Who's towing with a F-150 5.0 Liter

[stevepk]

Looking at buying a new TV a 2014 F-150 5.0. Very new with this RV and our current truck a 2000 Silverado 4.8 won't handle it. We have a 96 Mallard 24 foot that is advertised at 3840 (yeah I know meaningless but that all I have just now)

Just looking for what other 5.0 owners think of there truck. What rear end also.

Thanks
Steve

[Tystevens]

Sure, but it still is a question about where do you want that HP. If you look at a graph comparing the engines, the EB is putting out 200 hp at around 2000 rpm. The (2014 -- I haven't seen a graph on the 2015) 5.0 isn't hitting 200 hp until 3000 rpm. The EB is putting out 300 hp at about 3200 rpm, and the 5.0 doesn't get there until 4500 rpm.

I don't think anyone but the most ardent EB fanboy would claim that the 5.0 can't tow w/ the EB. The 5.0 can do it; the numbers prove it. It is more of a question of the dynamics and how it feels doing the job. It seems that most of us, excepting MikeUp, prefer how the EB does it.

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

jerem0621 wrote:
TIFWIW...the 2015 5.0 has more HP than the 2015 EcoBoost. 385 HP IIRC.

You may or may not be able to deal on the 2015 yet.

Also I would get the deepest rear end possible. 3.73 would be great.

Either way, 2014 or 2015 5.0 will handle your rig with no problem.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

X2 on the 3.73 and X2 should pull your rig well. Just double check the payload numbers and look for a tranny cooler and integrated trailer brakes.

And yes, the 2015 delivers 25 more hp at 250 higher rpm (5750) while also delivering peak torque at 3850 instead of 4250.

Stu

[jerem0621]

TIFWIW...the 2015 5.0 has more HP than the 2015 EcoBoost. 385 HP IIRC.

You may or may not be able to deal on the 2015 yet.

Also I would get the deepest rear end possible. 3.73 would be great.

Either way, 2014 or 2015 5.0 will handle your rig with no problem.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Grit_dog]

5.0 will tow your trailer with ease

[brulaz]

Ry-guy wrote:
Hi there, I have a 2013 F-150 5.0 3.55 FX4. 7350 GVWR 1340 Lbs payload. Currently towing a Jayco 228 ultra lite, 4875 Lbs loaded including water. We drove from Edmonton Alberta through the Canadian Rockies including going both directions on the Cocquihalla highway in British Columbia (8% grade on one stretch for several kilometers). Total mileage for that trip was just over 3300 kilometers. We have myself, The wife and our three kids. With our bikes in the box we were 300 Lbs over the GVWR and 900 Lbs short of the GCWR. For the trip the truck towed the trailer effortlessly. Other that a couple of stretches on the higher grades the truck drove in 5th gear at 2100 RPM. On higher grades the truck would drop to 4th and sometimes into 3rd but they were short stretches and maybe for around 20 minutes. We did have one stretch where we left Kamloops BC, the outside temp was 39 degrees Celcius and the transmission was getting hot so I had to drop down to 80 Kms for a bit to allow it to cool (it was about 6% grade for that stretch of highway). Once it cooled off I ramped it back up to 100 Kms and continued on. For our size of trailer the 5.0 is an excellent motor. We are looking at upgrading the trailer in the next bit to something longer and with a slide. I am estimating the trailer to be around 7500 Lbs once loaded with gear and water. I am very apprehensive about being able to tow with the 5.0. First due to it overloading the truck and second due to lack of power to tow that large of trailer. We will have to replace the truck to upgrade the trailer but I will not be getting another 5.0 with better payload. I am either going to mover over to the Ecoboost with the max tow package or we will upgrade to an F-250 with a 6.2 (do not need nor want a diesel). From what I have heard from others who own a F-150 5.0 and have read, this motor is excellent for towing but the limit is around 6500 Lbs. Anything over and you will want to look at something bigger. As well for a daily driver I really enjoy the truck. It averages 16 mpg and has plenty of power when unloaded. That's my two cents. Ryan

Good, informative post.
Just the sort of info the OP needs.

[tragusa3]

I didn't read any post here as a "bash"? I heard people offering their opinions when faced with the OP's question. I've asked the wrong question plenty of times and have been grateful for people with experience.

[Mike_Up]

EcoBullet wrote:
I would appreciate it if folks told me there was something better available for what I wanted to do from the same company.

Better only in your opinion. That is still no reason to bash especially when the OP asked for the 5.0L specifically. If he knew about the 5.0L, he knew about the Ecoboost.

[RinconVTR]

pappcam wrote:
I've been all over with my 2011 F150 5.0 and 6200 lb. TT and it has never been a problem. People seem to worry that it revs high but that is how it's designed to work. It's torque curve is higher than the EB so it revs higher when it's working.

I've never second guessed by decision in the 3 1/2 years I've had my truck and TT combo.

Non-turbo engines need higher RPM to reach peak power.

Turbo's spool to 10's of thousands, even over 100,000 RPM and work under extreme temps to make low end power. But there's a lot more under the hood to make turbos work for towing with gas engines than ever before. Decades ago, you would NEVER tow with a gas turbo engine.

High engine RPM's bother some people.

High turbo speeds are either not noticed or desired. No one hates the sound of a turbo!

Either way, these engines are designed to handle "it".

So, it comes down to personal perception and preference. Same as motor oil, gas, air filter, tires....on and on and on.

[EcoBullet]

Mike Up wrote:
This is 'starting' to feel like the Ford forums where the ecoboost owners have to crash every "5.0 only" thread to push their Ecoboost motors and bash the 5.0.

The original poster asked about the 5.0 as a possibility for a towing application. If I were in the market for a new truck, I would appreciate it if folks told me there was something better available for what I wanted to do from the same company.

[Ry-guy]

Hi there, I have a 2013 F-150 5.0 3.55 FX4. 7350 GVWR 1340 Lbs payload. Currently towing a Jayco 228 ultra lite, 4875 Lbs loaded including water. We drove from Edmonton Alberta through the Canadian Rockies including going both directions on the Cocquihalla highway in British Columbia (8% grade on one stretch for several kilometers). Total mileage for that trip was just over 3300 kilometers. We have myself, The wife and our three kids. With our bikes in the box we were 300 Lbs over the GVWR and 900 Lbs short of the GCWR. For the trip the truck towed the trailer effortlessly. Other that a couple of stretches on the higher grades the truck drove in 5th gear at 2100 RPM. On higher grades the truck would drop to 4th and sometimes into 3rd but they were short stretches and maybe for around 20 minutes. We did have one stretch where we left Kamloops BC, the outside temp was 39 degrees Celcius and the transmission was getting hot so I had to drop down to 80 Kms for a bit to allow it to cool (it was about 6% grade for that stretch of highway). Once it cooled off I ramped it back up to 100 Kms and continued on. For our size of trailer the 5.0 is an excellent motor. We are looking at upgrading the trailer in the next bit to something longer and with a slide. I am estimating the trailer to be around 7500 Lbs once loaded with gear and water. I am very apprehensive about being able to tow with the 5.0. First due to it overloading the truck and second due to lack of power to tow that large of trailer. We will have to replace the truck to upgrade the trailer but I will not be getting another 5.0 with better payload. I am either going to mover over to the Ecoboost with the max tow package or we will upgrade to an F-250 with a 6.2 (do not need nor want a diesel). From what I have heard from others who own a F-150 5.0 and have read, this motor is excellent for towing but the limit is around 6500 Lbs. Anything over and you will want to look at something bigger. As well for a daily driver I really enjoy the truck. It averages 16 mpg and has plenty of power when unloaded. That's my two cents. Ryan

[Tystevens]

pappcam wrote:
I've been all over with my 2011 F150 5.0 and 6200 lb. TT and it has never been a problem. People seem to worry that it revs high but that is how it's designed to work. It's torque curve is higher than the EB so it revs higher when it's working.

I don't think the revs are so much of a 'worry,' I just find it kind of annoying now, especially after towing with a diesel for several years. When we have to tow with our Suburban, 5 hours of 2800+ rpm and frequent shifting just grates on me for some reason. Maybe I'm getting old...

[pappcam]

I've been all over with my 2011 F150 5.0 and 6200 lb. TT and it has never been a problem. People seem to worry that it revs high but that is how it's designed to work. It's torque curve is higher than the EB so it revs higher when it's working.

I've never second guessed by decision in the 3 1/2 years I've had my truck and TT combo.

[Tystevens]

dockmasterdave wrote:
Mike Up
My 6th is locked out in tow mode unless I'm on really level ground (Florida) with no strong winds.
It'll tow at 65 all day in 5th, and very seldom need 4th.
Seems weird towing at 65 at 1800 rpm. Has enough power to pass or go over overpasses without shifting down.

Why lock it out of 6th? I just put mine in D, t/h engaged, and let it do its thing. It is amazing how long the EB can hold 6th gear. I towed from SLC to St George and back, which isn't the most mountainous route in Utah, but certainly isn't pancake flat. It shifted out of 6th maybe 10 times each way (due to hills) on the 300 mile route.

[dockmasterdave]

Mike Up
My 6th is locked out in tow mode unless I'm on really level ground (Florida) with no strong winds.
It'll tow at 65 all day in 5th, and very seldom need 4th.
Seems weird towing at 65 at 1800 rpm. Has enough power to pass or go over overpasses without shifting down.