New Ford F-150 can tow up to 6350kg

Payload and towing figures have been announced for the new 2021 Ford F-150 pick-up in North America and the headline number is a towing capacity of up to 14,000 pounds or 6350kg.

That’s 362kg more than the 2020 F-150 it replaces and almost double the 3.5-tonne limit of Australia’s most popular mid-size utes.

Combined with a payload of up to 3325 pounds (1508kg), which Ford says is more than 1000 pounds over its closest full-size light-duty competitor, the blue oval brand claims the new F-150 “out-tows and out-hauls any other light-duty, full-size pickup”.

The 6.35-tonne towing maximum applies to the upgraded 298kW/555Nm 5.0-litre V8-powered F-150 4x2 Regular Cab with eight-foot tub and optional Max Trailer Tow and Heavy-Duty Payload Packages.

And the 1.5-tonne payload capacity is for the upgraded 298kW/678Nm 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6-powered F-150 SuperCrew and SuperCab 4x2 with eight-foot tray and Max Trailer Tow Package.

But even the 320kW/772Nm 3.5-litre PowerBoost petrol-electric hybrid version, which set a new peak torque record for the F-150, can carry up to 962kg and tow up to 5760kg.

A total of six engines are available in the 2021 Ford F-150 – also including a 3.3-litre petrol V6, 2.7-litre turbo-petrol V6 and 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 – all matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Other new technologies include Pro Power Onboard, Interior and Tailgate Work Surface, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Reverse Guidance and Max Recline Seats, plus over-the-air updates, standard 4G LTE modem with Wi-Fi hotspot, an array of touch-screens and Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 safety and driver-assist features.

On sale from November in the US, where it’s built in Dearborn, Michigan and Kansas City, Missouri, Ford says the 2021 F-150 is based on a fully boxed high-strength steel frame and its all-new interior is wrapped in a high-strength military-grade aluminum-alloy body and tub.

Ford truck group marketing manager Todd Eckert said these features and capabilities will continue the F-Series’ run as North America’s top-selling truck for the past 43 years.

“F-150 is the flagship of Ford’s dedication to building the best trucks and represents our commitment to not just meeting customer needs but exceeding them,” he said.

“With capability and functionality foundational to F-Series, the all-new F-150 not only tows more and hauls more than any other light-duty full-size pickup, it is built to surpass customer expectations with smart innovations that will make them even more productive every day.”

Sadly, there’s still no confirmation of a factory right-hand drive version of the F-150 and no word on when Ford USA’s most popular model might become a global model like the Ford Mustang.

That won’t stop a host of local converters, led by Harrison F-Trucks and Performax International, from offering the new F-150 in Australia in due course.