Cruise control while towing?
11-08-2015, 09:59 AM
#32
Senior Member/Vietnam Vet
Caveat: Cruise control works well for the Ecoboost and Powerstroke with 6-spd transmissions, but my old Tundra V8 with a 4-spd just didn't do cruise well as it was always down shifting and revving too high.
11-09-2015, 07:02 AM
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Not sure how well CC will work with my 7000lb trailer being pulled by my 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 (rated for 7200lbs.) Will let you know in the spring!
11-11-2015, 05:51 PM
#34
Senior Member
I tow our 27' travel trailer w/ CC in my EB and did so with my Duramax all the time, in appropriate conditions, of course. Because each of those engines move along w/ plenty of low end torque. My EB cruises on flat ground in 6th gear 90+% of the time, and the Duramax was like 99%.
In my n/a trucks, I found it just falls all over itself to keep the set speed, resulting in a lot of downshifting and races to the redline trying to get back to the set speed. Which may not be harmful, but I find it very annoying.
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SkiSmuggs (11-15-2015)
11-12-2015, 09:47 AM
#35
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That is what I would guess would happen with my 3.5L towing my trailer. However, I will try it in tow/haul mode with no CC first and see how that works then.. try CC.
The 3.5L although having about 40 more HP, is also about 40 pound feet of torque less then my previous my 4.6L V8. Both have the same rear axle ratios (3.73). Interestingly enough, my older truck was only rated to tow 5800lbs where my new 2015 is rated at 7200. I guess the change in GVW relative to the aluminum body helps increase the towing capacity of the 2015.
The 3.5L although having about 40 more HP, is also about 40 pound feet of torque less then my previous my 4.6L V8. Both have the same rear axle ratios (3.73). Interestingly enough, my older truck was only rated to tow 5800lbs where my new 2015 is rated at 7200. I guess the change in GVW relative to the aluminum body helps increase the towing capacity of the 2015.
11-12-2015, 03:59 PM
#36
Senior Member
That is what I would guess would happen with my 3.5L towing my trailer. However, I will try it in tow/haul mode with no CC first and see how that works then.. try CC.
The 3.5L although having about 40 more HP, is also about 40 pound feet of torque less then my previous my 4.6L V8. Both have the same rear axle ratios (3.73). Interestingly enough, my older truck was only rated to tow 5800lbs where my new 2015 is rated at 7200. I guess the change in GVW relative to the aluminum body helps increase the towing capacity of the 2015.
The 3.5L although having about 40 more HP, is also about 40 pound feet of torque less then my previous my 4.6L V8. Both have the same rear axle ratios (3.73). Interestingly enough, my older truck was only rated to tow 5800lbs where my new 2015 is rated at 7200. I guess the change in GVW relative to the aluminum body helps increase the towing capacity of the 2015.
I don't want to rain on your parade but IMO with this combo your in way over your head. Not that you cant pull it but I doubt you can pull it legally and safely.
11-12-2015, 07:07 PM
#37
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Engine power is probably the least important factor in your trucks ability to safely tow your 7,000 lb trailer. brakes, suspension, steering and most important is the GCWR. and axle wt. rating. Big question is 7,000 lbs the dry or wet trailer wt. are you using a WDH which will ad another 100 or so lbs and you must also consider the wt. of passenger's and and any cargo.
I don't want to rain on your parade but IMO with this combo your in way over your head. Not that you cant pull it but I doubt you can pull it legally and safely.
I don't want to rain on your parade but IMO with this combo your in way over your head. Not that you cant pull it but I doubt you can pull it legally and safely.
I hear what your saying.... except for the part that "I am in over my head". I will pretend I didn't hear that.
My old 2010 4.6L2V standard cab 4X4 with 3.73 rear end has a maximum towing capacity of 5800 lbs. It has higher GAWR's then on my 2015 Supercab. The curb weight of the 2010 is only 336 lbs. greater than curb weight of my 2015 Supercab. Payload capacity of my 2010 is 261 lbs. greater than my 2015 Supercab. The 2010 did not have the towing package. With exception of oil and transmission coolers, suspension and steering components are the exact same as 2010 F-150's that have much larger towing capacities. Forgetting motor comparisons and, other than the oil coolers, it would seem my 2010 should have a greater tow capacity than the 2015 according to your thoughts.
Of course I am using a WDH, you do not tow a 7K lb. trailer without one and...., I use an electric trailer brake controller. I pulled my trailer with the 2010 for 5 years. It is always being pulled to the same place and it is a relatively easy commute. Mostly highways and only 60 miles one way. I had no control /sway issues or problems of any kind. I tow at 60 to 65 mph. I would never tow with this setup frequently or, on hilly low speed roads but, for what I was doing it worked fine.
The 2015 on the other hand has a much higher towing capacity but seems to be a little light in some of the important specs you pointed out. GCWR of the 2010 is only 1100 lbs. lighter than the 2015. My guess is, oil coolers and the 4 speed (OD) transmission on the 2010 may have been a limiting factor on the towing capacity.
What does all this mean? I don't really know.... I do realize I need to be careful with trailer and vehicle loading but do expect the truck to tow (the kind of towing I do anyway) reasonably well. I am mostly concerned with the 40 less pound feet of torque the little 6 banger puts out.
Hopefully, I am not sounding "snarky" but, I am quite aware of my circumstances. Not having towed my trailer yet with this 3.5L NA engine, I am unsure of its capabilities. I know it will pull the trailer, I am just hoping it will pull it as well as my 4.6L 2V V8 did.
11-14-2015, 11:57 PM
#38
Not trying to turn this into EB vs. 5.0, but this.
I tow our 27' travel trailer w/ CC in my EB and did so with my Duramax all the time, in appropriate conditions, of course. Because each of those engines move along w/ plenty of low end torque. My EB cruises on flat ground in 6th gear 90+% of the time, and the Duramax was like 99%.
In my n/a trucks, I found it just falls all over itself to keep the set speed, resulting in a lot of downshifting and races to the redline trying to get back to the set speed. Which may not be harmful, but I find it very annoying.
I tow our 27' travel trailer w/ CC in my EB and did so with my Duramax all the time, in appropriate conditions, of course. Because each of those engines move along w/ plenty of low end torque. My EB cruises on flat ground in 6th gear 90+% of the time, and the Duramax was like 99%.
In my n/a trucks, I found it just falls all over itself to keep the set speed, resulting in a lot of downshifting and races to the redline trying to get back to the set speed. Which may not be harmful, but I find it very annoying.
11-15-2015, 02:37 PM
#39
Junior Member
It depends on the age and what package you have on your truck. The last upgrade and the current version of the F150 and you have Max Tow or regular tow package (anti sway and integrated Brake controller) the systems work together and you can use Cruise. You should however take the advice of locking out 6th on hilly drives. I use it on my 2014 Ecoboost and 29' Jayco with no issues and loaded I push 9000LBS.
11-16-2015, 10:35 PM
#40
I can't speak for my new truck yet, just picked it up this weekend but my 06 I probably put a good 60,000 miles on it towing a heavy load with cruise control on. And by heavy load I mean 10,000 pounds. I had homes in Florida and Pennsylvania. I used to set it on 80 and go gas tank to gas tank. While I did wear the truck out, cruise control was never a problem.