I am new to RV-ing and would like some candid advice from some of you experienced RV-ers.I am in the TV and TT research stage.I plan to do some long distance towing. For example, Chattanooga, TN, to the Canadian Rockies and back (5000 plus miles). There will only be my wife and me, so we are thinking that we want a smaller ultralite TT (<= 24 feet).I plan to tow with a Ford F-150 4x4 either with the 5.0L v8 or the v6 Eco/Boost. I am undecided at this point.If I understand Ford's towing charts correctly, the F150 with the 5.0L V8 and a 3.55 rear-end has a maximum loaded trailer weight for towing of 7700 lbs. I have seen a recommendation that one not exceed 80% of that weight, which is 6160 lbs. I have not checked the same stats on the v6 eco/boost.I would like to keep my TT as light as possible because I would rather be over-powered than under-powered. Consequently, I am focusing my attention on Ultralite TT's whose dry weight is in the range 3000 lbs to 4000 lbs. with a slide-out.What experiences and advice can you give me?

Eco- thingy numbers vary all over the place. With that motor just don't expect any better towing fuel economy than a much more capable truck with a diesel motor. Unloaded they can achieve decent numbers. Met up with my brother last summer, He had his eco-boost pulling a Jayco untralight around 17 feet. He mentioned that he got 10.5 from home to where we were. WOW I says, that's no better than I get with my Cummins dually pulling 13,500 pound fiver. HE goes silent after that. It will probably be better than the 5.0L Furd though. HAve you considered the new Dodge 1500 with a Cummins and 8 speed auto? or even the GM twins with the 5.3l?

donn0128 wrote:Eco- thingy numbers vary all over the place. With that motor just don't expect any better towing fuel economy than a much more capable truck with a diesel motor. Unloaded they can achieve decent numbers. Met up with my brother last summer, He had his eco-boost pulling a Jayco untralight around 17 feet. He mentioned that he got 10.5 from home to where we were. WOW I says, that's no better than I get with my Cummins dually pulling 13,500 pound fiver. HE goes silent after that. It will probably be better than the 5.0L Furd though. HAve you considered the new Dodge 1500 with a Cummins and 8 speed auto? or even the GM twins with the 5.3l?There is a big difference in purchase price between a 1/2 ton eco-boost and a 3/4 ton diesel pickup. For what he is looking at a 3/4 ton diesel would be overkill. I'm not knocking them I'm just saying that if you use your truck like a car when not towing and you want to pull a smaller trailer the 3/4 ton diesel is over kill. To the OP. You need to talk to a reputable pickup dealer that is use to selling tow vehicles, tell him what you want to do, and hope he points you in the right direction. Ask around and see which dealer in your area has a good reputation and which ones are bad.

I can't tell you about towing but I can tell you about lack of MPG's. I borrowed a friend of mine's F150 Eco-Boost and went on a 400 mile ride. 95% was the interstate. I had all I could do to get 16.5mpg empty. I have driven that same route many times with my DRW Duramax and get 18-19mpg. My point is, that if I were in your shoes I would steer clear from the Eco-Boost.

CavemanCharlie wrote:There is a big difference in purchase price between a 1/2 ton eco-boost and a 3/4 ton diesel pickup. For what he is looking at a 3/4 ton diesel would be overkill. I'm not knocking them I'm just saying that if you use your truck like a car when not towing and you want to pull a smaller trailer the 3/4 ton diesel is over kill. To the OP. You need to talk to a reputable pickup dealer that is use to selling tow vehicles, tell him what you want to do, and hope he points you in the right direction. Ask around and see which dealer in your area has a good reputation and which ones are bad.Well, that is not really true. A reasonably loaded Eco is going to set the OP back between 35 and 40K new. A decent 3/4 ton gas motor pickup is going to be nearly the same price. A really nice used Diesel pickup it is probably going to be less.

Well it always seems someone has a brother, sister, friend, next door neighbor etc......who knows or has heard something about the Eco- Boost.I have the Ford Eco and TT listed in my signature. I get approx. 10.5 MPG pulling that TT @ 65 MPH. I have not had the TT weighed, but I'm pretty sure I'm at approx. 6500lbs. Good luck on your search, and I'm sure more Eco owners will post their thoughts, and some more people who have heard things from their co-workers, brothers, uncles, nephews neighbor who one time drove a Eco and............

Max Trailer Wt. Recommendations for F-150 5L or Eco/Boost

mguay
Explorer
Dec 05, 2013
I can't tell you about towing but I can tell you about lack of MPG's. I borrowed a friend of mine's F150 Eco-Boost and went on a 400 mile ride. 95% was the interstate. I had all I could do to get 16.5mpg empty. I have driven that same route many times with my DRW Duramax and get 18-19mpg. My point is, that if I were in your shoes I would steer clear from the Eco-Boost.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Dec 05, 2013
donn0128 wrote:
Eco- thingy numbers vary all over the place. With that motor just don't expect any better towing fuel economy than a much more capable truck with a diesel motor. Unloaded they can achieve decent numbers. Met up with my brother last summer, He had his eco-boost pulling a Jayco untralight around 17 feet. He mentioned that he got 10.5 from home to where we were. WOW I says, that's no better than I get with my Cummins dually pulling 13,500 pound fiver. HE goes silent after that. It will probably be better than the 5.0L Furd though. HAve you considered the new Dodge 1500 with a Cummins and 8 speed auto? or even the GM twins with the 5.3l?

There is a big difference in purchase price between a 1/2 ton eco-boost and a 3/4 ton diesel pickup. For what he is looking at a 3/4 ton diesel would be overkill. I'm not knocking them I'm just saying that if you use your truck like a car when not towing and you want to pull a smaller trailer the 3/4 ton diesel is over kill.

To the OP. You need to talk to a reputable pickup dealer that is use to selling tow vehicles, tell him what you want to do, and hope he points you in the right direction. Ask around and see which dealer in your area has a good reputation and which ones are bad.
donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 05, 2013
Eco- thingy numbers vary all over the place. With that motor just don't expect any better towing fuel economy than a much more capable truck with a diesel motor. Unloaded they can achieve decent numbers. Met up with my brother last summer, He had his eco-boost pulling a Jayco untralight around 17 feet. He mentioned that he got 10.5 from home to where we were. WOW I says, that's no better than I get with my Cummins dually pulling 13,500 pound fiver. HE goes silent after that. It will probably be better than the 5.0L Furd though. HAve you considered the new Dodge 1500 with a Cummins and 8 speed auto? or even the GM twins with the 5.3l?

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Max Trailer Wt. Recommendations for F-150 5L or Eco/Boost

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