I have a stock 2012 F150 XLT SCREW, 5.0L, 4WD, 6 speed automatic, with 144K miles. The truck has a 3.55 rear end. Overall, the truck is in excellent shape. For the last year or so I have been using it to pull a 6,000 pound boat and trailer combination. I live in Florida so steep grades are not a problem. I feel that my truck is straining a little to pull this load and am not sure if it should be or not. Your opiniions and suggestions are appreciated.

 

A tune, especially if you're willing to run premium gas. Regear to 4.10s to get more oomph off the line and at speed. You'll see diminishing returns from any other power adders, bad performance to cost ratio.

 

Assuming good drivetrain health, even 3.55s are pretty tall for serious towing with a 5.0. Be glad you don’t have a 2WD and 3.31s. Just Ford’s way to milk CAFE points before they dove into cylinder deactivation like they have with the newest 5.0.

4.10s are a good call.

 

Gents,
Thanks for your responses. I have a question. If I change the gear ratio in the rear end, do I have to alter the front end ratio or the transfer case gearing? Excuse my ignorance. I am fairly mechanically inclned, but not in this particular area. Thanks again.

 

What you change in the rear you have to change in the front. Having a shop do it would be around $2k ish.

What's your setup when towing the boat and trailer? Weights on them? WDH? Tongue weight?

Wondering if you could save $2k and adjust the weight around for a better tow.

 

If it were me I would get a tuner with a tow tune, just changing the shift points is all you probably need, also if you have the Tow Haul button on the truck use it because it does help.
Although my truck has the 6.2 with more HP and Torque, it is still has a 3.55 rear gear and it has no problem towing 10,000 pounds. I live in Tennessee and we do have hills and a couple of 4% grades real close too.
If you tow everyday all day then yes change gears otherwise you are going to kill drivability on the highway for when it is not towing.
Everyone's first response is to change gears, but as someone else posted up it is a $2000 bill to change front and rear. They do the same thing in the Mustang world also and never look at the big picture.

 

Thanks to all for the great ideas. Again with a question for Siber Express. Did you have yours tuned? If so was the difference noticeable"

 

Difference is night and day with a custom tune. You'll notice a little more oomph for sure.

 

Going from 3.55s to 4.10s takes your RPM at 70 from 1801 to 2080. How does a 280rpm increase on the highway "kill driveability?" You might see a half mpg decrease on the highway, but it might actually get better in town and while towing since you don't have to lug the engine so hard to get moving.

 

Mine is tuned and the Tow tune is still using regular gas and it tows awesome. Actually tows pretty good on the performance tune.

It is the 55 MPH that was below Drone range that you just put into drone range with the RPM increase.