I am looking at ordering the new 2016 F-150 in a few months and I have been doing a lot of number crunching and research but I'm still not completely comfortable about one thing. I want to get the 2.7 ecoboost with a 3.73 rear ratio and the 9.75 gearset. When I out this truck together on the Ford website it gives it a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. I have seen plenty of videos of people towing 7000 pounds and they say it just takes a little more pedal when climbing hills so I'm fine with the weight on the roads. My main concern is when I go to the landfill with my dump trailer totaling about 7500 pounds. Currently I use a 2011 GMC with the 5.3 and it gets the job done with LESS torque and horse power than the 2.7 but it is also rated for MORE weight. I guess my question is will i still be able to haul that weight once and a while through the ruts and muck at the landfill? (Yes I will be getting 4WD) My normal loads I know will be fine because they are closer to 5,500 pounds but I don't want to get out there with one of my heavier loads and not be able to get the job done. If I need to go with the 3.5 than I will but I would rather not just for those once and a while loads. (I will probably never haul more than 8,000 pounds ever so no need for 12,000 pound towing capacity.)

 

Well, in my opinion, at low speeds, the thing that gets and keeps your load moving is torque. So if the engine has it, and the truck itself is capable, you will be fine. As with any engine, in a situation like you describe, I'd suggest shifting into 4Lo.

 

I think the 2.7L will suit you just fine.

With the torque and HP that little mill puts out, I can't imagine it would lack the power to move just about anything you could hook to it. Tow ratings are relatively conservative in my opinion, and the engineers who designed the powertrain are confident it can handle more than you'll be throwing at it.

More horsepower and torque than the old 5.4L V8 that powered the F150 until 2011, and that thing was rated for over 11,000 lbs when properly equipped. Power will not be a problem.

ON edit: I don't believe you can get the 9.75" axle behind the 2.7L engine. I wouldn't let that stop you from getting one though.

 

It would also depend on how often you need to tow big lbs. I don't tow often, but when I do, I don't want to worry about hitting any limits.

I know I've overloaded my Tacomas, and thankfully it hasn't been very often.

 

I mentioned in the other thread how Ford rated the 5.0 versus 3.5 in towing. Same thing with the 2.7 IMHO. It's held back to keep the 3.5EB as the pinnacle engine, when in reality the 3 engines are extremely close and would only be seperated by the slimmest of margins, maybe 200-400 pounds from 3.5EB to 5.0 then another 200-400 to the 2.7.

Josh

 

If you put it in 4lo you'll have more torque than you know what to do with. Torque gets multiplied by the gear ratio, so the 3:1 or so the transfer case gives you makes a huge difference.

 

On power output alone I"d completely agree with that. I'd be perfectly comfortable pulling 11,000 lbs with the 325/375 that the 2.7L produces. With the 6R80's nice deep 4.17:1 first gear the base 3.5L N/A engine would happily start 7,500 lbs of trailer on uneven ground.

 

I'm looking at going down this road as well. The vast majority of the time, it will be my DD, or used to haul small loads in the bed. Once or twice a month it will be used to tow a car hauler, total weight around 6K lbs. Most of the towing will be less than 25 miles each way, with an occasional (1-2 times a year) long pull (500 each way).

My issue is that the trucks I'm interested in are all 3.31 axles. I would prefer a 3.55 but that option is not available in RWD, only 4WD. I think the 3.73 would be overkill and hurt the MPGs as a daily driver. Has anyone towed with the 3.31 gears?

 

Good question, and good answers. This also helps me decide which engine. It's a hard choice for sure! Wha', 4 good engine choices? We're wanting to get a bit bigger travel trailer, but not huge. I now pull our 25' Aerolite, empty weight, 3,200 lbs. but we load it to the gills. Probably about 5,000 lbs loaded. I don't know, never had it weighed. I'm thinking the 2.7 will do great for pulling up to it's maximum. Especially slowly at the dump. 5.0, 3.5 Ecoboost, 2.7 Ecoboost, which to get, that is THE question facing a lot of us!! Test drive, test drive, test drive is all I know. Only problem with that is the sales people! Drive me crazy.

 

Good discussion. Despite the similar max horsepower and torque figures of various engines, I think one issue that Ford has to consider in rating is sustained power under load. Any of these engines could easily run at max hp for a 1/4 mile drag race, or passing a slow car on a 2 lane road. But when you get into a situation like pulling the max weight trailer up a mountain pass on a 90 degree day, the turbos on the 2.7 are gonna be burning hot, probably a little less hot on the 3.5, and the 5.0 doesn't have any to worry about.

The least mechanically and thermally stressed combination would be something like an iron big block V8 with a really mild cam that is tuned for max power at 4k rpm. But those days are gone.

For something like getting a heavy trailer across ruts in low range on an occasional basis, I'd say the 2.7 would be great. I even like the idea of the high tech iron block in that engine. The 3.5 that Ford tore apart at the Detroit Auto Show (in 2011?) put out some impressive power but not for many years. They did beat on it pretty well and it looked good at teardown, which I saw in person.

The torture test is gonna be when these trucks are old and ratty with 200k miles and being used by lawn crews pulling overweight trailers, running on the cheapest possible fuel, with low coolant and oil levels and old oil and coolant. For that kind of lifespan, I might still be inclined to vote for the V8.

George

 

I haven't, but I wouldn't hesitate to get one with 3.31s for your use.

Axle gearing matters less now than it ever has. We have transmissions with an extremely short first gear ratio and lots of closely spaced ratios that can put the engine right where it needs to be.

My '13 F150 had the 3.5L EB and 3.73s with the max tow package. That thing would spin the wheels from a stop with 12,000 lbs behind it, with the rear axle loaded to GAWR. Absolutely no need for that much torque multiplication for that use, I would have preferred 3.31s even though I was pulling heavy things. The 2.7 doesn't make the same low-end torque, but it's certainly not far off, and you're not talking about 12,000 lbs.

 

For my kind of towing, I prefer 3.73s. but if you just tow under 7k, and the truck is mostly a DD, Id probably go for 3.31s. my next truck will have 3.31s if I can get it.

 

The 3.5L eco with 3.31 axles is a great combo, especially on the 2015+ trucks. It gets you great MPG's and well over 10K in towing capability.

The 2.7L may be employing some tech that the future 3.5's will get such as the CGI block and perhaps a better CAC system. That's a great reason to start with the 2.7L, it's solid and well thought out.

 

Much of the time honored wisdom of what's needed to do what has drastically changed in past 5 years. The motors have gotten much more impressive, but as has been said above, it's the modern transmissions that really have been game changers. The base motor can be rated for 7k. I could be wrong but I believe in 2011 GM was still using the make up your own ratings system (as was Ford) so I wouldn't necessarily pin a current F150 against an older truck simply by the numbers.

 

Other than engine, is there anything different between the 4x2 screw 2.7 and 3.5?