Advisability and Experience with F-150 3.5L w/EcoBoost

[fatheraccountan]

It was suggested that I start a new thread regarding the following question:

We are relatively new to RVing. We have a 30' Sunset Trails ultra-light (6,400#) empty. We've been using our son-in-law's Tundra but we're seriously considering a F-150 3.5L with Ecoboost. The ones we're looking at have a 3:43 rear end. It sounds like this truck should handle our trailer. We're kind of resigned to getting lousy mileage when towing but would like to get the best we can the other 95% of the time. Any thoughts?

To clarify, the 6,400# is dry weight, not scale weight under tow. Therefore, the total weight of the trailer under tow is probably in the 8K range.
Still: same question, second verse - how do you think a F-150 3.5L with EcoBoost will do?

[Tystevens]

As others have mentioned, if you liked the way the Tundra did the job, you will probably be more than happy with the F150 Ecoboost. It will probably tow a gear or 2 lower than most naturally aspirated V8s, and the chassis should handle the weight about the same.

I would also recommend finding a max tow truck. Max payload is probably not necessary, but of course, wouldn't hurt.

[APT]

The 3.5L Ecoboost will tow similarly to the Tundra. Maybe a little lower engine speed, fewer downshifts. 7500-8k loaded means 1000 pounds of TW. Make sure any vehicle you find has the payload to handle whomever will be riding in the truck when towing, some gear in the bed, and the 1000 pound TW. Half ton payloads range from under 800 pounds to over 3000 pounds. Most crew cab half tons are in the 1300-1500 pound range. Take a look at this sticker on each truck's driver's door or door jam for as equipped payload as you shop. Make sure the number where mine says 2051 is enough for your needs.

[Fordlover]

fatheraccountant wrote:
The ones we're looking at have a 3:43 rear end.

Sounds like you are getting bad information. As has been said before, Ford doesn't offer a 3.4X gear for the F-150. Most eco's sold around here are 3.55's with a few 3.31 and 3.73's thrown in. I agree with what others are saying, get the Max Tow package. This will be hard to find since few dealers stock the max tow option, but it's a great package when towing heavy like you will be. If you are happy with the performance of the Tundra, then I expect you will be very pleased with how the Ecoboost moves the trailer.

[brulaz]

Like others are saying, you will want at least the MaxTow option with the 3.73 rear end. The HD Payload option would add more payload and increase the rear GAWR so would be even better.

Last time I weighed my trailer it was 7500# but had over 15% tongue weight. I was 20# under the hitch receiver rating of 1150#, 200# under the truck's GVWR (7500#), but 130# over the rear GAWR (4050#). By tightening up the WDH and moving some stuff around, I believe we're now under all ratings, but haven't weighed to be sure.

So, depending upon the trailer's loaded tongue weight you could well will be close to the truck ratings or over.

With this much load, I found the suspension too soft and upgraded it and added LT tires. The ride now is acceptable. With the HD payload option, these mods are already done for you. If I had known about it I would probably have ordered a truck with the HD Payload option.

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

eluwak wrote:
I can't remember what the receiver rating is on these trucks, but you could be approaching 1200 lbs TW.

On my 2012 it is 1150 with a weight distribution hitch.

[CND_SuperCrew]

Here is what I can offer you,
Find a truck with the 3:73 gears first. My truck is a 7700GVWR and offered me 1700# payload in a SuperCrew with the max tow pkg. The same truck with the 8200 GVWR will come with a 6.5' bed and ~2100# payload, max tow & HD pkg If you go to the short box, a truck with a GVWR of 7650 will offer you probably around 1900# payload, pending options...

[eluwak]

I had ~1850 lbs payload in my SCrew 4x4 Max-Tow... I think you'll do fine if you found a truck with that on it (unless you're going to haul a bunch of stuff in the truck too). I can't remember what the receiver rating is on these trucks, but you could be approaching 1200 lbs TW.

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

I believe Max Tow packages with a crew cab come in with a payload of around 1700. If you have an 8000 lb trailer and put 12.5% on the toungue that will be 1000 leaving you 700 for driver, passengers and gear. If you need more then you will want to look at Max payload which gives you another 500 lbs of payload. When truck shopping look at the sticker on the driver side door jamb. That will list the actual payload number for that rig based on the package and options.

Good luck to you,
Stu

[MitchF150]

That's one great Son-in-Law to let you tow your #6400 dry weight TT with his Tundra! 😉

I'm sure it's towing it just fine, but I'm also sure it's over one or more of it's other weight ratings (either GVWR, GAWR or payload)...

My wife's only driven my new F150 once! ha, ha! 🙂

Anyway, I saw your posts on the other Ecoboost thread and can only say if you want to tow that kind of weight, get the 3.73 gears at least because you'll need the Max Tow package at the very least if you want any hope of staying under payload, GVWR ratings on the truck..

The Eco will have no problem towing the weight.. It's how much tongue weight you have and how much payload and rear axle weight you have left.

I tow a #5000 GVWR TT (#3400 DRY) and I'm within #400 of the rear axle rating and #600 of the GVWR of my Max Tow F150 with #7700 GVWR and #4050 rear GAWR..

I have a #11,300 "tow rating"... ha, ha!

Anyway, I have the 3.73 gears and get 17 mpg on my daily commute and have gotten 21 mpg on straight hwy runs going 65 mph.

There are many folks that tow 30+ foot, #8000+ lb travel trailers with their NON max tow Ecoboost F150's and are happy... I can certainly feel my #5000, 22' TT behind mine and it's a great tow to be sure... I'll tow it anyplace, anytime..

Can you tow your TT with an Ecoboost? Sure you can... Don't expect any better mpg's doing it than the Tundra, but you should be better mpg with the Eco not towing as long as you stay out of the turbos.. It's pretty hard to NOT enjoy the fun of the power of them, but it'll cost you in mpg's.. 🙂

Good luck!

Mitch

[shadows4]

You will be fine with the MaxTow and Max Payload packages. Good luck, John

[ib516]

If you tow a lot, get the 3.73. If you only tow a few times a year, 3.55 will do. JMHO.

[Terryallan]

fatheraccountant wrote:
It was suggested that I start a new thread regarding the following question:

We are relatively new to RVing. We have a 30' Sunset Trails ultra-light (6,400#) empty. We've been using our son-in-law's Tundra but we're seriously considering a F-150 3.5L with Ecoboost. The ones we're looking at have a 3:43 rear end. It sounds like this truck should handle our trailer. We're kind of resigned to getting lousy mileage when towing but would like to get the best we can the other 95% of the time. Any thoughts?

To clarify, the 6,400# is dry weight, not scale weight under tow. Therefore, the total weight of the trailer under tow is probably in the 8K range.
Still: same question, second verse - how do you think a F-150 3.5L with EcoBoost will do?

You may want to look again at the truck. Ford does NOT offer a 3.42 rear gear in their trucks. they offer 3.15, 3.31, 3.55, 4.10, and 3.73.
Tow capacity for F150 Ecoboosts range from 7300lbs to 11,300lbs, depending on the rear gear, AND the GVWR of the truck. You will need a pretty high GVWR to get over 8000lb tow capacity. you will need at least a 14000LB GCVWR to get over 8000lb tow cap. And that will only get you 400 to 800 over depending on the truck