Towing with the 3.5L ecoboost

[rlocicero]

i am thinking of moving up to a 2014 F150. I currently have a 2011 F150 with the 5L, 3.73 gears and max tow and 33,000 miles. We are towing a Flagstaff 829FKSS weighing 6313 lbs. This setup works very well. I am having trouble finding a new F150 with 3.73's. Looking for opinions on the 5.0l, 3.55 and the 3.5L ecoboost with the 3.55's. I am leaning toward the ecoboost and the numbers for the 3.5L, 3.55s don't look too bad. I was just wondering if anyone is using this setup. We doo tow long distances and hilly terrain occasionally.

[meck51]

I started with an ecoboost. The motor just likes to run. I am towing right around 9k and the tires were p rated, I didn't see much sense in going to LT's and not having the payload for the extra toys I wanted to bring, so I traded up. If I was looking at a 6k +\- trailer I think I would stay with the ecoboost. My ecoboost loved the mountains, motor never hiccuped for a second.


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[Teamfour]

Ecoboost here towing what is in my sig. Really try to fine one with the max tow package. The payload capacity is real important. You really want one with payload over 1800 lbs.

[Twisty]

I had the 5.0 with 3.55's.
The engine is excellent.
I would have liked 3.73's for towing.
If I had to do it over again, I'd order a truck...
...Oh,
I did.

[rlocicero]

My gut was to go with the 3.73's but I cannot find one in dark blue. Changing colors is not an option. I'm a dark blue kind of person. My 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011 F150's were all dark blue. I did find a dark blue 302 in virginia with 3.73 gears.

[Twisty]

3.55's are thought to be more economical and are really common
Driving habits affect mpg's more.
Good luck and have fun!

[madmaxmutt]

Teamfour hit the nail on the head. The eco will pull it with ease. The issue is always the payload sticker inside the driver's side door. Read that sticker on ALL prospective purchases and make sure to do enough math to ensure your hitch, tongue, passengers and gear don't push it.

The eco/trans/3.55 does great in the Rockies if your stated trailer weight is loaded. The 535 towing package will do that weight fine, but the max tow mirrors are a "wish I had them". Is your 6,313 loaded trailer weight? If it is not, I would only buy a max tow equipped eco.

And, you are running out of time. Have a dealer find you that blue one in max tow quick. Lots of people are waiting for the 2015 but others are scarfing up the deals on 2013/2014 models.

PS most have 36 gallon tanks now, but I would make sure that is on the list as anything less has proven an issue towing on the ecoboost forum.

[rlocicero]

I found one. 3.5l w/3.73 gears max tow and bluejeans blue only 120 miles away from Rochester.

[Old car]

We had the Ecoboost with 3.55 and standard tow package. Hauled a 7000# Windjammer from sea level to over 10,000 feet in Colorado. Never missed a beat. I loved that truck; but it can't handle the 5'er we are moving up to so I moved to a Ram 2500 HD with Cummins diesel.

[schrederman]

I just moved up from a '11 F-150 5.0 - 3.55 axle, towing 6200# loaded. I will be upgrading the TT to something on the order of 9000# loaded next year and was pretty sure the F-150 wouldn't handle it. The 6.7 Cummins doesn't act like the TT is back there... Being an old gear head, I was a touch dubious about the Eco... I am still wondering how one with 150K miles will be doing... The cylinder pressures have to be way up there to generate that kind of power...

[Canadiancrew]

Originally Posted by schrederman

I just moved up from a '11 F-150 5.0 - 3.55 axle, towing 6200# loaded. I will be upgrading the TT to something on the order of 9000# loaded next year and was pretty sure the F-150 wouldn't handle it. The 6.7 Cummins doesn't act like the TT is back there... Being an old gear head, I was a touch dubious about the Eco... I am still wondering how one with 150K miles will be doing... The cylinder pressures have to be way up there to generate that kind of power...

Yes I have wondered the same thing. How will they stand up with high towing miles on them? I wonder how a gently driven never towed high milage ecoboost would compare to one that has towed a lot and been driven with the ecoboost operational a lot of the time. I would think a boost gauage or even an idiot lite would be a nice feature to monitor how your engine is being used. I do not use an ecoboost engine for towing but htinking I would prefer the 5.o Liter as we contemplate an f150 for our next TV. I do drive and ecobbost engine in my current company car and my last one. I like the way they perform. Currently have a 2014 Fusion. The 2013 escape I had with a 2 liter really performed but sucked in the gas milage.

[thestrangebrew]

I currently have the Ecoboost & TT in my sig. I'm using the the Andersen WDH and so far I haven't had any problems towing it. It's a great TV for the lighter TTs and HTTs out there. I don't know if I'd go with anything heavier just for payload concerns. With gear and passengers, I'm already within 100lbs of my max. (~1770lbs or something like that).

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by Canadiancrew

I would think a boost gauage or even an idiot lite would be a nice feature to monitor how your engine is being used..

I dont have a echo, but on my boost gauge`s if the pressure goes up the MPG`s go down

[camper67]

I have a 2013 Ecobeast and a 269 Solaire (7,000 loaded) and it performs like a small diesel. That low end torque feels great. On my last trip to The beach I was able the let cruise maintain 63 mph in mostly 6th and 5th gear.
Like others have said, get one with a higher payload. Hitch weight, passengers, and bikes puts my 1400lb payload at the limit. I wish I had payload.


Joel
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[imafordboi69]

We have a 2013 Eco Lariat Screw with max tow 3.55 gears and the select shift transmission. Our previous truck was a 2007 150 with the 5.4 v8 3.55 gears. In our area we have many "grades" that we have to tow up and down to get anywhere. The biggest ones are the Whitebird grade and the Lewiston grade which are both 7% grades that climb for 5-7 miles. Our trailer is a 2013 Flagstaff 831FKBSS. GVWR at around 8,400lbs. The Eco climbs these hills with the trailer at 50-55 MPH in 3rd gear at 3-3,300 rpms. Iv taken to putting the transmission into manual mode while towing and it has worked very well. When going up the hills i can just lock it in 3rd and climb up one side with ease and back down the other side with minimal braking. When we pull into camp or a gas station people always remark about how they wouldn't think a 150 could tow a trailer of our size. The look on their face when i tell em its a V6 is priceless.

[campingwilliamsons]

I towed the Trailer in my Sig with the F150 EB, 3.73 in my sig. You will not regret that combo. Tows great, daily drives great. I ordered mine with the HD payload option so I could tow the Fiver. Ultimately I wanted 4x4, and even if I got a truck with HD payload I would have been over the GVWR on the truck. The F350 solved the GVWR problem quite well, though it is not nearly as good of a daily driver as the F150 was. I solved that by finding a gently used mid-size SUV to use for daily driver duties...

I started with this:


I went to this:


As mentioned, the truck performed great with both trailers. The low end torque is pretty impressive with the EB.

But, I ended up with this:


Next trip out I will have to get a picture or tow all hitched up.

[B and B]

No issues here with 9500 lbs of Rockwood behind mine. Mileage kind takes a hit but the torque is unbelievable. I also have a 5 year warranty so if after 5 its not working I will move on. For now can not beat it.

Brian

[rlocicero]

Picked up my new 2014 F150xlt ecoboost 3.73 max tow max payload Crewcab.
I upgradced the tires to E rated 10 ply HT3 Coopers. First tankd through, I averaged 18.7mpg,

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by rlocicero

Picked up my new 2014 F150xlt ecoboost 3.73 max tow max payload Crewcab.
I upgradced the tires to E rated 10 ply HT3 Coopers. First tankd through, I averaged 18.7mpg,

Nice! I remember we exchanged PMs awhile back and you decided to get the 5.0 as you were nervous about the new ecoboost technology. Enjoy your new truck. The torque delivery is tremendous.

[BamaBob]

Just remember to drive the truck for 500 or so miles before towing your trailer....