AHETom

I have a 2018 F150 8' bed 4x4 with a 3.3L with a Ranch cap on the back and I have a question regarding towing a 5x8 cargo trailer and the 3.3L
I got the truck new in 2018 and never towed anything with it till just this summer.
I picked up a 5x8 Look V nose cargo trailer (1085 curb weight) and I found that with the trailer loaded to about 1250 lbs (I haul giant scale model aircraft with it, not a lot of weight) it really make a difference how the engine runs.
I know the truck has the capacity to pull the trailer but it does appear to tax the engine compared to not pulling the trailer.
The hills here in NE PA keep the engine in 5th and 4th (2500 to 3000 rpm) while on the highway traveling at 65 mph, where WO the trailer it would normally make it in 6th (1500 to 2000 rpm).
On the back roads it has to down shift to 2nd or 3rd, where WO the trailer it would normally make it in 4th.

My question is with the 3.3L running at 2500 to 3500 will this effect the life of the engine ?

It just appears that the trailer really taxes the engine

Thanks
Tom

Johnny Paycheck

Not at all. Peak torque output is at 4000 RPMs and peak horsies kick in at 6500 RPMs. Granted, it is a pretty flat output not too far off of idle thanks to all the new gadgets like VCT, but it is only 200 cubic inches and you need revs to pull. That’s just physics.

Ricktwuhk

Are you using tow/haul mode?

DarrinT04

absolutely not! the 3.3 is not a low end torque monster at all. it has to rev to build power. 3500 rpm is nothing too it.
i actually think the 3.3s peak torque is around 4500 rpm, even though ford says 4000.

AHETom

I use it when I am in areas with a lot of hills (local roads mostly)
On the highways it cruises ok out of tow/haul mode at around 65, to maintain 70 it will stay in 5th pretty much.
If it's in tow/haul mode it pretty much stays in 5th all the time on the highway and will drop to 4th on a hill

AHETom

Thanks for the info everyone it is greatly appreciated

Flamingtaco

5x8's are about 30sq-ft of frontal area, for a n/a engine with that displacement, it's going to need to drop down a gear to maintain speed as it just doesn't generate the power to stay in 6th at those speeds.

It's going to cause more wear, but only because it's working a bit harder to maintain speed. I wouldn't call it taxing, it's more like traveling at 75 instead of 65. There will be more wear, but you'll still get well over 250,000 miles out of the truck if you maintain it well. The transmission will likely go before the engine.

Mickey Yelachich

I tow a 20 ft. Camper with my F150 3.3 supercab 3.55 gear no problem at all it tows better than 4.0 Explorer did.