ecoboost towing?
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 671
From: Sioux Falls Area
1. Besides heavy duty payload and max tow what else do I need to make this a work truck? What gears are best? 80-90% of the time this will be my daily driver, and ecoboost fuel economy is probably the only reason I'm not looking at the superduty. I do drive with a light foot btw and usually set the cruise at around 50-55mph, right where the motor goes into overdrive.
2. My plan is to get a 20' car hauler with a GVWR of 10,000. That'll give me enough payload to move a small apartment going one way, and take a couple skids or a car coming home.
I checked out the trailers. If I want a car hauler with a solid ramp that can support a forklift for loading skids it'll be around 3500 pounds. That leaves 6500 payload.
Realistically how much car can I put in there without worrying about tongue weight?
2. My plan is to get a 20' car hauler with a GVWR of 10,000. That'll give me enough payload to move a small apartment going one way, and take a couple skids or a car coming home.
I checked out the trailers. If I want a car hauler with a solid ramp that can support a forklift for loading skids it'll be around 3500 pounds. That leaves 6500 payload.
Realistically how much car can I put in there without worrying about tongue weight?
so, in a nutshell, if you want a max payload/max tow, you get the ecoboost with 3.73 LS. which is what i think you said you were wanting.
as for how much car you can load, you should be fine with anything that does not overload you trailer. your hitch should be rated to 1100lbs tongue weight with the weight distributing hitch. being a vehicle, you probably have some flexibility on how far forward you load it.
just make sure it is far enough forward to put a fair amount of weight on the truck, then adjust your WD hitch to accommodate the load you have.
6500lbs should give you enough to load a regular crew cab 1/2 ton pickup, which is nice. FWIW, i drove my 83 k20 across a scale and with me in it it weighed in right at 5350, putting the truck right at 5200 (wet).
i'm not sure if that really answers you questions or not. if not, let me know and i'll try again.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 671
From: Sioux Falls Area
any f150 with any trailer tow package comes with a receiver hitch. max tow gets an upgraded bumper to help support the additional weight. max tow also comes with extendable towing mirrors.
do not entertain the idea of getting a truck without the factory tow package and letting the dealer add the receiver hitch. if you go that route you will miss out on alot of goodies that the towing package comes with.
as for a weight distributing hitch, etrailer.com has a wealth of information and vidoes to help you out:
Weight Distribution Review, Installation, and Help Information | etrailer.com
everything you ever wanted to know, and probably a little more, should be there for your reading and viewing pleasure. everything from picking the right type to installation and setup is there, so it is a very good place to get started. usually their prices are pretty competitive too, but you could also get everything you need at a local RV dealer.
do not entertain the idea of getting a truck without the factory tow package and letting the dealer add the receiver hitch. if you go that route you will miss out on alot of goodies that the towing package comes with.
as for a weight distributing hitch, etrailer.com has a wealth of information and vidoes to help you out:
Weight Distribution Review, Installation, and Help Information | etrailer.com
everything you ever wanted to know, and probably a little more, should be there for your reading and viewing pleasure. everything from picking the right type to installation and setup is there, so it is a very good place to get started. usually their prices are pretty competitive too, but you could also get everything you need at a local RV dealer.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
I tow a 20' 7500lb enclosed race trailer ever single weekend to the race tracks for MX. Probably put 200-300 miles every weekend on my Ecoboost towing. The truck pulls it so easy its disturbing. It doesnt even know its back there. A lot of people say that about there trucks, and i would have said that about my 99 F-150 last year when i used it to tow the same rig.
My ecoboost out does my 99 5.4l in every way imaginable.
My ecoboost out does my 99 5.4l in every way imaginable.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
The dealer is sneaky. One of them called my house and said I should come into the dealership and talk to their "truck guy". Well after telling the truck guy I wanted max tow and max payload he tried to talk me into buying another truck he had on the lot, but didn't have the max payload. That's why I started doing some research. My gut says to get an f350 for this kind of work, but I don't have the money to go big and get the diesel, and if this turbocharged v6 can tow 10,000 pounds then it's up for the job.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 671
From: Sioux Falls Area
you will very likely have to order one to get the max payload option, most have.
truth be told, you are right on the bubble between a super duty and a half ton. the lines between the two have been effectively blurred. i don't think you can go wrong either way, to be honest.
max tow may get you there, but some have found it hard to stay under GVWR with the trailer and a family. the max payload adds a margin of safety in that regard.
a dealer trade might get you one with the max payload. i'm pretty sure woodhouse in nebraska would have one on the lot, just have to work out a dealer swap if they do.
Welcome to Woodhouse | Woodhouse Auto Family | Bellevue Omaha Blair Plattsmouth Nebraska | Missouri Valley Sioux City Iowa
truth be told, you are right on the bubble between a super duty and a half ton. the lines between the two have been effectively blurred. i don't think you can go wrong either way, to be honest.
max tow may get you there, but some have found it hard to stay under GVWR with the trailer and a family. the max payload adds a margin of safety in that regard.
a dealer trade might get you one with the max payload. i'm pretty sure woodhouse in nebraska would have one on the lot, just have to work out a dealer swap if they do.
Welcome to Woodhouse | Woodhouse Auto Family | Bellevue Omaha Blair Plattsmouth Nebraska | Missouri Valley Sioux City Iowa
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 671
From: Sioux Falls Area
before pulling the trigger, you should ask tom about his new setup.
he is very conscientious about vehicle loading. his new rig is exactly what you are talking about and he went home with a new max tow without the max payload.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1240668-im-back.html
check out post #16 for the trailer he intends to pull with his new max tow.
he is very conscientious about vehicle loading. his new rig is exactly what you are talking about and he went home with a new max tow without the max payload.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1240668-im-back.html
check out post #16 for the trailer he intends to pull with his new max tow.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 3
From: Suffolk, VA USA
I've got a very similar set-up to Tom's except mine is an FX4 vice an XLT...max tow/no max payload. My max tow capacity is 11,200 lbs with 1,580 lbs of payload. GCWR is 17,800 or so. I routinely tow 9,000 to 10,000 lbs with a tongue weight of 980 lbs using a good weight distributing hitch. Drivetrain-wise the truck handles the load just fine. Towing fuel economy isn't great...between 8-10 mpg depending on conditions...but I'll sacrifice a little bit of economy for a more friendly truck when not towing. Although the ride and suspension was acceptable towing that load, I thought it could be better. I swapped out the P-rated stock tires for LT rated tires with stiffer sidewalls, and added the Firestone air bag system in the rear. For a lot less money than a Super Duty, the changes really enhanced the experience of using the truck at it's full capacity. Aired up to about 50 psi in the bags it's steady as a rock with no sway or porpoising.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
before pulling the trigger, you should ask tom about his new setup.
he is very conscientious about vehicle loading. his new rig is exactly what you are talking about and he went home with a new max tow without the max payload.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1240668-im-back.html
check out post #16 for the trailer he intends to pull with his new max tow.
he is very conscientious about vehicle loading. his new rig is exactly what you are talking about and he went home with a new max tow without the max payload.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1240668-im-back.html
check out post #16 for the trailer he intends to pull with his new max tow.
I've got a very similar set-up to Tom's except mine is an FX4 vice an XLT...max tow/no max payload. My max tow capacity is 11,200 lbs with 1,580 lbs of payload. GCWR is 17,800 or so. I routinely tow 9,000 to 10,000 lbs with a tongue weight of 980 lbs using a good weight distributing hitch. Drivetrain-wise the truck handles the load just fine. Towing fuel economy isn't great...between 8-10 mpg depending on conditions...but I'll sacrifice a little bit of economy for a more friendly truck when not towing. Although the ride and suspension was acceptable towing that load, I thought it could be better. I swapped out the P-rated stock tires for LT rated tires with stiffer sidewalls, and added the Firestone air bag system in the rear. For a lot less money than a Super Duty, the changes really enhanced the experience of using the truck at it's full capacity. Aired up to about 50 psi in the bags it's steady as a rock with no sway or porpoising.
I could have gotten a 6.2L F350 for around the same price, but I went with the half ton because of how frequently I don't tow. I only pull any serious weight a few times a year, and the F150 is a MUCH better driving truck in just about every situation. Since trading my last F150 I've had an '08 F250, '11 F350, and my '00 Excursion. I vastly prefer the way the F150 drives to all of them, and I don't have the diesel maintenance headaches or potential $20,000 repair bill out of warranty.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I don't think you'd do much better with a diesel truck. Perhaps 10-12 if you're easy on it. I really liked my Powerstroke trucks, but cheap to operate they aren't. I tend to think the better fuel economy is offset by the increased price per gallon, extra maintenance, and repair costs when they break. Wonderful for those who consistently tow, but just not worth it for me.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 3
From: Suffolk, VA USA
I bought this truck and have never looked back. Spent and additional $1,800 on the tires and air bag system, and have all the capability I need. A similarly equipped Super Duty diesel would have been about $13K more. I can't recommend the Ecoboost F150 enough.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I was helping someone move, and she loaded it to the gills. I don't plan on running that heavy again; I had about 2,000 lbs on the tongue. Far exceeded the capacity of the hitch, but I was under the rated capacity of all my axles. The photo above was with this load; with my Air Lift airbags it almost looks normal!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 3
From: Suffolk, VA USA
Wow....that's a lot of weight. Any idea how far over you were on the tongue? Agree that's way beyond what you'd want to try with the F150. I think you're right though....especially with the Ecoboost the drivetrain wouldn't be the limiting factor.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
The hitch on the new F150 is rated at 11,500/1,150, but it doesn't appear as overbuilt as the one on the X. I can only hope it would handle that much weight as well, but I sure as heck never plan on finding out!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post