One of the main appeals of the 2021 Ford F-150 is its excellent towing capacity. However, with so many engine options available, you’ll have to option your F-150 just right to get the most out of your truck. According to Motor1, achieving those impressive figures has gotten more expensive thanks to a recent price increase for this vital feature.

Is it more expensive to tow with the 2021 Ford F-150?

The 2021 Ford F-150 has a decently affordable base price of $28,940. However, the base pickup truck comes equipped with the weakest engine available and the lowest towing capacity at that low price point. If you want the very best of the truck, you’ll have to dive into the options list and look for the Max Trailer Tow Package.

According to Motor1, this feature currently costs between $1,235 to $1,750, depending on trim levels. A new price increase will see the cost of this feature increase by $645 across the range. Motor1 points out that in the F-150 XLT, for example, the option jumps from $1,350 to $1,995.

Unfortunately, the increase in price doesn’t bring with it the addition of new features for the 2021 Ford F-150. The Max Trailer Tow Package includes notable upgrades such as a 3.55 electronic-locking rear axle, a 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness, an upgraded rear bumper, and even a larger fuel tank in certain models.

In terms of tech, the package gives your F-150 Pro Trailer Backup Assist and a Smart Trailer Tow Connector. The result is that with this package equipped, the truck can reach its full potential. Unfortunately, towing just got more expensive.

Why do you need the Max Trailer Tow Package?

To stress the Max Trailer Tow Package’s importance, let’s look at the 2021 Ford F-150’s towing capabilities. According to MotorTrend, the weakest F-150 model is the truck equipped with the 3.3-liter V6 engine and its 8,200 lb max towing capacity. From there, you’ve got the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 equipped F-150 and its max towing rating of 10,100 lb.

The only diesel engine available for the Ford F-150 is the 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 which tops out at 12,100 lb. The newest powertrain available for the truck is an eco-friendly hybrid powertrain. Despite this, the electrified truck can town up to 12,700 lb. The 5.0-liter V8 you can also find in the Mustang delivers a max towing capacity of 13,000 lb. However, the highest-rated F-150 engine is the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, which can tow up to 14,000 lb.

It is worth noting that the F-150 can only reach these figures when optioned with the Max Trailer Tow Package, making it a vital feature, although it is not available in all trim levels. Additionally, these figures vary slightly with the selection of different body configurations.

How much does the 2021 Ford F-150 cost?

Thankfully, the 2021 Ford F-150 itself won’t see a price increase. The 2021 model currently starts at $28,940, equipped with the base 3.3-liter engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission. If you want to upgrade to the 2.7-liter twin-turbo or 5.0-liter V8 engines, get ready to pay an additional $1,195 and $1,995, respectively.

If you want a diesel-powered Ford F-150, you’ll have to jump over to the Lariat trim and its $47,035 base price. On top of that, you’ll have to add $3,800 to the base price for the Power Stroke. However, if you want the 3.5-liter V6, it’ll add a more modest $1,400 to the Lariat’s base price.

To get the electrified 3.5-liter PowerBoost engine, you’ll have to move up to the Ford F-150 King Ranch and its $58,670 base price. As you’d expect, the engine comes as an option that’ll add $2,500 to the King Ranch’s base price. The most expensive trim level currently available is the Limited, which starts at $70,825 and includes all of the bells and whistles.