Terrible time towing....but why?
05-30-2016, 11:32 PM
#41
I understand that, but we're talking about an empty 2500 lb. trailer. The question I have is, why does it have more power at 1100 rpm's than it does at 2000? If the truck can pull it with ease in 5th gear at 40-45 mph, it should have enough power to do it at 60-65 since the rpm's are higher.
Regardless of the 3.31 debate, it's rated for 9000 lbs. and I didn't buy this thing to struggle with an empty trailer in 4th gear. I'd never make it to Denver from KS with the way this thing pulls. My 2010 5.4L would totally smoke this 5.0 in towing. Had I known that, I wouldn't have traded it. Something feels like it's getting throttled back over 55 mph, and the mpg is just proof that something's not right. I'll report back with findings.
Regardless of the 3.31 debate, it's rated for 9000 lbs. and I didn't buy this thing to struggle with an empty trailer in 4th gear. I'd never make it to Denver from KS with the way this thing pulls. My 2010 5.4L would totally smoke this 5.0 in towing. Had I known that, I wouldn't have traded it. Something feels like it's getting throttled back over 55 mph, and the mpg is just proof that something's not right. I'll report back with findings.
Hmmm ok I guess I missed something.
Anyway, at 65 mph you have a LOT more wind resistance than at 45. Drag increases with the square of the speed, so at 45 you have 2025 x the coefficient of drag, at 65 that number increases to 4225, or more than twice as much! THAT my friend is why it won't pull at 65 in 5th gear; your engine's power doesn't double from 1100 rpm to what it turns at 65.
I can see that you're going to go have it checked out, and agree; if it seems wrong to you then absolutely make sure it's running right. Actually I hope the techs at Ford DO find something to fix to bring it up to snuff. But if they don't then you may want to consider a 3.55 or 3.73 axle ratio...which would probably bring your rpms up enough to allow 5th gear at 65.
05-31-2016, 12:16 AM
#42
I'd bring it in to have it checked out. I have a similar configuration ('15 5.0 4x4 3.31) and I've pulled 20+ foot trailers with close to max load and there's no shortage of power. Fuel economy took a slight hit but I was certainly well above 10mpg.
Last edited by J15; 05-31-2016 at 02:34 PM.
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k-stater88 (05-31-2016)
05-31-2016, 09:29 AM
#43
Yes but to compare apples with apples, what is your axle ratio, and in what gear were you towing?
05-31-2016, 02:33 PM
#44
06-01-2016, 11:55 AM
#45
06-01-2016, 12:47 PM
#46
06-01-2016, 04:09 PM
#47
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ok. I got it to the dealer and took them for a ride.
without Tow/Haul, the truck went 55 in 6th gear and i didn't have to even push on the pedal to make it gain speed. We got on the highway in tow/haul mode and i got it up to 65 and it fell flat on it's face in 5th gear. The tech immediately said that was odd. On top of that, during the drive, the truck's blender door got stuck so I partially lost AC. What's interesting is that at 55mph and in 6th gear, we were getting 15+mpg, but as soon as we bumped up to 65 with no wind, it dropped to 8 mpg.
Long story short, they are calling the regional engineers in KC to come look at the truck for the following:
-lack of towing power
-AC seat backs not cooling
-door alignment / seal issues
-driver door locks at random
-myfordtouch navigation voice command issues
-intermittent blender door failure on AC
-popping of driver side rear door hinges
without Tow/Haul, the truck went 55 in 6th gear and i didn't have to even push on the pedal to make it gain speed. We got on the highway in tow/haul mode and i got it up to 65 and it fell flat on it's face in 5th gear. The tech immediately said that was odd. On top of that, during the drive, the truck's blender door got stuck so I partially lost AC. What's interesting is that at 55mph and in 6th gear, we were getting 15+mpg, but as soon as we bumped up to 65 with no wind, it dropped to 8 mpg.
Long story short, they are calling the regional engineers in KC to come look at the truck for the following:
-lack of towing power
-AC seat backs not cooling
-door alignment / seal issues
-driver door locks at random
-myfordtouch navigation voice command issues
-intermittent blender door failure on AC
-popping of driver side rear door hinges
Last edited by k-stater88; 06-01-2016 at 04:13 PM.
06-01-2016, 08:09 PM
#48
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Just for a test, I took the 2013 flex they gave me out for a drive. It is a limited, so it had the 3.5EB and tow package. Mind you this EB has 365 hp at 5500 rpm and 350 ft.lb. torque at 3500. This is quite a bit reserved from the one in the trucks. This also had the 3.16 gears.
I hooked on to the same trailer and it flew down the highway in 6th gear at 70 with power to spare. Sad that a flex out pulled my f150 by a landslide.
I hooked on to the same trailer and it flew down the highway in 6th gear at 70 with power to spare. Sad that a flex out pulled my f150 by a landslide.
Last edited by k-stater88; 06-01-2016 at 11:26 PM.
06-01-2016, 10:13 PM
#49
Ok. I got it to the dealer and took them for a ride.
without Tow/Haul, the truck went 55 in 6th gear and i didn't have to even push on the pedal to make it gain speed. We got on the highway in tow/haul mode and i got it up to 65 and it fell flat on it's face in 5th gear. The tech immediately said that was odd. On top of that, during the drive, the truck's blender door got stuck so I partially lost AC. What's interesting is that at 55mph and in 6th gear, we were getting 15+mpg, but as soon as we bumped up to 65 with no wind, it dropped to 8 mpg.
Long story short, they are calling the regional engineers in KC to come look at the truck for the following:
-lack of towing power
-AC seat backs not cooling
-door alignment / seal issues
-driver door locks at random
-myfordtouch navigation voice command issues
-intermittent blender door failure on AC
-popping of driver side rear door hinges
without Tow/Haul, the truck went 55 in 6th gear and i didn't have to even push on the pedal to make it gain speed. We got on the highway in tow/haul mode and i got it up to 65 and it fell flat on it's face in 5th gear. The tech immediately said that was odd. On top of that, during the drive, the truck's blender door got stuck so I partially lost AC. What's interesting is that at 55mph and in 6th gear, we were getting 15+mpg, but as soon as we bumped up to 65 with no wind, it dropped to 8 mpg.
Long story short, they are calling the regional engineers in KC to come look at the truck for the following:
-lack of towing power
-AC seat backs not cooling
-door alignment / seal issues
-driver door locks at random
-myfordtouch navigation voice command issues
-intermittent blender door failure on AC
-popping of driver side rear door hinges
Let us know how it comes out....
06-07-2016, 06:52 PM
#50
Senior Member
Thread Starter
