Towing with F150 Poweboost

[speediq99]

Hello,

Does anyone have any experience towing with a new F150 Powerboost?

We bought one recently and towed a 7000 lbs trailer in a mix of hills and flats. Plenty of power up the hill but dismal mpg. Really, really bad.

I came from a 2006 Titan and that thing did 9-10 mpg average, which was to be expected. This Powerboost does 4 mpg going up hill and barely hits 9 mpg on flat. My trip average on 300 miles wa 7.5 mpg.

Running at 2k rpms, the truck sucks gas like there is no tomorrow. We are driving 60-65mph on 60 degree weather.

The gas tank is 30g, which give us a range of 150-200 miles.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

Mike

[Groover]

philh wrote:

Boomerweps wrote:
Powerboost is the only F150 with a 30 gallon gas tank. That’s it’s only gas tank option. Battery space has to come from somewhere.
Depending on the wheelbase & cab, standard tow package could have a 23 or 26 gallon tank with the other engines. HDPP & Max Tow get the 36 gallon tank non hybrid.
Bottom line: 30 gallon ain’t bad.

My 2018 has 36g tank

You have an EcoBoost, not a PowerBoost. The PowerBoost is the new for 2021 Hybrid.

[philh]

Boomerweps wrote:
Powerboost is the only F150 with a 30 gallon gas tank. That’s it’s only gas tank option. Battery space has to come from somewhere.
Depending on the wheelbase & cab, standard tow package could have a 23 or 26 gallon tank with the other engines. HDPP & Max Tow get the 36 gallon tank non hybrid.
Bottom line: 30 gallon ain’t bad.

My 2018 has 36g tank

[Me_Again]

RoyJ wrote:

Me Again wrote:
If you look at the Tesla semi, they have done a lot of aero work to make it slide through the air resistance better. So maybe HD EV pickups will do that also.

It's not the pickup truck itself, it's the modern trailers we haul these days. The tall rear section of a toy hauler is the worst possible shape for Cd.

With semis, they have the luxury of designing the tractor and trailer together. A Euro Mercedes hit 12+ mpg @ 88,000 lbs GVW, that's better than some pickups at less than half the weight.

It would be interesting to put a set of the foldout aero panels you see on the rear of some semi trailers on the back of a tow hauler. I wonder how much that would improve MPG?

I have been down on the companies that gave up rear caps for that reason. Any square corner cause more drag. I went from the 9500 flat back 5th wheel to a 12,400 one with a rear cap and mileage improved.

[RoyJ]

Me Again wrote:
If you look at the Tesla semi, they have done a lot of aero work to make it slide through the air resistance better. So maybe HD EV pickups will do that also.

It's not the pickup truck itself, it's the modern trailers we haul these days. The tall rear section of a toy hauler is the worst possible shape for Cd.

With semis, they have the luxury of designing the tractor and trailer together. A Euro Mercedes hit 12+ mpg @ 88,000 lbs GVW, that's better than some pickups at less than half the weight.

[Me_Again]

RoyJ wrote:

Lantley wrote:
The technology is amazing. Everything I read is very positive but a 250 mile towing range is a deal breaker.

That there is why us RV'ers will be the last to adopt an EV truck.

It'll be a long time before an AFFORDABLE HD EV pickup can tow a 11'+ tall toy hauler (worst aero wise), at 70 mph, for 250+ miles.

If you look at the Tesla semi, they have done a lot of aero work to make it slide through the air resistance better. So maybe HD EV pickups will do that also.

[RoyJ]

Lantley wrote:
The technology is amazing. Everything I read is very positive but a 250 mile towing range is a deal breaker.

That there is why us RV'ers will be the last to adopt an EV truck.

It'll be a long time before an AFFORDABLE HD EV pickup can tow a 11'+ tall toy hauler (worst aero wise), at 70 mph, for 250+ miles.

[Groover]

Lwiddis wrote:
New F150 Powerboosts are not known for fuel mileage when towing. Many, many reports on this issue.

Every test that I have seen so far seems to have been designed to avoid taking advantage of the regen capability of the hybrid. Accordingly, the test results are roughly what should be expected from a non-hybrid doing the same test.

My experience with my two 3.5L Ecoboost engines is that they do burn more fuel than a diesel but noticeably less than my old 460 or V10. In terms of $/mi the Ecoboost is on par with the diesel at local fuel prices.

[BurbMan]

We had a 2018 Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EB and towed a double axle U Haul trailer to Wisconsin year before last. It towed like a dream and held 70-75 easy on the interstate. But with the 18-gallon gas tank, gat stops were every 2 hours, you could almost set your watch by it.

[JIMNLIN]

You mention XX mpgs on the flats and xx in the hills.
Those must be your speedo dic numbers.
What kind of average mpgs do you get with pencil/miles/gallons used over say 3-4 tanks? How fast do you tow ??

I never worried with a single tank mpg which is nice to know but a good towing average comes over a few tanks used when towing.

[Lantley]

The technology is amazing. Everything I read is very positive but a 250 mile towing range is a deal breaker.

[Boomerweps]

Powerboost is the only F150 with a 30 gallon gas tank. That’s it’s only gas tank option. Battery space has to come from somewhere.
Depending on the wheelbase & cab, standard tow package could have a 23 or 26 gallon tank with the other engines. HDPP & Max Tow get the 36 gallon tank non hybrid.
Bottom line: 30 gallon ain’t bad.

[MitchF150]

MaxTow in my era Eco is 36 gallons. My old 97 F150 with the 5.4 only had a 26 gal tank..

I have not looked at or really have any interest in the 'electric' trucks coming out... I'm old and know I will have to do something at some point, but for now... I don't even want a 15 F150 or newer... ha, ha...

No disrespect for the millions of 15+ F150 owners.. I just like old school and compared to my old 97 F150, my 13 is miles above it... I know the new F150 are miles above my 13, but I'll run the 13 into the ground before I feel I need to get something else.. 🙂

Mitch

[Steeljag]

10 Mpg while towing is normal & average !

[Grit_dog]

So what I’m hearing is there is no magic dust in the 2021 F150 that allows it to get other worldly gas mileage? Weird....