F-150 Ecoboost for hauling?

[SecondInCommand]

Does anyone tow with an F-150 Ecoboost?

I’m wading into researching my first rig. There are so many new technologies available, and the Ecoboost engine sounds very compelling, but don’t have any engineering background to really understand how a 3.5L engine is pumping out an 11,000# tow rating. It all seems like magic to me…:lol:

I have played around with their ‘build and price’ tool, adding the heavy duty hauling package, the 3.73 axle ratio , etc. I’m looking at a steel gooseneck, and both the towing and tongue weight are well within the defined thresholds.

Does anyone have any experiences to share?

[GoForAGallop]

Those trucks have trouble cracking 20mpg BEFORE you toss the 3.73 in there.

If you’re looking for good mileage and you’re going that new, I’d go diesel. You’ll get the same tow rating, with better mileage, better resale, and in most makers, an engine with a better history of reliability. Plus it will likely be cheaper. Ford is still working out the kinks in their Ecoboost engines, and I know I don’t want to find another one with a loaded horse trailer on the back.

[tinah]

Hubby fixes Fords for a living. He says the ecoboost is a “bad mother****er”. And I’m not sure he’s actually liked an engine Ford has put out since the 7.3 diesel. I know he is not impressed with the 5.4 in my truck in the slightest; he never misses an opportunity to point out it would be so much cooler with a supercharger on top.

[SouthernYankee]

I had an 09 F-150, the year before they made the eco boost. I put up with it for a year, then sold it. It was great for running around town (but I have a car for my daily driver so I only used it as a tow vehicle). I didn’t feel comfortable hauling my 2 horse bp all alum trailer any distance with it because it wouldn’t quit shifting gears and I was afraid I’d tear up the transmission. It just wasn’t geared low enough to handle towing… now I use an old suburban with 410 gears and I can’t feel the trailer behind me. Sadly it’s got 225k miles on it and is starting to show it’s age, my next truck will be a diesel.

If you can afford it go for the diesel.

[Christa_P]

[QUOTE=tinah;7037298]
Hubby fixes Fords for a living. He says the ecoboost is a “bad mother****er”. And I’m not sure he’s actually liked an engine Ford has put out since the 7.3 diesel. I know he is not impressed with the 5.4 in my truck in the slightest; he never misses an opportunity to point out it would be so much cooler with a supercharger on top.[/QUOTE]

A relative of mine works in the parts section at a Ford dealer. In his words avoid the Ecoboost - they are no good and aren’t even lasting through the warranty period.

Christa

Happy with my 7.3 diesel

[Iain]

We have one… We have a Hawk bumper pull trailer, and cart around 2 large horses (one 17+h Percheron, and one 17+h Warmblood). We live on the hilly side of Virginia, and so we’re used to some fairly significant inclines on the backroads. It’s performed flawlessly for us.

It’s still a truck, so you’re not buying it for the gas mileage - we average around 15mpg when we’re not towing (mixed driving) and around 13mpg under load. No need for expensive gas - and for acceleration and torque it’s better than the other V8’s that we tried (Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Toyota).

[SecondInCommand]

Thank you all for the responses! I’m quite liking the specs on this truck, and know that the 3.73 will suck away a lot of the fuel savings otherwise offered by this engine.

[SecondInCommand]

I just wanted to circle back with a quick update. I did end up taking the plunge, and bought the above truck. I’ve only had a few trips with it so far, but touch wood it hauls beautifully. My trailer is 4300# dry, and even with two horses on board the truck isn’t labouring at all. I’m very pleased.

[Iain]

Glad you went for it. 30k miles on ours in about a year (3-4k towing the horse trailer) - and all is good so far!

(p.s. I underestimated our non-towing gas mileage. I can get 18-19mpg out of it now - and that’s with the tow package and a lead foot).

[lightlee]

For those of you towing with the ECO boost, do you have the 5.5 bed or the 6.6 bed? Considering a ECO with a 3.73 axle, max tow package but cannot decide between the beds. We will be pulling a two horse bumper pull trailer which weighs 3,200 empty. The 5.5 has a 1900 payload, the 6.5 has a 2,300 pound. Wheel base on 5.5 is 145 inches and 6.5 is about 156.

[Bluey]

I have the gas F150 4x4, 6.6 bed and mine works and pulls like a dream.

We have been on a 10 hour drive one day, back same the next, pulling a GN 3 horse slant with living quarters and one horse, picking another one on our way back and you didn’t know the trailer was back there.

Averaging 19 to 22 on highway driving, 17 to 18 on city, 13 to 16 pulling, depending on what else, how much weight, how slow and if hilly or not.

I think you find lemons in any one brand.
If the DHs that work on Fords were working on any other, they too would have much to complain about … that other.

While there may be some models in any brand with specific problems, there are none without some problems.
At least that is what our local mechanic shop tells us and they work on all brands.

[normandy_shores]

OP-- a steel GN on a half ton truck? Yiiikes…

[mroades]

[QUOTE=normandy_shores;7740828]
OP-- a steel GN on a half ton truck? Yiiikes…[/QUOTE]

This was my thought as well, please no!!!

[GoForAGallop]

The truck is rated for 11,000lbs. (If she did indeed go with the 3.73 axle, and 4x4) Her trailer is 4000lbs, plus two horses is 6500lbs.

She’s well within the safety parameters.

This thread is also a year old, and OP did purchase the truck.

[2004lb7]

The so called half tons of today have higher ratings than my first Ford diesel did. With the poor reliability of today’s diesels gas motors are the only way to go.

[Black_Points]

F150 Eco Boost

[QUOTE=2004lb7;7749673]
The so called half tons of today have higher ratings than my first Ford diesel did. With the poor reliability of today’s diesels gas motors are the only way to go.[/QUOTE]

I’ve hauled my 2 H, Aluminum slant BP with DR with F150’s with 5.5 bed, no problem. Then upgraded to a 3H Aluminum slant BP with DR and hauled 2 horses with no problem.

Then I upgraded the truck to an F150 ECO boost with 5.5 bed and no problem at all. I haul on thruway and on hills and love this truck. I always use weight distributing hitch and always order truck with Trailer towing package. Sold last truck with 112K miles and never had transmission problems. Hope this new one is the same. Gas mileage isn’t the best (10 towing 2 horses around 70 mph) but I know that’s the downside of hauling horses.

OP, I hope you like your ECO boost.

Mary in western NY

[HappyTalk]

[QUOTE=SecondInCommand;7128993]
I just wanted to circle back with a quick update. I did end up taking the plunge, and bought the above truck. I’ve only had a few trips with it so far, but touch wood it hauls beautifully. My trailer is 4300# dry, and even with two horses on board the truck isn’t labouring at all. I’m very pleased. :)[/QUOTE]

I have had my F-150 with EcoBoost for about a year. My trailer weighs about the same as yours and it pulls it beautifully. I have a long bed with an extended cab. I love it.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

What year did they introduce this engine?

[Black_Points]

[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;7755929]
What year did they introduce this engine?[/QUOTE]

I believe it was 2010 for the F150. I went to my local dealer’s 2009 special showing of the F150 and that was when they made the 150 more like the 250 in towing capacity. But I think it was the following year they added the Eco boost.

Mary in western NY

[airhorse]

Let’s hope Ford puts a 6 cylinder diesel in the F-150 soon.

Otherwise, this is supposed to be an awesome truck.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/ecodiesel/