Good day all!

I am not currently own a F150, however the forums is where the real people live and a great place for info. I currently drive a little Tacoma. I love the thing but it just does not like towing my travel trailer and is very small in the back seats for the family. I am starting a search for a bigger vehicle. I am a Toyota guy (don't hate me), however the newest Tundra's are way out of my price range and the older Tundra's (as reliable as they are) have really bad payload numbers for that size of a truck, and the naturally aspirated engines just do not operate as well as a turbocharged engine at high altitudes ( I live in Colorado).

I just keep reading about so many issues with the 3.5 Ecoboost and the 10 speed auto that I have some hesitation that this truck will last me a long time ( I want to keep it 10+ years if possible). But you just see the F150's everywhere and do read that a lot of folks get well past 150k miles.

So all that being said, how many of you all have had issues with the 10R80 tranny and cam phaser issues? I have read the 2.7 is a good little engine and by no means am I towing super heavy but the 3.5 just seems more capable so I am really just looking at the 3.5.

Is the 3.5 with the 10 speed reliable? How many issues have you had if any? What seems to be the best year for these trucks with the least amount of issues?

I know no truck is perfect but it just seems like the Tundra (not the newest gen) has a lower ratio of good vs bad than the F150's. But I would love to be proved wrong since they are within my budget.

For some reference I currently just do some towing during the summer months and have a TT that probably weights 4000 max when loaded and I like some tools and firewood etc in the back of the truck. I just want something that does not feel like its unhappy towing a not very heavy load and be able to live for a long time.

 

Welcome, I just recently sold my 13 5.0 and bought a used Platinum 2021 with a 3.5L and 10 speed and 25K in miles. I cannot speak to towing but I can tell you that I am pleasantly surprised at the 3.5. (Being a die hard 5.0 Coyote fan I have evil thoughts that this 3.5 is a better performer.) Now as far as the transmission, I bought this truck knowing that there are lots of complaints about this 10 speed trans.

Its certainly not my old 6 speed and on the low acceleration end, feels clunky. But I am trying to learn it and let it learn me. No hard shifts, its just like it has too many gears and is trying to get into a higher gear for better mileage.

Not sure if this helps you any. BTW being that this is a 3.5 and the 10 speed, I went ahead and bought a Ford ESP for it.

 

Just to put it out there, if you’re towing with a Tacoma, I’m guessing the older NA V6, that thing doesn’t offer much power. The 2.7 EB would be night and day difference.

don’t rule it out until you drive one.

That said, I believe the 2022+ have revised cam phasers and different CDF drums so failure shouldn’t be an issue. The main problem years were 17-20 and I don’t have much info on the 21s.

I currently have a 2.7 EB in my 2017 F150. It tows my camper with ease. I’m going to get the same engine when I buy a new truck this fall.

 

Self admitted 2.7 fan here. A most remarkable engine worthy of consideration. There is a 10100 max tow for the 2.7 and I think somewhere in the 13000 range for the 3.5
The 10 speed had programming issues and a poorly designed CDF drum, both mostly cured end of 2022.
The phasers on the 3.5 have been updated since 2019, 2.7 has few if any phaser related trouble. The 2.7 has exhaust manifold built in the head so no manifold warp-age or broken bolts. The 2.7 has a stouter block, but by the time either EB gets to the point of breakage you have done significant modifications.

My preference for the 2.7 is that it was designed from the first specifically to be turbocharged. The 3.5 has it's roots in the Cyclone engine family. KM

 

I have a 2018 F150 Limited, loaded. 3.5 Ecoboost. Darn thing runs great. Have had zero problems with any part of the vehicle, except a brake issue with the vacuum boost unit, which was fixed in one day.
I have the upgraded tow package. I have towed everything from Jet skis, to heavy boats, and the 3.5 acted like it was pushing an empty truck.
Great vehicle. I ordered a new 2025 Platinum Plus, and am waiting for it. I hope the hybrid engine is just as good.

 

imo. For what you currently have, a Tacoma, and a 2.7 it will be a huge difference, you'll most likely get 25% more fuel economy and up to 45% fuel economy when not towing with a 2.7.

 

See and I have had that same thought, however as much as I like my camper I might upgrade it later in life to where the 3.5 will be more useful. That is what happened with the taco, I originally bought it to just tow a little pop up. But then we upgraded and got a travel trailer and need the bigger vehicle. I would rather get the 3.5 than get the 2.7 and then might want the 3.5 later in life. I might do extended test drives or rent both or something and take my camper out to really see.

 

What's your current trailer weigh and how big do you think you would go if you upgrade in the future?

 

You didn't say if you are looking at new or used or what your budget is. If you are looking at new, there hasn't been any widespread issues. The cam phaser issue was finally sorted in 2021, but the pos 10R80 wasn't sorted til late 2022 builds, after September I believe. If you are looking at used, 2015-2016 gets you the aluminum body and the 6 speed, but a higher chance of phaser problems.

To be completely honest, I am on my 4th F150 over the years, and I regret not paying the "Toyota tax" for a Tundra of the same year. I don't really tow anything, so that wasn't a big deal to me, but I didn't want to pay more for less tech, and worse mpg. Instead, I have an oil consuming, clunky shifting F150.

 

I am going to buy used. My budget will be around 35k max