stoop14

Since my last truck had a bunch of problems off the lot my dealer took it back, now I'm going to order one. Now I need to decide on my powertrain. I currently have a ranger thats perfect for my needa except one thing.... can't put a baby seat in it. I know a f150 is overkill as a daily driver. But I'm a plumber and if I start doing side jobs a full size truck would come in handy. I have nothing to haul at the moment but I would like to get a camper or boat at some point. So what engine gears do you guys think ill need? Or is the best option. I'm going to get a fx4 screw if that matters.

BCMIF150

I say try a search first. You'll get at least a hundred threads and thousands of opinions!

BEST ADVICE (and they only one that matters) Drive them both and get what you like.

AutoLysis

This.

Love my EcoBoost with a short box. Tows well, and it is ridiculously quiet. Coming from a drone-filled '05 Mustang, the EcoBoost is almost too quiet.. Almost.

02themax

Hers a vote for the 5.0. After 3 years of issues with my direct injected 335i I set out to get a new truck. I wanted the Eco but after so many issues with basically the same engine (6 cylinder DI tt) I said no way. Last thing I want is to have issues with my work truck that makes me $$ everyday or even worse if my family is with me. When it runs smooth there's nothing better when you have problems there's nothing worse. Top this off with Fords "service", you get the point. Good luck with you choice.

Estes

The ecoboost is a joke when pulling a trailer. I am only getting about 11.8 to 12 in town pulling a single axil trailer with no more than 600 lbs on it. It doesn't shift into sixth gear most of the time unless you take your foot off the foot feed. Ford has told me this is natural. I feel they do not want to work on my truck until it is out of warranty. I don't even have 10000 miles on it yet.

engineermike

That's funny...I just towed 1200 lb for 500 miles and averaged nearly 21 mpg. It was easily locked into 6th the whole time.

Estes

engineermike, my driving was in town. It would should normally change gears at about 42 miles an hour. I have had mine up to 65 and it would still be in fifth. My bad gas mileage also takes into account the fact that to go to some of the work I do, I have three miles where I have no traffic and only have to stop each mile due to stop signs. I have taken my unit to dealer about five times complaining about the poor gas mileage and the shifting problem. They say everything meets their specs.

TJPlatinumEB

No one can decide or give you enough information to decide for yourself. Go drive both, see if they will let you take each one home for awhile and put it through your daily routines, and decide.

That's exactly what I did. I got a EB Screw FX4 for a week and drove it almost 1000 miles and also got a 5.0 Platinum Screw and drove it about 1000 miles as well. After taking time with both, I placed my order for my EB Screw FX2.

MadocHandyman

Do you do mostly town driving?
My thoughts are that you drive in town so much that your transmission has learned that you don't have much chance to go to 6th so it holds off shifting there. That and the added 600 lbs you're dragging behind. Is this an open trailer or enclosed?
How does it shift after doing a bunch of Hwy?

cbvet

I think you've got a problem somewhere. I just towed my bass boat ( 4,000 lbs ) yesterday to the lake and got 14.2 with the cruise set on 68 mph and never comes out of 6th gear the whole way and that's with several steep hills. I know it helps that I'm tuned but your case seems a little extreme.