First long tow update
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First long tow update
Last weekend I did just under a 700 mi round trip with my 2014 screw max tow pulling a SA 7x12 enclosed. Trailer weight was probably pretty close to the 3500 gross, but I didn't weigh it.
First of all, the good: The tow mirrors are great. Easy to see around the trailer and the bottom pane gives a good view of the trailer tires. I love the integrated brake control. It is much smoother than the aftermarket control I had on the Yukon. Plenty of power, rarely down shifted and usually only to 5th even on some pretty long slopes. Finally, the backup camera is great for hitching.
Now the bad: Pretty disappointed in the mileage. My Yukon 5.3L seemed to struggle a lot more with the load (hard down shifts, higher rpm's, etc.), but was always safely above 10 mpg unless we had a severe head wind. This truck ran a 9.2 mpg average with no significant head or cross winds. I honestly expected it to be an improvement, not a step back.
First of all, the good: The tow mirrors are great. Easy to see around the trailer and the bottom pane gives a good view of the trailer tires. I love the integrated brake control. It is much smoother than the aftermarket control I had on the Yukon. Plenty of power, rarely down shifted and usually only to 5th even on some pretty long slopes. Finally, the backup camera is great for hitching.
Now the bad: Pretty disappointed in the mileage. My Yukon 5.3L seemed to struggle a lot more with the load (hard down shifts, higher rpm's, etc.), but was always safely above 10 mpg unless we had a severe head wind. This truck ran a 9.2 mpg average with no significant head or cross winds. I honestly expected it to be an improvement, not a step back.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 410
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From: New Mexico
You don't state your axle ratio between the two vehicles, that can make a difference.
Another thing is wind resistance, your Yukon may have given less in wind resistance compared to your F150. I have that with my current Toyhauler as it catches allot of wind resistance cruising down the highway, cruising at 62mph instead of the posted 70 gave me improved mpg.
Before this 5.0L I had the 5.4L same axle ratio/same 6-speed auto, my 5.0L does do better overall in the mpg when towing. Even w/my 5.4L I very seldom went over 65mph when towing.
I did a trailer pull yesterday, took my toyhauler weighing in at 3600lbs w/my atv loaded up to a friends home so we could change out the leaf springs trailer bushings.
Highway I did use the Tow/Haul, this 5.0L stayed more in the 4th and 5th gears, downshifted 4 times into 3rd on the longer steeper climbs, elevation was 5640 to 6700ft.
My Mileage going up was 11.8, coming back it was 12.2, the trans temp stayed at 203F going there and back. I set the cruise at 62mph.
Another thing is wind resistance, your Yukon may have given less in wind resistance compared to your F150. I have that with my current Toyhauler as it catches allot of wind resistance cruising down the highway, cruising at 62mph instead of the posted 70 gave me improved mpg.
Before this 5.0L I had the 5.4L same axle ratio/same 6-speed auto, my 5.0L does do better overall in the mpg when towing. Even w/my 5.4L I very seldom went over 65mph when towing.
I did a trailer pull yesterday, took my toyhauler weighing in at 3600lbs w/my atv loaded up to a friends home so we could change out the leaf springs trailer bushings.
Highway I did use the Tow/Haul, this 5.0L stayed more in the 4th and 5th gears, downshifted 4 times into 3rd on the longer steeper climbs, elevation was 5640 to 6700ft.
My Mileage going up was 11.8, coming back it was 12.2, the trans temp stayed at 203F going there and back. I set the cruise at 62mph.
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Final drive is a bit higher (lower numerically) in the Yukon than the 3.73's in the max tow. However, it is an '03 with a 4 speed, so average rpm is still higher in the Yukon. Curb weight is about 300 lbs more in the F-150. Profile is slightly higher, but the trailer is above the roofline of both vehicles. EPA on the Yukon was 13/17.
I run in the 70-75 mph range, limits permitting, did so with the Yukon also. I'm sure mileage would be better at 55 mph, but I find that it takes me longer to get where I am going. Mileage on the way there was 8.8, running in tow mode. I didn't use tow mode on the way back and the trip average climbed back to 9.2.
At the end of the day, it is a much better drive with the Ford, just takes a bit more fuel. I am wondering if I would have been better off with the 5.0L, or the Chevy 5.3L.
I run in the 70-75 mph range, limits permitting, did so with the Yukon also. I'm sure mileage would be better at 55 mph, but I find that it takes me longer to get where I am going. Mileage on the way there was 8.8, running in tow mode. I didn't use tow mode on the way back and the trip average climbed back to 9.2.
At the end of the day, it is a much better drive with the Ford, just takes a bit more fuel. I am wondering if I would have been better off with the 5.0L, or the Chevy 5.3L.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Clay Country, GA, NE MS
So Mike, ye have the Ecoboost, 4x4, 3.73 max tow package, eh? If so, I think you're getting about what you should driving 70-75 towing. Drop down to about 60-65, and I think you might break 10 mpg highway towing. My 5.4 only gets about 10 towing our 25' 4,500 pound travel trailer, and I can sure tell it's back there. I think at those speeds, you're doing about what anybody can get.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Yeah -- confirming your truck has the EcoBoost?? I haven't towed with mine yet (long distance), so I'm wondering how it'll do. My tow load is a 20' bay boat though, weighing maybe a little more at 4000 fully loaded. I'm hoping to be around 12mpg to be equal to my previous truck.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Illinois
A lot of things come into play when trying to increase mpg towing with the Ecoboost.
Speed is definitely a main thing. I bought a new 23' snowmobile trailer, that weighs only a 200 lbs more than my 16' steel trailer I had last year. The new trailer has a longer "V" and I actually achieved 11-13mpg towing it around this winter. The roads seemed to be worse this year on my trips, so I rarely went over 65-70mph. Most times I was in 4x4 as well. Last year, I would do 80 most times.
Speed is definitely a main thing. I bought a new 23' snowmobile trailer, that weighs only a 200 lbs more than my 16' steel trailer I had last year. The new trailer has a longer "V" and I actually achieved 11-13mpg towing it around this winter. The roads seemed to be worse this year on my trips, so I rarely went over 65-70mph. Most times I was in 4x4 as well. Last year, I would do 80 most times.
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It is an Ecoboost. I think I bought into the 'Eco' part of that a bit too much. Based on where my 11 year old Yukon was, I was fully expecting close to 12. You would think that a twin turbo DI V-6 with a 6-speed would do better than a 12-year old, old tech V-8 with 165K on the clock and a 4-speed.
My trailer does catch some wind, but it is hardly a heavy haul. It is new and did do better on the return, but I don't expect a lot of 'break-in' improvement.
My trailer does catch some wind, but it is hardly a heavy haul. It is new and did do better on the return, but I don't expect a lot of 'break-in' improvement.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Calgary Canada
Mike, that EcoBoost is more of an "Eco OR Boost" situation. It'll get good mileage unloaded, or you will find it has impressive power when towing. Not both at the same time.
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 410
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From: New Mexico
When I did a trip years ago I had a camper top or a dog house on the Truck bed that was level with the top of the truck cab, that really helped my mpg with the 5.4L when towing the same Toyhauler I now have. That camper top help with the air flow over the truck, not like now as the air flow is hitting all of the front of the trailer. I can feel this at speeds of 75 but when I cruise along at 60-65 I feel very little resistance but the mpg still suffers.
I'm sure your Yukon had better airflow over it and even though it was a 4 speed and so forth, it also didn't have the boost motor.
I cruise at 62 only because the tranny runs its coolest at that speed.
I'm sure your Yukon had better airflow over it and even though it was a 4 speed and so forth, it also didn't have the boost motor.
I cruise at 62 only because the tranny runs its coolest at that speed.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
Here's where Ford really muddies the water with the ecoboost claims. The ecoboost will achieve superior MPG's as long as you buy a truck equipped more like mine. 3.31 axles. Towing about 4000-4500 I can still achieve over 16 MPG's and I'm well within my max towing capacity of 9200.
Not every one needs a max tow equipped truck which gets you the large mirrors and a 3.73 gear set. A bit of overkill just to pull under 4K. A 3.7L N/A V-6 truck would do that all day long with no issues.
But where your ecoboost truck will shine is you'll be able to pull over 11K anytime you want whereas the Yukon will leave you severely limited in this area.
When Ford advertises the EPA ratings on these trucks, they have two sets of large printed numbers that are very generic as they don't differentiate MPG's by gear ratios. The numbers that must be paid attention to are the smaller numbers in the same box. I'll wager that you are still well within MPG range listed in the smaller print. This would be Ford's disclaimer that everyone seems to ignore.
Not every one needs a max tow equipped truck which gets you the large mirrors and a 3.73 gear set. A bit of overkill just to pull under 4K. A 3.7L N/A V-6 truck would do that all day long with no issues.
But where your ecoboost truck will shine is you'll be able to pull over 11K anytime you want whereas the Yukon will leave you severely limited in this area.
When Ford advertises the EPA ratings on these trucks, they have two sets of large printed numbers that are very generic as they don't differentiate MPG's by gear ratios. The numbers that must be paid attention to are the smaller numbers in the same box. I'll wager that you are still well within MPG range listed in the smaller print. This would be Ford's disclaimer that everyone seems to ignore.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Steeler Country
Mike I would think opposite of you, same weight and trailer, truck body going to have the air smacking front of trailer more to begin with,
v8 or v6, v6 going to use more fuel to pull that. twin turbos- even more fuel.
power takes fuel. you went down in displacement, has to be made up in turbo boost and rpm.
v8 or v6, v6 going to use more fuel to pull that. twin turbos- even more fuel.
power takes fuel. you went down in displacement, has to be made up in turbo boost and rpm.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Mike I would think opposite of you, same weight and trailer, truck body going to have the air smacking front of trailer more to begin with,
v8 or v6, v6 going to use more fuel to pull that. twin turbos- even more fuel.
power takes fuel. you went down in displacement, has to be made up in turbo boost and rpm.
v8 or v6, v6 going to use more fuel to pull that. twin turbos- even more fuel.
power takes fuel. you went down in displacement, has to be made up in turbo boost and rpm.
To the OP, are all these mileages you list hand-calculated or are you relying on the lie-o-meters?
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I haven't filled it yet, so those are trip meter numbers. However, I did the hand calc to estimate what I should have in the tank and it seems to be right on the money. It was running E10 on the way down, not sure what I fueled up with on the return.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
Here's where Ford really muddies the water with the ecoboost claims. The ecoboost will achieve superior MPG's as long as you buy a truck equipped more like mine. 3.31 axles. Towing about 4000-4500 I can still achieve over 16 MPG's and I'm well within my max towing capacity of 9200.
On the highway you will get better fuel economy with a low-profile 10,000 lb trailer than you will a 3,000 lb full-profile enclosed trailer.