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Old 08-21-2012, 10:09 AM   #1
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New (to us) Ecoboost with 3.15 Gears

We've been researching 1/2 ton trucks and liteweight travel trailers for two years as we entered retirement ready to do some long-awaited traveling.

After months of research and test drives, we narrowed the truck down to the Ford Ecoboost and last month purchased a 2011 F-15- Supercab with the Ecoboost engine and a 3.15 rear end. We live in the country, and have averaged 23MPG over the past six weeks. We're extremely happy with the truck, but have yet to pull a TT. The 3.15 rear brings the tow rating down from 11,300 (max tow package) to 8,600 (standard tow package).

Fast forward to yesterday: We signed the papers for a 2013 Flagstaff 26WRB with a dry weight of 5805 lbs. Looking forward to picking it up next week

Has anyone here towed using the 3.15 gears? Just looking in advance to see what we can expect.

Thanks in advance...
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Old 08-21-2012, 10:25 AM   #2
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Hello, and to the forums. Hope you enjoy the stay, and learn a lot, and can teach others what you already know. Congrats on the truck and trailer. As for towing, there is a long thread on the Ecoboost somewhere.

Here is one thread: http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ars-28133.html

And another: http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ine-19955.html

A search on here will get you a lot of reading. Sorry, I haven't read them all as I'm in the market for a 250 with the 6.2 liter V8.
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Old 08-21-2012, 10:26 AM   #3
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Good luck! IMHO you got probably the worst gear ratio for towing. While it is great for unloaded traveling, once you get all loaded up with that trailer you will likely be very close to the trucks tow rating. You do have to remember that the tow rating is based on a base level truck no options and one 150 pound driver. I would suggest that you load the truck up like you will be traveling and get to a set of scales for an accurate weight. Subtract that number from the trucks published GCWR numbers. That is the maximum load you can tow.
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Old 08-21-2012, 10:29 AM   #4
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Great advice! Thanks much...
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Old 08-21-2012, 10:41 AM   #5
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Unfortunately 355 gears would have been better for getting max tow weight.
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Old 08-21-2012, 10:55 AM   #6
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Too late the rookie learns, but I'll make the best of it. The truck GVWR is 7050 lbs and the TT dry weight is 5805.

Think we'll be close, for sure. Fortunately, our combined individual weight is well under 300 lbs. I'll get to the nearest scales this weekend to see if it is workable. We don't pick the camper up until the 31st so there's still time to consider a lighter trailer, (under 5,000 lbs. maybe...) Hope we can make this work; however, as the wife is in love with this particular TT.
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Old 08-21-2012, 11:19 AM   #7
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You may just have to lock out 6th gear, as I imagine it might be struggling with the camper behind. What kind of RPM does the engine turn when you are doing 60 mph?
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Old 08-21-2012, 11:22 AM   #8
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I have the 355 gear and a 7000 lb trailer (unloaded). Love my Ecoboost.
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Old 08-21-2012, 12:09 PM   #9
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Too late the rookie learns, but I'll make the best of it. The truck GVWR is 7050 lbs and the TT dry weight is 5805.

Think we'll be close, for sure. Fortunately, our combined individual weight is well under 300 lbs. I'll get to the nearest scales this weekend to see if it is workable. We don't pick the camper up until the 31st so there's still time to consider a lighter trailer, (under 5,000 lbs. maybe...) Hope we can make this work; however, as the wife is in love with this particular TT.
Is it a 4X4? If not you might check into a gear swap. If it is, it my not be worth the cost.
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Old 08-21-2012, 12:14 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Len & Cheri

Is it a 4X4? If not you might check into a gear swap. If it is, it my not be worth the cost.
I'm with Len ! If it's a 2 wheel drive it might be worth the expense.
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Old 08-21-2012, 07:42 PM   #11
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I think you will be fine. You likely will be pretty close to your GVW, maybe a few pounds over. I'd be surprised if your TT weighs more than 7000# loaded, well under the rated capacity. I am guessing even with those gears the truck will get you where you want to go as long as you don't need to do 75 mph up every hill. I pulled a trailer that weighed roughly 500# less than yours with a 240 hp Ford Explorer with 3.73 gears without any trouble. Your truck has a lot more hp and torque. Too many people on this forum think you need a F450 to pull a popup.
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Old 08-21-2012, 07:52 PM   #12
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You may be a few hundred pounds over your GVW. Our F150 weighed 7540# with our TT attached and family aboard. Family and dog are probably 350#. Our TT has a listed dry tongue weight of 810#. Your truck may be lighter than mine by enough that it will be closer than I think.
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Old 08-21-2012, 09:07 PM   #13
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Thanks much for the info...

Per the book, the basic dry truck weight is 5374 and the trailer dry weight is 5805 for a combined weight of 11,179. If the GCVW is 14,000 (per the book), as I understand it, I have 2821 lbs. for people, pets, gas, supplies etc?
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Old 08-22-2012, 05:48 AM   #14
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Yes, but you need to weigh your truck loaded like you're going camping. Then look at the yellow sticker on the camper and add 800-1000 lbs for your groceries and stuff to that. Subtract that from your GCVW and go from there. Don't rely on the dry weights, they're more then likely wrong.
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Old 08-22-2012, 06:28 AM   #15
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If you go to (Pikes Peak) stay in the right lane and keep your right foot to the floor! Ps. not the Best towing gear. Youroo!!
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Old 08-22-2012, 08:57 AM   #16
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Yes, but you need to weigh your truck loaded like you're going camping. Then look at the yellow sticker on the camper and add 800-1000 lbs for your groceries and stuff to that. Subtract that from your GCVW and go from there. Don't rely on the dry weights, they're more then likely wrong.
Thanks Len & Cheri;

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Old 08-22-2012, 08:59 AM   #17
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If you go to (Pikes Peak) stay in the right lane and keep your right foot to the floor! Ps. not the Best towing gear. Youroo!!
Hey Youroo,

A couple camping buddies here said to lock out 6th gear in the truck's Tow/Haul mode and, if necessary, 5th and 6th gears in the mountains to ease the tranny. Plenty of horses and torque for the upward pull. The MPG will stink, but we'll spend less than 60 days on the road during any given year so we'll just suck it up and enjoy the non-towing MPG, I guess...
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Old 08-22-2012, 12:51 PM   #18
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Here are my two cents. Put the truck in tow/haul mode and go. Concentrate on keeping everyting between the lines on the pavement and dodging the less than capable drivers out there. Let the transmission do what it is designed to do...shift! In my '10 F150, tow/haul mode does not lockout 5 or 6th gear. The manual also doesn't state anything about locking out either gear. I think you can only lock out 4th though 6th by selecting 3 with the lever. If Ford Engineers what 6th gear locked out they would have programmed tow/haul to do just that.

Gas milage might not be pretty but it has to be better than my 5.4L pulling 9000#. On a really bad day I see 7 mpg on the highway. On a good day on the highway I might see 9 or 10mpg. I am not complaining, that 1/2 ton pickup is towing a gross combined weight of about 15,500# down the highway at 65 mph. Don't even look at the mileage just fill up when it reads empty and enjoy camping in the new rig!
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Old 08-22-2012, 01:16 PM   #19
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Here are my two cents. Put the truck in tow/haul mode and go. Concentrate on keeping everyting between the lines on the pavement and dodging the less than capable drivers out there. Let the transmission do what it is designed to do...shift! In my '10 F150, tow/haul mode does not lockout 5 or 6th gear. The manual also doesn't state anything about locking out either gear. I think you can only lock out 4th though 6th by selecting 3 with the lever. If Ford Engineers what 6th gear locked out they would have programmed tow/haul to do just that.

Gas milage might not be pretty but it has to be better than my 5.4L pulling 9000#. On a really bad day I see 7 mpg on the highway. On a good day on the highway I might see 9 or 10mpg. I am not complaining, that 1/2 ton pickup is towing a gross combined weight of about 15,500# down the highway at 65 mph. Don't even look at the mileage just fill up when it reads empty and enjoy camping in the new rig!
Thanks 21C1. I learned a lot by (finally) reading the F-150 owner's manual and talking with the Ford rep this morning.

You're right about the Tow/Haul mode. By going there, the tranny will automatically select the appropriate gear, although it could make the tranny work harder by changing frequently between the three overdrive gears (4, 5 & 6).

The tranny is an SST which allows the driver a second tow option to shift from D (Drive) Tow/Haul mode to M (Manual) mode with gear lockout provisions. (I was wondering what that 'M' meant on the shift select panel. In the 'M' mode, 6th, 5th, and/or 4th (overdrive) gears can be locked out as desired/necessary for hills/steep upgrades. It also allows to select gears manually using plus/minus buttons.

The Ford guy said with the 3:15 gears, I'll probably use O/D lockout options more than the guys with 3:55 or 3:73 rears and will probably gas up more often.
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Old 08-22-2012, 02:30 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by Scratch View Post
We've been researching 1/2 ton trucks and liteweight travel trailers for two years as we entered retirement ready to do some long-awaited traveling.

Has anyone here towed using the 3.15 gears? Just looking in advance to see what we can expect.

Thanks in advance...
Sure have and did't really notice any lack of power in ours. Swapped out the oem air for cold air intake and goes like snot.
Pulling a 27 RKSS 2012 Salem 33 feet overall with 6400 dry weight.
We hauled to NH for the July race and had to slow down for 1500 Chevs and 5.4 Fords. And that ws with full water tank for another 333 lbs - plus 12 more gallons in containers in te box withteh generator and spare fuel. No one seemed to be hauling with a Dodge.
Just watch your speed.
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