2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
17,500 lbs
Safe limit: 14,000 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
5,990 lbs
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
11.6 mpg
10 city / 13 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch is rated to tow up to 17,500 lbs powered by the 6.2L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 14,000 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. The payload rating of 5,990 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 V hitch class and 17,500 lb tow rating
Class V Hitch Receiver
Required for towing. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
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Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for trailer brake lights and signals.
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Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs.
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Weight Distribution Hitch
Strongly recommended for trailers over 6,000 lbs to level the load and reduce sway.
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Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
0 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
6.2L
Horsepower
316 HP @ 4179 rpm
Torque
397 lb-ft @ 4179 rpm
Transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
Drive Type
Four Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Flex-fuel (unleaded/E85)
Fuel Tank
35.0 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City10 mpg
Highway13 mpg
Combined12 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 107 owners)11.6 mpg
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Dimensions
Overall Length263.0"
Overall Width96.0"
Height79.9"
Cab Typecrew
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 14,000 lbs and 5,990 lb payload. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch 4WD | 30,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat 4WD | 30,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty Platinum 4WD | 30,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty XL 4WD | 30,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty XL RWD | 30,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty XLT 4WD | 30,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch 4WD | 25,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat 4WD | 25,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty Platinum 4WD | 25,000 lbs | — | View → |
| 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty XL 4WD | 25,000 lbs | — | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch?
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The 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch is rated at 17,500 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 14,000 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?
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You have 5,990 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?
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For the 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch, you need a Class V receiver hitch rated for 17,500 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?
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With your 14,000 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?
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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 13,300 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.
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