The Ford F-150 truck was introduced in 1975 and has been the best-selling truck for 46 consecutive years.

But can the 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Supercrew 4×4 tow?

You bet it can tow! However, getting the information from Ford’s confusing PDF is an effort and there is a bewildering array of different configurations.

But don’t worry friend we have all the details here, so read on!

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How much can the 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Supercrew 4×4 tow?

The 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Supercrew 4×4 has 4 different model configurations.

Note this article addresses the 2023 model with a Hybrid engine, a Supercrew cab, and 4×4. If your model does not match this then please check out our other articles. Use the search in the top right of the page.

What factors impact towing capacity of the 2023 Ford F-150?

Given the engine type, cab and 4×4 configuration the main factors that impact towing capacity are;

the axle ratio (generally a higher axle ratio increases the towing capacity, usually at the expense of fuel efficiency)
the length of the wheelbase (don’t think that a higher wheelbase increases the tow rating. That’s not the case, see our separate article on this subject)
the type of tow package and whether your truck has the Max Trailer Tow Package. See our separate article on how to tell if your truck has the Max Trailer Tow Package.

Different models for the 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Supercrew 4×4

There are 4 different configurations for this particular truck.

3.73 axle, 145.4 wheelbase
3.73 axle, 157.2 wheelbase
3.73 axle, 145.4 wheelbase, Max Trailer Tow Package
3.73 axle, 157.2 wheelbase, Max Trailer Tow Package

All these 4 models have the Hybrid engine, the Supercrew cab model and are 4×4. But they have different axle ratios, wheelbases, and towing packages. But how much can they tow?

Towing capacity for the 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Supercrew 4×4

The towing capacity of these 4 trucks are;

11000 lbs
11000 lbs
12300 lbs
12300 lbs

The towing rating is important, but that is only one check you need to make. You need to ensure that your truck is not overloaded with passenger weight, luggage and stuff.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Supercrew 4×4

One key check you need to make is that the weight of the truck’s cargo does not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

When you’re towing you don’t have an empty truck. You need to consider the weights of the;

Driver,
A tank of gas and other vehicle fluids,
Other passengers,
Specific vehicle options,
Passengers,
Any stuff that you might have in the vehicle.

None of this is in the trailer but it’s important to note that it does count towards the GVWR.

The GVWR of a F-150 can go up to 7,850lbs. However it really depends on what options are installed, and in particular whether you have the Heavy Duty Payload Package (code 627) installed. The only real way to find this out is to look at your vehicle’s safety compliance sticker on the driver’s door jamb. If you are shopping for a truck then it’s recommended that you ask the dealer to send you a photo of this sticker so you can see the precise GVWR.

How to Check Your F-150 is Not Overloaded

You need to either weigh your fully laden truck on a CAT scale or estimate the total weight.

To estimate the laden weight you need the weight of the empty vehicle from the manufacturer (curb weight) plus an estimate the weight of the people and cargo. In addition your will have some weight from your trailer through the tongue weight (more on this below). You can assume that the tongue weight is between 10% -15% of the gross trailer weight.

What is the Curb Weight of the F-150?

An empty F-150 is measured by the manufacturer as the curb weight.

The US EPA defines the curb weight as the weight of the vehicle with standard equipment and fluids, but not including options, driver, passengers or cargo. Your vehicle will have different options and will have a driver, passengers and cargo. So what do you do?

The curb weight of an F-150 depends on the engine, the cab size and whether it is 4×2 or 4×4. The best place to find the weight of your vehicle is to look on the sticker on the driver’s door jamb.

You can then use our calculator with the curb weight and add the weight of passengers and cargo plus the weight of your trailer to ensure it is within the GVWR shown above.

Are we done?

Not quite! We now need to check the combined weight of the truck and the trailer.

Gross Combined Weight Rating of the 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Supercrew 4×4

There are a few constraints to consider when towing a trailer. First you need to establish whether your trailer and its contents are within limits.

The GCWR is the total allowable weight of the empty F-150, its cargo and the weight of the trailer. It’s the weight of the whole kit and caboodle.

For the 4 models we highlight above, their GCWR values are;

3.73 axle, 145.4 wheelbase GCWR is 17100 lbs
3.73 axle, 157.2 wheelbase GCWR is 17100 lbs
3.73 axle, 145.4 wheelbase, Max Trailer Tow Package GCWR is 18400 lbs
3.73 axle, 157.2 wheelbase, Max Trailer Tow Package GCWR is 18400 lbs

What is the maximum tongue weight of a F-150 Ecoboost?

When you are towing a trailer the weight of that trailer gets transmitted down through two places – the axle and wheels of the trailer and the hitch between the trailer and your F-150 Ecoboost.

You need to ensure that there is not too much weight being transmitted through the hitch. Ford recommends a maximum tongue weight of 500lbs with a straight hitch receiver, however if you are using a weight distributing hitch they recommend upto 1,400lbs for tongue load.

How should I measure trailer tongue weight?

You have three options to measure the tongue weight from your trailer.

Use a specialized tongue weight scale such as a Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale
Weigh your vehicle and trailer on a CAT scale
Estimate the tongue weight

Option 1 is best, followed by 2. However let’s look at option 3.

Your trailer’s manufacturer will usually provide an indication of the tongue weight. For a travel trailer with batteries and propane you may need to add that weight if the manufacturer has not included it. In addition you need to add the weight of the hitch. Note that this is an estimate since not all the weight of these objects will be transmitted through the hitch, so adding 100% of the weight to your tongue weight will over-estimate it. Also some of the weight of the trailer cargo will get transmitted through the hitch.

Tongue weight rule of thumb

It’s recommended that the tongue weight is between 10%-15% of the gross trailer weight (dry weight plus the weight of the cargo). If the tongue weight is below 10% then that will cause towing instability and the trailer may porpoise, and if the tongue weight is too high then the trailer will be pitched forward and put too much load on the hitch. You want a level trailer and ideally the tongue load will be 12% of the gross trailer weight.

So one check you need to do is to take the gross trailer weight you calculated above and check that 10%-15% is within the maximum tongue weight given in the table above.

Adjusting tongue weight

You have two main methods to adjust tongue weight;

Either add or remove load from the trailer. Adding weight to the trailer will increase the tongue weight, and removing weight will reduce the tongue weight.
Moving weight around the trailer. You can increase tongue weight by moving existing load to the front of the trailer. Similarly, you can reduce tongue weight by moving existing load to the rear of the trailer.

However, you do not want your trailer very unbalanced, and you want a level trailer while towing.

Check the rear axle weight rating

The rear axle weight rating is similar to the tongue weight. All vehicles have a weight limit that they can take on the rear and front axles. Usually the best place to find this information is on the driver’s door jamb sticker. The best way to check you are not exceeding this amount is to weigh your trailer and towing vehicle at a CAT scale.

Or you can just weigh your fully-laden truck and make an allowance for trailer weight that is transmitted to the rear axle – namely the tongue weight.

However, if you’re within the tongue weight guidance, then in all likelihood your rear axle will be within limit but it’s very dependent on the load you are carrying in your truck.

What is the maximum trailer frontal area?

If your trailer and F-150 have passed all the previous tests then you are probably good-to-go. However the manufacturer does give a restriction on the trailer frontal area. This is area of the front of the trailer that creates drag. You can have a very light trailer that is within the weight restrictions described above, but if it’s a huge sail that blocks airflow then it’s a no-no.

Trailers with a more aerodynamic profile, such as a teardrop, are clearly better in this respect. So for completeness let’s summarize the maximum frontal area measured in square feet. The limit is not imposed by the engine but instead your max tow rating.

For a tow rating between 5,001 and 7,700 lbs (and a towing package or a payload package) the limit is 55 sqft.
For a tow rating 7,701 lbs and greater (and a towing package or a payload package) the limit is 60 sqft.

However, for the Lightning truck it’s a little more complicated, and summarized below.

Standard battery and no Trailer Tow Package (53D) the limit is 40 sqft
Standard battery and Trailer Tow Package (53D) the limit is 55 sqft
Extended range battery 60 sqft

Putting it all together!

Have you been following everything upto now?

There are a number of checks you need to make to ensure that you have a safe towing experience with your truck.

Check that the gross trailer weight is within the tow rating of the truck
Check that the truck is not overloaded and the gross weight of the truck plus the tongue weight does not exceed the GVWR
Check that the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer does not exceed the GCWR
Check that the tongue weight is between 10% -15% of the gross trailer weight

In theory you also need to check the rear-axle load, front-axle load and trailer frontal area. However if you have passed all the above tests and are within 10% on all of them then you are probably fine.

I’m confused and I have questions!

There is a lot to keep straight here.

However we have now provided you with all the information on the Ford F-150 Ecoboost to enable you to input all the key data into our towing calculator. This is the easiest way to check that you have completed all the steps.

Our tool is simple but comprehensive. You won’t miss anything is you follow all the steps, but drop us a note if you are struggling! Stay safe!