Calling 2018 5.0 F150 Owners!
5 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,028
Likes: 1,083
I realize it's an old thread, but I'll give my $.02 for what it may be worth for the next person who does what everyone recommends and uses the search function (of course, people then proceed to complain when someone does exactly that then drags up an old thread, but I digress).
I've had a 13 w/5.0 RCSB 3.55 gears, a 14 w/3.5 RCSB 3.73 gears (Tremor) and now an 18 w/2.7 SCAB 3.15 gears. If I could do it all over again, I would most likely go for either the 2.7 again, with different gears, or the 5.0. The 2.7 with the 3.15 gears is no slouch by any means, I just think it would be better served with at least 3.55s (may end up swapping them at some point if I keep this truck long enough). The Tremor was, for lack of a better description, a turd. One would think the 3.5 with 3.73 gears in an RCSB would be a rocket, but the 13 5.0 ran circles around it. Both were 5* tuned. And the 3.5 did not get any better gas mileage. Being that I do not tow with any regularity, and when I do, it is a flatbed trailer with some random furniture on it, I do not need the extra towing capacity.
As a younger man, I always was the "a truck needs a V8, because 'Merica, and noise" type. The older I get, the more I do not care for loud or even audible exhausts on a daily driver. On a second car that gets driven infrequently, absolutely. On my 20 minute highway drive each way every day, not a chance. The 5.0 was definitely a smooth driving engine, and had plenty of grunt, but the same can be said for the 2.7 and since I don't have to have loud exhaust anymore, the added expense of the 5.0 isn't necessary. In the end, the only thing I can recommend is drive all 3 engine choices, then decide based on options, price and mileage, because that will be the significant difference between the 3 in the end, unless you tow heavy(ish) frequently. If you tow heavy frequently, I would recommend skipping the gassers all together personally and going for the diesel F250.
To the person who said the 5.0 has less moving parts to break making it more reliable, please never repeat that out loud, especially in public around anyone who knows anything about vehicles.
I've had a 13 w/5.0 RCSB 3.55 gears, a 14 w/3.5 RCSB 3.73 gears (Tremor) and now an 18 w/2.7 SCAB 3.15 gears. If I could do it all over again, I would most likely go for either the 2.7 again, with different gears, or the 5.0. The 2.7 with the 3.15 gears is no slouch by any means, I just think it would be better served with at least 3.55s (may end up swapping them at some point if I keep this truck long enough). The Tremor was, for lack of a better description, a turd. One would think the 3.5 with 3.73 gears in an RCSB would be a rocket, but the 13 5.0 ran circles around it. Both were 5* tuned. And the 3.5 did not get any better gas mileage. Being that I do not tow with any regularity, and when I do, it is a flatbed trailer with some random furniture on it, I do not need the extra towing capacity.
As a younger man, I always was the "a truck needs a V8, because 'Merica, and noise" type. The older I get, the more I do not care for loud or even audible exhausts on a daily driver. On a second car that gets driven infrequently, absolutely. On my 20 minute highway drive each way every day, not a chance. The 5.0 was definitely a smooth driving engine, and had plenty of grunt, but the same can be said for the 2.7 and since I don't have to have loud exhaust anymore, the added expense of the 5.0 isn't necessary. In the end, the only thing I can recommend is drive all 3 engine choices, then decide based on options, price and mileage, because that will be the significant difference between the 3 in the end, unless you tow heavy(ish) frequently. If you tow heavy frequently, I would recommend skipping the gassers all together personally and going for the diesel F250.
To the person who said the 5.0 has less moving parts to break making it more reliable, please never repeat that out loud, especially in public around anyone who knows anything about vehicles.
