2017-2019 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke Towing Parts

Towing on the 2017-2019 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke

Ford sold this generation on towing. The 2017 Super Duty was the first all-new design since 1999, with a fully boxed high-strength steel frame, an aluminum-alloy cab and box, and upgraded axles, brakes and hitch hardware. Behind every 6.7L sits the 6R140 TorqShift six-speed automatic with Tow/Haul mode. The 2017 pickup made 440 hp and 925 lb-ft, and the 2018-2019 pickup made 450 hp and 935 lb-ft.

From the factory, F-250 and F-350 single-rear-wheel trucks got a 2.5-inch receiver. The F-350 SRW Crew Cab diesel on the 176-inch wheelbase and every dually got a 3-inch receiver with a 2.5-to-3-inch sleeve reducer. A 7-wire harness with 7-pin and 4-pin connectors was standard. Trucks ordered with the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Trailer Tow Prep Package also have an under-bed crossmember, five bed attachment points with close-out plugs, and a 7-pin connector in the driver-side bed wall.

For 2019, Ford's maximum gooseneck ratings, all SAE J2807 for properly equipped diesel trucks, run from 18,500 lb on an F-250 with the High-Capacity Trailer Tow Package to 35,000 lb on an F-450 Regular Cab 4x2. Fifth-wheel ratings are lower because the factory 5th-wheel hitch itself is capped at 18,000 lb on single-rear-wheel trucks and 27,500 lb on duallys.

What goes wrong when you tow

The most common complaint is not a broken part. It is rear-end sag. Put 5th-wheel pin weight or a camper on the bed and the truck sits nose-high, with the headlights aimed too high. That is a load issue, and owners usually solve it with air helper springs. The second pattern is transmission heat. Heavy grade towing is where the 6R140 draws its recurring complaints, with over-temperature warnings on long pulls. Watch transmission temperature when you tow, and consider auxiliary cooling if your trailer and your routes push it.

Factory hardware vs. aftermarket

Ford's own 5th-wheel hitch and gooseneck kits were dealer or factory options, and both need the prep package. If your truck has the pucks, an aftermarket puck-mount hitch such as the B&W Companion OEM 5th wheel drops into the factory attachment points. If it does not, an under-bed rail kit such as the B&W Turnoverball GNRK1116 gooseneck gives you a hitch rated at 30,000 lb gross trailer weight with no welding, just a 4-inch hole in the bed. For bumper towing, the factory receiver does the job. The aftermarket adds adjustable ball mounts with the right shank and drop for your trailer, plus weight distribution where Ford's conventional rating calls for it.

What we carry

Most of the hitch hardware here comes from B&W Trailer Hitches: Tow & Stow adjustable ball mounts in Standard, Pintle and MultiPro/MultiFlex versions with 2-inch, 2.5-inch and 3-inch shanks, a triple tow ball mount, heavy-duty ball mounts, hitch balls, reducer sleeves, the WDHK4500 weight distribution hitch, the GNRK1116 Turnoverball gooseneck and the RVK3300 Companion OEM 5th-wheel hitch. Air Lift covers the leveling side with WirelessONE and WirelessAIR compressor systems, tanks with EZ Mount, a replacement on-board compressor, a heavy-duty dual load controller, 2-inch and 4-inch air spring spacers and the LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Plus stainless steel upgrade. Big Hitch Products adds adjustable pulling hitches in 2-inch and 2.5-inch sizes. You will also find a Wicked MFG shock relocation kit for trucks running a B&W hitch, Lucas Oil 5th Wheel & Slider Lube, a Bilstein B8 5162 leveling kit listed for 4WD trucks, and the HP Tuners MPVI4 interface. Shop more towing gear on our hitches page or the full Powerstroke catalog.

Fitment notes

Check three things before you order. First, look for the five pucks in the bed floor. With them you need puck-system hitches; without them you need an under-bed rail kit. Second, know your bed length. A 6.75-foot box needs a slider 5th wheel for cab clearance, and the RVK3300 here is the long-bed version, with B&W's RVK3370 slider made for short beds. Third, match the year on air spring kits. Air Lift's LoadLifter 5000 for 2017-2019 F-250 and F-350 4WD is 57399, while 57396 is for 2011-2016, and an F-150 kit such as Firestone 2582 does not fit a Super Duty. Chassis cabs, duallys and 4x2 trucks can differ, so verify by VIN or use the fitment checker on any product page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell if my Super Duty has the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Prep Package?

Look in the bed. The package adds five attachment points in the bed floor with close-out plugs, an under-bed frame crossmember and a 7-pin connector in the driver-side bed wall. If you see the pucks and the in-bed 7-pin, your truck takes puck-system hitches.

Why is my truck's gooseneck rating higher than its 5th-wheel rating?

Because the factory 5th-wheel hitch is the limit. Ford caps it at 18,000 lb on single-rear-wheel trucks and 27,500 lb on duallys, while 2019 gooseneck ratings climb as high as 35,000 lb on an F-450 Regular Cab 4x2.

My truck squats with a camper or 5th wheel. What fixes it?

Air helper springs. Sag and lost headlight aim are a load issue, not a failure. Air Lift's LoadLifter 5000 for these trucks levels up to 5,000 lb at 5 to 100 psi, and it should be paired with an onboard compressor so you can set pressure for each load.

Does the 6R140 transmission need anything for heavy towing?

Watch its temperature. Heat under heavy grade towing is the 6R140's recurring complaint, and over-temperature warnings are the symptom. Monitor transmission temperature on long pulls and consider auxiliary cooling if you tow heavy in hilly country.

What receiver size does my 2017-2019 F-250 or F-350 have?

F-250 and F-350 single-rear-wheel trucks have a 2.5-inch receiver. The F-350 SRW Crew Cab diesel on the 176-inch wheelbase and all duallys have a 3-inch receiver with a 2.5-to-3-inch sleeve reducer. Buy a ball mount with the shank that matches.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.