Ok, So I ordered a 21 Lariat FX4 Sport appearance package with 20 " rims, 5.0 L and 3.73 axel. I have no clue when it will get here and my dealer can only say that the VIN number is assigned to it so that means all the materials have been allocated ... Sounds like a good step?? But no delivery date, however to reference when I ordered my wife's Explorer sport a couple years ago it took 4 months and that was Pre COVID! So I really have no faith in a 10-12 week delivery date....

Anyway , the point of the post is that I can get the identical truck right now but has the 3.5 L eco boost with a 3.33 axel and 98 l (25 gallon) tank or with the 5.0 L with 3.33 axel and 98 L tank. Just wondering about two things... First is the 25 gallon tank too small for then 5.0 L or the 3.5 eco boost? I currently have the larger tank on my 2012 FX4 and love the extended mileage. So uncertain about that.... Secondly, how about the axel? I had a buddy of mine who told to stay away from the 3.33 axel (although it seems popular and on most models unless you don't request the bigger one... I have the 3.73 on my current truck). He it sucked at towing and not great on fuel mileage... Although, he now owns a Toyota Tacoma so I am starting to doubt his judgement... haha jk...

What are your experiences with it, how do you feel about towing or fuel mileage ? Any one have any issues thus far? I don't have travel trailer but i may tow a enclosed trailer for snowmobiles, motorbikes etc....

I know there are tons of comments both for 5.0 vs eco boost so will do some more research on that . But just wondering about the above commented.

Thanks

 

I don't think I would get the 5.0 w/ 3.31 if I was towing. I don't think I would get either with the 26 gallon tank if I was towing regularly. The 3.5L Eco has so much low end torque it will still tow up to 8,000lbs of trailer without missing a beat, even with the 3.31. The 5.0L makes most of its power a bit higher, being a Mustang engine at its heart, so I would rather have at least 3.55 if towing. I don't think the 26 gallon tank is the end of the world in general, it frees up some payload and that, but if towing more than 100 miles that small tank would get old pretty fast.

I don't know when your Lariat would get to you either, but I will say it's not impossible for 10-12 week delivery. I ordered my truck on March 12th and it got to the dealer on May 7th, making it 8 weeks on the nose, but I don't know what other delays come into play when delivering to Canada and obviously others are seeing a good deal longer waits. It really depends on your dealers assigned allocation, what priority they put on your order, and what parts Ford has when your truck comes down the line. That last one being an unanswerable question.

If your enclosed trailer and snowmobiles is more than 5,000lbs all-in, I would probably skip 3.31 rear gearing. Even though the Eco will do it, it won't be as nice as something a little shorter. The 10 speed makes up for a good bit of that, but not all of it.

 

No to both. Don't do it.

Bought a 3.5 EB Power Boost with the 3.73 rear gear and this engine really responds well with this combo.

Have had 2 max tow vehicles a 18,& 19 F150's with the 3.55 rear gears and am blown away by the change to 3.73 gearing in a very good way.
________________________
21 XLT 302a Power Boost.

 

I had the 36 gal tank in a 13 KR 5.0. Loved it. Do not have it in 15 KR 5.0. I miss the 36 gal tank a bunch. I will not buy another without the 36 gal tank. BTW, have 21 KR 5.0 on order.

 

The 36 gal tank is a must have for me. I would not buy a truck without it. The gearing issue has been talked about many many times on this forum and others. If you will tow often it might not be what you want, but most people seem to agree it's totally fine with these 10 speed trannys.

 

In all fairness, how do you know it's the 3.73 gears and not the Powerboost that you are loving so much?

 

Thanks guys, I have some decisions to make for certain. I may say "**** it" and wait... I have a sale for my old truck now and may just bite the bullet on that as the price is right.... The truck order is exactly what I want so may wait it out but damm I am impatient now! lol

 

You could always regear the differentials using aftermarket parts.

It's not exactly the easiest job, but if you have the tools, you can do it yourself in about two days for about $400 in parts. You have to get the tolerances just right. It's not just a brute force job like a clutch swap or head gasket; if the gears are set up a few thousandths too far off, the gears will tear themselves up and grenade the diff.

A shop can do it in under a day and you'd probably be at around $1,000 with parts and labor plus a warranty.

If you go this route you might as well go to something like 4.10 in case you want to slap some 35s on it. (You could even go as deep as 5.13 if you don't care about gas mileage.)

And you might as well throw in the front Raptor Torsen differential while you're at it.