F150 3.5 Ecoboost-length and weight of camper you're towing

bgradert wrote:
Mine does the same!

Mine X3 - only the 5-4 shift when coasting down. The Ford dealer will be taking a look at that next week when it goes in for inspection. My guess is a programming thing.

As to the topic, we've got a 2011 F150 Supercrew Ecoboost with Max Tow and tow our 35' Open Range 272RLS (GVWR 9900lbs) behind it. Tows fine - plenty of power and can stop just fine. It can get a little bouncy when the road sucks but overall it's a good experience.

Mine does the same!

brulaz wrote:
I had a 2011 Ecoboost... There was a jarring tranny clunk when downshifting downslope into 4th.

Mine does that too, maybe once in a 300-mile trip. Downshifting into 4th when decelerating, maybe 1 time in 100, it sounds and feels like I hit a cinder block. First couple times, wife and I got a bit concerned. Now, three years in, it's just a pause in conversation and you pick up the sentence where you left off.

2012 F150 EcoBoost Max Tow Package not HD. I pull a 32' Jayco 28DSBH with it. Roughly 7000-8000lbs loaded, depending on trip length and if I'm carrying potable water. I think it's about 6300lbs dry/unloaded including weight of dealer add-ons like power jacks, etc.

Pulls it plenty fine from New Orleans to Destin, with a few rolling hills towards the end. We even did New Orleans to Disney in one day; next time, that'll be a 2-day drive. Unhitching and setting up was the lasting I wanted to do after a 12-hour drive.

I set cruise control, with transmission in manual mode 6th gear at 69-70MPH and average 8.6MPG. At 65MPH, I get closer to 9.0MPG but not quite 9.0. At 75MPH, it plummets to 7-something MPG. I have E-rated LT tires on the trailer . Not a chance I'd go over 64.9MPH with ST tires. Totally different topic though.

I wouldn't hesitate to pull 35-36' with the truck on the usual trips the wife and I do with the kids, but weight would be something I'd pay closer attention to. When the camper is full-loaded, it pulls fine, but stopping isn't exactly sports car-esque.

Really hilly or mountainous areas, not a chance I'd attempt it with my current truck and camper setup. I'd go under 5000lbs loaded, 4000 dry and probably end up with something around 24-28', with length being less of a concern than weight. Or better yet, I'd probably not have a half-ton pickup at all.

One thing I would have done differently is get 18" rims at time I ordered the truck. 20" wheels wear very hard on the shoulders of the tread when the truck is loaded, even with tires at max load PSI as per sidewall. 20" rubber is also a little bit pricier than 18."

I use the Equalizer (I think 12k but maybe 10k) hitch and sway system, and I'm very happy with it. Keeping the two bolts that hold the sway bar sockets onto the hitch head at proper torque about every 1,500 miles makes a big difference. I can feel a lot more sway when they need to be re-torqued.

I can almost forget the TT is behind me when cruising on the interstate. Not really a good thing when changing lanes though. ;)

Weight matters a lot more than length once you're out of the parking lot.

Just bought a 2016 F150 with 3.5L Ecoboost. First tow will be next weekend, 27 foot Coachmen Catalina, 7500lb GVWR. Picture in signature is my 2010 with 4.6L V8. Will update with new truck once I get pictures.

King27 you must have been overloaded!

Towing a 27' Wind River (Outdoors RV), right at 7800 loaded with 1040 tongue weight, way below GCWR, couple hundred below GVWR and 110 below tongue weight max and close to max payload by 150 or so! Payload rating on sticker was 1796, but after weighing with me and full gas it was only 1450. 550 over curb weight that payload sticker was based on! Weigh your truck to determine actual payload! Truck is 2011 f-150 Eco w/ max tow, added timbrens in place of bump stops! First long, winding, climbing trip coming up in September! Will upgrade to 1-ton maybe next year because we'd like a 5th-wheel someday!

brulaz wrote:

AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
With truck in signature towing 28' at 8k loaded. Well within specs including receiver which is rated at 1500 <-- should read 1150.

Note this is Max Payload (LT tires, stiffer suspension, heavier axles). If you are towing relatively heavy I recommend LT tires and ensuring you are well within your payload and axle ratings per yellow sticker.

Good luck,
Stu

Is that an after-market hitch receiver?
And which one?

AFAIK the OEMs were only 1150# with WDH on the MaxTows until 2015 when they went up to 1220# (IIRC).

You are absolutely right. That is a typo - my hitch is 1150. Just went and fixed my post.

Thanks,
St

AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
With truck in signature towing 28' at 8k loaded. Well within specs including receiver which is rated at 1500.

Note this is Max Payload (LT tires, stiffer suspension, heavier axles). If you are towing relatively heavy I recommend LT tires and ensuring you are well within your payload and axle ratings per yellow sticker.

Good luck,
Stu

Is that an after-market hitch receiver?
And which one?

AFAIK the OEMs were only 1150# with WDH on the MaxTows until 2015 when they went up to 1220# (IIRC).

dragr1 wrote:

King27 wrote:
In 2012 we towed a 35' travel trailer that weighed 11,200lbs loaded to Alaska and back with a 2012 F150 Ecoboost HD 7 lug wheels. It pulled great but seemed a little light in crosswinds.

I was hoping to hear from someone towing at it's limits

This is an F150 with the HD Payload option.
Not at all a typical F150. Quite rare in fact.
But an excellent option for those towing over 7500# or so.