First tow with new F-150 XLT 3.5
01-25-2018, 04:22 PM
#11
Slow it down a bit when towing if you want better than 8. The EB is great, but those turbos can really suck up the go juice when pushed hard. Power comes at a cost, so slowing down a bit will help reduce that cost.
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bstar1952 (01-25-2018)
01-26-2018, 11:00 PM
#12
One thing that may help with MPG's is getting an aftermarket intercooler. This will keep the air charge cool and will help the truck maintain better igniton timing and what not of climbs. The stock intercooler on these trucks heat soak pretty quick. Even on a 50 degree day I saw intake air temps over 170 degrees. Thats HOT.
01-27-2018, 09:07 AM
#13
This. You probably dont notice how fast your moving since the Ecoboost is so effortless.
One thing that may help with MPG's is getting an aftermarket intercooler. This will keep the air charge cool and will help the truck maintain better igniton timing and what not of climbs. The stock intercooler on these trucks heat soak pretty quick. Even on a 50 degree day I saw intake air temps over 170 degrees. Thats HOT.
One thing that may help with MPG's is getting an aftermarket intercooler. This will keep the air charge cool and will help the truck maintain better igniton timing and what not of climbs. The stock intercooler on these trucks heat soak pretty quick. Even on a 50 degree day I saw intake air temps over 170 degrees. Thats HOT.
01-27-2018, 09:58 AM
#14
Senior Member
Can't speak to 2015 and later Ecoboosts, but the owners manual for my 2014 says to never use below 87 octane, even in mountain states that have 85 octane as the low end gas.
If the later models are like my 2014, then I would, at the minimum, use the mid grade gas which should be 87 octane or better, when driving in the western mountains.
If the later models are like my 2014, then I would, at the minimum, use the mid grade gas which should be 87 octane or better, when driving in the western mountains.
Yes sir, the ride is more comfortable. As much as I liked my Chevy, and it was well appointed, you knew you were riding in a truck. I suppose most HD trucks are like that. I was not using premium gas. I will use premium on longer trips and especially when we head out west. Seems once you hit El Paso, regular is 85 octane.
Last edited by Atlee; 01-28-2018 at 04:37 AM.
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bstar1952 (01-27-2018)
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Gladehound (01-27-2018)
01-27-2018, 12:09 PM
#16
Member
Thread Starter
Would love to put an aftermarket intercooler on but my name ain't Rockafeller LOL. Anyway, thanks for all rhe comments everyone. Hope my first visit to the dealership's sve dept on Monday goes well.
01-28-2018, 01:15 PM
#17
Hi all - Recently downsized from a 2015 Chevy 2500LT 6.0 gasser to 2017 F150 Supercrew XLT with the 3.5 ecoboost. We tow a 7500 lb 32' travel trailer 2 or 3 times a year about 200 miles to the coast, flat land towing. We do take a long trip once a year from the San Antonio, Texas area to Utah and other places out west, lots of mountains and steep grades. The Chevy was a great truck and towed the TT flawlessly, I averaged 9 mpg while towing. I downsized because with towing only about 5% of the year, I could no longer justify the everyday 13mpg the Chevy got. Several friends own the F-150 ecoboost and all say they have no problems towing basically the same TT as mine and they get 20+ mpg when not towing. So after a lot of research, we decided to get one. Of course as soon as I purchased, I started finding threads on how bad the aluminum body F-150s handle when towing so I was a little worried. Anyway, adjusted my Equalizer WDH, hooked up the TT and took a 100 mile drive through the Texas Hill Country and I-10 from Bourne to Kerrville. Truck towed great, not kidding I was very pleased. The good:
I did have an issue with the truck that I assume is not related to towing. About halfway thru the trip I received several warnings in the center stack, one right after the other. Service AdvanceTrac; Steering Assist Fault, Svc Required; Hill Start Assist not Available and Hill Descent Control Fault. Luckily I was at an area where I could safely pull over. Turned the truck off and everything cleared when I re-started and I was able to drive home without any other warnings. Hope the warnings threw some codes as I have an appt with the dealership on Monday. I was able to find a couple of threads from other folks having the same warnings/problems, hope its an eazy fix.
Hope this thread might help someone with towing questions. Cheers.....
- One of my big worries was getting blown around by the semi's on the Interstate. Yes, I could feel the "push/suck" when being passed but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated and I never felt unsafe.
- Going up steep grades was easy, in fact I had to slow down. With my Chevy 6.0 gasser, you put the petal to the metal and up she'd go. With the ecoboost you have to actually watch your speed.
- I had no sway issues at all. Didn't feel "pushed" around by the wind either.
I did have an issue with the truck that I assume is not related to towing. About halfway thru the trip I received several warnings in the center stack, one right after the other. Service AdvanceTrac; Steering Assist Fault, Svc Required; Hill Start Assist not Available and Hill Descent Control Fault. Luckily I was at an area where I could safely pull over. Turned the truck off and everything cleared when I re-started and I was able to drive home without any other warnings. Hope the warnings threw some codes as I have an appt with the dealership on Monday. I was able to find a couple of threads from other folks having the same warnings/problems, hope its an eazy fix.
Hope this thread might help someone with towing questions. Cheers.....
I appreciate your experience, but eventually you will get pushed around.
Up here by Lake Michigan, winds get fierce and gust around 40 mph. Even with a steady 20 mph side wind, it will push you. The gusts are worst because they push and then let go. This causes your rig to go side to side. With P series tires, the instability can throw your whole rig into a sway situation if you try to over compensate for it. Going to a LT tire will stop the wallowing back and forth, but the wind will still push you, you'll just have better stability.
Get a good sway control hitch as the Blue Ox Sway Pro or Equalizer brand, and that could be the difference of a nice tow or being in a ditch turned over.
I've towed my 29' travel trailer with my 2010 F150, 2012 F150, and now my 2016 F150. All of these trucks will get man handled by the trailer in high side wind gusts, LT tires make it much more stable. However out of all 3 trucks, the 2016 handles better with the Blue Ox Sway Pro than the 2010 and 2012 did with the Reese High Performance Dual Cam Sway system (Strait-Line).
Don't take it for granted that all your tow trips will be that easy, they won't.
BTW, with my 5.0/3.73 truck in the signature. I get between 10.5 mpg and 11 mpg towing my trailer in the signature as well. Without towing, I get around 18.5 mixed driving around 17 mpg in town driving, and around 21 - 22 mpg expressway driving.
Last edited by Mike Up; 01-28-2018 at 01:43 PM.
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chimmike (01-28-2018)
01-28-2018, 02:31 PM
#18
A big enough wind will be scary regardless of your TV or hitch set up. Obviously, the better hitch and the more over kill the vehicle, the less scary it will be and the better your chances of making it out without something bad happening. But situations will happen if you're on the road long enough. Set it up the best that you can, and make good choices once on the road.
Last June I watched a tornado touch down while towing our travel trailer
I was lucky that there was a protected spot to pull into within 1/4 mile of where the winds hit us. Protected meaning that there was a steep bank for the trailer to lean against if needed to prevent it from going all the way over. Made it out OK with minor exterior damage to the travel trailer.
We've all see the video on Youtube of the trailer going over in high wind despite being pulled by a dually. A heavier vehicle helps to a point, but sometimes you just need to park it.
Last June I watched a tornado touch down while towing our travel trailer
I was lucky that there was a protected spot to pull into within 1/4 mile of where the winds hit us. Protected meaning that there was a steep bank for the trailer to lean against if needed to prevent it from going all the way over. Made it out OK with minor exterior damage to the travel trailer.We've all see the video on Youtube of the trailer going over in high wind despite being pulled by a dually. A heavier vehicle helps to a point, but sometimes you just need to park it.
Last edited by Gladehound; 01-28-2018 at 10:28 PM.
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chimmike (01-28-2018)
01-28-2018, 03:20 PM
#19
Member
Thread Starter
Thanks Mike Up and Gladehound for the comments. I tow with an Equalizer hitch and have for about 15 years. Lucky I'm retired and like Gladehound said, when the wind gets to really blowing, we park and try another day. I do worry about high wind more than any other issue with traveling.
01-28-2018, 09:20 PM
#20
Reading about the wind reminded me about the time I drove though Utah with my rig. Going up I-70 through that 120 mile no service stretch, encountered the steep climb in triple digit temps and overheated. It wasn't very far from the overlook area, so after stopping on the side for a few minutes to let the engine cool, I drove up to the lookout and parked for a while so the truck can cool and be topped off. While we were up there enjoying the view, the winds were blowing pretty good. At time rocking the trailer to the point I thought it would go over. Funny thing, I never felt the wind while driving. Had just a simple Husky round bar and single sway bar.
That was on a 2014 Screw SB RWD. With the 2016 and a Blue Ox though, I can feel the wind pretty good when it is really windy.
That was on a 2014 Screw SB RWD. With the 2016 and a Blue Ox though, I can feel the wind pretty good when it is really windy.