Hello
new member looking for some assistance. Buying a new F 150 to tow a 2100 pound 2 horse bumper pull trailer. 4000 pounds fully loaded
hauling 10x a year, 2 hour hwy trip. 90% of the time daily commuter
looking for advice on which engine and if a tow/haul package is needed based on my requirements.
Great forum and I’ve learned a ton, understand payload will be the deciding factor
thank you
andrew

 

You need a tow package as you need the receiver, 7 pin and trailer brake controller. Any of the engines will handle that just fine.

The 2.7 EB would be my choice. I tow an Airstream from Vermont to Florida and back with my 2.7 EB and it does it with extreme ease. The Airstream is about 4500 lbs.

You’ll get the best fuel economy with that engine when not towing. Plenty of power too, 325 HP, 400 lb-ft of torque.

You also need to figure out the loaded tongue weight of the trailer you’ll be pulling.

 

Thank you for the information, greatly appreciated. Tow package not an option on 2.7L, but integrated brake is.
tongue weight is 600lbs when loaded.

 

It should have the basic tow as in receiver and 7/4 pin, correct? 600 lbs will be fine even if you have an upper trim with a lower payload. You should use a weight distribution hitch for anything over 500 hitch weight. You’re close and could possibly get away without, but it’ll pull better with a WDH.

 

I disagree on the 2.7 as your engine of choice.
primarily because you don’t talk about the payload in the truck, excluding the trailer load. . The 2.7 has a 6600lbs gross weight. Move to the 5.0 and you get 7050lbs, plus you get the 3.73 rear end with the towing package.

I tow a 5200lbs car hauler trailer with my 5.0/3.31 and it does great. Done 3700 miles towing since end of July, and adding another 1500 by this time next week. Most of the miles are highways. Set cruise, usually 65 or 70 depending on speed limit. I refuel typically at around 350 miles and still have about 8 gallons left in reserve. Thats plenty just in case.

 

That’ll have to be up to the OP. The 2.7 is more than up for the task that he needs. He should try the 2.7, 3.5 and 5.0 and pick which he likes best as any of the three will handle what he needs with ease.

With 600 lbs tongue weight, I wouldn’t be too concerned with payload unless you’re trying to do something crazy like put a ATV in the bed while towing.

 

Thank you for the great feedback. I’ve driven 2 of 3, still need to take the 5.0 out. 2.7 was great, 3.5 didn’t do anything for me. 600 tongue weight + 600pds in kids, wife and dogs leaves little for horse gear and cargo to stay under smaller 2.7 payload limits. Really appreciate the input.

 

2024 F150s all come equipped to tow. The optional tow/haul package that is only available on 3.5 or 5.0 engines is only required for the ridiculously high advertised towing capacity. For example, a 2024 F150 Supercrew 5.0 4x4 5.5ft bed w/3.73 gears is rated for 10,300 lbs towing and the optional tow/haul bumps that up to 12,900 lbs which is insane.

2.7 is a great engine. In 2024 they are rated between 7,400 lbs and 8,400 lbs which is well beyond your needs.

In any case, you can get whatever engine suits you and theres no need for the tow/haul package. Just need the trailer brake controller.

Can't really go wrong with any engine, but the 2.7 is my recommendation.

 

From my F-150 notes file. Consider the addition of a Mishimoto or Hayden trans cooler. I have the 53B Towing Package which doesn't have this, but I want to add it before any trips up steep mountains towing my camper or hot summer towing. The Max Towing option probably already has the auxiliary trans cooler.

 

Tow through any mountains and the 5.0 is a dog. Definitely recommend an ecoboost if its primary job is towing.