2017 with 5.0L engine has no towing power
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,868
Likes: 356
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
We have to remember that it's only a 5.0 so 70 MPH in 6th gear is probably not going to happen unless it's downhill. My 5.0 also has 3.55 gears and 33" tires so it's not necessarily optimal (first tow was with 35" flywheels). Dropping back to a 33" lighter tire and wheel combo produced a noticeable difference.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 3
It runs smoothly when not towing, it will stay in 6tg gear when going at highway speed, say 70 mph. You can tell the motor is not to comfortable at 80 seems like it runs out of power. Somebody mentioned the air cleaner and I need to take a look at that. I'm gonna bring it in for an oil change and have the Dealer check the motor out. Just wondering if anyone noticed a performance change using 87 or higher octane gas? Do performance tuners shorten the life of the engine, cause valve or piston problems?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
I just bought a used 2017 f150 with a 5.0L engine. I hooked it up to my motorcycle trailer today and what a disappointment! I could barely get 70mph out of it. The truck has 34K miles on it and sounds good. Am I missing something here, the trailer cannot weight 2500 lbs. Has anyone else has this problem, what did ford do to fix it???
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 3
Will do, thanks, and I am planning on putting some 93 in it just to see if it makes a difference. Perhaps some highway miles will roast out the catalytic converter?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,457
Likes: 722
From: Calgary Canada
When you say "barely" will do 70, what exactly do you mean? Are you saying your foot is on the floor and it's not getting there, or are you saying it needs to be at higher RPM than you are comfortable with?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 3
I was going down Rt. 495 in MA, A strait flat 3 lane highway more or less at sea level, on a 50degree day. The truck seems to be sorta OK at 65, which is slow compared to the traffic I'm driving with. I try to bring the truck up to 70, the truck goes into 4th gear, somewhere past 3000 RPM. I reach 70 and the truck is struggling to remain in 5th. Any small rise in the road puts the truck into 4th gear and I am pressing harder on the gas pedal and i'm not going faster or maintaining speed. 6th is a down-hill gear, truck remains in 5th but is more comfortable in 4th. This is with my light motorcycle trailer with one bike in it and I'm wondering how impossible it would be if I tried to tow the boat trailer. The boat trailer is near to the max Ford says this truck can handle and I think it would be impossible, I think the truck would be in 3rd and tacking on around 4500 rpm and going less that 55. NOW COME ON, ITS GOTTA DO BETTER THAN THAT. Like I said before, I'm gonna have the dealer check it out during an oil change. OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE, I LOVE IT, ITS COMFORTABLE QUIET AND RIDES LIKE A CAR.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 16
From: Arizona/Texas
Double check your trailer brakes. Jack up each wheel and check rotation with no power to trailer. Then plug in the trailer and check each wheel again. You can try towing the trailer empty without being plugged in. Is this a single or dual axle trailer?
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 681
Likes: 11
Subjective as it may be, it does seem a bit strange that it would have to be in such a low gear to pull a motorcycle.