Can anyone share their experiences towing trailers up steep grades of 8-10% ? This will help me decide on the size/weight of travel trailer I'l buy. I have a 2012 Ecoboost Screw. It has the tow package and should be good to go but I will regularly haul up extended 8% grades and occasionally 10% grades. Don't want to bite of more than I can chew when I lay down the cash. Dealer tells me 7,500# would be no problem but I wonder. Much appreciated if some members can speak from experience and help me decide?

 

You need to look at the towing capacity of the truck.

7500 lbs is ok for all trim levels i think. But don't forget to add up the weight of passengers and gear. I think the scab with 3.31 is rated for 8300 lbs. If your trailer is 7500 lbs you don't have much capacity left. Provide more information about the truck and we can help more. My rule for any F150 is 6500lbs will always work. Anything more requires some thinking about the setup of the truck.

Alsi keep in mind the cargo weight of the truck could be limiting.

 

How long are the grades?

 

thanks for getting back. My truck specs are as follows:

Truck is: 3.5 EB 4x4, 145" WB, Screw, Max tow pkg, 3.73

My Manual says:
GCWR= 17,100#
Max Trailer weight= 11,300#

My Truck Sticker says:
GVWR= 7650#
GAWR (front) = 3750#
GAWR (rear) = 4050#
Maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo= 1765#

 

Hi , it's 18 miles to the summit

Thanks for the response

 

The 1765 will be the limiting factor.
Occupants, cargo, tongue weight and the weight of the hitch itself.

 

You have the same truck as me just a year newer. You have 70lbs more payload than me. I tow a 7500lb trailer without any problems. The Ecoboost has plenty of power and isn't going to be the problem it's the payload capacity.Stay within your trucks GVWR and axle ratings and you will be fine. Good luck, Kevin

 

Thanks Kevin, good to hear the EB can handle a trailer that heavy. Did you haul up any steep grades with your 7500lbs? I will be regularly towing on a highway that has an 18 mile stretch at about 8% grade. I'm interested in how other folks EB's handle this type of situation.

cheers, Rusty

Truck is: 3.5 EB 4x4, 145" WB, Screw, Max tow pkg, 3.73

My Manual says:
GCWR= 17,100#
Max Trailer weight= 11,300#

My Truck Sticker says:
GVWR= 7650#
GAWR (front) = 3750#
GAWR (rear) = 4050#
Maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo= 1765#

 

I've heard of some guys having troubles hauling heavy loads in hot weather up steep hills out west.

But in the cases I recall, the guys were not letting the tranny do its job in tow/haul mode. Rather they were manually shifting out of habit. And apparently the engine computer would reduce power if it got too hot.

In response, people were saying just let the tranny do its job in tow/haul mode. It will find the right gear for the load and keep the engine running the way it likes. You may not be going as fast as you would like, but you wil make it.

 

Hadn't heard that before Brulaz, that's valuable feedback. I'll let the tow/haul mode look after the shifting. The more I look at trailers the happier I am for getting the MaxTow package. I wanted to get the extendable towing mirrors also but it was the end of the model year and I couldn't be too fussy. Hopefully the standard mirrors will be ok with an 8ft wide trailer. Cheers