I have a Scab XL 2wd sport with 3.5TT and max tow with 3.55's, 17" wheels. Feels like it could pull stumps. Then again, I have a 5.0 with 3.73's and 18" wheels, 2wd and not max tow, feels the same.

 

The Max Tow PKG features are useful whether you tow 11k pounds or not. I skipped even the basic tow pkg because I don't actually need it. But, if I could have had the Max Tow PKG for $1295 with my 2.7, I would have.

 

The heavy duty tow package available on the 2.7EB equipped trucks accomplishes most but not all of the same things. Again max tow is just not needed if the vehicle is equipped with the 2.7EB.

 

Max Tow is a great package - but not available on the 2.7. I love the 2.7 for fuel economy and the ease of oil changes. My boat is pretty close to it's tow capacity so I'm tempted to do the 3.5/Max Tow if I get another F150...price wise as you found it's not much more at all.

 

Just keep in mind the fuel economy is considerably worse with the 3.5EB and Max Tow. Between my 15 without Max Tow and my 17 with Max Tow I'm seeing a roughly slightly less than a 1MPG fuel economy drop. My 15 3.5EB averaged about 2.5MPG worse than my buddy's 2.7EB, or apples to apples, 2017 - 2017 my mileage average is about 3.5MPG worse than his. He frequently sees close to 20MPG and I hover around 16.5MPG on average.

 

That's worse that I'd be expecting. I'm about 17.8 lifetime MPG on my 2.7.

 

That is really the strong argument for the 2.7EB. Fuel economy. It is definitely better than the 3.5EB. The decision point is towing capacity vs fuel economy. The 2.7EB is no slouch and if everything you plan to tow is within the 2.7's capacity it is the way to go.

 

There is no "heavy duty tow package"? If you mean the tow package + payload package, the yes they are close to the max tow package, but costs nearly double what the max tow package does. This was my initial point: I can get all of the basic features of the Max Tow, but have to pay nearly double for them: tow pkg $995, 36 gal tank $445, locking diff $470. These are things that are nice to have regardless of how much weight you tow.

 

Well they changed it for 2018. There was a heavy duty tow package. I believe it's called something else this year.
If you look in the prior years towing guides it is listed as a towing package option. I believe some of the STX equipped trucks came with it. I know my buddy's truck did.

 

I did not see it in the configuration list, then again I was using 502a and not the 500a option. I know HDPP is 500a only, and long bed. The reason for the thread, is comparing the base engine to the most expensive engine option when configuring it for towing. It just makes more sense to go with the 3.5 in this example. Funny how the 5.0 is actually more expensive when setup this way.