F150 Eco Boost Owner Question

I'm happy with my Max Tow equipped F150. Does everything I need. You will love the way it pulls especially in the mountains. Mine has 1800 payload and hauls the wife, me amd our camper just fine... over 10,000+ towing miles fine...

It depends on what you want to haul in the bed of the truck. I didn't get the HD payload and have no regrets, but I don't haul a lot of stuff in the bed of my truck. My truck has a payload of 1794 lbs. and the only time I weighed, loaded for camping (with a trailer of about 6500 lbs) I was well under on all capacities.

Now, for how it pulls: In a word, WONDERFUL! I just returned from Colorado and New Mexico and it amazes me how effortlessly it pulls hills. This trip I didn't do any of the 11,000+ passes, but we did get up over 10,400 and it was no sweat at all. The thing I really like is that so much power is available at less than 2,500 RPM. On the highway, you can just set the cruise and listen to it hum, rarely will it shift down to 4th gear.

Regarding fuel: Earlier this year, I used almost all 89 or better octane when pulling, but ended up with a tankful of 85 one time and could tell no difference. This trip I never bothered with higher octane at all, heard no pinging, had plenty of power, and fuel mileage was about the same 10 mpg average as usual. In fact, for the 150 miles or so downhill miles from Santa Fe to Tucumcari on the way home, she registered 12 mpg. I was grinning from ear to ear!

jaydub74 wrote:
I'm looking at purchasing an F150 Eco Boost with Max Tow Package (FX4).
I would like to know how many F150 owners went with the Heavy Duty Payload Package as well and whether you think I need it given our trailer.

Here are the stats on the trailer I'm pulling:
Unloaded: 6441 lbs
Loaded: 7600 lbs
Hitch: 966

Here are the stats with just the Max Tow Package:
GCWR
17,100 lbs
5617 lbs (Truck curb weight)
7600 lbs (Trailer wet weight)
-------
3885 lbs remaining

GVWR
7700 lbs (Max Tow Package) - Goes to 8200 with the Heavy Duty Payload Package)
5617 lbs (Truck curb weight)
1140 lbs (Max Hitch Weight - 15%)
500 lbs (Truck cargo and persons)
-------
445 lbs remaining

I also wouldn't mind hearing a few opinions about how the Eco Boost pulls up mountains and high grade hills. Whats the overall opinion now that this engine has been around for a few years. Thanks

It looks like you will need the maximum payload capacity in order to hitch up to the trailer, then have some passengers and other cargo. Also consider that you might have this truck for 10 years, and might get a larger trailer in that timeframe.. .

Go for the heavy duty option now, it will only cost you about $1,000 more to get it right now, rather than trading up to another truck in a couple of years. . . So it might take another few weeks to have a 2015 show up, but who cares, you will have the truck a long time!

To tow, it is recommended that you use 91 octane gas. Running lower octane gas will not provide maximum MPG or horsepower, as the engine controls will make it run rich or retard the timing to make up for poor fuel quality. .

Fred.

Not an owner, but if I was ordering an F150 with Max tow, I would also get the Max payload!! You get better (E rated tires), and 7 lug wheels!