Towing with Ecoboost V6

[mikecrosby.5695]

I'm on the fence about uprgrading to a 3/4 ton and going with a fifth wheel or keeping my current truck and just getting a travel trailer that I can tow with it. Having no previous RV experience, I just can't see investing an extra $35K in the truck plus and extra $30K bumping up to a fifth wheel until I absolutely know for sure this is going to be something I want to continue doing long term. Plus, I just don't think I'm ready to tow something that size. My current truck is a 2019 Ford F150 4x4 crew cab with 2.7 Ecoboost V6 and 3.55 rear end. The "towing capacity" is 7600lbs with 12900 GCWR. It tows a 4000lb boat with ease, but I know travel trailers are a completely different animal.

So.....the smallest TT that I believe I can make work for what I'm wanting to do is 24'11" and 4800lb dry. The one that I think would be best for what I want is 28'6" and 5900lbs dry. I feel like this may be more that what my truck could consistently handle. So, does anyone have any experience towing with an Ecoboost and have any feedback? With a WDH, can my truck safely handle the larger of these 2 options? I'm fully going into this planning to get 6 months of experience and then possibly upgrade the truck and trailer. I'd rather take a small hit by upgrading in 6 months if I want to keep going vs the big hit of upgrading everything now and then not even wanting to continue full-timing.

I have a 2020 2.7 ecoboost. Towing a 264 grey wolf 6000 pds dry. Does well on level roads. Still need a 3 quarter ton to go up and DOWN mountains. Hope this helps!

 

[Rosy]

I have a 2020 2.7 ecoboost. Towing a 264 grey wolf 6000 pds dry. Does well on level roads. Still need a 3 quarter ton to go up and DOWN mountains. Hope this helps!

How well does it stop? How's the stability when it's windy?

 

[mikecrosby.5695]

My trailer brakes do fine when set to 5. Keep it no faster than 60 mph. No sway ever

 

[Bigblockyeti]

So if I keep the GVWR around 6000 I should be good? That 4800lb one has a GVWR of 6200.

So, how's it going so far?

 

[daxbuddy]

I have a 2014 3.7 EB with full tow package and 3.73 rear end. We are shopping for our first TT, and based on a ton of feedback, we are electing to limit ourselves to something with a GVW under 5000#. We are admittedly conservative in our estimates, but will be on some less-travelled routes where support will be unavailable. Our mantra is safe over sorry...
IMHO, manufacturers specs and towing capacities are optimistic to promote sales. A friend fell into the numbers trap, and is still recovering from a very expensive truck failure towing "close to" his towing limit, out of country.

 

[Rosy]

I have a 2014 3.7 EB with full tow package and 3.73 rear end. We are shopping for our first TT, and based on a ton of feedback, we are electing to limit ourselves to something with a GVW under 5000#. We are admittedly conservative in our estimates, but will be on some less-travelled routes where support will be unavailable. Our mantra is safe over sorry...
IMHO, manufacturers specs and towing capacities are optimistic to promote sales. A friend fell into the numbers trap, and is still recovering from a very expensive truck failure towing "close to" his towing limit, out of country.

2.7EB or 3.5EB?

 

[Bigblockyeti]

2.7EB or 3.5EB?

I'm guessing 3.5EB is what was meant as the 2.7 wasn't available until 2015 or 2016. The 3.7 was the smallest natually aspirated engine which might do okay for something under 4000lbs that wasn't used for towing, but not much else.

 

[daxbuddy]

My bad, 3.5

2.7EB or 3.5EB?

 

[Rosy]

I'm guessing 3.5EB is what was meant as the 2.7 wasn't available until 2015 or 2016.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Frontal area is the biggest problem! Of course you know that. The harder you push the truck the more strain the turbos will put the engine under. That's all about Frontal area though, boats don't present that same issue.

I bring that up,because you are concerned about reliability, and over time, that may become an issue.

Keep the speed down and you should be fine though.

 

[TheLooks]

Excellent comment Kevin! Many new owners do not realize how much resistance is created by wind load. For example, I towed my 14ft. enclosed trailer loaded to the gills from Maine to Tennessee and got 10 mpg.....when I returned virtually empty, I got 10 mpg.....I recall coming over the crest of big hills in Penn. and letting off the gas thinking I would coast.....Nope.