Thread: Towing with new FORD STX 3.31 axle

I posted this on another forum.. and didn't get much input.. so thought I would ask here.

I bought a new 2013 FORD F150 STX super cab, 2wd, (5.0L, V8 with 3.31 electronic locking RR axle) a few weeks ago. I love the truck and always wanted a FORD full size.. always. I traded in a 2006 Nissan Frontier.

My Nissan actually did a pretty good job pulling my 23 foot WILDWOOD camper. Camper weighs about 3800 pounds empty.. probably about 4500 loaded (no water).. but I was looking for the added comfort of pulling with the bigger FORD. The Nissan was rated to pull 6100 pounds.. the FORD: 8100, The Nissan was 265hp.. FORD: 360hp.. plus going from V6 to V8.

However.. after doing a little (after purchase) looking.. I kinda wish I had bought a truck with the 3.55 or 3.73 axle. I don't really understand what the difference is.. but i see that the towing capacity is about 1000 pounds more than the 3.31.

Anyway.. I already have the 3.31.. and it I think it will pull my present camper with no problems.. just wondering what, and how much.. you guys are towing with the 3.31 electronic lock rr axle? I might wanna move up to a bigger travel trailer someday.

Great question. I had a 2010 3.77 but swapped it with a 2013 3.55. For both trucks I wondered what I could tow with it. If you Google 2013 ford f150 towing guide an offical ford towing guide pdf should show up. Download or view it ( which ever you prefer. ) It gives you a ton of info. It should not have a problem what so ever towing that 23'. Rear air bags also help tremendously.

thanks for the fast response.. I have checked the towing guides (even before my purchase).. that's one of the reasons I bought a FORD. I have no doubt my truck will pull this camper. I was just a little concerned, after reading other people saying 3.55 or 3.73 was best for towing.. and wondering how my STX would perform. I am not at all unhappy with the truck. My truck is rated to tow 8100 pounds.. I would probably never buy a camper that weighed more than 6000 lbs,.. unless I traded trucks.

It should perform fine. Like I said previously, rear air bags (installed for tottal of $521) will help. A weight distribution hitch will help as well. Ford recommends that if you tow, you should tow a weight that is 3/4 of the trucks max tow limit. If you stay with in this limit, no harm will come to truck and will perform good. Not saying that if you max is 8100 that it couldn't do that, but wouldnt do it everyday for long distances. For example, my trailer weighs about 7, 300 fully loaded and my max is 9, 800. I'm safely in the 3/4 range

I run an EQAUL-I-ZER weight distribution hitch with sway control. It is pretty close now, camper is level.. I just need to make a minor WDH re-adjustment.. then should be good to go.

It will do fine. Its a ford! Your gas milage....not so much. You won't like that part

Originally Posted by squirell2_2

It will do fine. Its a ford! Your gas milage....not so much. You won't like that part

I only camp once a month or so.. maybe 8 or ten times a year at most.. and mostly within 100 miles of home.. so no problem. It's only money$$.. they'll make more.

Lol. Making a trip from Houston tx to disney in florida here in a week myself, towing my 29' trailer. 940 something miles. Calculated based off what I last got in mpg (8.6 mpg). Its gonna cost close to $1000 in gas for round trip. OUCH!

Originally Posted by squirell2_2

Lol. Making a trip from Houston tx to disney in florida here in a week myself, towing my 29' trailer. 940 something miles. Calculated based off what I last got in mpg (8.6 mpg). Its gonna cost close to $1000 in gas for round trip. OUCH!

Man that sucks. Don't worry it'll go up another $0.20 by then. Thanks Egypt

Lol, yea... maybe I should switch to diesel and get better fuel economy