Ecoboost 3.5 Towing MPG Sucks

[Grodyman]

Hi all, back after a couple years without a RV......I jumped back in with a Passport Ultra Lite 153ML, GVWR of 4500lbs.

I just returned from picking up the trailer and pulled it with my 2017 F150 3.5 Ecoboost with 3.55 gears.

I was astonished to pull such a lightweight, aerodynamic trailer and the best MPG I got was 10.2 MPG. I went as low as 8.5 MPG.

I could have done better than that with my F250 with the 6.2 V8.

I am surprised how dreadful the towing MPG is with truck considering the overall weight of the truck/trailer combo is a couple thousand pounds lighter than I usually travel.

Unloaded this truck is great, but if you are on the fence about a F150 and a F250, go with the F250 gasser all the way UNLESS you drive a lot of unloaded miles.

The truck had plenty of power, no issue there, but I simply cannot imagine pulling 7K-10K lbs with this truck, the MPG's must be around 5.

My current range is about 250 miles pulling this Ultralight, given the fuel tank size. So, essentially, adding an ultralight trailer dropped my MPG nearly in half. Not what I expected.

Gman

[BarabooBob]

I drive my 2011 F150 with EcoBoost. My friend has a 2011 with 5.0 (I believe.) The trucks have very similar options and configurations, We drove the same route pulling different trailers. We then switched trailers so that I pull his trailer with my truck. He drove my truck pulling both trailers and wishes that he had my 3.5 EB in his truck. Much more driveable and better mileage while towing either trailer.

[librty02]

Why are most comparing the 3.5 to diesel fuel mileage when the Original Poster compared the 3.5 eco to the 6.2 GAS F250?!?! He stated the gas F250 would of done better mileage wise which honestly is completely false.:h

[dieseltruckdriv]

drsteve wrote:
The aerodynamics matter far more than weight, and physics applies no matter what engine you have. Bottom line is everyone gets roughly 10 mpg when towing, no matter what truck, engine, and trailer. Go fast, get 8, go slow, get maybe 11-12. It's the nature of the beast.

Exactly. Wind matters more than weight. I drove semis and double trailers for 17 years. Wind matters more than weight.

[pfidahospud]

This is an incomplete equation, so bear with me. Assuming $2.75/gallon for diesel and $2.19/gallon for regular gas (current local prices at Costco), and assuming a diesel would get 15mpg towing and the 3.5L Egoboost would get 10 mpg towing, the price per mile for fuel would be $.183/mile and $.219, respectively. That’s a difference of 3.6 cents per mile. On a 500 mile towing trip, the difference is $17.50 (cheaper for the diesel). In my humble opinion, it’s not worth the difference. I hate smelling like diesel after fueling the work rig, and the exhaust stinks. Add in the annoyance of DEF and a tougher ride when not towing, and better mpg’s for the gasser when not towing, I’m happy with the gasser.

[bogeygolfer]

Love both my 3.5 EBs. Sure, your 1-ton Cummins dually will get better towing mileage - but who the heck wants to drive that every day?

My '17 F150 rides like a Lincoln compared to a Super Duty (or any other HD truck), and I drive it every day - so, that's important to me. When I need it for the occasional towing of a trailer, it does a great job and I really don't care if I only get 10 vs. 13 MPG (especially now that gasoline is $1.80).

If I did nothing but tow with my truck - I'd have a HD diesel for sure.

[Groover]

My Ecoboost gives me about 20% better fuel economy than my V10 did pulling the same trailer, about 11 pulling a loaded 3 horse trailer, but the comments about the weight being irrelevant on the road are correct. It is the wind drag. As such, your mileage varies with wind and speed. I am very happy with both of my EcoBoost engines, sorry that you are not happy with yours but I don't think that you will find anything that gives much better results.

[mhamershock]

I average 7.5-8.5 MPG towing 8k lbs with my 2018 3.5EB, HDPP w/a 3.73 rear. I almost never tow over 65 MPH. I don't worry about it. Part of the price to haul a house with me.

Mike

[Jayco-noslide]

That does surprise me. Not significantly different than my Ford V-10 30 ft. motor home towing a Focus.

[Boomerweps]

So true. It seems that no matter the engine size and axle choice, a gasoline engine uses near the same amount of gas for power needed to do the same job, pull a brick down the road at a given speed. My little 4.0L V6 gets 9-11 MPG speed and hill dependent. Flat land, no wind, interstate 65 mph was the 11mpg. Trying to run 70s and/or hills on the interstate gets me almost down to 9mpg. Backroads with minor hills and no wind, I get 9.5 to almost 10mpg. Non towing interstate 75MPH, its near 19mpg. Daily in town I only get 12.5mpg because I have to go up and down a mountain to get anywhere.

[ib516]

That is similar to the experience I had.

2014 Ram 2500 6.4L Hemi with 4.10 gears pulling a 37' 5er that weighed about 12k (21k GCW) 7-9 mpg.

2007 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi with 3.55 gears pulling a 17' hybrid that weighs 3500#. GCW is 10.5k, 8-10 mpg.

DOUBLE the GCW, almost the same mpg.

One major factor is likely the full width on the older 17' Hybrid. Most lightweights these days are 6.5 to 7.5 feet wide where mine is 8' wide.

[noteven]

91 or higher octane gasohol should improve your fuel $ per mile when using higher power.

Ya modern engines can protect themselves from pretty much anything that resembles gasoline but why not use the technology you paid for?

[drsteve]

The aerodynamics matter far more than weight, and physics applies no matter what engine you have. Bottom line is everyone gets roughly 10 mpg when towing, no matter what truck, engine, and trailer. Go fast, get 8, go slow, get maybe 11-12. It's the nature of the beast.

[jerem0621]

It’s a gasser. You are getting gasser towing MPG.

My V10 Dually got 7-8.5 MPG towing a brick TT. So, I would have loved to have gotten your great MPG.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[ppine]

It is counter intuitive, but larger diesel trucks solve all of these limitations. A 3.5 liter engine has to work hard to pull. That generates heat and uses a lot of fuel.

The Ford 7.3 liter is not working hard at all towing 4,500 pounds. It gets much better mileage than a 3.5 liter gas engine and will last twice as long.

[BarabooBob]

My wife and I prefer to stay off of the interstates when possible. I drive on the "I" when I need to get somewhere, I then drive 65. When driving across SD, ND, WY, MT, I stay on 2 lane roads. I love pulling into the small towns and talking to the people at the gas stations and grocery stores.

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy