2018 Ford Flex SEL Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
4,500 lbs
Safe limit: 3,600 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
—
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
17.8 mpg
16 city / 22 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2018 Ford Flex SEL is rated to tow up to 4,500 lbs powered by the 3.5L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 3,600 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. Always verify your door-sticker payload rating, as it's often the real limiting factor once passengers, gear, and tongue weight are factored in. With this setup, you're looking at pop-up campers and smaller travel trailers.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class II hitch class and 4,500 lb tow rating
Class II 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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Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for brake lights and signals on lighter trailers.
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Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
4,637 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
3.5L
Horsepower
287 HP @ 6500 rpm
Torque
254 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
Drive Type
All Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Regular unleaded
Fuel Tank
18.6 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City16 mpg
Highway22 mpg
Combined18 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 43 owners)17.8 mpg
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Dimensions
Overall Length201.8"
Overall Width75.9"
Height68.0"
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 3,600 lbs. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Travel Trailers
Bumper Pull
1,100 – 89,950 lbs
Limited
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Out of Range
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Out of Range
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2018 Ford Flex Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Ford Flex Limited FWD | 4,500 lbs | 18.4 mpg | View → |
| 2019 Ford Flex Limited AWD | 4,500 lbs | 18.4 mpg | View → |
| 2019 Ford Flex Limited AWD | 4,500 lbs | 18.4 mpg | View → |
| 2019 Ford Flex SE FWD | 4,500 lbs | 18.4 mpg | View → |
| 2019 Ford Flex SEL FWD | 4,500 lbs | 18.4 mpg | View → |
| 2019 Ford Flex SEL AWD | 4,500 lbs | 18.4 mpg | View → |
| 2018 Ford Flex Limited FWD | 4,500 lbs | 17.8 mpg | View → |
| 2018 Ford Flex Limited AWD | 4,500 lbs | 17.8 mpg | View → |
| 2018 Ford Flex Limited AWD | 4,500 lbs | 17.8 mpg | View → |
| 2018 Ford Flex SE FWD | 4,500 lbs | 17.8 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2018 Ford Flex SEL?
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The 2018 Ford Flex SEL is rated at 4,500 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 3,600 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 0 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 2018 Ford Flex SEL, you need a Class II receiver hitch rated for 4,500 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 3,600 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at pop-up campers and smaller travel trailers. 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 0 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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