It might be that time of year for some families to move their kids to college. The thought of taking them far from home can be unsettling, and so can the actual move. Before you load up every pillow, blanket and tee shirt plus a few friends and drive off into the sunset, learn about what your car can handle. Read on for a few facts and tips to get you where you’re going safely.
How much can my car tow?
If your move includes pulling a trailer, there is a towing capacity that goes with your vehicle. The towing capacity is the maximum amount of weight a vehicle can safely pull, as provided by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Here are some of Ford’s approximate towing capacities when properly equipped:
- Super Duty Pickup (gooseneck): 37,000 pounds
- Super Duty Pickup (fifth wheel): 32,500 pounds
- Super Duty Pickup: 24,200 pounds
- F-150: 14,000 pounds
- F-150 Lightning: 10,000 pounds
- Expedition: 9,300 pounds
- Ranger: 7,500 pounds
- Transit Cargo Van: 6,900 pounds
- Transit Crew Van: 6,500 pounds
- Explorer: 5,600 pounds
- Transit Passenger Van: 4,600 pounds
- Bronco Raptor: 4,500 pounds
- Maverick: 4,000 pounds
- Edge: 3,500 pounds
- Escape: 3,500 pounds
- Bronco Sport: 2,200 pounds
- Mach E: 2,200 pounds
- Transit Connect: 2,000 pounds
- EcoSport: 2,000 pounds
- Mustang: 1,000 pounds
If your move includes pulling a trailer, there is a towing capacity that goes with your vehicle. The towing capacity is the maximum amount of weight a vehicle can safely pull, as provided by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Here are some of Ford’s approximate towing capacities when properly equipped:
*Max towing varies and is based on cargo, vehicle configuration, accessories and number of passengers.
Keep in mind that you need to consider how many people will be in the car and what else you will be loading into your car when calculating how much you can safely tow.
When loading up, be sure to distribute the weight evenly, including your passengers.
How much can I put on top of my car?
Just because you have room on top of your car to carry a big load, does not mean that you should. When loading items on the roof, there are two ratings you need to know about. Number one-static rating. This is the amount of weight that the roof can hold while the vehicle is standing still. Then there is the dynamic rating. This is the amount of weight that the roof can hold while it’s moving.
When loading on the roof, you do not want to put items on the roof panel. You want to utilize a roof rack system, with the load evenly distributed.
Here are some of Ford’s roof rack load capacities when in motion:
- Expedition: 199 pounds (without a moonroof); 124 pounds (with a moonroof)
- Explorer: 165 pounds (without a moonroof); 75 pounds (with a moonroof)
- Bronco Sport: 150 pounds (without a panoramic roof); 100 pounds (with a panoramic roof)
- Bronco: 110 pounds
- Edge: 100 pounds (without a moonroof); 0 pounds (with a moonroof)
- Edge: 100 pounds (without a moonroof); 0 pounds (with a moonroof)
- Escape: 100 pounds (without a moonroof); 0 pounds (with a moonroof)
What Happens if I Tow Too Much?
First there are the safety issues when overloading a vehicle:
- Difficulty driving it, steering becomes challenging.
- Stopping takes longer.
- Poor visibility if the back window is blocked.
When overloading your car or towing too much, it can put unnecessary stress on it. Some vehicle issues you can experience with too much weight are:
- Suspension failure: the system will not be able to handle the speed needed to drive and critical points can give way.
- Engine: the engine has to work harder leading to potential engine failure.
- Brakes: the brakes will be overly strained when required to stop more weight.
- Tires: too much weight can cause the tires to wear out sooner than they should. While driving overloaded, tires can heat up and there is a higher risk of a blowout.
Repairs due to excessive weight can be expensive. Beside repairs, the extra weight will require more fuel to travel. You will notice your gas mileage go down as the vehicle load goes up.
You saw the exceptional towing capacities of the Ford trucks. Because of these awesome stats and many more reasons, check out all of the awards the Ford lineup has gotten.
- F-Series: the best-selling truck for 45 years
- 2022 F-150: Kelly Blue Book Best Buy Award
- 2022 Maverick: North American Truck of the Year
- 2022 Bronco: North American Utility Vehicle of the Year
- 2022 F-Series: Kelley Blue Book 2022 Best Resale Value Award
These best-selling new vehicles also make the best-selling used vehicles.
A Few Packing Tips
- When loading up, be sure to distribute the weight evenly, including your passengers.
- Keep a clear view out the back window.
- Make certain that you can access the spare wheel in case it’s needed.
- Pack what you can in bags rather than hard boxes. This will add less weight and get items in those odd-shaped places.
As you plan your trip or move, consider how much you need to take with you. Is it worth the extra stress on your vehicle to take too much? If you are having a difficult time figuring out how much you can tow in your Ford vehicle or loading up inside, feel free to give as a call at (509) 581-5269 or drop us a line. Our knowledgeable staff can go over all the details with you. Before you go on a loaded up drive, we suggest that you get your vehicle serviced to make sure it is ready for the trip. Schedule an appointment on our convenient scheduler. If you want to get something bigger, something that will hold more, check out our inventory of trucks and SUVs. You are sure to find something that will get you where you need to go…along with all you want to take.
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