I currently have a 14 5.0 with 3.55 gears. It towers my camper pretty well. Camper is around 5k lbs. I am thinking of upgrading to a 16 or 17. I would like the 3.5 eco but the trucks I'm seeing are a touch out of my price range. I am wondering if the 2.7 would be at least as good as what I currently have. Looking for opinions from 2.7 owners.

 

2.7 w 3.73 gears will easily match your current truck and likely pull it better (subjective) bc it has a flatter torque curve @ less need to raise rpms to.get to the power.

 

You should be fine. Here's a document that shows tow rating for the various engines and configurations:
https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/..._F150_Sep7.pdf

I would recommend the tow package 53C if you can find a truck with that. It includes the trailer brake controller, larger trans cooler and other goodies that help out towing. Or even the 53A package, although I would recommend adding a brake controller with your weight trailer. They're listed in the brochure also.

 

I've got the 2.7 with 3.55 gears in mine. Most I've towed is a car hauler with an old truck on it... maybe 7,000 lbs total weight. Truck was smooth and stable. The engine didn't seem to be straining and acceleration didn't seem to be overly sluggish. Accelerating at my normal rate from a stoplight, the engine had to rev up quite a bit more than when empty though. And unless you have an exhaust on your 5.0, the 2.7 will probably be noticeably louder when revving up.

I didn't try in crazy stuff like passing people or anything, I just took it easy.

 

Buy a 2.7L with the HD Payload Option. It's NOT the LD 3/4 Ton Option.
It gets you the 500 lb more payload capacity and 9.75 Axle all the 3.5EB and 5.0 come with standard plus the
Electronic Locking Rear Axle and 3.73 Gears for only a few more dollars than just the Locker + 3.73 in the 8.8 Axle.

That will give you a 8000-8500 lb tow rating depending on the weight of the truck.

Incidentally my Scab 4x4 2.7 EB with 3.55 pulls a 7000 lb enclosed car trailer up a 7% grade the same speed a Screw 4x4 3.5EB 3.31 pulls a 8500 lb trailer.

I don't normally pull it with the half ton but power wise it did at least as good a job as the Super Duty 6.2L.