There is a simple rule in the truck wars: numbers always go up. It doesn’t matter if it’s the maximum towing capacity, maximum horsepower, or maximum number of cupholders: This year’s full-size trucks must provide more in every category. That’s why we were surprised to see that, for 2024, the new Ford F-150’s max payload number has actually fallen compared to last year’s model.
The 2023 F-150 offered up to 3315 pounds of hauling capacity. For 2024, that number falls to 2455 pounds.
An 860-lb drop sounds cataclysmic. But for the trucks people actually order, it’s not going to make much of a difference. Because while that 3315-pound number provided Ford with plenty of bragging rights, actual buyers almost never optioned a truck to have that kind of hauling capacity. It required you to get a 5.0-liter V-8 single-cab 4×2 truck with an eight-foot bed, the Max Trailer Tow package, and the Heavy-Duty Payload package. That last package is what gave it the 800-pound payload advantage over the rest of the lineup, but Ford axed it to limit configurations.
“The 2024 F-150 still offers best-in-class max payload capability. Payload was reduced when the Heavy Payload package was removed for the 2024 model year,” a Ford spokesperson told Road & Track.
The company focused heavily on eliminating order complexity for the new F-150. That means eliminating as many packages as possible. Given that the Heavy Payload package was rarely optioned and required a bunch of tweaks—including different springs, tires, drivetrain cooling, etc.—it’s not surprising to see it’s off the menu. Especially because, as the spokesperson noted, Ford’s max payload figure still trumps all of its rivals. If you want more than that, you’ll have to get a heavy-duty truck.
“We’re simplifying our offerings based on how we know customers actually use their vehicle and running the business more efficiently,” the spokesperson told R&T. “We’re also bundling the most popular features and making it even easier for customers to quickly build, price, and order the F-150 that best meets their work and recreation needs. This results in many benefits: higher quality, improved customer experience—easier for customers to order and dealers to stock, and faster to turn the units.”
Reviews Editor
Arguably the most fickle member of the Road & Track staff, Reviews Editor Mack Hogan is likely the only person to ever cross shop an ND Miata with an Isuzu Vehicross. He founded the automotive reviews section of CNBC during his sophomore year of college and has been writing about cars ever since.
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