Anyone towing with an 2011+ ecoboost?

[Ncm86]

After searching the specs, I have realized the f150 have more payload capacity with the new ecoboost then the 5.0 engines. I was wondering for those that tow with it how the experience been? Any issues?

[bigcitypopo]

Ncm86 wrote:
What's the payload on that truck?

bigcitypopo wrote:
Mine pulls great. No issues

1505

[brulaz]

Fordlover wrote:

...
Seems like the truck is rated appropropriately then. You are at or slightly over some of the trucks weight limits/ratings and the truck is performing like it. Impressive. I'm surprised you didn't have any noticable brake fade in extreme circumstances like that.

Well, I started using the trailer's brakes manually to give the truck brakes a rest, so maybe that helped. That was the idea at least.

The truck with EcoBoost is rated to pull a much heavier trailer (11300# and GCWR of 16900#). But that assumes the trailer stops itself. Trouble is, the trailer brakes heat up too and throw off the brake controller.

I had just re-adjusted my trailer brakes before this trip and could lock them up when warm at the 8/10 brake controller setting. So 7.5/10 seemed about right for normal driving and emergency stopping.

But about half way down that hill, I found that with gradual application, the trailer brakes would never lock up, even when set up to 9.5/10 and probably 10/10, as they were hot by then and the drums had expanded. So the truck brakes probably had been doing more than their share up to then, and that's when we started to smell them.

The trailer axles are dual 5200# with 12" drum brakes. And they were only carrying about 6400# total. So I don't think they were overloaded. But I do think I should have started using them manually earlier on the hill, and should have reset the brake controller to 10/10 right at the top.

Another mistake I made was initially thinking that Tow/Haul mode would control the truck's speed. I quickly found out that putting it in Manual 2nd was the only way we would make it down the hill. Even then, the brakes were necessary because of the weak engine braking.

Anyway, don't think I would try that hill with an 11,300# trailer, despite the rating.

[rrupert]

If you haven't heard about the Ecoboost engine test you need to watch this video. The F150 looks just like mine, I better go look at the engine number. :B

Ecoboost Torture Test

[Fordlover]

brulaz wrote:

ib516 wrote:

...
Great info.

Hey thanks. Funny I'm just now going through your thread "Jumping off the Diesel Bandwagon - UPDATED". It's a long one! Lots of good info there.

Here's a little more about the Eco's Engine Braking. Never had an issue over the last 3 years and 62,000km (half of that towing), out west in the Rockies, down in Appalachia. Worked just fine in Tow/haul mode.

Until just a few weeks ago when I tried going down the West side of the Newfound Gap road in Great Smokey Mountains N.Park, Tennessee. Went up it just fine last fall, lots of fun, many 20mph hair-pin turns, even a 20mph loop-dee-loop where you bridge over your own path (Dunno the average slope but it's steep).

But coming down this Spring in 2nd gear was tough on the brakes. The Eco could use another gear between first and 2nd to help out. First was too low and 2nd too high. So the brakes got used a lot, and I started using the trailer's hand brake controller to save the truck's brakes. Never felt too much fade, but you could smell it.

Seems like the truck is rated appropropriately then. You are at or slightly over some of the trucks weight limits/ratings and the truck is performing like it. Impressive. I'm surprised you didn't have any noticable brake fade in extreme circumstances like that.

[2112]

Close to 40K on the clock and 7K towing heavy without an issue.
I do agree engine braking is somewhat weak though.

The Timbens helped with the soft suspension.

[Ncm86]

What's the payload on that truck?

bigcitypopo wrote:
Mine pulls great. No issues

[bigcitypopo]

Mine pulls great. No issues

[Ncm86]

Sounds like everyone experience is pretty much problem free, which is great because besides towing 2-3 times a year, it will be my DD. Now I just wonder how reliability will be on these engines when everyone passes 150k on mileage.

[Kevin_O_]

Coming up on 3yrs and 40,000 miles with my 2011 Eco. I haven't had a single problem since day one. It tows my 32.5' 7500lb trailer without any issues. I'm amazed at how well it tows up steep grades at 2200rpms! By far the best performing and most comfortable driving truck I've ever owned!

[milo]

Ya'at'ééh... yes ... see sig :B

[brulaz]

ib516 wrote:

...
Great info.

Hey thanks. Funny I'm just now going through your thread "Jumping off the Diesel Bandwagon - UPDATED". It's a long one! Lots of good info there.

Here's a little more about the Eco's Engine Braking. Never had an issue over the last 3 years and 62,000km (half of that towing), out west in the Rockies, down in Appalachia. Worked just fine in Tow/haul mode.

Until just a few weeks ago when I tried going down the West side of the Newfound Gap road in Great Smokey Mountains N.Park, Tennessee. Went up it just fine last fall, lots of fun, many 20mph hair-pin turns, even a 20mph loop-dee-loop where you bridge over your own path (Dunno the average slope but it's steep).

But coming down this Spring in 2nd gear was tough on the brakes. The Eco could use another gear between first and 2nd to help out. First was too low and 2nd too high. So the brakes got used a lot, and I started using the trailer's hand brake controller to save the truck's brakes. Never felt too much fade, but you could smell it.

[tragusa3]

My GVWR is 7700, not the 7650 stated earlier. That may have changed a hair over model years.

[ib516]

brulaz wrote:
Have the Eco in an FX2 with over 2000# payload (yellow sticker. The catalogue payload is the max not what the actual truck will have).

I pull a 7500# trailer and am well within the GCWR and the truck's Trailer Tow capacity. But at the last CAT scale weighing, I was close to the receiver rating (1130# vs 1150#), 3% over my rear GAWR (4180# vs 4050#, but think I'm under now that I've tightened up the WDH and moved stuff to the rear of the trailer), and ~2% under my GVWR (7300# vs 7500#). So right at the truck's haulage limits.

Love the truck, love the Eco's low-end torque when towing, and good mileage when not.

Two complaints though:

The suspension is too soft when the truck is fully loaded to 7500#. Without the beefed up suspension of the HD Payload option these trucks are really just commuter, occasional tow trucks. If you fully load it a lot, get the better suspension in the HD Payload option (and you'll get a higher rear GAWR as well with the 7 lug axle/wheels).

The 3.5L Eco has lots of low end torque to get you up those hills, but not a lot of Engine Braking to help get you down. The Tow/Haul tranny normally works well with auto-downshifting but on extremely steep 20-35mph descents, you are better off putting it manually in 2nd and setting your trailer brake controller to its max. This type of hill is rare though. EDIT: suspect this is one reason why the ECO 3.5L is not found in the F250.

Great info.

[brulaz]

Have the Eco in an FX2 with over 2000# payload (yellow sticker. The catalogue payload is the max not what the actual truck will have).

I pull a 7500# trailer and am well within the GCWR and the truck's Trailer Tow capacity. But at the last CAT scale weighing, I was close to the receiver rating (1130# vs 1150#), 3% over my rear GAWR (4180# vs 4050#, but think I'm under now that I've tightened up the WDH and moved stuff to the rear of the trailer), and ~2% under my GVWR (7300# vs 7500#). So right at the truck's haulage limits.

Love the truck, love the Eco's low-end torque when towing, and good mileage when not.

Two complaints though:

The suspension is too soft when the truck is fully loaded to 7500#. Without the beefed up suspension of the HD Payload option these trucks are really just commuter, occasional tow trucks. If you fully load it a lot, get the better suspension in the HD Payload option (and you'll get a higher rear GAWR as well with the 7 lug axle/wheels).

The 3.5L Eco has lots of low end torque to get you up those hills, but not a lot of Engine Braking to help get you down. The Tow/Haul tranny normally works well with auto-downshifting but on extremely steep 20-35mph descents, you are better off putting it manually in 2nd and setting your trailer brake controller to its max. This type of hill is rare though. EDIT: suspect this is one reason why the ECO 3.5L is not found in the F250.