2.7 EcoBoost for towing? Anybody have one and can comment?

[Martinjmpr]

I know we have a "general vehicle thread" already so I hope I'm not violating forum etiquette by starting a new thread here, but I know there are a lot of "Truck guys" on the forum so I wanted to post this here:

Wife now says she wants me to get a new truck. We went camping last weekend up by Jefferson and she said she wanted to drive the truck and pull the trailer so I could ride my motorcycle, since she knows I don't get enough "motorcycle time" with all the camping we do.

So she drove the Suburban pulling the 3500lb camper and as soon as I got to the campsite she said "dude, you need a new truck! That one is a dog!" I think it was going up 285 from Morrison or maybe Kenosha Pass that did it for her - 30mph and straining in 1st gear!

This is on top of the transmission taking a dump in Utah in May, which cost us 2 extra days and nearly $4k for a new tranny. So yeah, I need a new truck.

So what is the general consensus on the F-150 2.7 EcoBoost for towing? There are some impressive videos out on YouTube of pulling a 7000# trailer (twice what I pull) up I-70 from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel at 70mph with the 2.7. Apparently it's a beast!

Anybody have one? If so, how do you like it? Pros/cons?

One thing I really like about the F-150 is the ability to get a 36 gallon tank. Chevy/GM has already been crossed off my list because all their pickups have the pathetic 26 gallon tank - way too small for me (they have an optional tank but it's only available on the reg-cab models, not the crew cab, which I need.)

Other contender would be the Ram 1500 with the 5.7 V8. A more 'conventional' approach than the EcoBoost but still should do better on gas than my ancient Suburban.

Here's the video I was referring to:

[00tec]

I have a 3.5 EcoBoost. I can tell you that pulling in the mountains or a heavy load will significantly reduce mileage. I got 10 pulling a 3000lb trailer (not very aerodynamic) from Brighton to Albany WY

[hurley842002]

No personal experience but my wife's Aunt and Uncle have the ecoboost F-150 and have towed a large Airstream camper all over the country, literally from coast to coast (Virginia Beach to LA), and have zero complaints.

ETA: theirs is the 3.5

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Martinjmpr]

I have a 3.5 EcoBoost. I can tell you that pulling in the mountains or a heavy load will significantly reduce mileage. I got 10 pulling a 3000lb trailer (not very aerodynamic) from Brighton to Albany WY

10 is about what I get now so that wouldn't be a loss.

My understanding with the whole "ecoboost" deal is that it's either or: Eco OR Boost but not both. Which is fine with me, I'm just tired of struggling to get up the hills. Going up to the Eisenhower Tunnel if there is any traffic at all that keeps me from maintaining a speed of at least 40, my truck ends up dropping down to 1st gear and about 5,000 RPM. Max speed at that point is 35 and the engine is screaming.

I don't think it's so much the engine as the 4 speed transmission. I really need another pair of gears, one between 1st and 2nd (1st is too low and 2nd is too high) and another between 3 and 4.

It's too bad you can't get a half ton truck with a manual transmission anymore, but that ship sailed a long time ago.

[sniper7]

I?d look at the 1/2 ton diesel options if you do a decent amount of towing.

I just ordered the new 2020 3500 duramax, 10 speed tranny now!

[Erni]

Slap a turbo or supercharger on it. =) I am debating a wholy impractical suburan conversion with dual turbos.
But for real, coworker put a supercharger on his 2000 suburban and would do 85 up the grapevine in CA while towing his large ski boat.

Sorry. We now return you to your regurarly scheduled thread.

[Martinjmpr]

I?d look at the 1/2 ton diesel options if you do a decent amount of towing.

I just ordered the new 2020 3500 duramax, 10 speed tranny now!

Diesel doesn't work for me for a number of reasons. This vehicle is also my DD and my short commute is likely to cause problems with a diesel, at least from what I've read.

For my uses, a gasser is better, the only question is to go with the twin turbo V6 or the NA V8.

[Martinjmpr]

Slap a turbo or supercharger on it. =) I am debating a wholy impractical suburan conversion with dual turbos.
But for real, coworker put a supercharger on his 2000 suburban and would do 85 up the grapevine in CA while towing his large ski boat.

Sorry. We now return you to your regurarly scheduled thread.

Supercharger!

Then I'd be all like....



Seriously, I kind of think that slapping a turbo or supercharger onto a 15 year old, 186,000 mile motor might not make for the best reliability.

[BushMasterBoy]

Whatever you decide, if it has an automatic transmission, it needs a larger transmission cooler than the factory one it came with. My 07 Silverado 2500HD was experiencing some really high transmission fluid temps. I added a deep sump cast aluminum transmission fluid pan that increased fluid capacity by 3 quarts. Then I installed a Tru Cool 40,000 BTU cooler in place of the factory cooler. Now the transmission temperature stays at least 50 F cooler than before and I never worry about over heating the trans fluid.

[ChickNorris]

Reliability schmiability... itd be a whole lotta fun.