2011 Ford F-150, Ecoboost, Screw, Lariat, full size box, 3.73, not max tow, 7350# gvw,

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by DocGTO

True, I have not owned an Ecoboost so you have real world info which is valuable. My experience in TV is large CI V8s (which I dislike now for towing) and non turbo and turbo diesels (GM 6.2 & 6.5TD, PSD 7.3 & 6.0, CTD 5.9 & 6.7, and LMM & LML Duramax).

I have seen the Ecoboost F150s at the drag strip running low 13s! I would like to also check out the Ecodiesels 1st hand.

I, too, would like to check out the new Dodge EcoDiesel. I understand the skepticism about the Ecoboost from non EB owners, though. I often tell people when they ask me how well it pulls my travel trailer that they're gonna think I'm a liar! Pretty hard to fathom a 3.5L pulling as well as it does when many have had big V8's like you speak of that struggle.

[B and B]

X2, Ecoboost does a great job. I also used 5.4 l V8 to tow and the Eco beat it hands down for torque and fuel economy.

[GSlone]

I thank you for the EB advice, you saved me from making a very costly upgrade. I keep getting conflicting advice that the EB can't do the job but as you say none of them own one. I will make the upgrades you suggested which is nothing compared to buying a 250. Thanks for your input, it is very much appreciated.

[BBQGUY]

Air Bag question.

Just picked up a 2014 Ecoboost F-150 Supercrew w/ MAX trailer/payload package. 7500 payload of the truck, 17,100 GCWR, 11,300 max loaded trailer with 1,150 tongue weigh using a WD hitch set-up.
Will be towing a Work n Play @ 10,500~# loaded with 1,100~ hitch weight.
Dealer was surprised when we arrived with the trade (Chevy 2500) towing the WnP to give the Ford a test pull down the interstate and through town.
The F-150 did as good as the Chevy 2500.

The WD hitch manufacture says "Air shocks or air bags should only be used to support the added weigh you load in the back end of the tow vehicle." and issue a CAUTION: "Do not adjust air shocks or air bags to support any of the tongue weight of trailer"
Truck after attaching the trailer should be level or up to 1/2" rear squat with the WD.

Are airbags needed with truck payload in the bed of 1000 pounds and 800 pounds of people/gear in the cabin?

Being new to towing with this truck, what will be gained by adding air bags?

[schrederman]

No, I have not owned an EcoBoost. I didn't say it wouldn't tow it. I expressed my opinion that it's too much trailer for that rig. Just because someone can do something doesn't mean they should. Manufacturers tow ratings are inflated already. I towed my $6200# around with an '11 F-150 (5.0, 3.55 gears) for a while and in my opinion, even that was close to marginal... which is why I traded up. I think he will be disappointed with the power with 3.31 gears. The other piece of this is stopping. How do you think that will stop with failed trailer brakes? Just playing safety advocate for a minute... quietly stepping down from soapbox... now...

Seriously, I know the EB is a towing monster... and was better than my 5.0 for that.

[The_Rhino]

Fiat (Ram) is developing a 365hp 4.0L V8 Turbodiesel which IMO would be great in a 2500. The problem with the 3.0L Turbodiesel/1500 combo is the low payload...

[dbarr]

Being in the market to replace old (PSD) with new I searched out this thread. It appears that the general opinion is the 3.5L is more than capable to pull my approximately 5500lb loaded 233RBS. Being a bit old school, bigger is better for towing, I'm a bit worried that if I go with the 3.5 it won't pull the mountains in the west like a V8. I like the idea of the smaller engine but don't want to make an expensive mistake. Who's pulling heavier over 10000 ft mountain passes with the 3.5?


Sent from space

[another_newfie]

While not everyday, I have pulled through the mountains in Virginia/West Virginia with my Eco on the way from Ontario to Florida. It was a GREAT experience. The Eco did a fantastic job. Compared to the last trip I made with my 5.4 Triton the difference was night and day.

[1surveyor]

I did the ecoboost and while i could pull my campers ,TT 1st and then 5ver , not the best setup and i was told by many that it was not a good combo and i had the 3:31 gears . Now i have a Duramax Diesel 3500 Dually , now i can pull anything that ill ever own . But this is my .02

Happy Camping Oak

[dbarr]

Originally Posted by another_newfie

While not everyday, I have pulled through the mountains in Virginia/West Virginia with my Eco on the way from Ontario to Florida. It was a GREAT experience. The Eco did a fantastic job. Compared to the last trip I made with my 5.4 Triton the difference was night and day.

A 5er?? That's a lot of weight for such a small displacement...I know they say it will pull it that's why I'm askin. I would assume you have the 3.73 gear which is what I would order even with my light weight TT. What's your fuel mileage averaging on a typical day?

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by dbarr

Being in the market to replace old (PSD) with new I searched out this thread. It appears that the general opinion is the 3.5L is more than capable to pull my approximately 5500lb loaded 233RBS. Being a bit old school, bigger is better for towing, I'm a bit worried that if I go with the 3.5 it won't pull the mountains in the west like a V8. I like the idea of the smaller engine but don't want to make an expensive mistake. Who's pulling heavier over 10000 ft mountain passes with the 3.5?


Sent from space

This line of thinking is common. A big V8 HAS to have more power than a 3.5L 6 cylinder. FWIW, there isn't a V8 in production that will tow like the Ecoboost. Some of the V8's have higher torque and HP numbers, but they have to rev to almost double the RPM of the Ecoboost to produce that power. You take one of those naturally aspirated V8's to 10K elevation and you just lost a LOT of power. According to the calculator at wallace racing, a 400HP NA engine will lose 120HP at 10K feet. An EB is twin turbocharged- forced induction engines don't experience that loss in power.

[rlocicero]

I can tell you first hand that the ecoboost is all that they say it is. I was a huge non-believer until a friend of mine purchased a 3008W FR. I have since purchased one and tow my 829fkss Flagstaff with no issues at all. Mine is a 2014 F150 supercrew with 3.73's and max tow ans E rated 10 ply tires. I did upgrade the tt to E rated 10 ply tires also.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by rlocicero

I can tell you first hand that the ecoboost is all that they say it is. I was a huge non-believer until a friend of mine purchased a 3008W FR. I have since purchased one and tow my 829fkss Flagstaff with no issues at all. Mine is a 2014 F150 supercrew with 3.73's and max tow ans E rated 10 ply tires. I did upgrade the tt to E rated 10 ply tires also.

I was somewhat skeptical as well. My parents bought one 2 years or so before I did. My step dad claimed it pulled as well as the 97 7.3L PSD he had did. I bought a 2013 and now pull a Puma 31-RDKS that weighs 7952 dry. I'm in the low 9K range loaded I estimate. My EB has the 3.55 gears. I pull in 5th at ~2100 RPM at 65 mph. It catches 4th for most hills and inclines. With 3.73 gears, the only difference I personally think I'd notice is that I'd hold 5th a little better on the inclines but would be turning a little higher RPM. I have pulled with 5 and 6 locked out and ran in 4th at 2800RPM and never had to catch a gear, even on pretty modest grades where truckers were having to pull over and struggle at 40mph. I had a 97 PSD, and tend to agree that the EB pulls every bit as good as it did. Mileage is lower- 8ish from 11ish. Anyone who knows anything about BTU content of fuel knows that you CAN'T get the same amount of power from gasoline as you do diesel, though.

[another_newfie]

Yes it is a lot of weight. I have CAT scaled my rig and I am 100% within ALL ratings.

On my daily commute I can average 22 to 24MPG.

On a recent trip I was involved in a near accident and I was forced to perform an emergency stop from 60 MPH. I was able to stop without incident and safely. So to answer the usual nonsense about 'yes you can pull it, but can you stop it', yes I can and yes I did.

[LTnTN]

I have a 2013 F150 with EB, 3.55, and the towing package rated at 9600 lbs. My camper is the Flagstaff 8528RKWS weighing just over 7700 from the factory. I've pulled mine 2000 miles into the coastal winds in Southeast Georgia, east Tennessee mountains, and just last week into the Virginia mountains. The truck ran comfortably at 70-72 mph in 5th and 6th gear, easily passing anything I wanted to on the roads. I've had a couple of hard braking situations without any issues, brake bias set at 10. I average 8.5-9.5 mpg on most trips. It eased over 10 with a good tail wind once.

[Steeljag]

No issues at all with our EB and TT combo!