread on my first heavier tow a little while back. Just under 10k pounds.

I remember my buddy towing a small(er) track loader with his first gen Dodge diesel. he was affrade of the hitch so he upgraded it. one day he could hear this noise towing; the frame broke both sides, and there was a crack in the bed behind his diesel tank and tool box. So he welded it up and kept driving it, but bought a triaxle dump truck to tow his loader. But this allowed him to upgrade to a bigger loader and his bussienss got even bigger.

 

[Aron]

Holy cow, the prices on some of these is INSANE, 2k or more for a rear bumper?

I suspect that this is the reason that Ford installs a lower-rating hitch, since 99% of owners won't ever get close to the posted ratings.

 

[Pedaldude]

Im not gonna try jumping on the hitch because my fat a$$ might break it off apparently lol

Maybe it’s time to lay off the maple syrup and Tim Horton’s donuts?

I think even a mobility scooter will put the factory hitch over its weight limit!

...vice removing it, just cut off the lower hanging part and install a hitch...

That's probably do-able to provide the required clearance for the Draw-Tite.

Probably exhaust more than one cut-off wheel on the angle grinder to get 'er done .....

Or just razor blade off the sticker and a little WD40 for the glue residue?

Im willing to bet someone at Ford did a calculation which prompted the sticker. I’d love to know what load the hitch actually yields at in the real world.

Probably more likely it was some dickhead lawyer that prompted the sticker.

I think something else would fail before the hitch in many cases. Most of the time; it’s poorly loaded or inappropriate loads which cause handling issues that are the reasons why trucks/trailers come to grief.

Also, always hook up the tow chains!

...The sticker is on the bottom of the hitch, closer to the driver side.

I'm was definitely within the 13800lb towing limit, but over the 5k regular/non-WDH hitch, which is what prompted this thread.

I did notice that the truck is super sensitive to how evenly the load is on the trailer. I had to roll back one of the excavators about 4 inches to get...

My sticker is on the RH underside of the hitch, maybe you had a left handed sticker applicator at the factory that day? Or maybe it’s the other way around and they put the sticker on before the hitch hits the truck.

Sounds like a weight distribution hitch could have helped in the second scenario!

...i am puzzled at how they rated it so low for no wd loads?..
maybe the low tongue is to keep rear sag under control with the lighter springs on non heavy tow pack trucks???

It looks like everyone got the sticker regardless of GVWR/GCVWR.

 

[HammaMan]

This is a liability sticker to prevent people from removing too much weight from their front wheels. It's a liability copout, not an indicator as to the strength of the hitch. This is what happens when you get sued for dumb customers not keeping their tires inflated properly.

This is the same shit they did with under-rating the hybrid's capacity despite having been provisioned for another 500lbs GVWR.

 

[Buyer2021]

Does anyone know if the hitches have different part numbers for different trims?
The stickers are different, but if its the same part for all, then the wt capacity is not based on the hitch but on other truck components (suspension, trans, engine, etc.)

It looks like everyone got the sticker regardless of GVWR/GCVWR.

Does anyone have a Gen 14 F150 with a sticker on the receiver showing higher weight ratings in any category? Post a pic and share your truck specs if you do!

My sticker rating is the same as the OP's with his HDPP, my truck specs (without HDPP) are in my signature block below (GVWR=7050#; FGAWR=3450#; RGAWR=3800#).

 

[Tall Tail]

I dont have max tow, but have the trailering package below that and above the standard.
WD rating is 11,600
WC rating is 5,000
I have the same number on the right of the sticker except mine starts with "HL"

Does anyone know if the hitches have different part numbers for different trims?

I believe per SAE J684, If it was the hitch, the WC should change proportionally to the WD, but dont quote me on that. If my suspicion is correct, the 5k lb is not based on the hitch.

 

[21F150_208]

Have you tried towing without airbags? I have the regular cab and it barely even moves when I jump on the bumper.

I ran a 4W camper this summer in my 2021 XLT PB FX4 at max payload. Outside of slightly slower acceleration, this truck did not need airbags any other suspension upgrade. I am running e1 rated tires @ 65 psi.

I drive the thing like I stole it and am picky about handling. My $.02 is to run correct tires for your loads, then decide what else you need.

 

[HammaMan]

I ran a 4W camper this summer in my 2021 XLT PB FX4 at max payload. Outside of slightly slower acceleration, this truck did not need airbags any other suspension upgrade. I am running e1 rated tires @ 65 psi.

I drive the thing like I stole it and am picky about handling. My $.02 is to run correct tires for your loads, then decide what else you need.

The PB is a whole other animal though -- with you in it, it's 6klb at least. I've got an over-built 8.5x20 car hauler w/ spread twin 7klb torsion axles on it. Might be picking up a 9klb skid steer soon. It'd be closer to 13klb than 12, in total when moved.

 

[H4ppyB34r]

I do have E rated BFG KO2s, and they were property inflated.

My truck started out with a little over 4.5 inches of rake, and after I installed the Bilstein 2.5 lift in the front and Roadmaster Active Suspension in the rear, it brought my rake to just under 2 inches, I expected the RAS to lift the rear of the truck some, but it was not much if any.

The reason I'm looking at Airbags, is because the truck did squat down more than 2" in the rear, making the ride slightly nose high.

There was still plenty of travel in the rear suspension, not even close to the bump stops, but I would have preferred to have more flexibility on leveling the truck. It's also nice to not have a stiffer suspension when I'm running around town unloaded.

 

[KDPGame02]

Does anyone have a Gen 14 F150 with a sticker on the receiver showing higher weight ratings in any category? Post a pic and share your truck specs if you do!

My sticker rating is the same as the OP's with his HDPP, my truck specs (without HDPP) are in my signature block below (GVWR=7050#; FGAWR=3450#; RGAWR=3800#).

Powerboosts have larger weight ratings, yet another reason this makes it a great tow vehicle IMHO as long as you keep your payload in check with fewer options. Here are the numbers from my sticker. GVWR=7350; FGAWR=3900; RGAWR=4150

 

[Farmerj]

Be interesting to see how that sticker compares to my 2020 non-HDPP.

yes, this was around 17,000lb Back there. Probably 22,000 gross.

2020 Max tow without the HDPP. The 2023 is waiting shipping now.

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