2009 Ford F250 Towing Capacity (and Payload) Full Guide

The 2009 Ford F-250 can tow anywhere from 8,300 to 12,500 lbs. There are many factors that determine the exact towing capacity such as the cab size, bed size, axle ratio, engine type, and hitch.

Below you will find the specific towing capacity for your vehicle recommended by Ford for your Ford F-250.

Though I tried to make this information as accurate as possible, you should always check your manual or contact your local dealer to determine the appropriate towing capacity of your vehicle and necessary equipment.

2009 ford f250 towing capacity featured image

What is the towing capacity of my Ford F250?

In order to know the towing capacity of your Ford F250, the most reliable way is to calculate your own towing capacity, which you can learn to do in this article: How is Towing Capacity Calculated?

This will give you the exact maximum towing capacity of your truck at any given time.

However, you need to remember that the value below is the maximum towing capacity of your truck (assuming there are no people or cargo in your truck).

If there is any weight in or on the vehicle such as passengers and cargo, this number will change.

To determine the towing capacity of your vehicle, you need to know the:

  1. engine type
  2. bed size
  3. cab size
  4. drivetrain
  5. axle ratio

If you know all of these items, then move on to the next section by engine to determine your towing capacity.

To get your VIN, check the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the inside of the driver’s side door on the hinge pillar, door-latch post, or door edge.

2021 f250 safety compliance certification label

You will also find the GVWR, and Axle ratio here.

Related: What is GVWR?

If not:

  1. Start with the VIN decoder from Autozone to determine the engine in the vehicle
  2. Your cab style is either:
    1. Regular (2 door, 1 rows)
    2. SuperCab (4 door, 2 rows with only 2 full doors)
    3. SuperCrew (4 full doors, 2 rows)
  3. Drivetrain should be determined with the VIN as well
  4. The axle ratio is listed on the side of the driver’s door on the certification sticker

The axle ratio will be written in a key using the following two-digit code which corresponds to the rear axle ratio on the F250.

Axle RatioNon-Limited SlipElectronic Locking
3.73373L
4.10414N
Axle Ratio codes for Ford F250

Now you will have all the necessary information to determine the towing capacity of your Ford F250.

Please be advised that the information presented in this article is taken from official ford documentation and is only to be used as a reference. You should always calculate your own towing capacity to ensure safe driving of your specific model.

Towing Packages

As Super Duty trucks are meant to be used as utility trucks, they come with more towing features in the basic models.

The standard features are:

  • 7 wire harness
  • 4/7 pin connector
  • Hitch receiver
  • Aux. Auto Trans. Oil Cooler
  • Trailer Brake Wiring
  • Trailer Brake Controller

Aside from the basic features of the F250, there are no other towing packages available in 2009. The only offering is the Camper Package which has an impact on the payload capacity of your vehicle.

rv camper trailer

Camper Package (471)

  • Increased capacity front springs
  • Rear stabilizer bar
  • Rear auxiliary springs

Towing Capacity by Engine

The weights below for each engine list the towing capacities for conventional towing. For this type of towing, the load weight on the trailer tongue should be between 10-15% of the total trailer weight.

The absolute maximum trailer weight on a weight-carrying Ford F250 should not exceed 6,000 lbs (with 5.4 L engine) or 8,500 lbs (with 6.8 L and 6.4 L diesel engine).

5.4 L Triton V8

The 5.4 L Triton V8 gas engine is the weakest of the 2009 F250 series. It only supplies 300 hp and 365 lb.-ft. of torque.

As the smallest engine, the towing capacity is between 8,300 – 12,200 lbs for the 6.2 L.

Drive

Tranmission

Axle Ratio

Cab Size

GCWR
(lbs)

Towing Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Automatic

3.73

Regular

16,000

10,200

4x2

Manual

3.73

Regular

15,000

9,200

4x4


Automatic

3.73

Regular

16,000

9,800

4x4

Manual

3.73

Regular

15,000

8,800

4x2

Automatic

4.10

Regular

18,000

12,200

4x2

Manual

4.10

Regular

17,000

11,200

4x4

Automatic

4.10

Regular

18,000

11,800

4x4

Manual

4.10

Regular

17,000

10,800

4x2

Automatic

3.73

Super

16,000

10,000

4x2

Manual

3.73

Super

15,000

9,000

4x4

Automatic

3.73

Super

16,000

9,500

4x4

Manual

3.73

Super

15,000

8,500

4x2

Automatic

4.10

Super

18,000

12,000

4x2

Manual

4.10

Super

17,000

11,000

4x4

Automatic

4.10

Super

18,000

11,500

4x4

Manual

4.10

Super

17,000

10,500

4x2

Automatic

3.73

Crew

16,000

9,700

4x2

Manual

3.73

Crew

15,000

8,700

4x4

Automatic

3.73

Crew

16,000

9,300

4x4

Manual

3.73

Crew

15,000

8,300

4x2

Automatic

4.10

Crew

18,000

11,700

4x2

Manual

4.10

Crew

17,000

10,700

4x4

Automatic

4.10

Crew

18,000

11,300

4x4

Manual

4.10

Crew

17,000

10,300

6.4 L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel

The 6.4 L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel is the only diesel engine offered in the 2009 F250 family. It has a whopping 650 lb.-ft of torque and 350 hp.

The turbo diesel engine has a towing capacity of 12,500 lbs for all variations

Drive

Transmission

Axle Ratio

Cab Size

GCWR
(lbs)

Towing Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Automatic

3.55/3.73

Regular

23,000

12,500

4x4


Automatic

3.55/3.73

Regular

23,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

3.73

Regular

23,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

3.73

Regular

23,000

12,500

4x2

Automatic

3.55/3.73

Super

23,000

12,500

4x4

Automatic

3.55/3.73

Super

23,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

3.73

Super

23,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

3.73

Super

23,000

12,500

4x2

Automatic

3.55/3.73

Crew

23,000

12,500

4x4

Automatic

3.55/3.73

Crew

23,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

3.73

Crew

23,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

3.73

Crew

23,000

12,500

6.8 L Triton V10

The 6.8 L Triton V10 is the middle engine offered in the 2009 F250 family. It has 457 lb.-ft of torque and 362 hp.

The 6.8 L engine has a towing capacity of 12,500 lbs for all variations.

Drive

Transmission

Axle Ratio

Cab Size

GCWR
(lbs)

Towing Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Automatic

4.10

Regular

21,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

4.10

Regular

20,000

12,500

4x4

Automatic

4.10

Regular

21,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

4.10

Regular

20,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

4.30

Regular

22,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

4.30

Regular

22,000

12,500

4x2

Automatic

4.10

Super

21,000

12,500

4x4

Automatic

4.10

Super

21,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

4.10

Super

20,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

4.10

Super

20,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

4.30

Super

20,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

4.30

Super

22,000

12,500

4x2

Automatic

4.10

Crew

21,000

12,500

4x4

Automatic

4.10

Crew

21,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

4.10

Crew

20,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

4.10

Crew

20,000

12,500

4x2

Manual

4.30

Crew

22,000

12,500

4x4

Manual

4.30

Crew

22,000

12,500

2009 F250 Towing Capacity Chart

2009 ford f250 towing capacity chart
2009 Ford F250 Towing Capacity Chart

5th Wheel/Gooseneck Towing Capacities

2009 ford f250 towing capacity chart 5th wheel and gooseneck
2009 Ford F250 Towing Capacity Chart 5th wheel/gooseneck

Payload Capacity of F250

Payload Capacity vs Towing Capacity

Payload capacity refers to the maximum amount of weight that can be put on a truck and carried.

Towing capacity refers to the maximum amount of weight that can be pulled from behind a truck.

For a more detailed explanation of these two, check out the GVWR vs GCWR article.

what is payload capacity visual

5.4 L Triton V8 Payload

The 5.4 L Triton V8 payload capacity in the 2009 F250 is 2,021 – 2,722 lbs.

Drive

Package

Cab Size

GVWR
(lbs)

Payload Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Camper

Regular

8,800

2,722

4x4

Camper

Regular

9,000

2,506

4x2

Camper

Super

9,000

2,254

4x4

Camper

Super

9,200

2,037

4x2

Camper

Super

9,200

2,300

4x4

Camper

Super

9,400

2,083

4x2

Camper

Crew

9,200

2,244

4x4

Camper

Crew

9,400

2,021

4x2

Camper

Crew

9,400

2,325

4x4

Camper

Crew

9,600

2,109

6.4 L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel Payload

The 6.4 L Turbo diesel payload capacity in the 2009 F250 is 1,577 – 2,406 lbs.

Drive

Package

Cab Size

GVWR
(lbs)

Payload Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Camper

Regular

9,400

2,406

4x4

Camper

Regular

9,600

2,174

4x2

Camper

Super

9,600

1,907

4x4

Camper

Super

9,800

1,675

4x2

Camper

Super

9,800

1,983

4x4

Camper

Super

10,000

1,750

4x2

Camper

Crew

9,800

1,934

4x4

Camper

Crew

10,000

1,695

4x2

Camper

Crew

10,000

2,010

4x4

Camper

Crew

10,000

1,577

6.8 L Triton V10 Payload

The 6.8 L Triton V10 payload capacity in the 2009 F250 is 2,095 – 2,789 lbs.

Drive

Package

Cab Size

GVWR
(lbs)

Payload Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Camper

Regular

9,000

2,789

4x4

Camper

Regular

9,200

2,573

4x2

Camper

Super

9,200

2,321

4x4

Camper

Super

9,400

2,104

4x2

Camper

Super

9,400

2,365

4x4

Camper

Super

9,600

2,150

4x2

Camper

Crew

9,400

2,316

4x4

Camper

Crew

9,600

2,095

4x2

Camper

Crew

9,600

2,392

4x4

Camper

Crew

9,800

2,177

Conclusion

The 2009 Ford F250 has a towing capacity ranging from 8,300 – 12,500 lbs.

The engine type, drive, cab size, and bed size can all impact the towing capacity.

You should always do your own towing capacity calculations before you ever tow anything, especially those that are close to these limits.

If you need help calculating your towing capacity, I wrote an entire article that walks you through the steps to calculate your towing capacity along with other considerations you need to make when towing.

The resources used for this information were taken from the 2009 Ford RV/Trailer Towing Guide ebrochure.

JOEY TECCHI

I, Joey, am the owner and primary writer for Tailored Trucks. When I'm not writing, I enjoy taking my RAM pickup to the White Mountains for skiing, camping, or ATVing. Thanks for reading!

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