3.55 or 3.73 on 2015 3.5L EcoBoost V6?
07-18-2015, 05:30 PM
#31
2014 FX4 supercrew
I am buying a FX4 supercrew with the Ecoboost 3.5 and 3.55 gears, any idea how well it will do pulling a TT?
Thanks
Thanks
Last year I purchased a fifth wheel with a GVW of 10,560lbs. I bought a 2014 F150 3.5 Ecoboost with max tow & heavy payload. It came with 3.73 gears. This combination tows beautifully. I can pull that trailer up a 10% grade at 60mph. I got 9.6 MPG (US) on a 3000 mile trip to California. I do find that the 3.73 gears cut into the fuel economy on the highways unloaded, especially at 65-75 MPH. This truck gets better fuel economy at 40 or 50 MPH.
I have added propane that right now costs me $1.49/gal (US). Mileage is 10% worse on propane, power is basically the same. I love this set-up. My wife thinks it's too big...
I have added propane that right now costs me $1.49/gal (US). Mileage is 10% worse on propane, power is basically the same. I love this set-up. My wife thinks it's too big...
07-18-2015, 06:22 PM
#32
Grumpy Old Man
The EcoBoost drivetrain will PULL any TT that grosses up to around 9,000 pounds with no problems other than exceeding the GVWR(and therefore the payload capacity) of the F-150. But you'll probably exceed the GVWR of your FX4 with any TT that weighs more than around 5,000 pounds. I'm overloaded by 100 pounds over my GVWR with my TT that weighs only 4,870 pounds when wet and loaded on the road.
For 2011 thru 2014 model years Ford made some F-150s with more GVWR (payload capacity for hitch weight). The Max tow pkg added 500 pounds GVWR, and the HD Payload pkg added 1000 pounds GVWR for a total of 8,200 on a 4x4. But the max tow pkg is rare and the HD Payload pkg is almost nonexistent, Dealers didn't stock the 2014 HD Payload pkg, so the only way to get one was to order it and wait 6 to 8 weeks for Ford to make and deliver it to the dealer.
For 2015 model year, Ford still offers the max tow pkg and the HD Payload pkg. But the max tow pkg no longer includes increased payload capacity. The HD Payload pkg is a good choice for a 2015. It no longer has those rare 7-lug wheels, so a lot more folks will be looking at them. And Ford reduced the GVWR of the 2015 with the HD payload pkg, but the net hauling capacity is similar because the aluminum body weighs less than the 2014 steel body.
07-19-2015, 11:38 AM
#33
Would there be a large improvement if I went with the 3.73 vs. 3.55
Do you believe if I went with the 2014 FX4 with the 3.73's it would out perform the 3.55
The EcoBoost drivetrain will PULL any TT that grosses up to around 9,000 pounds with no problems other than exceeding the GVWR(and therefore the payload capacity) of the F-150. But you'll probably exceed the GVWR of your FX4 with any TT that weighs more than around 5,000 pounds. I'm overloaded by 100 pounds over my GVWR with my TT that weighs only 4,870 pounds when wet and loaded on the road.
For 2011 thru 2014 model years Ford made some F-150s with more GVWR (payload capacity for hitch weight). The Max tow pkg added 500 pounds GVWR, and the HD Payload pkg added 1000 pounds GVWR for a total of 8,200 on a 4x4. But the max tow pkg is rare and the HD Payload pkg is almost nonexistent, Dealers didn't stock the 2014 HD Payload pkg, so the only way to get one was to order it and wait 6 to 8 weeks for Ford to make and deliver it to the dealer.
For 2015 model year, Ford still offers the max tow pkg and the HD Payload pkg. But the max tow pkg no longer includes increased payload capacity. The HD Payload pkg is a good choice for a 2015. It no longer has those rare 7-lug wheels, so a lot more folks will be looking at them. And Ford reduced the GVWR of the 2015 with the HD payload pkg, but the net hauling capacity is similar because the aluminum body weighs less than the 2014 steel body.
For 2011 thru 2014 model years Ford made some F-150s with more GVWR (payload capacity for hitch weight). The Max tow pkg added 500 pounds GVWR, and the HD Payload pkg added 1000 pounds GVWR for a total of 8,200 on a 4x4. But the max tow pkg is rare and the HD Payload pkg is almost nonexistent, Dealers didn't stock the 2014 HD Payload pkg, so the only way to get one was to order it and wait 6 to 8 weeks for Ford to make and deliver it to the dealer.
For 2015 model year, Ford still offers the max tow pkg and the HD Payload pkg. But the max tow pkg no longer includes increased payload capacity. The HD Payload pkg is a good choice for a 2015. It no longer has those rare 7-lug wheels, so a lot more folks will be looking at them. And Ford reduced the GVWR of the 2015 with the HD payload pkg, but the net hauling capacity is similar because the aluminum body weighs less than the 2014 steel body.
07-19-2015, 06:11 PM
#34
Grumpy Old Man
Depends on your goal. If you want a drag racer, then yes, the 3.73 will out-drag a 3.55, everything else being equal. If you want a trailer puller, then the 3.73 will pull a heavier trailer at the same speed up the same grade. If your performance measure is MPG, then the 3.73 will probably get better MPG when hauling at the GCWR, but the 3.55 will probably get slightly better MPG when unloaded.
07-20-2015, 06:52 AM
#35
Junior Member
Reply
If you are planning on trips without the trailer and the trailer isn't really heavy, then you might be happier with the 3.55s. If you are pulling a heavy trailer & that is the main purpose of the truck, then 3.73s are for you. 3.55s will result in slightly better fuel economy unloaded, but the 3.73s will pull better. The 3.55s will let you pull any trailer to maximum easily. The 3.73s, even better.
07-21-2015, 10:37 PM
#36
