Are you planning to purchase a Ford Super Duty F-250, and you’re wondering how much weight it could carry? Or perhaps you already purchased an F-250, and you wanted to know its maximum payload capacity? You’ve come to the right place, for we have researched this question, and we have the answer for you.
The maximum payload capacity of the F-250 is different per year model and trim.
- The 2022 Ford F-250 King Ranch with 4WD, the crew cab, and the 5.75-foot box has a maximum carrying capacity of 3,538 pounds.
- Compare this to only 3,522 pounds for the 2017 version of the same trim and configuration. On the other hand, the Ford F-250 XL from the same model year has a much higher carrying capacity at 4,323 pounds when equipped with a regular cab and an 8-foot box.
We listed the payload and hauling capacity of the latest three model years and trims. Learn more about the Ford F-250 in the succeeding sections below. Read on!
The Ford F-250 (2020 to 2022)
Ford unveiled the fourth generation of its F-Series Super Duty F-250 at the 2015 State Fair of Texas. Ford changed the body configuration to a mostly aluminum build.
The switch to aluminum gave the F-250 up to 350 pounds in weight reduction despite the addition of driveline components and a heavier-duty frame.
The fourth generation received a model refresh in 2020. Ford introduced a new gasoline engine they nicknamed Godzilla for the 2020 refresh.
Ford F-250 King Ranch
The 2WD Ford F-250 King Ranch, when equipped with the crew cab and a 6.75-foot box, can carry a maximum payload of 3,950 pounds and tow up to 12,900 pounds. When equipped with an 8-foot box, it has a maximum payload of 3,721 pounds with a maximum towing capacity of 12,700 pounds.
The 2WD version of the Ford F-250 King Ranch was discontinued in 2022.
The 4WD configuration of the Ford F-250 King Ranch with a crew cab and the 6.75-foot box can carry a maximum of 3,538 pounds and tow a maximum of 12,500 pounds. The 8-foot box version of this configuration can carry a maximum of 3,282 pounds with a maximum towing capacity of 12,300.
Ford F-250 Lariat
Unlike the Ford F-250 King Ranch, the Ford F-250 Lariat can be configured with two cab options.
The carrying capacity when configured the 2WD, the SuperCab, and the 6.75-foot box is 4,048 pounds. It can tow up to 13,000 pounds. The 8-foot box variant can carry up to 3,938 pounds and tow up to 12,900 pounds.
The 4WD version with the 6.75-foot box can carry 3,624 pounds and tow 12,600 pounds. On the other hand, the 4WD variant with the 8-foot box can carry 3,534 pounds and haul 12,500 pounds.
When using the crew cab, the 4WD variant of the 6.75-foot box has a carrying capacity of 3,538 pounds and towing limit of 12,500 pounds. Switching to the 8-foot box gives you a carrying capacity of 3,282 pounds and a towing capacity of 12,300 pounds.
The 2WD variant with an 8-foot box performs better with 3,721 pounds of payload and 12,700 pounds of hauling capacity. When equipped with the 6.75-foot box, the maximum payload improves to 3,950 pounds with a towing capacity of 12,900 pounds.
Ford F-250 Platinum
This trim comes only in 4WD and crew cab. The 6.75-foot box version can carry up to 3,538 pounds and haul up to 12,500 pounds. The 8-foot box version has a maximum payload of 3,282 pounds and a hauling capacity of 12,300 pounds.
Ford F-250 XL
A 2WD variant of this trim that is equipped with a crew cab and a 6.75-foot box can carry a maximum of 3,950 pounds and haul 12,900 pounds. When equipped with the 8-foot box, the carrying capacity shifts to 3,721 pounds. It can haul 12,700 pounds in this configuration.
The 4WD version with the 6.75-foot box can carry 3,522 pounds and tow 12,500 pounds. This drops to 3,282 pounds when equipped with the 8-foot box.
The 2WD 6.75-foot variant with SuperCab installed can carry up to 4,048 pounds and tow 13,000 pounds. This drops to 3,938 pounds with the 8-foot box.
When equipped with 4WD, the 6.75-foot box version can carry 3,624 pounds. This shifts to 3,534 pounds with the 8-foot box.
The regular cab can only be matched with the 8-foot box. The 2WD variant can carry a whopping 4,323 pounds and tow 13,300 pounds. This drops to 3,888 pounds with the 4WD.
Ford F-250 XLT
The Ford F-250 XLT, when equipped with a 2WD drivetrain, the crew cab, and the 6.75-foot box, can carry up to 3,950 pounds. The 4WD version can carry 3,538 pounds.
The 2WD variant with the 8-foot box can carry up to 3,721 pounds. Switching the drivetrain to 4WD also shifts the carrying capacity to 3,282 pounds.
When equipped with the 2WD drivetrain, the SuperCab, and the 6.75-foot box, the carrying capacity becomes 4,048 pounds. The 4WD version can carry up to 3,624 pounds.
The 8-foot box with 2WD has a carrying capacity of 3,938 pounds. The 4WD variant has a maximum payload of 3,534 pounds.
The 2-seater regular cab can only be matched with the 8-foot box. When equipped with the 2WD, the carrying capacity becomes 4,323 pounds. Equipping a 4WD drops the payload limit to 3,888 pounds.
Ford F-250 Limited
This trim was added to the lineup in 2018. It is only available in 4WD and the crew cab.
Its version with the 6.75-foot box has a maximum payload of 2,738 pounds. This shifts to 2,462 pounds with the 8-foot box.
How to increase the maximum payload of F-250?
Each truck is designed around the weight rating of its classification. A truck should be able to carry this weight safely. The Ford F-250 is rated as a 10,000-pound truck. This means that the total weight of the F-250 plus the load that it can carry safely is 10,000 pounds.
Therefore, to get the maximum payload of any trim or model of the F-250, we simply deduct the curb weight from 10,000. If the curb weight of the 2022 4WD Ford F-250 XLT is 6,466 pounds, then the maximum payload that it can safely carry is 3,534 pounds.
We got the maximum payload by subtracting the curb weight of 6,466 pounds from 10,000 pounds. Therefore, if you want to increase the maximum payload, you will have to make your F-250 lighter.
What is curb weight?
The curb weight is the weight of a vehicle without any passengers and luggage. This weight only includes the standard equipment that came with the vehicle, like tires, seats, and any accessory.
This total also includes the weight of the fluids that the vehicle needs to perform properly. This includes motor oil, fuel, transmission fluid, steering fluid, etc.
This weight is measured while the vehicle is on a level surface.
How to lighten a vehicle?
You can replace body panels with lighter versions. Take out vehicle parts and replace them with lighter aftermarket versions that have the same rating or capacity.
One of the most common parts that are swapped out is the heavy electrical parts. These are replaced by lighter aftermarket parts that have the same capacity.
Replacing the glass windows with polycarbonate will also reduce the weight of a vehicle. You can also reduce the number of seats inside the vehicle or replace them with lighter versions.
Replacing tires and rims with lighter ones can also help reduce the weight of your vehicle.
Important note on reducing the weight of your vehicle
It is important to take note of the cost of the aftermarket parts that you plan to put in to replace the heavy ones. Take note of these costs before you start buying aftermarket parts. Take the total cost of the aftermarket parts that you plan to purchase.
Once you have the total value, compute the value of your vehicle when you trade it in and the amount that you will pay to get a truck that has the carrying capacity that you need.
Aftermarket parts are expensive because they are made from premium materials and designed with performance and looks in mind. If the total amount that you’ll spend to replace various parts of your truck to make it lighter is almost the same as the cost of trading your truck in for a different model, then it would serve you better to just trade in your truck.
Conclusion
The Ford F-250 has different maximum payloads based on trims. Based on the data we provided above, the simplest trims have the highest maximum payload. The simplest trims have the fewest features, making them lighter than the feature-packed trims.
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