2012 Ford F-250 Towing Capacity

Find out how much the 2012 Ford F-250 can pull, across 28 different trims.

In this article, we'll give you important data and details about the 2012 Ford F-250, including the towing capacity, engine size, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), curb weight, payload capacity, horsepower, torque, axle ratio, drive type, transmission type, and more.

Select a trim from the list below to view the towing capacity data. The 2012 Ford F-250 trims have been ordered by towing capacity, from the highest value of 12,500 lbs to the lowest value of 12,000 lbs.

If you need any help explaining the terms used in the tables below, you can find a glossary of terms at the bottom of this article.

Lariat 4x2 SD Super Cab 6.75 ft. box 142 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,184
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,816
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 142.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,250
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
Lariat 4x2 SD Super Cab 8 ft. box 158 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,283
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,717
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 158.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x4 SD Regular Cab 8 ft. box 137 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,340
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,660
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 137.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x4 SD Regular Cab 8 ft. box 137 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,340
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,660
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 137.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x2 SD Super Cab 8 ft. box 158 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,283
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,717
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 158.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x2 SD Regular Cab 8 ft. box 137 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 5,886
Payload Capacity (lbs) 4,114
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 137.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 3,950
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,290
XLT 4x2 SD Super Cab 6.75 ft. box 142 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,184
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,816
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 142.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,250
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x2 SD Regular Cab 8 ft. box 137 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 5,886
Payload Capacity (lbs) 4,114
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 137.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 3,950
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,290
XL 4x2 SD Super Cab 6.75 ft. box 142 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,184
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,816
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 142.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,250
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x2 SD Super Cab 8 ft. box 158 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,500
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,283
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,717
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 158.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x2 SD Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,400
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,504
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,496
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 172.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,550
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x2 SD Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 156 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,400
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,398
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,602
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 156.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x2 SD Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,400
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,504
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,496
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 172.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,550
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x2 SD Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 156 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,400
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,398
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,602
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 156.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
Lariat 4x2 SD Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 156 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,400
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,398
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,602
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 156.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,400
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
Lariat 4x2 SD Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,400
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,504
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,496
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 172.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,550
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x4 SD Super Cab 8 ft. box 158 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,200
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,701
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,299
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 158.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x4 SD Super Cab 6.75 ft. box 142 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,200
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,598
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,402
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 142.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x4 SD Super Cab 8 ft. box 158 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,200
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,701
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,299
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 158.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x4 SD Super Cab 6.75 ft. box 142 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,200
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,598
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,402
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 142.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
Lariat 4x4 SD Super Cab 8 ft. box 158 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,200
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,701
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,299
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 158.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
Lariat 4x4 SD Super Cab 6.75 ft. box 142 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,200
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,598
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,402
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 142.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x4 SD Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,000
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,914
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,086
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 172.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 5,200
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XL 4x4 SD Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 156 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,000
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,787
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,213
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 156.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x4 SD Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 156 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,000
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,787
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,213
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 156.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
XLT 4x4 SD Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,000
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,914
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,086
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 172.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 5,200
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
Lariat 4x4 SD Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,000
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,914
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,086
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 172.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 5,200
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100
Lariat 4x4 SD Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 156 in. WB SRW
Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) 12,000
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lbs) 10,000
Curb Weight (lbs) 6,787
Payload Capacity (lbs) 3,213
Horsepower (hp) 385
Torque (lb-ft) 405
Axle Ratio 3.73
Drive Type
Transmission Type
Turbocharger
Wheelbase 156.00
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 4,800
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) (lbs) 6,100

2012 Ford F-250 Towing Capacity Terms

In the tables above, you'll see a lot of terms that you may not be familiar with. Here's a quick rundown of what they each mean and why each of them is important when it comes to towing capacity.

Maximum Towing Capacity

This is the maximum weight that the 2012 Ford F-250 can tow.

If you are driving at altitudes above 3,280ft (or 1,000m) of sea level, the weight you can tow needs to be reduced by about 10% for every additional 3,280ft (or 1,000m) of altitude. This is because the air is thinner at higher altitudes, which means that the engine has to work harder to pull the same weight.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

The GVWR the maximum weight of the 2012 Ford F-250 when fully loaded. This includes the weight of the vehicle, passengers, cargo, and any accessories or equipment that you have added to the vehicle.

You can find this number in the vehicle owner's manual, or on a sticker on the driver's side door jamb.

Curb Weight

The curb weight of the Ford F-250 is the weight of the vehicle with a full tank of gas, but with no passengers or cargo and the standard options that come with the vehicle.

Payload Capacity

The term "payload" is the weight of all the things that you put in the vehicle, including passengers, cargo, and any accessories or equipment that you have added. It can be increased by upgrading certain options, for example:

  • Better suspension springs
  • Coil-over shock absorbers
  • A longer truck bed
  • Attached a trailer to the vehicle
  • Adding bed rails

Horsepower

Horsepower is a measure of the power of the engine. It is the amount of work that the engine can do in a given amount of time.

In simple terms, the more horsepower a vehicle has, the more weight it can pull.

Torque

Measured in lb-ft, torque is the amount of force that the engine can apply to the wheels. This is an important metric for towing because better torque means you can pull weight at lower RPMs, which is better for the engine.

Axle Ratio

The axle ratio is the ratio of the number of turns of the drive shaft for every one turn of the wheels. The higher the axle ratio, the more torque is applied to the wheels.

Drive Type

The drive type is the type of transmission that the 2012 Ford F-250 has. There are three main types:

  • Front-wheel drive (FWD)
  • Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
  • All-wheel drive (AWD)

All-wheel drive is the best type of drive type for towing because it distributes the weight of the vehicle evenly across all four wheels. Rear-wheel drive is also acceptable, but front-wheel drive is not recommended because they aren't able to pull as much weight.

Transmission Type

Transmission usually means manual or automatic. Some vehicles have a towing mode that will protect the transmission from damage when towing heavy loads - which can cause overheating and failure.

Turbocharger

A turbocharger is a device that forces more air into the engine, which increases the amount of fuel that can be burned. This increases the amount of power that the engine can produce.

If your vehicle has a turbocharger, it will be able to tow more weight than a vehicle without one.

Wheelbase

The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear wheels. The longer the wheelbase, the more weight the vehicle can tow.

Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)

The front GAWR is the maximum weight that the front axle can support. This is usually a number that is stamped on the axle itself.

Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)

The rear GAWR is the maximum weight that the rear axle can support. This is usually a number that is stamped on the axle itself.

More Ford F-250 Vehicles by Year

The list below will let you compare the 2012 Ford F-250 towing capacity to previous years.