Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans - Towing 5.0 or 3.5. Undecided

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- - Towing 5.0 or 3.5. Undecided (https://www.f150forum.com/f82/towing-5-0-3-5-undecided-448045/)

Just what I wanted to know

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorschlachter (Post 7341661)

Just want to throw in my opinion, about the thread title though, not the derailed debate this has become.

I have towed the same 7500 lb TT, over the same terrain, over the last 10 years with the following;

2011 F150 3.5 eco
2013 F150 3.5 eco
2015 F150 5.0
2019 F150 3.5 eco
2018 F150 5.0 (current)

I will only compare the 19 Eco and 18 5.0

19' eco - amazing for towing, great power, quiet, rarely downshifted, but boosted a lot. I would average 24-26L/100 km (9-10 MPG), with,9,10 locked out
18' 5.0 - for starters, light years ahead of the 15' 5.0 - compared to the Eco, it is still great.
This Gen3 5.0 with 10 speed trans tows exceptionally well IMO. You will need to downshift and rev more than the Eco, but it still tows effortlessly with 8, 9, 10 locked out.
I was worried about the towing experience after the 15' 5.0 (many hill pulls in 3rd gear just to maintain speed limit, loud, not terrible though and got the job done) but this Gen3 5.0 engine/trans combo is amazing.
Anyone who says the 5.0 is a dog for towing, may not have tried the Gen3, it feels really good TBH, even compared to the Eco.
Better mileage in the 5.0, average 20-22 L/100 (10.5-11.5 MPG)

It I was constantly towing at high altitude, I would 100% switch back to the Eco,'
I got the 18' 5.0 after the 19' Eco as it was stolen and there wasn't much out there for trucks at the time.

Hope this helps!

Great write up. I will be doing my first long distance tow soon with a 2018 XLT SuperCab 5.0 with 355 gears. Towing approx 4500 lb boat Tennessee to Texas approx 950 miles. Towing another approx 6000 lbs back

Curious what grade of gas you get this results in your 18. 5.0? I am thinking of experimenting starting with E85 available locally compare that with premium and possibly regular? If I run my 36 gallon tank down to minimums or two tanks of each back to back better yet should get a basic idea of extra cost for premium VS lower cost for E85 and lesser MPG
will report back after the trip
i also hear people saying they see no difference towing with regular! I find that hard to believe with a 12:1 compression motor even with computers turning back timing it is not pinging like crazy towing a load IMHO. Believe Ford manual recommends premium for towing but are they covering their arse

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt911 (Post 7354345)

I find that hard to believe with a 12:1 compression motor even with computers turning back timing it is not pinging like crazy towing a load IMHO. Believe Ford manual recommends premium for towing but are they covering their arse

If it werent for direct injection we couldnt run 87 octane. Yes, the timing is turned back on 87, but its more about direct injection. Even with 12:1 compression on my 3.3, I have no abnormal noises running 87 even towing my boat. And I work the engine pretty good pulling grades while towing my pontoon up into New Hampshire.

Premium is $0.90 per gallon more than 87 around here. I would never want a daily driver vehicle that requires premium. The Ecoboost benefits pretty good by premium while under heavy load. But even then the financial benefit arent there.
On my previous 2.7, I could notice a slight difference in pulling trailers on premium. But it still pulled fine on 87 and never ran hot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt911 (Post 7354345)

Was just towing last week...my enclosed trailer, 24' long with about 7500# of weight inside on a 250 mile run.
Bucking a good head wind for a good part of the way and my truck never pinged once. (it never does)
The differences I find between my 3.5 and 5.0 are that the 5.0 takes maybe an extra 10 seconds to get up to speed on highway and it gets better mileage.

3.55 and crap 87 gas in the tank.

I had a 2012 Limited with the 6.2L V-8 and two 3.5L EcoBoost’s since and the 3.5L is clearly the better towing engine by far! I miss the V-8 rumble but instant torque down low is where it’s at while towing IMO.

Fat finger double post—my bad!

I tow with the 2.7 EB, 3800 lb travel trailer and have over 25000 miles in the last 3 years. I have towed all over the Rockies and the 2.7 has plenty of power for my trailer. Lots of opinions on the 3.5 vs 5.0, everything I have read says the 3.5 has a towing advantage. I have often wondered if I would get better gas mileage with the larger engine, at 65 MPH highway we get between 11 and 11.5 MPG..

Both engines will be excellent, BUT most important do not buy unless the truck has the 36 gallon fuel tank. I bought mine and had to upgrade the tank and it's a hassle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcbridek (Post 7362484)

The 2.7L even has an advantage over the 5.0 at the elevations you are talking about. The stock tuning doesnt limit power until about 6500' of elevation. it would still make 400 ft-lbs of torque at 2750 rpm where the 5.0 would only be making 328 at 4250 RPM at the same elevation. If you spin the crap out of the 5.0, it will make the same peak HP as the 2.7, but the 2.7 will be stronger everywhere below 5000 rpm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mass-hole (Post 7363285)

but the 2.7 will be stronger everywhere below 5000 rpm.

Which is 95% of the driving we do. You can wring out the 5.0 to maintain speed while climbing a pass and it will eat it up like candy, but don't want to hover there on flat ground, or push up to that rpm for every blue hair you need to pass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt911 (Post 7354345)

87 - always 87

I have towed with Premium in both the 5.0 and 3.5TT once or twice, it definitely feels stronger, but I never calculated the fuel consumption difference.
The cost per fill is why I stick with 87, especially when going through 4-5 full tanks on a trip.