2022 Lariat PowerBoost: Tow Tech (17T) vs Trailer Tow (53A)

[jj4567]

There are numerous posts already on this forum - all helpful - regarding the collective effort to scrutinize the difference between the 2021 F-150's Tow Technology package (17T) and the 2021 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A) on trim levels that already include the 7-wire harness and the Class IV hitch receiver.

Quick Reminder:
- 2020 Trailer Towing Selector, page 6, lists various items in the 2020 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A) that are not included in the base F-150 (e.g. engine oil cooler, a radiator upgrade, upgraded front stabilizer bar).
- 2021 RV & Trailer Tow Guide has an updated chart, as does the 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide. The previous equipment additions/upgrades on the 2020 F-150's are no longer listed for the 2021/2022 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A). On the surface, 17T and 53A appear to be the same thing for the 2021 F-150.
- 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide, page 22, states that a PowerBoost F-150 should "not exceed a trailer weight of 7K-lbs with only the Class IV hitch (53B), without the Trailer Tow Package (53A)."
- What's different between 17T and 53A? The F150gen14 jury appears to have concluded it simply boils down to a 36mm solid front stabilizer bar in place of a 36mm hollow front stabilizer bar (per 2021 F-150 eSourceBook). Apparently that increases your max tow capacity from 7k-lbs to 11k-lbs (4WD SCrew) per Ford.

2021 Price Comparison, Lariat Powerboost:
- Tow Technology package (17T): $880 addition; includes 360 Camera package for free (763).
- Trailer Tow package (53A): $1090 addition.
- 360 Camera package (763): $765 addition; 360 cameras are required for Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 (43B).
--> Lariat PB w/ Co-Pilot Assist: Extra 4k-lbs of towing will cost $975 extra (17T/43B vs 53A/43B).

Reason for this post . . . to make us all feel worse in 2022 .

Per Ford's 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide, the 2022 F-150's Tow Technology package (17) now also includes the Onboard Scales (55S) for free; that's another $650 value added. So to recap: a 53A/43B/55S will now cost you $1625 more than a 17T/43B/55S equipped 4WD SCrew Lariat PowerBoost. That's one expensive 36mm solid front stabilizer.

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[Jeff1024]

I honestly don't understand why Ford has to make this so difficult. I guess it's a double edge sword. I love that you can option the truck so many different ways, but a side affect of that is that is some overlap between packages.

I don't feel quite as bad I ordered a 701a truck with a 3.5 Ecoboost with MaxTow. I chose MaxTow because I tow close to 7k so that required a tow package. I was going to get the 3:55 and bigger fuel tank anyway so I figured MaxTow was a bit cheaper. I also ordered the onboard scales as a stand alone option.

701a includes tow tech so had the scales also been part of that package it would have made it much more difficult to just throw caution to the wind - not option a tow package at all and just bump up against that 7k limit.

What would make this all a bit easier to stomach is if Ford would do a better job of crediting upgrade packages based on the standard features of the truck. For example if I drop TowTech on a 701a truck that includes it standard the MaxTow price should drop substantially. Difficult to do I am sure but would sure be nice.

 

[Platimatter]

There are a few posts clarifying that for the 21’s the stabilizer bars on certain levels of 21’s are the same regardless of tow package which only adds to the confusion

 

[Platimatter]

3.5, 5.0, Diesel and PB get solid bars

 

[jj4567]

3.5, 5.0, Diesel and PB get solid bars

Any documentation showing this?

 

[jj4567]

On my truck (Powerboost tow tech) I have not found 1 part I dont have that a Trailer Tow package truck has - same leaf springs, sway bar, transmission, radiator, brakes, parking brake, ect.

Basically nothing that will make my truck tow worse than a trailer tow truck in the 6 to 9k range.

Honestly though, if you are looking at towing much greater than 7k routinely, a super duty, or a 5.0/3.5 with more payload and Max tow may be a better fit.

Trailer weight loaded will almost always be in the 6-7k lbs range. I just want the cushion/assurance.

 

[Platimatter]

Any documentation showing this?

See page 9 of this thread:
Towing Specs Consolidated Document - Bumper vs. Class IV vs. Tow vs. Max Tow - UPDATED DOC v4

 

[elsinore]

Thanks for the update. I just ordered a PB with standard tow package. Will the standard tow come with onboard scale's considering the tow tech has that included now? That was an option I was thinking of adding but didn't.

 

[jj4567]

Not per the most recent Order Guide.

 

[elsinore]

wow. so you get the scale with tow tech but not the tow package? That seems weird.

Thanks again

 

[jj4567]

Agreed.

Per 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide:
-Tow tech (17T): Includes 360 cameras & scales for free, but limited tow weight (7K-lbs on PowerBoost).
- Trailer Tow (53A)ull more (up 11k-lbs on PowerBoost).
*No one has yet identified what parts - if any - are different on PB build between the two.

 

[bward02]

Agreed.

Per 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide:
-Tow tech (17T): Includes 360 cameras & scales for free, but limited tow weight (7K-lbs on PowerBoost).
- Trailer Tow (53A)ull more (up 11k-lbs on PowerBoost).
*No one has yet identified what parts - if any - are different on PB build between the two.

Has anyone confirmed yet that the 22’s tow tech actually have the scales for free . Or was this a typo ? I looked at my window sticker and it doesn’t show the tow scales but I did get the tow tech package ?

 

[jj4567]

Has anyone confirmed yet that the 22’s tow tech actually have the scales for free . Or was this a typo ? I looked at my window sticker and it doesn’t show the tow scales but I did get the tow tech package ?

Per ‘22 RV & Trailer Tow guide: Included.
Per Order Guide (3Jan22): Not included.
Suspect Order Guide > RV & Trailer Tow guide in regards to current accuracy.

 

[Mike_]

There are numerous posts already on this forum - all helpful - regarding the collective effort to scrutinize the difference between the 2021 F-150's Tow Technology package (17T) and the 2021 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A) on trim levels that already include the 7-wire harness and the Class IV hitch receiver.

Quick Reminder:
- 2020 Trailer Towing Selector, page 6, lists various items in the 2020 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A) that are not included in the base F-150 (e.g. engine oil cooler, a radiator upgrade, upgraded front stabilizer bar).
- 2021 RV & Trailer Tow Guide has an updated chart, as does the 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide. The previous equipment additions/upgrades on the 2020 F-150's are no longer listed for the 2021/2022 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A). On the surface, 17T and 53A appear to be the same thing for the 2021 F-150.
- 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide, page 22, states that a PowerBoost F-150 should "not exceed a trailer weight of 7K-lbs with only the Class IV hitch (53B), without the Trailer Tow Package (53A)."
- What's different between 17T and 53A? The F150gen14 jury appears to have concluded it simply boils down to a 36mm solid front stabilizer bar in place of a 36mm hollow front stabilizer bar (per 2021 F-150 eSourceBook). Apparently that increases your max tow capacity from 7k-lbs to 11k-lbs (4WD SCrew) per Ford.

2021 Price Comparison, Lariat Powerboost:
- Tow Technology package (17T): $880 addition; includes 360 Camera package for free (763).
- Trailer Tow package (53A): $1090 addition.
- 360 Camera package (763): $765 addition; 360 cameras are required for Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 (43B).
--> Lariat PB w/ Co-Pilot Assist: Extra 4k-lbs of towing will cost $975 extra (17T/43B vs 53A/43B).

Reason for this post . . . to make us all feel worse in 2022 .

Per Ford's 2022 RV & Trailer Tow Guide, the 2022 F-150's Tow Technology package (17) now also includes the Onboard Scales (55S) for free; that's another $650 value added. So to recap: a 53A/43B/55S will now cost you $1625 more than a 17T/43B/55S equipped 4WD SCrew Lariat PowerBoost. That's one expensive 36mm solid front stabilizer.

So glad to see this post, confirms I'm not crazy (at least on this topic). I actually got in an argument with my salesman over this and now deal with the sales manager directly. He kept pushing the 53a because of subtext #2 in the 2022 tow guide (page 21) saying you need the 53a in order to pull more than 7,000 lbs. I said thats fine, but could you explain to me what is in that package that miraculously brings my towing capacity from 7,000lbs to 11,300lbs? He would give me "it has a transmission cooler" to which my response was the chart you posted. It came with that in 2020, not now buddy. I finally said to him "you want me to pay $1,090 to dumb the truck down just because Ford threw a subtext under some chart and I'm not doing it." There's nothing in that package that adds power, stability, or safety that isn't already in the 17t.

Anyway, the reason I was digging around forums again as my truck is still on order, I know the Tow Guide says the 17t comes with onboard scales in 2022. Has anyone taken delivery of a 2022 XLT, 302a, with the Tow Tech package that can confirm this? There's other material out there that says I need to upgrade to a Lariat in order to get the onboard scales in the Tow Tech Package because there needs to be a dampening system in place that isn't available in the XLT?...that would be disappointing.

There are numerous posts already on this forum - all helpful - regarding the collective effort to scrutinize the difference between the 2021 F-150's Tow Technology package (17T) and the 2021 F-150 Trailer Tow package (53A) on trim levels that already include the 7-wire harness and the Class IV hitch receiver.

 

[jj4567]

So glad to see this post, confirms I'm not crazy (at least on this topic). I actually got in an argument with my salesman over this and now deal with the sales manager directly. He kept pushing the 53a because of subtext #2 in the 2022 tow guide (page 21) saying you need the 53a in order to pull more than 7,000 lbs. I said thats fine, but could you explain to me what is in that package that miraculously brings my towing capacity from 7,000lbs to 11,300lbs? He would give me "it has a transmission cooler" to which my response was the chart you posted. It came with that in 2020, not now buddy. I finally said to him "you want me to pay $1,090 to dumb the truck down just because Ford threw a subtext under some chart and I'm not doing it." There's nothing in that package that adds power, stability, or safety that isn't already in the 17t.

Anyway, the reason I was digging around forums again as my truck is still on order, I know the Tow Guide says the 17t comes with onboard scales in 2022. Has anyone taken delivery of a 2022 XLT, 302a, with the Tow Tech package that can confirm this? There's other material out there that says I need to upgrade to a Lariat in order to get the onboard scales in the Tow Tech Package because there needs to be a dampening system in place that isn't available in the XLT?...that would be disappointing.

I mailed a letter to Ford’s Customer Relations regarding this last month: What’s in 53A that isn’t in 17T? No response. I plan to follow up in another week; that said, I folded to the pressure and ordered 53A. No build date yet.

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