Ford Ploy?
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 2,054
From: Central MO
I'd have to drive on with a loaded trailer on the highway. Every F150 has had trouble towing relatively light loads vs thier ratings on the highway. My concern is that with the increased weight and similar OD ratios to the 4R70W and 4R75E that it will still struggle on the highway with only 50 more HP and 15 more ft/lbs vs my 2000.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
What I've heard and what I think is in the manual is that as long as it's not shifting in and out of OD, use it towing.
Now I use it because if I don't the engine is screaming down the road ~2500RPM. Not good for fuel economy, might as well have a SD v10.
My normal load is up to 3K plus trailer weight. Shouldn't be a problem in OD but it seems like it needs a lot of gas on the flat and lots of flirting with downshifting and losing speed on small inclines. But flooring it up to speed is no problem.
IMO the 6 speed is the best thing about this 09 F150. I love tow/haul in SDs.
Mike
Now I use it because if I don't the engine is screaming down the road ~2500RPM. Not good for fuel economy, might as well have a SD v10.
My normal load is up to 3K plus trailer weight. Shouldn't be a problem in OD but it seems like it needs a lot of gas on the flat and lots of flirting with downshifting and losing speed on small inclines. But flooring it up to speed is no problem.
IMO the 6 speed is the best thing about this 09 F150. I love tow/haul in SDs.
Mike
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
From: Denver USA
What I've heard and what I think is in the manual is that as long as it's not shifting in and out of OD, use it towing.
Now I use it because if I don't the engine is screaming down the road ~2500RPM. Not good for fuel economy, might as well have a SD v10.
My normal load is up to 3K plus trailer weight. Shouldn't be a problem in OD but it seems like it needs a lot of gas on the flat and lots of flirting with downshifting and losing speed on small inclines. But flooring it up to speed is no problem.
IMO the 6 speed is the best thing about this 09 F150. I love tow/haul in SDs.
Mike
Now I use it because if I don't the engine is screaming down the road ~2500RPM. Not good for fuel economy, might as well have a SD v10.
My normal load is up to 3K plus trailer weight. Shouldn't be a problem in OD but it seems like it needs a lot of gas on the flat and lots of flirting with downshifting and losing speed on small inclines. But flooring it up to speed is no problem.
IMO the 6 speed is the best thing about this 09 F150. I love tow/haul in SDs.
Mike
Keep in mind you are also comparing a 2000s to the 2009s. Big difference. I went from an '02 F150 Scab 5.4L 2v 4x4 3.55 to an '06 F150 Screw 3v 4x4 3.73. Big difference with a load behind you. Both in bulling power, rpm level and controlling the load.
Wow, my '02 never had issues with a 3K lb load, and the '06 makes short work of that light of a load. Haven't we already discussed at one point that many here feel you may have something plaguing your truck? I've carried roughly 5-7K lbs in my '02 from 5200ft to over 10Kft elevation on some steep grades. Sure the steeper the grade and longer the grade the '02 stuggled more, but never anything of concern where someone was pulling away from me with their trailer, well unless it was some of these crazy diesel owners.
Are you expecting to much from your truck? Are you looking at the new truck running roughly 100 more hp & 6spds and wondering why yours doesn't work like theirs?
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
When comparing my 2000 to an 09 I'm looking at the weak points of mine and what I'll be getting for my money in the 09. My 2000 weakness is highway towing.
All the tests I've seen have the 3.55ish gears with the 09. So with only 15 ft/lbs more and similar OD ratios, you're looking at a very marginal increase at best. Going to 3.73 only offers 44 more ft/lbs to the rear wheels with 365ft lbs. My 350ft/lbs with 3.55s is only 100ft/lbs to the wheels less than the 09 with 3.73s.
I would get another 50HP, but I don't think that is worth my 27000, assuming I don't buy in for 3 years, as I won't. For 40K equiped how I like, no friggin way.
I was the one who thought I had a problem and I don't think that I do. I might be looking for too much, IDK.
For me, my next truck is most likely a SD diesel since I'll want/need a new truck in the next 3-4 years and with buying used it will be a long time before anything I want from Ford in a 1/2 ton truck will be in my price range.
Mike
All the tests I've seen have the 3.55ish gears with the 09. So with only 15 ft/lbs more and similar OD ratios, you're looking at a very marginal increase at best. Going to 3.73 only offers 44 more ft/lbs to the rear wheels with 365ft lbs. My 350ft/lbs with 3.55s is only 100ft/lbs to the wheels less than the 09 with 3.73s.
I would get another 50HP, but I don't think that is worth my 27000, assuming I don't buy in for 3 years, as I won't. For 40K equiped how I like, no friggin way.
I was the one who thought I had a problem and I don't think that I do. I might be looking for too much, IDK.
For me, my next truck is most likely a SD diesel since I'll want/need a new truck in the next 3-4 years and with buying used it will be a long time before anything I want from Ford in a 1/2 ton truck will be in my price range.
Mike
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
From: Denver USA
Mike: I'll just agree to disagree. Seems you are only basing your towing ability simply off the hp/lb-ft and using the '00 model as your basis. Which HP is only one attribute to towing these loads. If you feel Ford doesn't offer what you want in a 1/2 ton, no problem. If more power is what you want, that's fine. I'm sure we can go on and on, but you have already made up your mind without even testing the truck out.
Good chatting with ya though.
Good chatting with ya though.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Why, because your completely representative demographic has somehow been tragically underrepresented in Ford's focus groups?
Be patient. The truck hasn't even been out a week. First the core, then the niches. Until then, the Roush catalog is right over there. ---------->
Seriously. Drive one, like the slogan says. There seem to be a lot of people willing to pass judgment on this truck before they've ever laid eyes on it, much less driven it.
Be patient. The truck hasn't even been out a week. First the core, then the niches. Until then, the Roush catalog is right over there. ---------->
Seriously. Drive one, like the slogan says. There seem to be a lot of people willing to pass judgment on this truck before they've ever laid eyes on it, much less driven it.
By your theory, I should be able to drive one (of each of the new trucks out there), hook it up to a trailer and go pick up the better towing truck. Guess what, that ain't the ford, plain and simple.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Mike: I'll just agree to disagree. Seems you are only basing your towing ability simply off the hp/lb-ft and using the '00 model as your basis. Which HP is only one attribute to towing these loads. If you feel Ford doesn't offer what you want in a 1/2 ton, no problem. If more power is what you want, that's fine. I'm sure we can go on and on, but you have already made up your mind without even testing the truck out.
Good chatting with ya though.
Good chatting with ya though.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Allen Park, MI
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/17/f...ility-matters/
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Power figures are really not all that important without having the gears to match the power you have. Everyone has conservative figures for tow rating but ford has the confidence to post the highest. Perhaps because they have the best overall truck. Every review I have read has rated the F-150 above all the other trucks when it comes to doing the job of being a truck. I will have to wait on my personal opinion untill I get the chance to drive one, but based purely on what I have read and what I know about towing, power, and gearing I would go for the Ford hands down. Besides the fact that I plan on having the truck for 15 years and the Ford is the only one of the bunch that will still be able to do the same job when it is 15 years old as it does the day I take it home.
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