The 2021 Ford F-150 is one of the most popular trucks on the road—and with good reason. It’s versatile, powerful, and comes loaded with features designed to help workers and families make their way through the week. It is available in a wide range of bed/cab, trim, and powertrain configurations—all to cater to the widest range of truck users. You can get it at a bare-bones work truck or one of several upscale trims including the King Ranch and Limited.
When properly equipped, the 2021 Ford F-150 can tow an impressive 14,000 pounds. That makes it the best in the full-size, light-duty truck segment for the 2021 model year. It bests the rest of the lead pack, including the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (13,300 lbs.), 2021 Ram 1500 (12,750 lbs.), 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 (11,800 lbs.) and others. But not all versions of the 2021 Ford F-150 are capable of its lofty max towing capacity. What trim, bed, cab, engine, and options all influence its actual tow rating. In the following article, we break down all the various configurations of the F-150 and what it can actually tow.
What is the Towing Capacity of a 2021 Ford F-150?
- Which 2021 Ford F-150 Can Tow the Most?
- How Much Can a Rear-Wheel-Drive Ford F-150 Max Tow?
- How Much Can a Four-Wheel-Drive Ford F-150 Max Tow?
- Ford F-150 Max Towing Capacity by Body Style
- What is the Max Towing Capacity for the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor?
- Does the 2021 Ford F-150 have any special towing features?
Which 2021 Ford F-150 Can Tow the Most?
The 14,000-lb. towing capacity in the 2021 Ford F-150 lineup is achieved with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, paired with either the extended SuperCab or full four-door SuperCrew and rear-wheel drive. It will also require selecting the Max Trailer Tow Package.
It’s important to note that these figures can vary depending on the vehicle’s specific configuration, including cab style, bed length, and whether the truck is equipped with two-wheel or four-wheel drive. Certain models, like the Raptor, are designed for high-speed off-roading. These variants are not engineered to tow as much as other versions.
How Much Can a Rear-Wheel-Drive Ford F-150 Max Tow?
The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) versions of the 2021 Ford F-150 offers a range of towing capacities depending on the engine:
- 3.3L V6: Up to 8,200 pounds
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: Up to 10,000 pounds
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: Up to 12,700 pounds
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: N/A
- 3.0L Diesel V6: N/A
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: Up to 12,700 pounds
How Much Can a Four-Wheel-Drive Ford F-150 Max Tow?
For the four-wheel-drive (4WD) F-150, the towing capacities also vary by engine:
- 3.3L V6: Up to 8,200 pounds
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: Up to 8,400 pounds
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: Up to 12,800 pounds
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: Up to 12,400 pounds
- 3.0L Diesel V6: Up to TBA pounds
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: Up to 12,100 pounds
Ford F-150 Max Towing Capacity by Body Style
Crew Cab (SuperCrew):
- 3.3L V6: 8,200 pounds (RWD) | 8,200 pounds (4WD)
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 10,000 pounds (RWD) | 10,100 pounds (4WD)
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 14,000 pounds (RWD) | 13,900 pounds (4WD)
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: 12,700 pounds (RWD) | 12,400 pounds (4WD)
- 3.0L Diesel V6: N/A pounds (RWD) | 12,100 pounds (4WD)
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 13,000 pounds (RWD) | 13,000 pounds (4WD)
Double Cab (SuperCab):
- 3.3L V6: 8,200 pounds (RWD) | 8,100 pounds (4WD)
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 10,000 pounds (RWD) | 10,100 pounds (4WD)
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 14,000 pounds (RWD) | 13,800 pounds (4WD)
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: N/A pounds (RWD) | N/A pounds (4WD)
- 3.0L Diesel V6: N/A pounds (RWD) | 12,100 pounds (4WD)
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 13,000 pounds (RWD) | 13,000 pounds (4WD)
Regular Cab
- 3.3L V6: 8,200 pounds (RWD) | 8,200 pounds (4WD)
- 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 10,000 pounds (RWD) | 10,000 pounds (4WD)
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 13,300 pounds (RWD) | 13,100 pounds (4WD)
- 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6: N/A pounds (RWD) | N/A pounds (4WD)
- 3.0L Diesel V6: N/A pounds (RWD) | N/A pounds (4WD)
- 5.0L Ti-VCT V8: 13,000 pounds (RWD) | 13,000 pounds (4WD)
What is the Max Towing Capacity for the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor?
The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is a high-performance off-road version of the F-150. It’s built for high-speed desert driving and remote off-roading. The Raptor is powered by a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The Raptor features a FOX Live Valve suspension system, skid plates, and specialized off-road driving modes. The Raptor is available exclusively in the SuperCrew cab configuration with a 5.5-foot bed. The Raptor's maximum towing capacity is 8,200 pounds. This is lower than the regular F-150’s tow rating due to its off-road performance.
Does the 2021 Ford F-150 have any special towing features?
The 2021 Ford F-150 comes equipped with several advanced towing features to enhance safety and convenience, including:
Tow/Haul Mode: This feature minimizes gear shifting and enhances power delivery during towing operations. Trailer Brake Controller: This system helps provide balanced braking between the truck and trailer. Pro Trailer Backup Assist & Hitch Assist: This feature allows the driver to steer the trailer while the truck manages throttle and braking. Additionally, Hitch Assist helps automatically align the hitch ball with the trailer for easier connections. BLIS with Trailer Coverage: Available on higher trims and as an option on mid-level XLT trims, BLIS with Trailer Coverage monitors blind spots for both the truck and trailer, alerting the driver to potential hazards.