Ford F-250 Towing Capacity Chart 2026: Official Ratings

Short answer: The 2026 Ford F-250 tows up to 22,000 lb with a conventional (bumper-pull) hitch, up to 22,300 lb with a 5th-wheel hitch and up to 23,000 lb with a gooseneck, according to Ford's 2026 towing guide. The 22,000 lb conventional rating needs a 6.7L Power Stroke diesel (standard or High Output) and the F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package (535). Gas trucks top out at 18,200 lb conventional with the 7.3L V8 and 17,300 lb with the standard 6.8L V8. The lowest conventional rating Ford lists for a 2026 F-250 is 13,800 lb, so the right number for your truck depends on its engine, axle ratio, cab, box, drive and packages.

Every rating on this page is copied from the F-250 SRW trailer towing selector in Ford's 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide and cross-checked against Ford's 2026 Super Duty technical specifications dated February 27, 2026. We read both on November 1, 2026. Ford says the ratings are "Calculated with SAE J2807® method" and that maximum loaded trailer weight "assumes a towing vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15% (5th-wheel trailer), and driver and passenger (150 lbs. each)." Where the two Ford documents disagree, we say so.

2026 F-250 towing capacity at a glance

The F-250 is Ford's three-quarter-ton Super Duty pickup, and for 2026 it is sold only with single rear wheels (SRW). Ford lists four engines for it. The table shows the best rating Ford publishes for each engine with each hitch type, and the chart below puts those numbers side by side.

Pounds, highest rating Ford lists for each engine. Source: Ford, 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, F-250 SRW trailer towing selector; cross-checked with Ford 2026 Super Duty technical specifications (02/27/26).

Three things stand out. First, the two diesels share the same 22,000 lb conventional ceiling; the High Output engine adds torque but no conventional towing, and only 100 lb more gooseneck capacity (23,000 lb against 22,900 lb). Second, the 7.3L gas V8 rates higher with a 5th-wheel or gooseneck (19,500 lb) than with a ball hitch (18,200 lb). Third, the 6.8L tops out at 17,300 lb in both conventional and gooseneck form, which is still well above any half-ton.

These are maximums for one or a few specific configurations each, and the best configuration changes with the hitch. In the 535 diesel rows, conventional ratings run from 18,200 lb (Regular Cab 4x2 and SuperCab 4x2 6.75-ft) up to 22,000 lb (4x4 SuperCab 8-ft and Crew Cab 6.75-ft). With a 5th-wheel or gooseneck the order flips, and the Regular Cab 4x2 carries the highest rating. The full tables further down show every configuration, along with the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) behind each row.

F-250 engines and what they are rated to make

Ford's spec sheet lists the following outputs for the 2026 Super Duty engines. All four are V8s and all use a 10-speed automatic. Ford's ford.com Super Duty page lists the 6.8L as the engine on the F-250 XL.

Source: Ford 2026 Super Duty technical specifications (02/27/26).

Ford adds a footnote worth reading literally: horsepower, torque, payload, towing and fuel economy ratings "are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously." A diesel truck with the most torque is not automatically the truck with the highest trailer rating. The axle ratio, the GCWR attached to that axle and the 535 package decide where a given F-250 lands, as the next table shows.

F-250 conventional towing chart (bumper-pull)

This is Ford's complete 2026 F-250 conventional towing table. Read across the row for your engine, axle ratio and GCWR, then down to your cab, drive and box. Wheelbases are Ford's: Regular Cab 141.6 in, SuperCab 148.0 in (6.75-ft box) or 164.2 in (8-ft box), Crew Cab 159.8 in (6.75-ft box) or 176.0 in (8-ft box).

Pounds. — = configuration not listed. * Second figure applies with Ford's fixed 9,900 lb GVWR. Diesel rows marked 535 require the F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package (535); the High Output 3.55 row is printed with a 30,000 lb GCWR in Ford's spec sheet. Tremor (17Y) Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft diesel: 18,200 lb, 3.55 axle, 28,300 lb GCWR. Source: Ford, 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, F-250 SRW trailer towing selector; cross-checked with Ford 2026 Super Duty technical specifications (02/27/26).

The top row is the one many buyers miss. A 6.7L diesel F-250 without the High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package carries a 23,500 lb GCWR and is rated between 15,500 and 16,600 lb conventional. Add the 535 package and the same diesel truck moves to a 30,000 lb GCWR and 18,200 to 22,000 lb. The difference on a Crew Cab 4x4 with a 6.75-ft box is 6,100 lb (15,900 lb against 22,000 lb), for the same engine and axle ratio.

The gas rows tell a different story. The 6.8L with the 3.73 axle is the lowest-rated F-250 at 13,800 to 14,800 lb. Moving to the 4.30 axle raises GCWR from 21,000 to 23,500 lb and adds 2,500 lb to every configuration (for example 14,800 lb to 17,300 lb on the Regular Cab 4x2). The 7.3L with the 4.30 axle is rated 18,200 lb in every cab and box. That matches Ford's rule that conventional towing above 18,200 lb requires the 535 package, and none of the gas rows carries the 535 footnote.

The 535 package: the F-250's 18,200 lb line

Ford's required-equipment note for the F-250 is short and specific: "For conventional towing greater than 18,200 lbs. – High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package (535) required with 18" All-Season or 20" All-Terrain Tires." It adds: "Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty may be voided if you tow without this."

In the selector tables, the diesel rows with ratings above 18,200 lb are marked with the footnote "Requires F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package (535)," and those rows carry the higher GCWR (30,000 lb for the standard diesel and 31,000 lb for the High Output in the towing guide). Without the package, the diesel rows fall back to the 23,500 lb GCWR row shown first in the table. So when you are shopping a used diesel F-250, the engine badge alone tells you very little. Confirm whether the truck has option 535. The original window sticker is the easiest proof; our guide on how to get a window sticker by VIN explains how to retrieve one.

The package matters most for conventional towing. In the 5th-wheel and gooseneck table, the 535 rows again carry the highest ratings, and the non-535 diesel row has ratings between 11,600 and 16,500 lb depending on configuration and GVWR.

F-250 5th-wheel and gooseneck towing chart

For trailers that couple inside the bed, Ford publishes a separate F-250 table. Each cell below shows the 5th-wheel rating first and the gooseneck rating second, in pounds.

Each cell: 5th-wheel / gooseneck, pounds. — = configuration not listed. Slashed figures in the 7.3L 4.30 row are printed by Ford with GVWR or Tremor footnotes (the 18,500 figures in the Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft cell are Tremor; the third figures in the Crew Cab 4x4 8-ft cell apply with the fixed 9,900 lb GVWR). Tremor diesel (Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft, 3.55 axle, 28,300 lb GCWR): 19,000 / 20,000 standard, 18,900 / 19,900 High Output. Source: Ford, 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, F-250 SRW trailer towing selector; cross-checked with Ford 2026 Super Duty technical specifications (02/27/26).

The 6.7L diesel row without the 535 package (3.31 axle, 23,500 lb GCWR) is not shown cell by cell above because Ford splits several of its cells three ways by GVWR (a fixed 9,900 lb GVWR, a "10,000 plus" GVWR, and the default). Across that row Ford prints 5th-wheel ratings from 11,600 to 16,300 lb and gooseneck ratings from 12,600 to 16,500 lb. The lowest figures belong to the Crew Cab 4x4 8-ft box on the fixed 9,900 lb GVWR. If your truck is a non-535 diesel and you plan to tow a 5th-wheel, check the exact GVWR on your door label before reading this row in Ford's guide.

Two patterns are worth knowing. The best ratings come from the Regular Cab 4x2, which also has the lowest base curb weight for each engine in Ford's spec sheet: 22,300 lb 5th-wheel for both diesels, and 22,900 lb (standard) or 23,000 lb (High Output) gooseneck. And the 4x4 Crew Cab with the 8-ft box is the lowest-rated configuration in every 535 row (19,400 / 20,400 lb for the standard diesel and 19,800 / 20,800 lb for the High Output).

Ford also warns that "Shorter pickup boxes (e.g. ... 6.75' F-250®/F-350®) provide less clearance between the cab and 5th-wheel/gooseneck trailer compared to 'long box' pickups," and asks owners to confirm clearance for turns up to 90 degrees. For bed-mounted hitches, Ford lists a maximum closed-tailgate height of 57.9 to 60.0 in for the F-250 SRW 4x4 at base curb weight. That figure helps when you check a 5th-wheel trailer's pin-box height.

Tremor: a fixed 18,200 lb conventional rating

The Tremor Off-Road Package (17Y) appears in Ford's F-250 tables only as a Crew Cab 4x4 with the 6.75-ft box. With either diesel it uses the 3.55 axle and a 28,300 lb GCWR, and Ford lists it at 18,200 lb conventional. With a 5th-wheel or gooseneck, the standard diesel Tremor is rated 19,000 / 20,000 lb and the High Output Tremor 18,900 / 19,900 lb. In the 7.3L gas row (4.30 axle), Ford's Tremor footnote marks the Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft cells at 18,200 lb conventional and 18,500 lb for both 5th-wheel and gooseneck. The receiver rating Ford lists for F-250 and F-350 Tremor trucks is 18,200 lb with a 1,820 lb tongue load. Ford's spec sheet lists LT285/75R18E all-terrain tires for the Tremor. Because of the lower GCWR on the diesel, a Tremor is not the F-250 to choose for maximum towing.

Payload: the limit you will usually hit first

A trailer rating is only half the calculation. Tongue weight and king pin weight sit on the truck and count against its payload and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Ford's own notes say: "Make sure vehicle payload (reduce by option weight) will accommodate trailer tongue (trailer king pin for 5th-wheel towing) load weight and weight of passengers and cargo added to towing vehicle." The same principle applies to every pickup; our Ford F-150 payload capacity chart explains how the payload sticker and GVWR relate.

Ford's spec sheet lists these GVWRs and maximum payloads for the 2026 F-250 with 17-in tires. They are "with minimum equipment," so a real truck with options is rated lower.

F-250 SRW with 17-in tires, "with minimum equipment." Some diesel GVWRs require the Trailer Tow Package. Ford: "Maximum payload varies based on accessories and vehicle configuration. See label on doorjamb for carrying capacity of a specific vehicle." Source: Ford 2026 Super Duty technical specifications (02/27/26).

Federal rules (49 CFR 567.4) require the GVWR and each axle's GAWR on the certification label next to the driver's seat, and define GVWR as no less than the unloaded vehicle weight plus the rated cargo load plus 150 lb per designated seating position. Ford's spec sheet says the same thing in practical terms: "See label on doorjamb for carrying capacity of a specific vehicle." Our door jamb sticker guide shows which of the two labels carries the payload number.

Worked example 1: a 22,000 lb bumper-pull trailer

Take a 2026 F-250 Crew Cab 4x4, 6.75-ft box, 6.7L diesel with the 535 package. Ford rates it at 22,000 lb conventional. At Ford's 10% tongue load, a 22,000 lb trailer puts 2,200 lb on the hitch, which is exactly the F-250 receiver's 2,200 lb tongue limit. Ford's spec sheet lists a maximum payload of 3,684 lb for the 6.7L Crew Cab 4x4 on the 159.7-in wheelbase. Subtract the 2,200 lb tongue and Ford's assumed 300 lb for driver and passenger, and 1,184 lb remains for options, hitch hardware, other passengers and cargo. That is workable, but the figure is "with minimum equipment," so a truck with more options starts with less.

Now check the combination. The truck's GCWR is 30,000 lb, so a 22,000 lb trailer leaves 8,000 lb for the loaded truck. Ford lists a base curb weight of 7,178 lb for this cab, box, drive and engine. Option weight comes on top of that, and Ford's notes tell owners to reduce payload by option weight. Add the two 150 lb occupants and you reach 7,478 lb, which leaves 522 lb before the truck exceeds its GCWR. In this example the GCWR, not payload, is the tighter limit: one more passenger and a bed full of gear could put you over.

Worked example 2: the same truck with a 5th-wheel or gooseneck

Ford rates the same Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft diesel at 20,500 lb 5th-wheel and 21,500 lb gooseneck. At Ford's 15% king pin weight, a 20,500 lb 5th-wheel puts 3,075 lb in the bed. Add 300 lb of occupants and the total is 3,375 lb, leaving 309 lb of the 3,684 lb listed payload. A 21,500 lb gooseneck puts 3,225 lb on the ball, and with the occupants the margin shrinks to 159 lb. The hitch itself is also payload. A 5th-wheel or gooseneck near the F-250's printed maximum leaves little or no margin once options and hitch hardware are counted. That is the point where an F-350 is worth comparing: Ford's 2026 F-350 SRW tables go up to 27,400 lb 5th-wheel, and its dual-rear-wheel tables reach 35,000 lb. Our Ford F-350 towing capacity chart has every F-350 rating.

Worked example 3: a gas 7.3L towing 18,200 lb

A 7.3L Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft box with the 4.30 axle is rated 18,200 lb conventional on a 26,000 lb GCWR. The 10% tongue load is 1,820 lb. Ford's spec sheet lists 4,034 lb maximum payload for the 7.3L Crew Cab 4x4 on the 159.7-in wheelbase, so after 1,820 lb of tongue and 300 lb of occupants, 1,914 lb remains. The GCWR leaves 7,800 lb for the loaded truck, against a listed base curb weight of 6,370 lb. Add 300 lb of occupants and 1,130 lb of margin remains. The gas truck pulls less but keeps a far larger payload cushion than the diesel in example 1. Part of that comes from the 7.3L truck's lower curb weight (6,370 lb against 7,178 lb in Ford's table).

Hitch receiver, tongue weight and frontal area limits

Ford lists a 2.5-in receiver as standard on Super Duty pickups (the 3-in receiver is reserved for certain F-350 DRW and F-450 models). The receiver has its own rating, printed on a label on the receiver, and the trailer rating cannot exceed it.

Source: Ford 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, Hitch Receiver Weight Capacity. The receiver capacity may exceed the truck's own trailer rating; the lower number applies.

Ford's guide says trailer towing values "are the same for weight-carrying and weight-distributing hitches," and recommends 50% front axle load restoration (FALR) when using load bars on an F-250. Tongue weight should be 10% of the loaded trailer weight for conventional trailers and 15% for 5th-wheel and gooseneck trailers.

There is also a size limit that has nothing to do with weight. Ford sets the maximum trailer frontal area for F-250, F-350 and F-450 combinations at 75 sq ft for all 5th-wheel and gooseneck applications and 60 sq ft for all other applications. Ford defines frontal area as "the total area in square feet that a moving vehicle and trailer exposes to air resistance" and warns that "Exceeding this limitation may significantly reduce the performance of your towing vehicle." A tall enclosed car hauler or toy hauler can reach that limit before it reaches the weight rating.

How to find your F-250's axle ratio

Almost every row in Ford's chart depends on the axle ratio. Ford says to check the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the left front door lock facing or the door latch post pillar. Below the bar code you will see the word AXLE and a two-digit code. Ford's code chart for Super Duty pickups:

Code shown after AXLE on the Safety Compliance Certification Label. Source: Ford 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, Rear Axle Ratio Codes (Super Duty pickups).

Note that not every ratio in this chart applies to the F-250. Ford's F-250 tables list 3.31 and 3.55 axles for the diesels and 3.73 and 4.30 axles for the gas engines; 4.10 appears only in F-350 and F-450 DRW tables. If the code on your label does not match an F-250 row, recheck the code before you rely on any number here.

How to read your exact rating in five steps

Ford's own instructions are to select the cab, drive and engine, then read down the column. In practice, this order gets you to the right cell fastest:

1. Engine. 6.8L gas, 7.3L gas, 6.7L diesel or 6.7L High Output diesel. The engine is listed on the window sticker and on the build sheet.
2. Axle ratio. Use the code on the certification label and the table above.
3. Packages. On a diesel, confirm the 535 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package. On any truck, check for the Tremor package (17Y), which has its own row.
4. Cab, drive and box. Regular Cab, SuperCab or Crew Cab; 4x2 or 4x4; 6.75-ft or 8-ft box.
5. Hitch type. Use the conventional table for a ball or weight-distributing hitch and the 5th-wheel/gooseneck table for bed-mounted hitches.

Once you have the trailer rating, run the same three checks used in the worked examples: tongue or king pin weight against payload, loaded truck plus trailer against GCWR, and tongue weight against the receiver label. The lowest of these limits is your real limit. Finally, weigh the loaded combination on a certified scale. A scale ticket shows your actual axle and combined weights, which no chart can.

F-250 vs F-350, F-150 and Ram 2500

If you are deciding between trucks, the comparison is easier with each truck's top rating from its own maker's 2026 data:

— = not compared here. Each figure is the single best configuration; most trucks are rated lower.

Against the half-ton, the gap is large. Our Ford F-150 towing capacity chart shows the 2026 F-150 topping out at 13,500 lb, which is below the lowest conventional rating Ford lists for any 2026 F-250 (13,800 lb). Against Ram's three-quarter-ton, our Ram 2500 towing capacity chart lists a 20,000 lb maximum for 2026, which is 2,000 lb below the F-250 diesel's 22,000 lb conventional peak. Against its own big brother, the F-250 gives up 3,000 lb of conventional rating to the F-350 SRW (22,000 lb against 25,000 lb) and much more with a 5th-wheel, where the F-350 DRW reaches 35,000 lb.

Based on Ford's numbers, the F-250's strength is conventional towing up to about 22,000 lb with a diesel and the 535 package. For heavy 5th-wheel trailers, run the payload math above before choosing between an F-250 and an F-350.

Common mistakes when reading the F-250 chart

• Using the 22,000 lb number for any diesel. Without the 535 package, a diesel F-250 is rated 15,500 to 16,600 lb conventional.
• Assuming gooseneck capacity means you can use it. At 15% king pin weight, the F-250's gooseneck maximums use most or all of a typical truck's payload.
• Ignoring the 7.3L's axle ratio. The 3.73-axle 7.3L is rated 16,400 to 18,200 lb conventional, depending on GCWR, cab and box. The 4.30 axle gives 18,200 lb in every configuration.
• Reading the wrong year. These figures are for the 2026 model year. Ford publishes a new guide every year, and ratings change with engines, GCWRs and packages.
• Forgetting the trailer tires. The trailer's own tires and axles must carry its weight. For ST tires, see our trailer tire load range chart.

A note on Ford's two documents: the towing guide prints a 31,000 lb GCWR for the High Output diesel with the 3.55 axle and the 535 package, while the February 2026 spec sheet prints 30,000 lb for that row. The trailer ratings in the row are the same in both, except one SuperCab 4x4 6.75-ft gooseneck cell (21,400 lb in the guide, 21,500 lb in the spec sheet). We show the guide's figures. Ask a Ford dealer to confirm if your truck sits in that row.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum towing capacity of a 2026 Ford F-250?

23,000 lb with a gooseneck hitch, for a Regular Cab 4x2 with the 6.7L High Output diesel and the 535 package. The best 5th-wheel rating is 22,300 lb and the best conventional (bumper-pull) rating is 22,000 lb, per Ford's 2026 towing guide.

How much can a gas F-250 tow?

With the 7.3L V8 and 4.30 axle, Ford rates the F-250 at 18,200 lb conventional in every cab and box, and up to 19,500 lb with a 5th-wheel or gooseneck. The 6.8L V8 tops out at 17,300 lb conventional or gooseneck with the 4.30 axle.

Do I need the 535 package to tow 22,000 lb with an F-250?

Yes. Ford says conventional towing above 18,200 lb requires the F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package (535), and that the warranty may be voided if you tow without it. A diesel F-250 without it is rated 15,500 to 16,600 lb conventional.

Does the High Output diesel tow more than the standard diesel?

Only slightly. Both are rated 22,000 lb conventional and 22,300 lb 5th-wheel at best. The High Output's best gooseneck rating is 23,000 lb against 22,900 lb for the standard diesel.

What is the lowest F-250 towing capacity?

13,800 lb conventional, for a 6.8L Crew Cab 4x4 8-ft box with the 3.73 axle. A diesel without the 535 package can be rated as low as 11,600 lb with a 5th-wheel on certain GVWRs.

How much can an F-250 Tremor tow?

Ford lists the diesel Tremor (Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft, 3.55 axle) at 18,200 lb conventional, 19,000 lb 5th-wheel and 20,000 lb gooseneck with the standard diesel, or 18,900 / 19,900 lb with the High Output.

What is the F-250 hitch receiver rating?

Ford lists 22,000 lb with a 2,200 lb maximum tongue load for the F-250 receiver, for both weight-carrying and weight-distributing use. With the Tremor package it is 18,200 lb and 1,820 lb.

How do I find my F-250's axle ratio?

Read the code after AXLE on the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver's door lock facing or latch pillar. For example, 31 is a 3.31 non-limited-slip axle, 3J is 3.55 electronic locking and 4M is 4.30 electronic locking.

Is an F-250 enough for a 5th-wheel RV?

Check payload first. At 15% king pin weight, a 20,500 lb 5th-wheel puts 3,075 lb in the bed. Ford lists 3,684 lb maximum payload for a diesel Crew Cab 4x4 6.75-ft before options and passengers, so large 5th-wheels often need an F-350.

Why is my F-250 rated lower than the chart?

Ford's ratings assume a truck with only mandatory options, no cargo and two 150 lb occupants. Options, passengers, cargo and hitch hardware reduce what you can tow. Your door label payload, the GCWR and the receiver label are the limits to check.

Sources

• Ford Motor Company, 2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide (F-250 SRW trailer towing selector, required equipment, hitch receivers, frontal area, axle codes, tailgate heights). Read November 1, 2026, from a dealer-hosted copy of the same Ford PDF because ford.com blocked our download.
• Ford Motor Company, 2026 F-Series Super Duty Pickup Technical Specifications, 02/27/26 V1.0 (towing tables, GVWR and payload, curb weights, engines, tires). Read November 1, 2026.
• Ford Motor Company, 2026 Super Duty model page (lineup maximums, F-250 XL engine). Read November 1, 2026.
• SAE International, J2807_202411, Performance Requirements for Determining Tow-Vehicle Gross Combination Weight Rating and Trailer Weight Rating.
• U.S. Government, eCFR, 49 CFR 567.4, Requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles (certification label, GVWR and GAWR).