F150 ecoboost

[ronrox18]

Just came from Ford dealer. Want a short box F150 SuperCab Ecoboost w 373 gears to tow Flagstaff Superlite 8900lbs.5th wheel . Salesman says need long box to tow it. Is he right?

[007matman]

Long box will give you more stability. Seems like a lot of trailer for that but to each his own. I'd be looking at at least a 3/4 ton.

[Boomerweps]

Isn't part of the concern the clearance of the TT nose to the pickup's cab? Isn't there a special sliding 5er receiver to counter that? More $$.

[ronrox18]

That s what i have now F250. Just looking for better ride

[007matman]

Originally Posted by ronrox18

That s what i have now F250. Just looking for better ride

There is a whole lot you can do with your F250 without having to buy a new ride.

[RACarvalho]

you need the 6 1/2 box in order to have the Heavy duty Payload Package to tow a 8900 lbs camper (assuming it is dry...) otherwise you don't have payload enough for it.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by ronrox18

Just came from Ford dealer. Want a short box F150 SuperCab Ecoboost w 373 gears to tow Flagstaff Superlite 8900lbs.5th wheel . Salesman says need long box to tow it. Is he right?

Most important factors:

1st- what's the Flagstaff's pin weight?
2nd- you'll need to get one with the HDPP and Max Tow package, to possibly do this. Probably will have to order it.

Just saying Ecoboost and 3.73 gears, isn't enough to take in consideration, ESPECIALLY towing a 5th wheel.

Since I never have owned a 5th wheel, I'll let others answer that question.

[Kimber45]

if you are not going to every load a single thing in it and you never travel farther then 10 minutes from your house, sure go for it. otherwise you need a 3/4 ton truck or a smaller unit.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by ronrox18

That s what i have now F250. Just looking for better ride

Seriously, don't risk overloading a 1/2-ton truck just because you want a better ride. Keep the F250 and upgrade the shocks/suspension to provide a better ride without compromising tow/weight capacity.

Also, check the tire pressure in your truck's tires. If you're running 80psi that is overkill and will make the ride much worse than if you run at the factory-recommended PSI which I suspect is around 65psi rear, 60psi or so front. Check your tire placard.

[67L48]

A 10,000 lb 5er will put 1,500 - 2,000 lbs on your pin, using the 15-20% range. So, pick a middle number at 1,700 lbs. Assuming SCab preference means no kids, then you'll need at least another ~500-700 lbs for your hitch, passengers, gear, etc.

So, you need a truck with a payload of 2,200 lb at a bare minimum. 2,500 lbs and greater would be much better and every pound will help. This will be more difficult to achieve in a 1/2 ton without careful planning -- HDPP (as mentioned above) is probably a necessity for towing a 5er with an F-150.

I don't know about the geometry of a 5er in a 5.5' bed. Seems like not a great idea, but I could be way off.

[AlaskaErik]

You need to look at a whole lot of numbers. Max axle capacity of the front and rear axles, max weight for the truck, pin weight of the trailer when fully loaded, gross weight of the trailer and max combined weight limit. I think you'll find that you'll over gross a half ton with the trailer you want to pull. I wouldn't even think about a half ton with that much weight.

[Daycruiser]

Originally Posted by ronrox18

Just came from Ford dealer. Want a short box F150 SuperCab Ecoboost w 373 gears to tow Flagstaff Superlite 8900lbs.5th wheel . Salesman says need long box to tow it. Is he right?

Don't do it. Ignore the salesman, the F150's brakes can not handle that trailer on a grade. You have no engine brake, on an F150 Eco. Get at very least a gas 3/4 Ton and preferably a diesel for engine braking. By time you get done loading that trailer you'll be a hauling around close to 11K.

[ronrox18]

Yea. Just looking at all possibilities. But I've decided on a F250. Thanks to all for input

[007matman]

Originally Posted by ronrox18

Yea. Just looking at all possibilities. But I've decided on a F250. Thanks to all for input

Good choice! Congrats!

Post up some pics of the beast!

[pilotpip]

If you want a better ride, keep the 250, and buy a nice used sedan with low miles for next to nothing. Use that as your daily driver.

[Roaminaround]

I had a 2012 F150 ecoboost with Max tow package. We pulled a Nash 26X which weighs 6500 empty, less than your trailer. It pulled it fine but we had recurring plug, boot coil problems. This winter I had to replace the front main seal along with all 6 plugs, boots and coils. $2500 in repairs. We pulled the trailer 3-4,000 miles a year. It was pushing that ecoboost too hard. We just bought a Rockwood 2608BS which weighs about the same. I also bought an F250 which won't have to work nearly as hard as the ecoboost. By the way I added a 4th leaf spring to my ecoboost to mitigate the payload shortfall. My feeling is the F150 ecoboost is a great truck but is not made to tow heavy loads (over 8,000 lbs) for thousands of miles for years on end without killing that motor.

[007matman]

Originally Posted by Roaminaround

I had a 2012 F150 ecoboost with Max tow package. We pulled a Nash 26X which weighs 6500 empty, less than your trailer. It pulled it fine but we had recurring plug, boot coil problems. This winter I had to replace the front main seal along with all 6 plugs, boots and coils. $2500 in repairs. We pulled the trailer 3-4,000 miles a year. It was pushing that ecoboost too hard. We just bought a Rockwood 2608BS which weighs about the same. I also bought an F250 which won't have to work nearly as hard as the ecoboost. By the way I added a 4th leaf spring to my ecoboost to mitigate the payload shortfall. My feeling is the F150 ecoboost is a great truck but is not made to tow heavy loads (over 8,000 lbs) for thousands of miles for years on end without killing that motor.

Good choice. You'll be much happier with that F250.

I often hear people say that about the Ecoboost engines. I have several family members that have had them in the past and just about everyone complains about them if they're towing with them. I think there is way too much hype with that power train.

Don't tell a New Ecoboost owner this though.. it'll get you flamed.

[Roaminaround]

Don’t get me wrong, it towed fine with plenty of power but over the years it’s not made to take the kind of abuse that a 3/4 ton turbo diesel takes in stride. If you only tow heavy trailers 100-300 miles a few times a year I think it’ll last. I never had plug and coil issues towing my 3500 boat 50-100 miles round trip 50 times a year.