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Senile member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,633
Likes: 1,058
From: Sarasota, FL area
If you watch TFL's towing tests, you will see the 3.5L climbs well but has issues descending -- too many brake applications is their common complaint against it versus all other >5L engines. To be expected given, it has at least 30% less displacement for engine braking.
I don't know about you but I'd want a truck that descends steep grades better than one that climbs at lower RPMs.
I don't know about you but I'd want a truck that descends steep grades better than one that climbs at lower RPMs.
They're not overheating the brakes applying them downhill, and there were no control issues.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 230
Likes: 30
From: Ottawa ON
And its only an 8% descent with run-offs. Try descending some of the roads in upstate NY (off the Allegheny Plateau) where you need to control your speed on much steeper roads.
I'd rather burn gas going up than brakes going down.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 570
Likes: 112
From: Calgary, Alberta
Watch the videos...they count the brake applications (as a negative).
And its only an 8% descent with run-offs. Try descending some of the roads in upstate NY (off the Allegheny Plateau) where you need to control your speed on much steeper roads.
I'd rather burn gas going up than brakes going down.
And its only an 8% descent with run-offs. Try descending some of the roads in upstate NY (off the Allegheny Plateau) where you need to control your speed on much steeper roads.
I'd rather burn gas going up than brakes going down.
I live in western Canada where I routinely pull out TT through long mountain passes of 8 - 10% grades. As mentioned pulling uphill is not an issue with the Ecoboost, but descending is where things have the potential to go catastrophically wrong in a hurry. It's on the descents where I often wish I'd had a big displacement V8.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 254
Likes: 52
From: Western Washington State
Recently bought a Lance trailer. Its 23ft and the GVWR is around 6000 lbs. I've been struggling with buying an F150 with the V8 or spending gobs of money on an F250. I could use some input from anyone and everyone who has an F150 that pulls a trailer similar to what I have. Does the F150 with a V8 do the job. Does it have to work to hard when pulling that kind of weight up elevations like the Sierra's (7000 ft or more) or does it handle it without much strain. Would appreciate input from 4X2 and 4X4 owners.
Thanks, Tom
Thanks, Tom
Going downhill the compression braking from the 5.0 will be easier on the brakes than the 3.5.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 901
Likes: 259
From: PA
It is true that the 3.5 EB doesn't engine brake as well as larger displacement engines. However, if the OP is only towing a 6,000 pound TT (about the same weight as mine), the wind resistance is enough with that amount of weight that you rarely need to hit the brakes at speeds over 50mph. The TFL test was with ~9,500 pounds on one test and ~11,500 pounds on another. Big difference on how that weight pushes down a hill compared to 6,000. Plus the TFL test goes over 11,000 ft altitude and the thinner air does not hold you back the way it does at 3,000 feet for example. So that test is a more extreme test of engine braking ability than what the OP is asking of the truck.
On the flip side, if you manually shift the 10-speed, the gear ratios are close enough together that you can hold it just below red line to get maximum engine braking all the way down. At 6,000 pounds I don't really think it's an issue.
On the flip side, if you manually shift the 10-speed, the gear ratios are close enough together that you can hold it just below red line to get maximum engine braking all the way down. At 6,000 pounds I don't really think it's an issue.