2012 Ford E-350 Super Duty Base Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
10,000 lbs
Safe limit: 8,000 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
3,920 lbs
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
12.1 mpg
12 city / 16 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2012 Ford E-350 Super Duty Base is rated to tow up to 10,000 lbs powered by the 5.4L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 8,000 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. The payload rating of 3,920 lbs is the number to watch closely — once you add passengers, hitch weight, and gear, it fills faster than most people expect. With this setup, you're looking at a great selection of travel trailers, toy haulers, and many fifth wheels.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class IV hitch class and 10,000 lb tow rating
Class IV Hitch Receiver
Required for towing. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
a•
Shop on Amazon
→
Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for trailer brake lights and signals.
a•
Shop on Amazon
→
Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs.
a•
Shop on Amazon
→
Weight Distribution Hitch
Strongly recommended for trailers over 6,000 lbs to level the load and reduce sway.
a•
Shop on Amazon
→
Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
5,729 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
5.4L
Horsepower
255 HP @ 4500 rpm
Torque
350 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Drive Type
Rear Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Flex-fuel (unleaded/E85)
Fuel Tank
33.0 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City12 mpg
Highway16 mpg
Combined13 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 33 owners)12.1 mpg
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Dimensions
Overall Length236.4"
Overall Width79.4"
Height83.6"
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 8,000 lbs and 3,920 lb payload. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Limited
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Out of Range
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2012 Ford E-350 Super Duty Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Ford E-350 Super Duty Base RWD | 10,000 lbs | 11.2 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Ford E-350 Super Duty Base RWD | 10,000 lbs | 11.2 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Ford E-350 Super Duty XL RWD | 10,000 lbs | 11.2 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Ford E-350 Super Duty XL RWD | 10,000 lbs | 11.2 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Ford E-350 Super Duty XLT RWD | 10,000 lbs | 11.2 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Ford E-350 Super Duty XLT RWD | 10,000 lbs | 11.2 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Ford E-350 Super Duty XL RWD | 10,000 lbs | 13.0 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Ford E-350 Super Duty XL RWD | 10,000 lbs | 13.0 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Ford E-350 Super Duty XLT RWD | 10,000 lbs | 13.0 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Ford E-350 Super Duty XLT RWD | 10,000 lbs | 13.0 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2012 Ford E-350 Super Duty Base?
+
The 2012 Ford E-350 Super Duty Base is rated at 10,000 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 8,000 lbs as your practical limit. This gives you margin for hills, headwinds, braking distance, and real-world load variance. More critically, check your payload first — the door sticker tells you your specific truck's limit, and payload may be your actual binding constraint.
What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?
+
You have 3,920 lbs of payload capacity — that's everything going IN the truck: passengers (~150 lbs each), camping gear, coolers, and critically the tongue weight from your trailer. For bumper pull trailers, tongue weight is typically 10–15% of the trailer's loaded weight. It fills up faster than most people expect, especially on longer trips.
What kind of hitch do I need?
+
For the 2012 Ford E-350 Super Duty Base, you need a Class IV receiver hitch rated for 10,000 lbs. Don't skimp here — the hitch is the critical link between truck and trailer. For fifth wheel towing, you'll need a dedicated kingpin-style fifth wheel hitch mounted in the truck bed.
What types of RVs will work with my truck?
+
With your 8,000 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at a great selection of travel trailers, toy haulers, and many fifth wheels. The compatibility chart above shows what percentage of each RV class in our database you can handle. Use the Tow Calculator to check a specific RV including gear, water, and passengers.
What does GVWR mean and why should I care?
+
GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum your truck can weigh when fully loaded with people, gear, and fuel. Your truck's GVWR is 9,500 lbs. Exceed it and you're over-stressing brakes, suspension, and tires. This is different from towing capacity — it's about what the truck itself can carry.
Leave the Noise Behind.
Reconnect Outdoors.
Our mission is to help people make well-informed RV buying decisions, so they can leave the noise and screens behind, reconnect with family, and create unforgettable memories in the great outdoors.
Free tools. No sales pressure. Just better decisions.