[RJDodge]

Hey everybody, just bought my 3.0 a couple months ago (2018 Platinum FX4 6.5ft bed with the 3.55 rear differential and a little over 46,000 miles). Loving the truck so far. I’m in the Navy and am about to be moving from Washington to San Diego, CA (~1250 miles). Coincidentally, we’re also about to have our first baby any day now. My question is in regards to towing a vehicle. Driving both of our vehicles down separately won’t be an option with our newborn. This leaves me either driving the truck down, flying back, then doing the trip again altogether, or renting a U-Haul auto trailer and towing my wife’s SUV down for just one trip. It looks like the curb weight for my wife’s SUV is 4387lbs, and the trailer is 2210lbs. With our dogs and additional stuff needed for the trip down (kennel, clothes, baby gear, etc.) I’m guessing the total weight of the towed load to be about 7000-7200lbs. I’ve been doing a lot of research but keep getting conflicting info. Some people have said they haul 10000lbs no problem, while others say they won’t go above 5000lbs. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with a similar load. I know the payload limit is going to be the most limiting, which is a big part of my concern as I’ve heard the uhaul auto haulers hold a lot of weight towards the tongue. I would like to make the move in one trip if possible, but also don’t want to push the truck to its limit for 1200 miles. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[PeteK]

Review the comments on this thread:

3.31 Towing/ Did I make a mistake?

Took delivery of my 2021 FX4 Platinum with 3.31 a couple months ago. Went with 3.31 because I rarely tow anything, BUT, since I've taken delivery we've been looking at travel trailers with GVWR 6000-6500 lbs. I have a 2" level and tires are slightly bigger than stock 275/60R20 up to 285/60R20...

www.dieself150forum.com

 

[Dunrollin]

Welcome and congratulations on the new truck, the baby and the move! I did the same thing in 2019 and just could not make the numbers work in my case. I ended up bringing my 2013 F150 to Florida hauling a cargo trailer with my ztr mower, washer, dryer and other big items then rented a car to go back and get my 2018 F150. Not too hard as the trip is just 1 day as opposed to cross country.

Your SUV is lighter than my 2013 F150 which weighs in at 6,300 pounds. I flat tow the 2013 behind a motorhome now and it is an easy tow but that requires a baseplate and tow bar setup. To make it safe I added air brakes to the 2013 F150.

Good luck on the move and post what you finally decide to do, wishing you the very best in 2022.

 

[jmperlik]

@RJDodge - let me welcome you hear to the forums with your first post. Having owned three (3) F150 Platinums (2010/2015/2018) I must say that your 2018 Platinum w/FX4 package + 157" wheelbase + 3.55 rear axle is a bit of a "unicorn" as I didn't even think you could order an FX4 with the longer bed and 3.55 axle (I have factory ordered my last two F150s = been thru all the ordering combinations)

I don't consider myself an expert in towing (especially another vehicle) as I only occasionally tow tractors in my 7x16 enclosed dual-axle trailer. I did a bunch of reading & research in this topic to educate myself and summarized what I found here in Post #7 of the What is your payload capacity thread.

I don't think you are beyond the GCW (Gross Combination Weight) limitation of your truck and I agree that payload capacity would be what to focus on. Please note the 5000 lb rating on the factory hitch w/o using a Weight-Distributing Hitch (WDH) = I wouldn't try to do this w/o a WDH.

I have commented previously on how the payload capacity drops off dramatically as your move up in the trim levels, with the Platinum trim cutting the payload capacity nearly in half from the max payload capacity of a base F150.

Check the payload sticker on the Driver's side door jamb to determine what your vehicle's max payload capacity is. for my 2018 Platinum w/FX4 package + 145" wheelbase + 3.31 axle is an abysmal 1084 lbs = Five (5) 200 lb passengers!

Based on this (incomplete = 3.0L Diesel was not listed) table from the 2018 F150 Ordering Guide, there is no difference in max payload for 145" WB (5.5' bed) vs vs 157" (6.5' bed) for the standard frame:

The Heavy-Duty Payload package (627) option bumps max payloads things up by 20-30% but I am pretty sure it was impossible to order Heavy-Duty Payload package (627) option + 3.0L V6 Diesel engine option:

• 2018 F150 Ordering Guide doesn't include 3.0L engine option in charts
• 2018 F150 Ordering Guide indicates you could order HD Payload package (627) on following trim levels:
  • XL
  • XLT
  • Lariat
• 2019 F150 Ordering Guide indicates you could order HD Payload package (627) on following trim levels:
  • XL
  • XLT

so I am going to assume you don't have the Heavy-Duty Payload package (627) option on your truck.

This Axle Availability chart from the 2019 F150 Ordering Guide (3.0L V6 Diesel engine option not included in 2018 Guide) shows what I thought I remembered:

• FX4 package locks you (pun intended) into 3.31 Electronic-Locking Diff (XL3)
• Heavy-Duty Payload package only available on:
  • 157" wheelbase (6.5' bed)
  • Only two (2) engine options:
    • 3.5L V6 Ecoboost
    • 5.0L V8

Not sure if I answered any of your questions (probably raised new/more questions about how you have FX4 package (55A) +157" wheelbase/6.5' bed + 3.55 axle) but wanted to provide you with what I have researched previously.

Might be interesting to use your VIN to generate a Monroney window sticker to see if FX4 package (55A) is truly installed because based on above, FX4 package + 3.55 axle are mutually exclusive = previous owner could have ordered/slapped on the FX4 decals.

Good luck with your move and welcome again to the forums!

 

[RJDodge]

Welcome and congratulations on the new truck, the baby and the move! I did the same thing in 2019 and just could not make the numbers work in my case. I ended up bringing my 2013 F150 to Florida hauling a cargo trailer with my ztr mower, washer, dryer and other big items then rented a car to go back and get my 2018 F150. Not too hard as the trip is just 1 day as opposed to cross country.

Your SUV is lighter than my 2013 F150 which weighs in at 6,300 pounds. I flat tow the 2013 behind a motorhome now and it is an easy tow but that requires a baseplate and tow bar setup. To make it safe I added air brakes to the 2013 F150.

Good luck on the move and post what you finally decide to do, wishing you the very best in 2022.

Thank you, I appreciate it! I’m starting to think the safer option is to just bear down and do the two trips. Hard to put a price on peace of mind. Thanks for your input, I’ll be sure to post how it all works out.

 

[RJDodge]

@RJDodge - let me welcome you hear to the forums with your first post. Having owned three (3) F150 Platinums (2010/2015/2018) I must say that your 2018 Platinum w/FX4 package + 157" wheelbase + 3.55 rear axle is a bit of a "unicorn" as I didn't even think you could order an FX4 with the longer bed and 3.55 axle (I have factory ordered my last two F150s = been thru all the ordering combinations)

I don't consider myself an expert in towing (especially another vehicle) as I only occasionally tow tractors in my 7x16 enclosed dual-axle trailer. I did a bunch of reading & research in this topic to educate myself and summarized what I found here in Post #7 of the What is your payload capacity thread.

I don't think you are beyond the GCW (Gross Combination Weight) limitation of your truck and I agree that payload capacity would be what to focus on. Please note the 5000 lb rating on the factory hitch w/o using a Weight-Distributing Hitch.

I have commented previously on how the payload capacity drops off dramatically as your move up in the trim levels, with the Platinum trim cutting the payload capacity nearly in half from the max payload capacity of a base F150.

Check the payload sticker on the Driver's side door jamb to determine what your vehicle's max payload capacity is. for my 2018 Platinum w/FX4 package + 145" wheelbase + 3.31 axle is abysmal 1084 lbs = Five (5) 200 lb passengers!
View attachment 2517
Based on this (incomplete = 3.0L Diesel was not listed) table from the 2018 F150 Ordering Guide, there is no difference in max payload for 145" WB (5.5' bed) vs vs 157" (6.5' bed) for the standard frame:
View attachment 2518
The Heavy-Duty Payload package (627) option bumps max payloads things up by 20% but I am pretty sure it was impossible to order Heavy-Duty Payload package (627) option + 3.0L V6 Diesel engine option:

• 2018 F150 Ordering Guide doesn't include 3.0L engine option in charts
• 2018 F150 Ordering Guide indicates you could order HD Payload package (627) on following trim levels:
  • XL
  • XLT
  • Lariat
• 2019 F150 Ordering Guide indicates you could order HD Payload package (627) on following trim levels:
  • XL
  • XLT

View attachment 2520
so I am going to assume you don't have the Heavy-Duty Payload package (627) option on your truck.

This Axle Availability chart from the 2019 F150 Ordering Guide (3.0L V6 Diesel engine option not included in 2018 Guide) shows what I thought I remembered:

• FX4 package locks you (pun intended) into 3.31 Electronic-Locking Diff (XL3)
• Heavy-Duty Payload package only available on:
  • 157" wheelbase (6.5' bed)
  • Only two (2) engine options:
    • 3.5L V6 Ecoboost
    • 5.0L V8

View attachment 2522
Not sure if I answered any of your questions (probably raised new/more questions about how you have FX4 package (55A) +157" wheelbase/6.5' bed + 3.55 axle) but wanted to provide you with what I have researched previously.

Might be interesting to use your VIN to generate a Monroney window sticker to see if FX4 package (55A) is truly installed because based on above, FX4 package + 3.55 axle are mutually exclusive = previous owner could have ordered/slapped on the FX4 decals.

Good luck with your move and welcome again to the forums!

Thank you for all the info! I actually read a few of your posts regarding payload capacity in your platinum when I was first trying to figure everything out. When I checked my truck for some reason two of the door jam stickers have been removed, and all that was left is the one attached. I didn’t realize the FX4 long bed with 3.55 was so rare. Interestingly enough, when I bought the truck it still had the window sticker with it. I will say it was first sold in Canada then imported at some point, so I’m not sure if that has anyone effect on available options. Anyways, thank you for all the info, definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference. Appreciate it!

 

[jmperlik]

Very interesting! Couple things that perked my interest:

• Date of Manufacture: May 2018
  • This is one of the earliest VINs/Dat of Manufacture that I recall
  • Earliest posts on these forums I remember were June 2018 for early vehicle orders
• F150 Order Guide I have been referencing are North America/US according to path in URL; e.g. 2020 Guide
  media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/product/2020/f150/2020-F-150-OrderGuide.pdf
  so it is possible that Canada could allow for different combinations?
• Since you have the original window sticker, would you mind posing here w/VIN obfuscated? Edit: I saw you posted window sticker after I refreshed this thread
  • I'd be interested your truck was assembled in Dearborn, MI
  • @STIAJW posted instructions on how to determine Build Date on Door Jamb Sticker
  • I've posted instructions on how to decipher build and Date of manufacture for codes on window sticker
  • If the two (2) standard door jamb stickers are gone/have been replaced, we lose that method

 

[jmperlik]

@RJDodge - after I hit Post Reply on my previous post, I noticed that you did post a pic of your window sticker. Thanks!

FX4 package clearly listed on window sticker, so I am going to guess that the Canadian order books allowed this "unicorn" configuration of: Platinum w/FX4 package + 3.0L V6 PowerStroke Diesel + 6.5' bed + 3.55 axle

With the recent news that the 3.0L V6 Diesel will be discontinued in the 2022 models, I have been calling our trucks "unicorns", since they made so few of these. With your one-off factory order from Canada, I guess you have the very special/rare "rainbow unicorn" of the F150 PowerStroke Diesels!

Learn something new every day here on the forums...

 

[RJDodge]

@jmperlik - Here is the full window sticker printout. Looks like it was in fact assembled in Dearborn. Also, going off of the code at the bottom it looks like it was manufactured 5/8/2018. I have found that these trucks are very few and far between. Really glad I was able to find this one when I did. Thanks again!

 

[STIAJW]

Looking at RJDodge's window label, I think the code at the top: 22018051453456 is the code that includes the factory assembly date. The #20180514#### is the assembly date, I believe. May 14 of 2018. The last 4 digits are the (blend) code the factory uses in sequencing the assembly line. This same string of numbers is printed on the window label at the far bottom right of the window label.

Edited to add: I think the 10/31/2021 date at the bottom of the window label is the date that window label was downloaded from Ford's website. I think the 05 08 18 date is the date the assembly schedule was essentially finalized and the VIN may have been assigned along with the assembly date (blend date).

Further edited to add: I think most, if not all, of the dates discussed in this post are not printed on the Monroney label actually glued to the glass. I've only seen these dates on window labels downloaded electronically.

I don't have any inside info - just putting together info gleaned from reading about Ford's manufacturing, and the experience I have with the differences in the Monroney labels I downloaded compared to the Monroney label pealed off the glass of my truck.

 

[beaker]

My 2019 is has a 3.55 axle, FX-4, and a 6.5' bed. It is a US model. We've towed a 2400 lb car on a U-Haul trailer with it, and the truck hardly noticed. In my experience, cars on open-deck trailers are easy to tow

 

[beaker]

Window sticker for my USA spec model:

 

[jmperlik]

Never said you can't get 157" wheelbase + 3.55 gears on a Lariat or King Ranch trims w/FX4 package
= @kdjasper (former mod here) has a 2018 F150 King Ranch 157" wheelbase + 3.55 gears + FX4

I may have confused things by bringing up Heavy Duty Payload package (which increases max payload by 20-30%) as Heavy Duty Payload package (627) is only available on XL & XLT 2019 trims

I still contend that you cannot order 157" wheelbase (6.5" bed) + 3.55 gears + FX4 package on Platinum trim level
= All three (3) of my F150 Platinums (2010/2015/2018) were all 5.5' beds + 3.31 gears
= Pretty sure I tried to order 6.5' bed on my 2015 factory order

=> promptly told FX4 package automatically gets you 5.5' bed + 3.31 e-locker on Platinum trim​

 

[Reinharm]

View attachment 2512
Hey everybody, just bought my 3.0 a couple months ago (2018 Platinum FX4 6.5ft bed with the 3.55 rear differential and a little over 46,000 miles). Loving the truck so far. I’m in the Navy and am about to be moving from Washington to San Diego, CA (~1250 miles). Coincidentally, we’re also about to have our first baby any day now. My question is in regards to towing a vehicle. Driving both of our vehicles down separately won’t be an option with our newborn. This leaves me either driving the truck down, flying back, then doing the trip again altogether, or renting a U-Haul auto trailer and towing my wife’s SUV down for just one trip. It looks like the curb weight for my wife’s SUV is 4387lbs, and the trailer is 2210lbs. With our dogs and additional stuff needed for the trip down (kennel, clothes, baby gear, etc.) I’m guessing the total weight of the towed load to be about 7000-7200lbs. I’ve been doing a lot of research but keep getting conflicting info. Some people have said they haul 10000lbs no problem, while others say they won’t go above 5000lbs. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with a similar load. I know the payload limit is going to be the most limiting, which is a big part of my concern as I’ve heard the uhaul auto haulers hold a lot of weight towards the tongue. I would like to make the move in one trip if possible, but also don’t want to push the truck to its limit for 1200 miles. Thanks in advance for any input.

View attachment 2512
Hey everybody, just bought my 3.0 a couple months ago (2018 Platinum FX4 6.5ft bed with the 3.55 rear differential and a little over 46,000 miles). Loving the truck so far. I’m in the Navy and am about to be moving from Washington to San Diego, CA (~1250 miles). Coincidentally, we’re also about to have our first baby any day now. My question is in regards to towing a vehicle. Driving both of our vehicles down separately won’t be an option with our newborn. This leaves me either driving the truck down, flying back, then doing the trip again altogether, or renting a U-Haul auto trailer and towing my wife’s SUV down for just one trip. It looks like the curb weight for my wife’s SUV is 4387lbs, and the trailer is 2210lbs. With our dogs and additional stuff needed for the trip down (kennel, clothes, baby gear, etc.) I’m guessing the total weight of the towed load to be about 7000-7200lbs. I’ve been doing a lot of research but keep getting conflicting info. Some people have said they haul 10000lbs no problem, while others say they won’t go above 5000lbs. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with a similar load. I know the payload limit is going to be the most limiting, which is a big part of my concern as I’ve heard the uhaul auto haulers hold a lot of weight towards the tongue. I would like to make the move in one trip if possible, but also don’t want to push the truck to its limit for 1200 miles. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Reinharm]

View attachment 2512
Hey everybody, just bought my 3.0 a couple months ago (2018 Platinum FX4 6.5ft bed with the 3.55 rear differential and a little over 46,000 miles). Loving the truck so far. I’m in the Navy and am about to be moving from Washington to San Diego, CA (~1250 miles). Coincidentally, we’re also about to have our first baby any day now. My question is in regards to towing a vehicle. Driving both of our vehicles down separately won’t be an option with our newborn. This leaves me either driving the truck down, flying back, then doing the trip again altogether, or renting a U-Haul auto trailer and towing my wife’s SUV down for just one trip. It looks like the curb weight for my wife’s SUV is 4387lbs, and the trailer is 2210lbs. With our dogs and additional stuff needed for the trip down (kennel, clothes, baby gear, etc.) I’m guessing the total weight of the towed load to be about 7000-7200lbs. I’ve been doing a lot of research but keep getting conflicting info. Some people have said they haul 10000lbs no problem, while others say they won’t go above 5000lbs. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with a similar load. I know the payload limit is going to be the most limiting, which is a big part of my concern as I’ve heard the uhaul auto haulers hold a lot of weight towards the tongue. I would like to make the move in one trip if possible, but also don’t want to push the truck to its limit for 1200 miles. Thanks in advance for any input.

No problem I moved my son from Mn to Colorado towing a 21’ enclosed trailer full of furniture, etc I estimated around 9500-10000 lbs gross weight. Truck handled it no sweat just put a couple of def containers because it really guzzles that stuff under heavy towing

 

[Reinharm]

View attachment 2512
Hey everybody, just bought my 3.0 a couple months ago (2018 Platinum FX4 6.5ft bed with the 3.55 rear differential and a little over 46,000 miles). Loving the truck so far. I’m in the Navy and am about to be moving from Washington to San Diego, CA (~1250 miles). Coincidentally, we’re also about to have our first baby any day now. My question is in regards to towing a vehicle. Driving both of our vehicles down separately won’t be an option with our newborn. This leaves me either driving the truck down, flying back, then doing the trip again altogether, or renting a U-Haul auto trailer and towing my wife’s SUV down for just one trip. It looks like the curb weight for my wife’s SUV is 4387lbs, and the trailer is 2210lbs. With our dogs and additional stuff needed for the trip down (kennel, clothes, baby gear, etc.) I’m guessing the total weight of the towed load to be about 7000-7200lbs. I’ve been doing a lot of research but keep getting conflicting info. Some people have said they haul 10000lbs no problem, while others say they won’t go above 5000lbs. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with a similar load. I know the payload limit is going to be the most limiting, which is a big part of my concern as I’ve heard the uhaul auto haulers hold a lot of weight towards the tongue. I would like to make the move in one trip if possible, but also don’t want to push the truck to its limit for 1200 miles. Thanks in advance for any input.

Also I setup the pro trailer backup and it’s totally cool and made backing the trailer stress free just takes a few tries to let go of the steering wheel

 

[JEFMO]

View attachment 2512
Hey everybody, just bought my 3.0 a couple months ago (2018 Platinum FX4 6.5ft bed with the 3.55 rear differential and a little over 46,000 miles). Loving the truck so far. I’m in the Navy and am about to be moving from Washington to San Diego, CA (~1250 miles). Coincidentally, we’re also about to have our first baby any day now. My question is in regards to towing a vehicle. Driving both of our vehicles down separately won’t be an option with our newborn. This leaves me either driving the truck down, flying back, then doing the trip again altogether, or renting a U-Haul auto trailer and towing my wife’s SUV down for just one trip. It looks like the curb weight for my wife’s SUV is 4387lbs, and the trailer is 2210lbs. With our dogs and additional stuff needed for the trip down (kennel, clothes, baby gear, etc.) I’m guessing the total weight of the towed load to be about 7000-7200lbs. I’ve been doing a lot of research but keep getting conflicting info. Some people have said they haul 10000lbs no problem, while others say they won’t go above 5000lbs. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with a similar load. I know the payload limit is going to be the most limiting, which is a big part of my concern as I’ve heard the uhaul auto haulers hold a lot of weight towards the tongue. I would like to make the move in one trip if possible, but also don’t want to push the truck to its limit for 1200 miles. Thanks in advance for any input.

I pull a 6500 lb travel trailer with 3 adults and gear back and forth between Missouri and Southern CA. In addition I pull between CA and WA. It gets hot when it is 100 outside but rarely registers 218 degrees on the dash. I blow through DEF. I change the oil every 3-5000 miles. Oh, I don’t go over 65 mph and I try to keep the RPM under 4000 even on hills so I sometimes crawl at 45 MPH. It may not be ideal but it does the job.

 

[NylesN]

View attachment 2512
Hey everybody, just bought my 3.0 a couple months ago (2018 Platinum FX4 6.5ft bed with the 3.55 rear differential and a little over 46,000 miles). Loving the truck so far. I’m in the Navy and am about to be moving from Washington to San Diego, CA (~1250 miles). Coincidentally, we’re also about to have our first baby any day now. My question is in regards to towing a vehicle. Driving both of our vehicles down separately won’t be an option with our newborn. This leaves me either driving the truck down, flying back, then doing the trip again altogether, or renting a U-Haul auto trailer and towing my wife’s SUV down for just one trip. It looks like the curb weight for my wife’s SUV is 4387lbs, and the trailer is 2210lbs. With our dogs and additional stuff needed for the trip down (kennel, clothes, baby gear, etc.) I’m guessing the total weight of the towed load to be about 7000-7200lbs. I’ve been doing a lot of research but keep getting conflicting info. Some people have said they haul 10000lbs no problem, while others say they won’t go above 5000lbs. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with a similar load. I know the payload limit is going to be the most limiting, which is a big part of my concern as I’ve heard the uhaul auto haulers hold a lot of weight towards the tongue. I would like to make the move in one trip if possible, but also don’t want to push the truck to its limit for 1200 miles. Thanks in advance for any input.

I have a 2018 King Ranch. I tow a 27' travel trailer in the same range you are talking about. The diesel is great for towing. I have no problems what so ever towing.

 

[Wasatchquach]

{snip}

I still contend that you cannot order 157" wheelbase (6.5" bed) + 3.55 gears + FX4 package on Platinum trim level
= All three (3) of my F150 Platinums (2010/2015/2018) were all 5.5' beds + 3.31 gears
= Pretty sure I tried to order 6.5' bed on my 2015 factory order

=> promptly told FX4 package automatically gets you 5.5' bed + 3.31 e-locker on Platinum trim​

I may have to contend with your contention. I have a US Build 2018 PS Platnium, 157" wheel base, 3.55 gears, FX4, Trailer tow package with Telescoping mirrors. I guess it is another unicorn example. They do exist.

 

[jmperlik]

OK, two (2) "rainbow unicorns" spotted in-the-wild = I will retract my assertion, but I do believe this combo is very rare...