Seriously considering downsizing and placing an order for a F-150 this week. Currently have a 2021 F-250 7.3 Tremor and it is a fantastic truck (outside of the small fuel tank and MPG’s), however I am no longer towing that heavy as I downsized campers and went to an ultra light with a 5K dry weight. At this point, it really exceeds my needs and just sits in the garage unless camping or hunting.

Having said that, I am currently thinking about ordering a F-150 but am going back and forth on engines (5.0 vs 3.5 Eco boast). I am leaning towards the 3.5 as I live at 7K feet and most of my light towing (7K or less) will likely benefit from the turbos and low end torque. However, the simplicity of the 5.0 almost seems like a no-brainer for longevity purposes but their new fuel management system is not proven. With those here who tow with their F-150, which engine do you prefer?

 

The 3.5 will have significantly more power at 7k feet than the 5.0. The 2.7 probably will too.

 

Not a lot of experience here but I just went through the same research process, watched a lot of videos, read a lot of threads on here and other forums and ended up buying a 3.5 just a few weeks ago. My trailer is about the same weight but I figured if I have four people in the truck, load up the trailer, bring firewood, maybe a generator, perhaps fill the clean water tank, I am really starting to get pretty heavy, which put 2.7 out of the running. Going over mountain passes, 3.5 was a hands-down winner for me personally though I’m yet to test its capabilities

 

This is basically where I am at as well and the increase in fuel prices is kind of making the decision a little easier to offload the F-250. From what I am understanding, the ecoboost really excels at altitude compared to the 5.0 but the turbo reliability makes me question it. But there is no denying the torque at lower RPM's that the 3.5 is putting out.

 

You arent going to get dramatically better fuel mileage with a 150 ecoboost IME.

Whats your 7.3/4.30's getting? 13-14?

My 3.5 powerboost is only getting like 19 avg(first tank was 19.6, second was 18.4) and im driving it like a grandpa... Not impressed and I dont know how people can claim 23-26mpg. If I was getting like 22-23 I would MAYBE buy the 23-26mpg claims, but I dont know, im skeptical.

Your Tremor probably gets what, 11 towing that 5k lb trailer... an ecoboost will get worse than that or AT BEST equal it.

Ive got a 350 7.3/4.30 on order. At first I was like "man did I make a mistake ordering that combo over an F150" then after tons of delays I found a great deal on a 150 powerboost that will get me by until my F350 shows up. I was really hoping for more MPG as I see lots of people "claiming" 23-26mpg... So far I havent seen it...at all, not even close. So if I can get 14-15mpg from my 350 7.3/4.30 truck I will be happy.

Also watch your payload in an F150. Mine sucks with only ~1400lbs available. F350 should be ~4k lbs. Your F250 is probably high 2k's.


I only post that to say dont trade based on some one off MPG claims that arent backed up anywhere. Fuelly is a great resource for real world MPG numbers...and I dont think I have seen any 3.5 ecoboost or powerboost trucks on Fuelly consistently reporting 23-26mpg's... most are in the 19-21 world.

 

common sense has to play into the equation. My 3.5 is rated at 18 mpg city / 22 hwy, that assumes ideal driving in perfect conditions. Payload on the yellow sticker a little over 2K. Load the sucker up to the brim, mpg drops in half. Drive a lot up hill, it drops more. That the case with any truck but without a load, my limited experience has me very close if not right at “advertised” rates

 

Don't worry about the turbos on any modern vehicle, they are one of the most reliable moving parts.
You can honestly just put that out of your mind. Look around here...turbos are not what is failing on these trucks.

 

At this point, a little lighter payload, 19-21 mpg and a 36 gallon tank may be a better alternative for me. As of now, the best I have gotten in the truck is just under 13.7 mpg and that was at 65mph. Towing either one of my trailers (5K-7K) and it drops to 8-9mpg on the flats and drops even further when pulling up a grade. Obviously I did not buy the truck for gas mileage and it is not a daily driver. However, I believe driving at altitude is not going to allow for this truck to do any better than what I am seeing now. Add in the small gas tank that these trucks have and I MAY get 200 miles per tank while towing which makes frequent planned stops a must. Hell, during last years elk season, the 15 gallons of gas I now keep in the bed via jerry cans saved my bacon in the back country. Before anyone mentions it, yes a diesel would probably suit my needs better than the 7.3 especially in the mountains. However, I have lemon'd two diesels in the last 5 years due to systemic emissions issues and I will never own another.

 

Yeah, I find myself wondering about the MPG too. I've got the 3.5EB with 3.55 rated 18/23 and I've never broken 20mpg even with just me in the truck on a road trip. It's not the end of the world, but this is the first vehicle in several decades where I haven't gotten better mileage than the ratings at least at times. I drove 700 miles round trip to KC and average 18 mpg. I'm hoping maybe it'll do better in warmer weather. I've had several subaru's that had significant mileage drops in winter.

 

They definitely do better in warmer weather. Winter fuel blend hits the 3.5 Ecoboost for 2-3 mpg....at least, that has been my experience over the past 89K miles.

 

There is zero concern with the reliability of the turbos. Zero. It's truly a non-issue.

The EcoBoost will have more power at altitude and while towing. It uses more fuel to make that more power. If you can stay light on your right foot when unloaded, you can get good mileage. The 5.0L gets good mileage and sounds better, will just be slower to the top of the hill.

In the end, if you like the way a NA V8 sounds and drive, get the NA V8. If you want a lower RPM more "diesel-style" experience, then get the EcoBoost. Both are excellent.

 

I was kicking this idea around a bit too. My 17 250 has 3,108 payload. I use it to tow my Jeep 4-6 times a year, otherwise it sits unless we are hauling or picking stuff up. I think the used truck prices these days are also making me think about ordering. I built a Lariat 150 with 3.5, max tow, and some other niceties and sent the build sheet to Granger Ford for a price. Their price is pretty decent too. Not an even swap, but darn close. I moved to a 250 after getting tired of the 150 being right at the max when towing, so I'm trying to remind myself of this fact and moving down may just put me back into that same situation. Then, I think a 22 will be better suited to towing than my 09 was.

Decisions, decisions...

 

No doubt about that as I have time to sit and wait for an order to come in vs. trying to settle with what is or is not on the lot. That and finding a unicorn like trimmed out Lariat crew cab lw/6.5 box out in the wild is next to impossible. Now the question is to push an order to Granger Ford or see if my local here will do X-plan.

 

Throw in the towing mirrors and it is impossible. I looked within 500 miles of my house and the only one I could find back in June '21 was a diesel.

 

We use diesel for our work trucks. Since def and emissions systems mileage has halved from our old 08 and prior trucks. Our three newer 2015/2018 and 2021 duramax get from 8-12. Depending on drw or srw. Loaded or not. They have also been nothing but trouble. All related to the emissions systems. The power of the newer ones is stupid though. No doubt. Lol road tractor power levels in a 3500. Lol

my 21 5.0 gets better mileage that any previous vehicle I've had since 04. Thats an 08 avenger RT awd. An 08 wrangler 2 dr rubicon 3.8. Our highlander limited 3.5 v6. And a couple NA 2.5 liter subaru (subaru didn't use DOHC until recently and mileage was absolutely pathetic. Even My 2 door sub-3k lb 2.5 rs with a 5 speed never broke 24 on the interstate. The wagon got 18) Both city and highway my 5 0 supercrew beats all those. My old 04 5 speed 4.6 mustang gets 2-3 mpg better in the interstate at 70 on cruise but gets 2-3 worse around home. All of those including the new 5.0 got 93 octane except for when the wife fills the highlander. Just FYI

I see several 3.5/2.7 and 5 0 in my shop. Never seen any of the others so I have no opinion. I don't think Ford sells much of the others. Last year I actually asked a friend who owns a ford dealership how the 3.3 held up. He said he had never saw one..... that's in a farm town at the biggest dealer. I live at 3k-6600 feet elevation locally and most here travel 6600 ft down to sea level at the coast. Ive seen no 3.5 ecoboost owner happy with their MPG. Not one. Thats the chief complaint. You can have ECO or boost. Around in the mountains your using boost. No eco. Only one 3.5 owner that i know actually went back to it in another truck. Not one 3.5 owner ever complained about power though. They are stout. The 21 5 0 has closed that gap though and I see no harm done by elevation but the highest I've gone is WV. . The rest go 2.7 for mileage or 5.0 for equally poor mileage and far better sound. Most have claimed 2-3 more mpg from their v8 in the mountains. The one repeat buyer is actually a female lawyer and never had a hitch in the receiver so id guess she just buys a loaded truck she likes and don't worry about the engine. Her husband is far less vehicle savvy then she is. Lol. Great customers though. "Just fix it right" type customers. Not "fix it but cheap as possible" customers.

In the newer generations I wouldn't worry about reliability with either. If anything the 3 5 is a more established engine then the all new 5.0. People who justify their choice by"my 2020 3.5 has more power than my 2014 5.0" are foolish. Unfair comparison. Different engines. People who say "my gen 1 3.5 had turbo issues and my 2016 5.0 was flawless" are also foolish. The year and generation matters. The 5.0 has several changes. Could be better. Could be worse.

As far as power the 3.5 and the 5.0 are over 400 hp and 400 TQ. And a 10 speed. All through the 70s and 80 the big Ford dump trucks (9000) had similar TQ and less HP and a 15 speed and moved many many ton at highway speeds. Even with the old cummins diesels they didn't have much more tq. We aren't limited by power. We are limited by platform. Flip a coin between the 3.5 and the 5.0 and cap it a day. I chose the 5.0 for my own reasons.