anyone out there w/f150 supercrew eco 6.5 box & 3.55R towing a 5th wheel? is it possible

my boy had a 2013 f150 ecoboost with the four doors big ones short bed 3.55 gears, we put a superglide auto slider hitch and air bags in rear, and he pulled a 7900 lbs mt 5th wheel trailer with all the gear generator and fuel and what ever and it pulled like crazy. He flew by my dodge ram diesel 1999 like I was sitting still up the Sherwood grade to the sierras. the weak link seemed to be the brakes up front, got hot, and the mileage was half of my dodge.

I pulled my 10K fiver for 3 seasons and 12,000 miles with my 2011 F150 Screw with MAX TOW. Recently traded for a 2015 Super Duty. I had the Reese Sidewinder pinbox to resolve any issues with the 5'7" bed. That is a much better option vs a Superglide that weighs 300 lbs. Honestly, though, the HD Payload option is highly recommended as I was at my GCWR and 600 lbs over my rear GAWR. I added Supersprings and Bilstein HD shocks to help out.

Depends on the ratings of the truck and the weight of the trailer. Just remember with a 5er it's more about what you can carry than what you can pull. 20% of the trailers weight is carried in the bed of the truck. A 10,000# loaded 5er will put about 2,000# in the bed of the truck. When you look at a 5er add about 1,000# to the dry weight to get an idea of what the loaded weight will be.Good luck and do the math.

Ed9824v wrote:my boy had a 2013 f150 ecoboost with the four doors big ones short bed 3.55 gears, we put a superglide auto slider hitch and air bags in rear, and he pulled a 7900 lbs mt 5th wheel trailer with all the gear generator and fuel and what ever and it pulled like crazy. He flew by my dodge ram diesel 1999 like I was sitting still up the Sherwood grade to the sierras. the weak link seemed to be the brakes up front, got hot, and the mileage was half of my dodge._____________________________________________________Ed So.Calif1950 Ford F1 street rod1968 Baha Bug with 2.2 ecotec motor 170 hp, kingcoil2000 National Sea Breeze 5th wheel trailer1998.5 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins,4.10 gears,turbo,trans,injectors,oil cooler,lockers,edge EZ, 35" BFG's, air dog lift pump etc.I like quotes like this, the apples to oranges.He is pulling a 7,900# 5er past you, what model of 2000 National Sea Breeze do you have the smallest is just shy of 10,000# and the largest is 13,000#. Not that the F150 Eco-Boost is not a great combination, but the Eco-Boost is rated at 365 HP, and 420 # of torque. It should walk past a stock 98.5 24V Cummins @ 235 HP and 410 # of torque.Sea Breeze SeriesM-2290 9,940 M-2300 10,800#M-2320 11,690#M-2330 11,400#M-2331 11,950#M-2340 11,740#M-2360 12,600#M-2361 12,950#M-2370 13,100#

towing a5th wheel with f150 eco 6.5 ft box /3.55

20 Replies

thomas201
Explorer
Jun 18, 2015
Take Ford's ratings, then decrease them by 10 or 20 percent. Check for clearances, you might need a slider or one of the other options for tight turns.

By decreasing the manufacture's ratings you will have a more pleasurable driving experience. I beat a 2011 Chevy half ton to death by towing right at the limits. The oil looked like sludge, from towing from NJ to Yellowstone in 105 deg. F. I swapped it for a 2012 diesel Super Duty and my towing is now a lot more fun.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2015
What is all this hoop de laa about the brakes being weak on the eb?

I am no brake engineer but cannot see Ford putting trucks out there that have front brakes that overheat while the back ones are fine.

We sure jump to conclusions in a hurry. :h
spud1957
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
elkslayer wrote:
anyone out there w/f150 supercrew eco 6.5 box & 3.55R towing a 5th wheel? is it possible

Here is the original post. He's asking opinions from EB owners. Seems the diesel click always seem to sway the conversation to why their engines are better.

We get it. You love your engines. You feel they are far superior to any gas engine but reminding everyone all the time isn't really necessary is it?
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jun 11, 2015
spud1957 wrote:
I think this is going off track to the diesel world. Maybe we should try and keep on topic of the EcoBoost?

Not really, it is the lack of compression braking from the 3.5 l EB! Larger gas engines have the ability to use compression brake due to displacement, thus not relying on the service brakes to slow down long grades. Diesels use an exhaust brake to slow, and they are also very effective!
elkslayer
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
thanks for the info I'd like to stay under 9000#
spud1957
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
I think this is going off track to the diesel world. Maybe we should try and keep on topic of the EcoBoost?
Lantley
Nomad
Jun 11, 2015
shadows4 wrote:
joebedford wrote:
Lots of power - no brakes.

I think you forget that the trailer brakes stop the trailer and the truck brakes stop the truck. It's not the 70's any more. Modern half tons are much more capable than at any time in the past.

I agree with everything said but a modern diesel has an exhaust brake which makes an incredible difference when it come to stopping. It is a significant advantage.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jun 11, 2015
goducks10 wrote:
You shouldn't tow 5th wheels with 6cy motors. :)

Well I easly tow an 11,000#+ 5er with a 5.9 liter 6 cyl, and do just fine. It's name is Cummins, I know Cummins12v98 tows 20,000#+ with his in line 6 cyl!

on Edit; :S should pay attention to the poster! LOL!
Sport45
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2015
Ed9824v wrote:
and the other thing about my dodge and his F150 when mine is just broken it he will probably ready to get a rebuild on the motor.

It's been a long time since I saw anyone rebuild a motor in any modern vehicle. Not anything in personal use anyway.
Ed9824v
Explorer
Jun 10, 2015
yes that is true I am towing at least 2500 more lbs. with the Dodge. But the truck was pretty good for what it was. by the way my boy got a big toyhauler 3 axle and is now towing with a dually 4x4 long bed Ford F450. diesel 9 mpg never better. and the other thing about my dodge and his F150 when mine is just broken it he will probably ready to get a rebuild on the motor. Just came back from a 4000 mile trip or more with the dodge and it performed flawlessly.