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Old 09-11-2019, 12:27 PM   #1
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F-150 3.5 EcoBoost Towing Experience and Mileage Report.

Just returned from a 24 day, 4486 mile trip from SW Michigan to Arizona, Utah and Colorado. First time towing our 2019 Flagstaff MicroLite 25FBLS for any long distance. We found the 3.5 EcoBoost to be more than adequate to pull our 7000# trailer through the 7000-8800 foot mountains and prairies. Tow/Haul mode worked flawlessly and we had some pretty long steep grades to test it on. Overall mileage was 9.7 mpg which included two days of testing different towing speeds between 55-65mph, Cruise control (which really lowered our mpg) and regular unleaded vs premium gas comparisons. We also spent a fair amount of time idling in heavy mountain traffic or gas stations as it was blistering hot out. We spent nearly 40 minutes at one gas station stuck in a line because the pumps were pumping so slow. It took over 15 minutes to pump 20 gallons of fuel. 🙄 We settled into a general towing speed of 65, 60 if it we experienced heavy side winds or rough road conditions which there were plenty of. Premium fuel increased our mpg slightly and we feel the engine ran better, not that it wasn’t running great before.

The transmission ran pretty much in the 180-200 range with 223 reached when we were bottled up waiting to go through a mountain tunnel on our way back through Colorado. We just pulled off on the shoulder like a dozen other drivers and let it cool down for awhile. Air temps that day were in the high 90’s.

Hope this helps anyone thinking of purchasing the 3.5 EcoBoost and using it in the mountains.
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TV: 2017 F-150 SCREW, 3.5L Ecoboost, 10 speed, 3.55, 7000# GVWR, tow package.
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Old 09-11-2019, 12:48 PM   #2
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Eco Boost

Just made one short trip with our 3.5 Eco boost engine also. between 10 and 12 MPG, but didn't have much Highway mileage to compare to. Mostly small town and country roads. No real mountains in N. Alabama. Towing weight was approx. 7K
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Old 09-11-2019, 01:23 PM   #3
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What rear axle gear ratio are you guys equipped with? When we ordered our 2019 King there were 3 gear sets that could be had depending on the way it was set up. I believe if it is not a King Ranch, there was a fourth gear ratio. The King also prevents the ordering of the max payload package, so you give up a bit there.
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2019 Ram Bighorn, CC/SB 2500 4x4 6.4L/8 Speed, Max Tow 14,460 lb/2,940 lb payload.
2019 F-150 King Ranch 3.5 Eco, 12,800 lb/1,546 payload.
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Old 09-11-2019, 01:30 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry0071 View Post
What rear axle gear ratio are you guys equipped with? When we ordered our 2019 King there were 3 gear sets that could be had depending on the way it was set up. I believe if it is not a King Ranch, there was a fourth gear ratio. The King also prevents the ordering of the max payload package, so you give up a bit there.


10 speed auto trans
3.55 axle
Regular trailer tow pkg


My low mpg Day was 8.2
High mpg Day was 11.1
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Old 09-11-2019, 04:08 PM   #5
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Just got back from a trip to Shenandoah National Park on the maiden voyage of our 2019 3.5 Ecoboost MaxTow. We have a Flagstaff 526RLWS Fifth wheel that weighs in around 8500 lbs loaded. On our trip out, we took Route 33 through the Monongehela and George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and averaged 9.2 MPG. Lots of slower speeds up and down the mountains with the curves. On the way home, I stuck to the interstates although it was about 50 miles more. I averaged 9.8 MPG including down some narrow curvy back roads due to an accident having the highway shut down. I ran 65 MPH most of the time on the open road, 60 on the rougher roads and about 68 on the smoother flat stretches. I was hoping for a little better than that but it was still better than my 5.4L could do. Best I could get out of my 2010 5.4 was 9.2 and I usually was closer to 8.5 MPG when towing through the mountains. Fuel economy aside, the Ecoboost was a significant towing upgrade when pulling up the steep grades and maintaining speed down the interstates.
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Old 09-12-2019, 12:50 PM   #6
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We have a 2016 3.5 Eco with max tow package. Tow 2014 Flagstaff 5th wheel. 2 slides. 7300 lbs empty. Live in Ontario. Been to Texas , Florida, PEI through Maine. Best mpg towing 11.4 worst with strong headwind 6.9. (one time only) Worst normal 8.9 . Eco never missed stroke l love it
Not towing get 22 to 25
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Old 09-12-2019, 01:48 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry0071 View Post
What rear axle gear ratio are you guys equipped with? When we ordered our 2019 King there were 3 gear sets that could be had depending on the way it was set up. I believe if it is not a King Ranch, there was a fourth gear ratio. The King also prevents the ordering of the max payload package, so you give up a bit there.
I've had two King Ranch F150's in a row, 2015 and a 2018 and both are equipped with the max tow package. The only F150 you can't get a max tow package is the Limited. Both rear ratios are 3:55 to 1, that's the standard Max Tow ratio. Now the max load package will not come in a KR on up and for 2019 they are not offering it in the Lariat either from what I read. With the max load package, you get the bigger rear pumpkin and 3:73 to 1 gears.
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Old 09-12-2019, 02:01 PM   #8
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I too just got back from almost two months, going from California through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and back-TV 2018 F150 3.5 eco with 10spd tran. Had similar experience as OP. I just love my towing vehicle. Trailer is 2018 Rockwood VS2715. Up hill, down hill everything went smoothly utilizing Ford's build. Cant wait for next years trip.
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Old 09-12-2019, 02:03 PM   #9
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I've been towing our 6000lbs loaded 26' TT, from Camano Island south through Oregon, California and Arizona and back, for the past 2 winters/springs. We are gone from 2 1/2 to 3 months.
My 2014 SCREW 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package and 1828lbs of payload capacity. It has averaged around 10mpg for both trips.
I absolutely love the truck and would highly recommend it for towing a TT within specs.
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Old 09-12-2019, 02:32 PM   #10
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I get 10-12 mpg towing a 8500 lb 5W loaded with no issues on hills. Although I haven’t done any mountain towing yet, just foot hills. I do occasionally double toe for an extra 1000lbs. I have to say my 2017 with the 2nd gen eco boost does perform better than my 2011. The 10 speed transmission helps a lot, and they both had 3:73 gears. Apparently you can only get the 3:73 ratio with the HD Payload package now.
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:16 PM   #11
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What cargo rating do you have on that new F-150? I have been thinking about a fifth wheel for my 2016 F-150 and the numbers don't work well. For your 8500lb 5W I get about about a 1400lb pin weight, 1263 off the website prorated to your 8500 lb total. My cargo is only 1624 lb.
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Old 09-12-2019, 05:30 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by jwfrede View Post
What cargo rating do you have on that new F-150? I have been thinking about a fifth wheel for my 2016 F-150 and the numbers don't work well. For your 8500lb 5W I get about about a 1400lb pin weight, 1263 off the website prorated to your 8500 lb total. My cargo is only 1624 lb.
My pinweights have been between 1300 and 1400. My payload is 2440 so I’m usually 500 below my 4800lb axle rating. My old F150 at 1825lbs, I was either 100lbs under or 60lbs over.
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Old 09-13-2019, 06:25 AM   #13
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Current 2018 3.5 w/max tow and 3.55 rear end averaging a little better than 10 mpg on regular gas towing our 5600# (never weighed it full) trailer. Best was 11.1, worst was 9.8 - all on regular gas. Previous 2015 with 3.5 standard tow, 3.7 rear end averaged 10 mpg w / same trailer. Most of the driving was from Ohio to Texas and back over freeways and flat ground, rarely over 60 mpg. Never had any problems needing more torque or power. When I tried using premium gas i personally didn't see enough of a difference to offset the cost, in my opinion. Curious about the comment about the cruise control holding the milage down. I usually have my cruise on and use tow / haul mode.
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Old 09-13-2019, 07:55 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wjrdmr View Post
Current 2018 3.5 w/max tow and 3.55 rear end averaging a little better than 10 mpg on regular gas towing our 5600# (never weighed it full) trailer. Best was 11.1, worst was 9.8 - all on regular gas. Previous 2015 with 3.5 standard tow, 3.7 rear end averaged 10 mpg w / same trailer. Most of the driving was from Ohio to Texas and back over freeways and flat ground, rarely over 60 mpg. Never had any problems needing more torque or power. When I tried using premium gas i personally didn't see enough of a difference to offset the cost, in my opinion. Curious about the comment about the cruise control holding the milage down. I usually have my cruise on and use tow / haul mode.
My mpg dropped about .6 mpg on cruise but for some reason my mpg was below 9 for the first three days anyway. Go figure. Only tried it for half a day. Looking forward to testing my mileage this winter on our trip to Florida. Should be great because it’s all down hill right? 😜
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