Elder

Looking at a 2014. We tow our trailer (6500lbs) about 4000 miles a year.
We will not exceed the 6500 with any new trailer.
I think the 5.0 w/tow package will be plenty.
Is the EcoBoost with the super duper tow package overkill?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

Any other options I can not live without?

Cover Dog

You can't ever have to much truck. I was told you should buy your truck based on your next trailer.

acadianbob

Well, I'll try to keep this from being another 5.0 vs Eco dirt fight.

We pull a 5,500 pound RV trailer. We usually do a 3 to 4 thousand mile trip every year. IMO, when you are doing long trips, it is important to run a smaller percentage of your overall capacity. Why? What I call "towing satisfaction". On a long trip, you want your tow vehicle to handle the load as effortlessly as possible. This makes for a much more relaxing trip.

We tow with an FX4, Ecoboost, with 3.73's and Max Tow. It's an awesome tow vehicle because of the low RPM torque. We pull in 6th gear; even up some substantial hills. Rarely does it need to shift down. We just set the cruise and let the truck do the work. Listen to books on CD or Sirius radio. The miles fly by. The truck just hums away; no muss no fuss.

If you do a lot of high altitude towing, the Eco is even more important as the forced induction allows the engine to maintain a much higher percentage of its total power than a normally aspirated engine. I might also recommend LT tires. Load Rating C seems to be enough. We've noticed a lot less rear end bounce with the LTs. I attribute this to less sidewall flex. You will get a firmer ride unloaded but we find it more than tolerable.

We tow at 62 mph and average 11 to 11.5 mpg on our long trips.

Good luck on your decision.

balreadysaid

yes for the weight your towing the eco boost with 3.55 would tow that stuff just like a diesel! the 5.0 with 3.73 would be adequate to tow that.

Wannafbody

I've towed a 6000# car hauler with both my Ecoboost and a 6.0 Chevy. The EB tows better from a dead stop and tows at 1000-1500 rpm less than the 6.0.

daveak

I tow about 7000# with a 5.0, 3.73. Works great.

acadianbob

Are you towing in 6th gear? How much tranny hunting?

Mike Up

Each to their own but the 5.0L is one hek of a tow engine.

Read here and here.

Might want to look at this current thread as well on how great the 5.0L tows.

nihilus

The key here is you tow 6500 lbs for 4000 miles a year which is a lot of towing miles. If you were towing 9000+ lbs a few times a year the ecoboost would be best, but in your case the 5.0 with the 3.73 is the best option in terms of durability and towing mpg.

Boulevard

I pull 6000 lbs with a SC , 5.0 and 3.55 gear set and it is a very strong puller even out of the hole. You will never be short of power with this engine.


The 5.0 is a de-rated 440hp mustang engine so you know that there is plenty of durability left in this engine. That is why I choose it over the eco-boost.