First time towing with new Eco Boost 2000 miles

[riven1950]

We just returned last week from our first towing / camping experience with our new Eco Boost F150, 2013 4x4 3.55RE CC. Traded in my 2004 F150 4.6l on it in Dec. The difference in driving / towing comfort and not worrying about going over overpasses / high bridges is amazing. Almost forgot the TT was back there at times. Trip was to the Keys so no testing in the mountains, but I can tell it will do great. It will pull our little TT over the big bridges in Charleston, Jax. Tampa and never miss a beat. We did have some strong winds on travel days and I think that makes things a bit unpleasant no matter what you are towing with. Also went from a Supercab to CC. Loved the extra room inside but I do miss my 6.5' bed on the 04. If I were to order a new Eco I think I would opt for the longer bed.

Anyway, we traveled about 2100 miles in 3 1/2 weeks, about 1900 of it towing. First stop was my daughter's place in Jax. We camped the following places:
Fort Desoto, St Petersburg
Turtle Beach, Sarasota
John Pennekamp SP
Knights Key
Bahia Honda SP
Flamingo, Everglades
W P Franklin, COE
Wild Frontier, Ocala

We will soon post reviews of the above CGs on the rvparkreviews.com as we found other reviews there very helpful. We liked all of the CGs for different reasons and would stay there again.

The trip was pretty much problem free except:
1: I managed to jump a curb with the TT going into a business. Luckily we were going slow and there is no apparent damage. Newer tires, will keep a look out for unusual wear to be sure ( based on this sites advice)
2: We had a hell of a blow when in Flamingo when a front came through. Luckily our awning was tied down on both front corners or I am sure it would have been destroyed. Actually I told my GF that it was going anyway, but somehow it survived. Kind of scary sitting inside with the TT rocking and the awning jerking and flapping in the wind. It was raining sideways and nothing we could do. Normally we keep an eye out for such weather but the phones and wifi did not work there. One of our neighbors did lose their awning. Also, FYI I found out the next day the Park service has weather posted on their BB. Wish I had known that!!
3: A roof vent decided to fall apart on the last night camping, of course after dark. I borrowed a ladder and used good old duct tape to temp fix it. Guess I will replace both before next trip.

We had a great trip and are already looking forward to the next one. Don't have really bad winters at home but managed to miss 2 snow / ice events which we hardly ever have.

Happy travels....

[TurtleBax]

Woo Hoo. Congratulations on the trip and new truck.
Love the EcoBoost.

Best Regards,
TurtleBax

[riven1950]

I hesitated on giving mileage figures because I did not hand calculate the entire trip. I did check the computer against hand calculations on two fill ups and they were almost exactly the same. The total trip was 11.8 over 2100+ miles. 95%+ of that was towing.

Actual mileage towing per the computer was 9.0 - 12.8. The big difference was with the wind. The whole trip back North we were fighting a strong headwind and were sitting at 9-10. On the other side of the coin going South to the Keys with favorable winds we were consistently at 12.5 or even better ( 55-60mph ). We could really tell a difference starting a day out with no or little wind, could definitely tell when the wind started blowing, no so much in handling as in mpg dropping.

I estimate the overall mileage towing was 11-11.2 or so.

I must admit I took it easier the first day or so because it was new to me, but after I got used to it I did enjoy the acceleration that I NEVER saw with my 4.6l. I could pull out to pass or ease into a merging lane of traffic on the interstate and accelerate with ease, so my foot got a little happy as time went on. Put cruise on and forget it, even going up the big bridges, never drop mph and RPM less 3000. I was impressed. Wish I could report 13-14mpg but that ain't going to happen pulling a box down the road. Our TT is smaller than most but still you have that wind resistance.

I guess I should have kept better figures but I bought the truck because of the power and ease of driving without white knuckles. With the 4.6l I felt I had to gauge my entrance to almost every overpass and get a head start up a bridge. Now I can set it and forget it as they say, so mpg is what it is. I love the truck.

I did meet a couple of other Eco owners: One was pulling a little pop up type TT, I think an a-liner. He said his mileage was same towing or not ( no wind resistance ). Another couple from NY said they loved the truck but said they only got 15mpg w/o towing, which I thought strange. My first 1800 miles with no towing avg was 18.7. They did not tell me what there towing mileage was.

Anyway, hope that helps.

To tragusa3: I know you had a smile on your face like I did. Congrats on the trip and new truck!!

[skipnchar]

Congratulations on the new truck. It should handle a trailer of that size without much of an effort whether climbing bridge entrances or the Rocky MOuntains 🙂 I get right at 10 MPG towing 10,000 + pounds and it doesn't make much difference whether it's in the mountains or on the flats.
Good luck / Skip

[dennisgt60]

Sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks for the feedback.

[tragusa3]

Glad you had a good trip! I just posted on our first tow this morning too. I can attest you will be just as pleased in the mountains!

I got 9.7 mpg over a hundred miles with rolling 4-7% hills. I'm hoping you report 11 in the flat.

[trnfla]

Steeljag wrote:

Did you keep track of your towing mileage?

All that information and no MPG? :h:S

[Steeljag]

Good to hear all went well, and you had a good time! Family and I survived a similiar storm while camping in the keys in a Hybrid.

Did you keep track of your towing mileage?