2018 MaxTow F150 hitch issue

[Brendon44]

Sorry I've tried reading through this. Are there two different class 4 hitches offered on the F150s? I have a 2016 5.0, the hitch states 12500 lbs max. My truck is only rated at 9100 lbs. Obviously I'll never tow near those numbers but towing around 6k I would consider upgrading my hitch if it were a little stronger. Thanks.

[quicky06]

Originally Posted by Brendon44

Sorry I've tried reading through this. Are there two different class 4 hitches offered on the F150s? I have a 2016 5.0, the hitch states 12500 lbs max. My truck is only rated at 9100 lbs. Obviously I'll never tow near those numbers but towing around 6k I would consider upgrading my hitch if it were a little stronger. Thanks.

That 12.5k hitch is the max tow hitch. It is the strongest hitch offered by ford for that year. Leave it alone. It should have chain hook retort brackets that are at an angle and not parallel with the bumper.

There is a lower hitch that has the brackets parrellel with the truck.

[lbrjet]

Pete, weight is weight and it doesn't matter where it comes from.

[dustman_stx]

Looks like the issue is finally about to be resolved. Just spoke with the Service Manager at my dealership. Ford updated the 2018 hitch part number with a footnote that the old part number had a "mislabel issue" or something along those lines.(IOW, they found out they weren't labeled to handle the new MaxTow ratings) I THINK the new hitch will be identical to my current hitch but with the correct rating. I plan to compare them and see- including measuring tubing thickness. Swap is to be done Friday afternoon. Service Manager stated that it only happened on some of those first MaxTow trucks and Ford wasn't issuing any type of bulletin since no other reports of it were coming in. I was the OCD guy that noticed and insisted it be made right!

[5picker]

Good on you.
Let us know the results.

[dustman_stx]

New hitch is installed. Didn't have time to get the micrometer out- but the hitches appear to be identical. Here are the pics of the new one:

[mopwr4me2003]

[emoji106] sweet! Glad it is finally resolved happy towing.

[dbledan]

I watched a video where a guy swapped his out on his non tow package hitch out for tow package hitch from a previous year truck. There was only one additional bolt between them and the angle for the tow hook connection. It gave him more weight on the hitch but really only the sticker changed which is what he wanted. It does not suprise me there is no difference here either. Glad Ford took care of it for you thanks for reporting back.