hey guys, I'm in the market for a new f-150 STX and wanted to pick your brains for any info. about the 3.5L turbo. I currently own a 2013 STX 4x4 with the 5.0L and haul a 29'(grey wolf 22 RR UVW-5,057# GVWR-7,686#) toy hauler with an 850# streetglide in it on occasion. I live in eastern ohio and travel to the west Virginia mountains, florida, Maryland and the blue ridge mts. I have a 2 week loop planed next year out west to Sturgis, through the bighorns to beartooth highway, Yellowstone, the tetons and Colorado, to ride pike's peak. I've never had a problem towing my rig with the 5.0L through the smaller mountains in the eastern U.S. but wonder if anyone has experience with the 3.5L in an f-150 towing through the real mountains out west? I will only need to scale the bighorns to get from S.D. to Montana, all other mountain climbing i'll be taking the bike. any input would be greatly appreciated, pinenut

The 3.5L Ecoboost will tow a lot better than the the 5.0L will especially at higher elevations. I towed 9,500 lb from Texas to Utah twice with my old 2012 and I could maintain the speed limit on every mountain road along the way. This was back when they had 6 speed transmissions and I am sure that the new 10-speed makes even better now.I also used to have a 2011 F150 5.0L 3.55 rear ratio company truck that I towed with a few times and then they gave me a 2012 3.5L 3.15 rear ratio and it towed better than 3.55 5.0L pulling the same trailer. The 5.0L would always downshift even on slight grades while the 3.15 3.5L Ecoboost was able to make enough low end power (because of the turbos) to hold 6.th on most of the same grades that would cause the the 5.0L to downshift to 6th. On the hills that the 5.0L would downshift to 4th, the 3.5L Ecoboost would be in 5th turning at much lower rpms.

I've got a 13 EB with the MaxTow and 3.73 gears. Tows my #7000 GVWR trailer just fine, but it was a change from when I towed my #5000 GVWR trailer before..I do run premium fuel now and that actually made a difference. I've done some other suspension mods just to make the towing experience better for me. Installed some Bilstein 5100 shocks, Hellwig overload springs and some PowerStop Z36 brake rotors and pads.Engine wise, it's all stock. The manual suggests running premium fuel when towing and I didn't do that with the #5000 trailer. Didn't run it on the first tow with the #7000 trailer and it was a dog... Next trip, ran a couple of tanks of premium before towing and it was back to the same performance as the old #5000 trailer.. Been running it ever since.Anyway, the new 3.5's are a different gen from mine, and the trucks are different too, but in the end there is "ECO" mode for these things and there is "BOOST" mode.. The two won't mix however.. You either have "ECO" or you have "BOOST".. In boost mode, it'll still only get 8-10 mpgs towing..Good luck! Mitch

Umm, it’ll absolutely destroy an old 5.0 6 speed towing. Destroy. Look at the numbers and then add in altitude loss for na engines. Not even a fair fight between the two, especially at altitude.

Isn’t the F150 due for a major “redo?” Otherwise, if you’re within max towing and payload, go for it.

I used my 2014 3.5 Eco with Max-Tow to tow the trailer in my signature all over the Canadian Rockies with no problems.

towing ability of the f-150 3.5L | Good Sam Community

JeremyFr
Explorer
Jun 21, 2020
The 3.5 EB absolutely dominates in the mountains. I can't tell you how many NA half tons I pass on hills and at altitude doing 65+ in my EB while they're struggling. Then you can add the Livernois tune's (best $600 I ever spent) and outside of a diesel there is not a **** thing that'll touch the 3.5 for towing.
Groover
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2020
I pull close to 12K with mine and am never short for power. Traction sometimes, but not power. And that is using the cheapest gas that I can find. The 4wd auto setting that comes with Lariet and above comes in handy for the traction issues.

I bought mine with load range C tires and max tow package. I have added 2K airbags and Rancho 9000 shocks. I made sure that the load distributing hitch is set up properly and that the trailer brakes work well and it tows solidly.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 19, 2020
^Yeah if power is the main goal and you’re only going with a gasser, the Ecoboost will smoke the 6.2 and 7.3 at altitude as well.
7.3 I’d say will almost keep up though. With 4.30s it might.
blt2ski
Moderator
Jun 19, 2020
kellem wrote:
Your almost towing 8K....time for a F250 for the big hills.

Because the 3.5 has a supercharger, it would do as well or better than a 25 series gas option. Obviously not as well as a diesel.
Still, OP does not NEED a 25 series, unless he is like me, had 4 adult sized teens, parents, hitch wieght etc out 3000 lb onto the truck. Then yes you would need a 25 or 35 sw rig. But a couple that wieghs in the 500-600 lb range including winter clothes, purse, travel gear, snacks in cab, plus 1000 lb, max 1200 lbs of hitch wieght, you are with in capacities of a heavier suspension 15 series truck.
With the 3.5 iirc having 350-400 ponies, don't think HP is an issue. With 10 gears in transmission, no issues here either.

Marty
kellem
Explorer
Jun 19, 2020
Your almost towing 8K....time for a F250 for the big hills.
APT
Explorer
Jun 18, 2020
If you think the current truck performed well for you, a newer Ecoboost with 10-spd transmission will be even better especially at higher elevations.
bikendan
Explorer
Jun 18, 2020
pinenut wrote:
hey guys, I'm in the market for a new f-150 STX and wanted to pick your brains for any info. about the 3.5L turbo. I currently own a 2013 STX 4x4 with the 5.0L and haul a 29'(grey wolf 22 RR UVW-5,057# GVWR-7,686#) toy hauler with an 850# streetglide in it on occasion. I live in eastern ohio and travel to the west Virginia mountains, florida, Maryland and the blue ridge mts. I have a 2 week loop planed next year out west to Sturgis, through the bighorns to beartooth highway, Yellowstone, the tetons and Colorado, to ride pike's peak. I've never had a problem towing my rig with the 5.0L through the smaller mountains in the eastern U.S. but wonder if anyone has experience with the 3.5L in an f-150 towing through the real mountains out west? I will only need to scale the bighorns to get from S.D. to Montana, all other mountain climbing i'll be taking the bike. any input would be greatly appreciated, pinenut

I've been towing my 26ft 6500lbs TT with my 2014 3.5 Ecoboost SCREW 4x4, through the Cascades, Siskiyous and Sierras for the past 4 years. Tows like a dream and at altitude, like a diesel. i have the Max Tow package and 3.73 rear end. Payload of 1828lbs.
souraider
Explorer
Jun 17, 2020
I used my 2014 3.5 Eco with Max-Tow to tow the trailer in my signature all over the Canadian Rockies with no problems.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2020
Isn’t the F150 due for a major “redo?” Otherwise, if you’re within max towing and payload, go for it.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 17, 2020
Umm, it’ll absolutely destroy an old 5.0 6 speed towing. Destroy.
Look at the numbers and then add in altitude loss for na engines. Not even a fair fight between the two, especially at altitude.

Forum Discussion

towing ability of the f-150 3.5L

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Crushed F-150

2012 F-150 tow rating

F-150 HDPP?

My 2019 Ford F 150 towing

towing a f-150 wheels down