The 2001 Ford F150 made a splash in the auto industry as an all-rounder vehicle that was both dependable and durable, but also comfortable to ride in. The attractive Built Ford Tough aesthetic helped push this American-made truck to become one of the best-selling vehicles of the year.
With its capable V8 engine, the F150 was well suited for anything from recreational vehicle hauling to towing tasks that don’t require a bigger rig. Part of Ford’s iconic F-Series lineup, the 2001 model of this popular pickup truck still remains dependable today.
If considering purchasing or already owning a used 2001 F150, this guide explores its conventional and 5th-wheel towing capacity in detail.
Table of Contents
The 2001 Ford F150 was highly regarded for its impressive towing capacity. Its robust frame and superior suspension design allowed it to safely transport heavy loads, setting it apart from other pickup trucks in its class.
The F-150 SuperCrew was a particular highlight of this model, adding four doors and seating for up to six passengers without sacrificing any of its ruggedness or capabilities. This revolutionary pickup truck showed how the Ford F-series continues to lead the way when it comes to providing reliable transport solutions.
The 2001 Ford F150 boasts a versatile maximum towing capacity, which means it can handle a wide range of loads. This capacity spans from a minimum of 2,000 pounds (about 907 kilograms) to an impressive 8,800 pounds (approximately 3,992 kilograms). However, this towing capability is not set in stone but rather depends on several crucial factors that determine how much weight the truck can safely and effectively tow.
The specific configuration of your Ford F150 plays a significant role. Different setups, such as the engine type, cab style, axle ratio codes, and wheelbase, all impact the truck’s towing capacity. The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is a vital consideration. It represents the maximum weight limit for both the loaded truck and the trailer it’s towing. This rating varies depending on the model and can affect the towing capacity. Also, the type of drivetrain (whether it’s 2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive) and the transmission also have their say in how much weight your Ford F150 can handle when towing.
The maximum towing capacity of a 2001 Ford F150 isn’t a fixed number but a range influenced by numerous factors. To determine the exact towing capacity for your specific F150, you need to consider all these variables and consult the vehicle’s manual or a Ford dealership for precise information.
Features of the 2001 Ford F150
- Available SuperCab models with four doors standard
- Choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic overdrive transmissions
- Can be equipped to tow trailers up to 8,800 pounds
- 4-wheel disc ABS standard on all models
- Standard SecuriLock™ passive antitheft system
Features of the 2001 Ford F150 SuperCrew
- Choice of 4×2 or 4×4 models
- The same wheelbase as the short-wheelbase SuperCab for convenient maneuverability
- Unique 5 1/2-foot pickup box design with steel inner panels and composite outer panels
- Optional box extender for improved box functionality and convenience
- Choice of two powerful single-overhead-cam TritonTM V8 engines: – Standard 231-horsepower 4.6L – Optional 260-horsepower 5.4L
- Electronically controlled 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission
- Standard 4-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes
- Can be equipped to tow trailers up to 8,000 pounds
- Standard power-adjustable accelerator and brake pedals
- An optional power glass moonroof
Read more about: What is the best lock for a trailer hitch?
2001 Ford F150 Engine Options
The 2001 Ford F150 was available with three powerful engine options including a 4.2L OHV V6, a 4.6L SOHC V8, and a 5.4L SOHC V8 engine.
| Engine Configuration | Horsepower | Maximum Torque | Compression Ratio |
| 4.2L OHV V6 | 202 hp @ 4,800 rpm | 252 ft. lbs @ 3,400 rpm | 9.2:1 |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 220 hp @ 4,500 rpm | 290 ft. lbs @ 3,250 rpm | 9.0:1 |
| 5.4L SEFI V8 | 260 hp @ 4,500 rpm | 350 ft. lbs @ 2,500 rpm | 9.0:1 |
2001 Ford F150 Towing Capacity Chart based on Engine Types
| Engine | Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
| 4.2L V6 | 5,700 |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 7,200 |
| 5.4L SEFI V8 | 8,800 |
| 5.4L NGV V8 (Natural Gas) | 5,900 |
2001 Ford F150 Towing capacities by Cab Style
| F-150 Cab Type | Drive Type | Maximum Towing Capabilities (lbs.) |
| Regular Cab | 4×2 | 8,800 |
| 4×4 | 8,400 | |
| SuperCab | 4×2 | 8,600 |
| 4×4 | 8,300 | |
| SuperCrew | 4×2 | 8,000 |
| 4×4 | 7,700 |
You will find a couple of charts here straight from Ford’s 2001 F150 towing guide. These charts are pretty handy as they break down how much stuff you can haul with your pickup, both with a regular trailer and a 5th-wheel trailer.
In these charts, you’ll find info about the different engines available for the F150, the gear ratios in the axles, the maximum combined weight that the truck and trailer can safely be, whether it’s a two-wheel or four-wheel drive, and the various cab styles you can pick from.
Now, in the first chart, you’ll see numbers for both manual and automatic transmissions when it comes to towing with a regular trailer. But when it comes to towing a 5th-wheel trailer, the second chart only gives you figures for trucks with automatic transmissions. Why? Well, it’s because Ford doesn’t recommend towing 5th-wheel trailers with F150s that have manual transmissions.
2001 Ford F-150 Conventional Towing Capacity
(*) With 16-inch tires or 4x2 P275 17-inch tires. (**) With 4x4 P265 or LT265 17-inch tires.
Regular Cab
| Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) – Automatic Transmission | ||||
Engine | Axle Ratio | GCWR (Lbs.) | Drive Type | |
| 4×2 | 4×4 | |||
| 4.2L SEFI V6 | 3.31 | 9,000 | 4,800 | – |
| 3.55 | 10,000 | 5,800 | 5,400 | |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 3.08 | 10,000 | 2,000 | – |
| 3.31 | 10,500 | 6,200 | 5,800 | |
| 3.55 | 11,500* | 7,200 | 6,800 | |
| 3.55 | 11,000** | – | 6,300 | |
| 5.4L SEFI V8 | 3.31 | 12,000 | 7,600 | 7,200 |
| 3.55 | 13,000* | 8,600 | 8,200 | |
| 3.55 | 12,500** | – | 7,700 | |
| 3.73 | 13,500 | 8,800 | 8,400 | |
| 5.4L NGV V8 (Natural Gas) | 3.73 | 11,000 | 5,900 | – |
| Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) – Manual Transmission | ||||
| 4.2L SEFI V6 | 3.08 | 6,500 | 2,000 | – |
| 3.31 | 7,200 | – | 2,600 | |
| 3.55 | 7,800 | 3,600 | 3,200 | |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 3.08 | 6,500 | 2,000 | – |
| 3.31 | 7,200 | 2,900 | 2,500 | |
| 3.55 | 7,800 | 3,400 | 3,100 | |
SuperCab
| Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) – Automatic Transmission | ||||
Engine | Axle Ratio | GCWR (Lbs.) | Drive Type | |
| 4×2 | 4×4 | |||
| 4.2L SEFI V6 | 3.55 | 10,000 | 5,500 | – |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 3.08 | 10,000 | 2,000 | – |
| 3.31 | 10,500 | 5,900 | 5,600 | |
| 3.55 | 11,500* | 6,900 | 6,600 | |
| 3.55 | 11,000** | – | 6,100 | |
| 5.4L SEFI V8 | 3.31 | 12,000 | 7,300 | 7,000 |
| 3.55 | 13,000* | 8,400 | 8,000 | |
| 3.55 | 12,500** | – | 7,500 | |
| 3.73 | 13,500 | 8,600 | 8,300 | |
| Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) – Manual Transmission | ||||
| 4.2L SEFI V6 | 3.08 | 6,500 | 2,000 | – |
| 3.31 | 7,200 | – | – | |
| 3.55 | 7,800 | 3,600 | – | |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 3.08 | 6,500 | 2,000 | – |
| 3.31 | 7,200 | 2,600 | 2,300 | |
| 3.55 | 7,800 | 3,200 | 2,900 | |
SuperCrew
| Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) – Automatic Transmission | ||||
Engine | Axle Ratio | GCWR (Lbs.) | Drive Type | |
| 4×2 | 4×4 | |||
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 3.55 | 11,500* | 6,600 | 6,200 |
| 3.55 | 11,000** | – | 5,700 | |
| 5.4L SEFI V8 | 3.55 | 13,000 | 8,000 | 7,700 |
| 3.55 | 12,500 | – | 7,200 | |
2001 Ford F-150 Fifth Wheel Towing Capacity
While the F-150 SuperCrew has the capability to tow up to 8,000 lbs. and the box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch, current fifth-wheel trailer designs are not compatible with SuperCrew. Any questions should be referred to the trailer dealer/manufacturer.
(*) With 16-inch tires or 4x2 P275 17-inch tires. (**) With 4x4 P265 or LT265 17-inch tires.
Regular Cab
| Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) – Automatic Transmission | ||||
Engine | Axle Ratio | GCWR (Lbs.) | Drive Type | |
| 4×2 | 4×4 | |||
| 4.2L SEFI V6 | 3.55 | 10,000 | 5,800 | 5,400 |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 3.55 | 11,500* | 7,200 | 6,800 |
| 3.55 | 11,000** | – | 6,300 | |
| 5.4L SEFI V8 | 3.55 | 13,000* | 8,700 | 8,300 |
| 3.55 | 12,500** | – | 7,800 | |
| 3.73 | 13,500 | 8,800 | 8,400 | |
SuperCab
| Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) – Automatic Transmission | ||||
Engine | Axle Ratio | GCWR (Lbs.) | Drive Type | |
| 4×2 | 4×4 | |||
| 4.2L SEFI V6 | 3.55 | 10,000 | 5,500 | – |
| 4.6L SEFI V8 | 3.55 | 11,500* | 7,700 | 6,600 |
| 3.55 | 11,000** | – | 6,100 | |
| 5.4L SEFI V8 | 3.55 | 13,000* | 8,400 | 8,000 |
| 3.55 | 12,500** | – | 7,500 | |
| 3.73 | 13,500 | 8,600 | 8,300 | |
2001 Ford F150 Maximum Payload Capacity
When it comes to the 2001 Ford F150, it’s like having a versatile workhorse that can handle a range of payloads. Depending on the cab style you’ve chosen, you can carry different amounts of weight. Now, let us introduce you to some valuable charts that lay it all out for you.
These charts are like your payload capacity roadmaps, and they’re specific to the 2001 Ford F150. They break down how much weight your truck can handle based on factors like the engine type, the style of your cab, and the length of the wheelbase.
These charts are like your trusty guides, ensuring you know exactly what your F150 can carry safely. So, pick the right chart that matches your truck, and you’ll be good to go, knowing you’re well within the limits of your rugged F150.
| F-150 Cab Style | Maximum Payload Capabilities (lbs.) |
| Regular Cab – Styleside | 3,180 |
| Regular Cab – Flareside | 2,005 |
| SuperCab – Styleside | 3,045 |
| SuperCab – Flareside | 1,875 |
| SuperCrew | 1,875 |
Slide-In Campers For F-150 Pickup
| Engine | Cab Style | Drive Type | Wheelbase | GVWR (lbs.) | Axle Ratio | Maximum Cargo Weight Rating (lbs.) |
| 4.2L V6 | Regular Cab | 4×2 | 119.9″ | 6,000 | 3.55 | 1,659 |
| 138.5″ | 6,000 | 1,536 | ||||
| 4.6L V8 | 6,600 | 1,916 | ||||
| 5.4L V8 | 6,600 | 1,866 | ||||
| 7,700 | 3.73 | 2,734 | ||||
| 4×4 | 138.8″ | 7,700 | 2,147 | |||
SuperCab | 4×2 | 138.5″ | 7,700 | 2,395 | ||
| 4×4 | 138.8″ | 7,700 | 1,803 |
2001 Ford F-150 Hitch Receiver
| Ford Rear Step Bumper/Hitch Receiver Weight Capacity | Max. Tongue Weight (lbs.) | |
| Weight-Carrying Capacity (lbs.) | 5,000 | 500 |
| Weight-Distributing Capacity (lbs.) | 8,800 | 880 |
2001 Ford F-150 Trailer Towing Packages
For Trailers Over 4,000 pounds – Heavy-Duty Electrical/Cooling Package, Or Class III Trailer Tow Group.
- Super Engine Cooling
- 78 Amp.-Hr. Heavy-Duty Battery
- Trailer Wiring Harness (7-Pin)
- Hitch Receiver
- Aux. Auto Trans. Oil Cooler
- Heavy-Duty Shocks
Frontal Area Considerations
Frontal area is the total area in square feet that a moving vehicle and trailer exposes to air resistance. The chart shows the limitations that must be considered in selecting a vehicle/trailer combination. Exceeding these limitations may significantly reduce the performance of your towing vehicle.
| F150 | Base Vehicle Frontal Area | Without Heavy-Duty Electrical/Cooling Pkg. or Class III Trailer Tow Group |
| 60 sq. ft. | With Heavy-Duty Electrical/Cooling Pkg. or Class III Trailer Tow Group |
Conclusion on 2001 Ford F150 Towing Capacity
The 2001 Ford F150 has an impressive towing capacity of up to 8,800 pounds when powered by a 5.4-liter SEFI V8 engine.
This powerhouse offers a maximum power of 260 horsepower and a peak torque of 350 pound-feet. To maximize its capacity, special towing packages are available that include traction bars, transmission coolers, brakes, and hitches.
Remember to take your truck for a test drive before embarking on a long journey: all settings must be optimized for optimal performance on the roads!
How to calculate the load your vehicle can carry/tow?
1. Use the appropriate maximum GCWR chart for your type of engine and rear axle ratio.
2. Weigh your vehicle without cargo. To obtain the correct weights, take your vehicle to a shipping company or an inspection station for trucks.
3. Subtract your loaded weight from the maximum GCWR in the chart. This is the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. It must be below the maximum trailer weight shown in the chart.
SOME TIPS FOR SAFE TOWING
- You should not exceed a trailer weight of 5,000 lbs. when towing only with a bumper.
- The trailer tongue load weight should be 10%-15% of the total loaded trailer weight.
- The combined weight of the vehicle, and trailer must not exceed the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) mentioned in the owner’s manual.
- F150 owners must carefully read, and review the owner’s manual before using their pickup truck for towing purposes.
- The maximum towing capacity may only be achieved when the 2001 F150 is equipped with a powerful engine, Max Trailer Tow Package, required tires, wheels, and other towing accessories.
- The towing capacity varies according to the vehicle configuration, cargo, number of passengers, availability of towing accessories, and other customizations.
- Your vehicle may tow a class I, II, or III trailer provided the maximum trailer weight is less than or equal to the maximum trailer weight listed for your engine and rear axle ratio on the following charts.
- Your vehicle’s load capacity is designated by weight, not by volume, so you cannot necessarily use all available space when loading a vehicle.
- Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine, transmission, axle, brakes, tires, and suspension. Inspect these components carefully periodically during, and after any towing operation.
Stellan Carter is an accomplished writer, entrepreneur, and avid Ford Raptor owner. As a co-founder and content contributor for this renowned blog website, Stellan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the automotive industry. When he’s not behind the wheel of his beloved Ford Raptor, Stellan can be found exploring new terrains, capturing the essence of his automotive adventures through his camera lens.
