2018 Ford F250 Towing Capacity

The 2018 Ford F-250 can tow anywhere from 12,300 to 18,000 lbs. There are many factors that determine the exact towing capacity such as the cab size, bed size, axle ratio, engine type, and hitch.

The F250 that can tow the most is the truck with the 4×2 6.7 L V8 Turbo Diesel engine with an 8 ft bed, Crew cab and the Trailer Tow Package.

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.

2018 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.

Ford, however, has listed the maximum trailer weight for multiple Ford F250 trucks under the assumption the truck is well equipped and there are 2-150 lbs passengers.

So essentially the estimates reported by Ford are 300 lbs under the maximum towing capacity.

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. measure the bed size with a tape measure to determine whether you have a 6 ft 9 in or 8 ft bed
  3. 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)
  4. Drivetrain should be determined with the VIN as well
  5. 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 SlipLimited SlipElectronic Locking
3.3131N/A3H
3.55353K3J
3.73373L3E
4.30N/A4L4M
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
  • Trailer brake wiring
  • Tow/haul mode
  • Trailer sway control
  • Trailer Brake Controller

There is only one tow package available with the 2018 F250. This package is the Trailer Tow Package (535).

Trailer Tow Package (535)

  • Upgraded rear axle
  • Increased GCW

There is also one package that can increase the payload capacity and that is the Camper Package (471).

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 both the weight carrying and weight distributing towing capacities

6.2 L V8

The 6.2 L V8 gas engine is the weakest of the 2018 F250 series. It only supplies 385 hp @5,750 rpm and 430 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3,800 rpm.

As the smallest engine, the towing capacity is between 12,300 – 15,000 lbs for the 6.2 L.

Drive

Axle Ratio

Cab Size

Bed Size

GCWR
(lbs)

Towing Capacity
(lbs)
(wt dis.)

4x2

3.73

Regular

8 ft

19,500

13,000

(13,000)

4x4

3.73

Regular

8 ft

19,500

12,900
(12,900)

4x2

4.30

Regular

8 ft

22,000

13,000
(14,000)

4x4

4.30

Regular

8 ft

22,000

15,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.73

Super

6 ft 9 in

19,500

13,000
(13,000)

4x2

3.73

Super

8 ft

19,500

12,900
(12,900)

4x4

3.73

Super

6 ft 9 in

19,500

12,600
(12,600)

4x4

3.73

Super

8 ft

19,500

12,500
(12,500)

4x2


4.30

Super

6 ft 9 in

22,000

13,000
(14,000)

4x2

4.30

Super

8 ft

22,000

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

4.30

Super

6 ft 9 in

22,000

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

4.30

Super

8 ft

22,000

15,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.73

Crew

6 ft 9 in

19,500

12,900
(12,900)

4x2

3.73

Crew

8 ft

19,500

12,700
(12,700)

4x4

3.73

Crew

6 ft 9 in

19,500

12,500
(12,500)

4x4

3.73

Crew

8 ft

19,500

12,300
(12,300)

4x2

4.30

Crew

6 ft 9 in

22,000

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

4.30

Crew

8 ft

22,000

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

4.30

Crew

6 ft 9 in

22,000

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

4.30

Crew

8 ft

22,000

14,800
(14,800)

6.7 L V8 Turbo Diesel

The 6.7 L V8 Turbo Diesel is the only diesel engine offered in the 2018 F250 family. It has a whopping 935 lb.-ft of torque @ 1,800 rpm and 450 hp @ 2,800 rpm.

The turbo diesel engine has the highest towing capacity of up to 18,000 lbs and as low as 12,500 lbs.

Drive

Axle Ratio

Cab Size

Bed Size

GCWR
(lbs)

Towing Capacity
(lbs)
(wt dis.)

4x2

3.31

Regular

8 ft

23,500

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31

Regular

8 ft

23,500

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Regular

8 ft

25,700

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Regular

8 ft

25,700

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.31

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

23,500

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.31

Supercab

8 ft

23,500

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

23,100

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31

Supercab

8 ft

23,100

14,900
(14,900)

4x4

3.31 - 9,900 GVWR

Supercab

8 ft

22,000

14,200
(14,200)

4x2

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

25,700

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

8 ft

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

25,700

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

8 ft

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.31

Crew

6 ft 9 in

23,500

15,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.31

Crew

8 ft

23,500

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31

Crew

6 ft 9 in

22,500

14,700
(14,700)

4x4

3.31

Crew

8 ft

21,300

13,200
(13,200)

4x4

3.31 - 9,900 GVWR

Crew

6 ft 9 in

21,900

14,100
(14,100)

4x4

3.31 - 9,900 GVWR

Crew

8 ft

20,600

12,500
(12,500)

4x2

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

6 ft 9 in

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

8 ft

25,700

18,000
(18,000)

4x4

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

6 ft 9 in

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.31 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

8 ft

25,700

17,500
(17,500)

4x2 

3.55

Regular

8 ft

23,500

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55

Regular

8 ft

23,500

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Regular

8 ft

25,700

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Regular

8 ft

25,700

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.55

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

23,500

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.55

Supercab

8 ft

23,500

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

23,100

14,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55

Supercab

8 ft

22,700

14,900
(14,900)

4x4

3.55 - 9,900 GVWR

Supercab

8 ft

22,000

14,200
(14,200)

4x2

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

25,700

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

8 ft

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Supercab

8 ft

25,200

14,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.55

Crew

6 ft 9 in

23,500

15,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.55

Crew

8 ft

23,500

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55

Crew

6 ft 9 in

22,500

14,700
(14,700)

4x4

3.55

Crew

8 ft

21,300

13,200
(13,200)

4x4

3.55 - 9,900 GVWR

Crew

6 ft 9 in

20,600

14,100
(14,100)

4x4

3.55 - 9,900 GVWR

Crew

8 ft

21,900

12,500
(12,500)

4x2

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

6 ft 9 in

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x2

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

8 ft

25,700

18,000
(18,000)

4x4

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

6 ft 9 in

25,700

15,000
(15,000)

4x4

3.55 - Trailer Tow Package

Crew

8 ft

25,700

17,500
(17,500)

2018 F250 Towing Capacity Chart

2018 f250 towing capacity chart
2018 Ford F250 Towing Capacity Chart

5th Wheel/Gooseneck Towing Capacities

2018 ford f250 towing capacity chart 5th wheel gooseneck
2018 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

6.2 L V8 Payload

The 6.2 L V8 payload capacity in the 2018 F250 is 2,389 – 3,866 lbs.

Drive

Package

Cab Size

Bed Size

GVWR
(lbs)

Payload Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Camper

Regular

8 ft

10,000

3,866

4x4

Camper

Regular

8 ft

10,000

3,447

4x2

Camper

Super

6 ft 9 in

10,000

3,139

4x4

Camper

Super

8 ft

10,000

2,731

4x2

Camper

Super

6 ft 9 in

10,000

3,029

4x4

Camper

Super

8 ft

10,000

2,641

4x2

Camper

Crew

6 ft 9 in

10,000

3,041

4x2

Camper

Crew

8 ft

10,000

2,645

4x4

Camper

Crew

6 ft 9 in

10,000

2,812

4x4

Camper

Crew

8 ft

10,000

2,389

6.7 L V8 Turbo Diesel Payload

The 6.7 L diesel payload capacity in the 2018 F250 is 1,560 – 3,051 lbs.

Drive

Package

Cab Size

Bed Size

GVWR
(lbs)

Payload Capacity
(lbs)

4x2

Camper

Regular

8 ft

10,000

3,051

4x4

Camper

Regular

8 ft

10,000

2,660

4x2

Camper

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

10,000

2,330

4x4

Camper

Supercab

8 ft

10,000

1,944

4x2

Camper

Supercab

6 ft 9 in

10,000

2,200

4x4

Camper

Supercab

8 ft

10,000

1,825

4x2

Camper

Crew

6 ft 9 in

10,000

2,212

4x4

Camper

Crew

8 ft

10,000

1,836

4x2

Camper

Crew

6 ft 9 in

10,000

1,983

4x4

Camper

Crew

8 ft

10,000

1,560

Conclusion

The 2018 Ford F250 has a towing capacity ranging from 12,300 – 18,000 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 2018 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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