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My 14' 5.0 with 3.55 on 295/70/18 pulls my 5k jeep, 1200 lb trailers and a month of hunting gear no problem from Tacoma to central Idaho encountering many many passes without an issue. Sometimes takes some extra rpm but it's handled the jeep fine at 80 mph speed limits. I wouldn't and don't hesitate to tow, and espically 4500 lbs.
The 3.3 will also tow up to 5000 pounds easily. My Ranger 3.slow has towed 7500 several times but revs to 5000 rpm up steep grades. So there. You should get the 2.7 EcoBeast SuperCab.
the 3.5 EB was built for towing. 470ft-lbs of torque, wide swaths of it available at low rpm. It's a beast of a motor, and will trick you into thinking it can tow almost anything. With the 5.0 and 3.5EB, you're restricted more by the weight limitations of a half-ton truck than you are by power. Different from the days 25 years ago where a 318 V8 in a dodge had to downshift and fight to pull a 6,000lb TT up a hill...….a 3.5 ecoboost will accelerate a 7,000lb TT up a mountain pass. it's rather surprising.
The 3.3 will also tow up to 5000 pounds easily. My Ranger 3.slow has towed 7500 several times but revs to 5000 rpm up steep grades. So there. You should get the 2.7 EcoBeast SuperCab.
Good job man! I've towed 16k lbs with my '04 4.6. just don't be afraid to run WOT at 10 mph on steep hills. Now that my truck has got old and has lost some power I wouldn't want to do it anymore
There is a replacement for displacement...it's called boost.
But there's nothing Eco about boost.
I love my 3.5EB, unless I'm descending a steep grade with the trailer. 9% coming down Towne Pass west out of Death Valley on CA-190 got interesting (redline in 2nd at 60 and transmission at 220+). The 3.5EB just doesn't have the compression braking. 5,000lb was interesting. Not sure I would want to know 10,000+. Going up the pass was cake and she ran awesome.
I love my 3.5EB, unless I'm descending a steep grade with the trailer. 9% coming down Towne Pass west out of Death Valley on CA-190 got interesting (redline in 2nd at 60 and transmission at 220+). The 3.5EB just doesn't have the compression braking. 5,000lb was interesting. Not sure I would want to know 10,000+. Going up the pass was cake and she ran awesome.
You would find that true with the 5.0 as well. Lightweight rods/pistons and super low friction rings and coatings all equal low engine breaking. For that you want a large displacement slow revving motor. Think large diesel.
TFL does good tests on YT that include engine breaking. I think the GM 5.3 was the worst they tested with 10 brake applications to get down the mountain. If I remember right, the 3.5 and 5.0 were equal with something like 6 each.
That gets out towed by the Eco Boosts all the time on TFL truck!!!
He's towing 4,500 lbs, the 6.2 would be 'more than enough'
Originally Posted by 2019STX
I was looking to do the same as you....Some told me the 3.5 was overkill but I'm happy I went with the 3.5 Eco with Max Tow. Buy what makes you happy!
The only thing to remember there is Ford builds the 2.7 trucks a bit 'lighter duty' and you lose 400 lbs of GVWR (and thus ~400 lbs payload). You can get it back on a low level truck with the 2.7 payload package but not with a loaded XLT or higher
So that's one advantage to your 3.5, it's more than just the power difference.
Originally Posted by Drix
I went with the 3.5 and 3:55 gears, We have a 5.0 in our work truck and the engine feels sluggish. Looking back at how well the 2.7 is doing now I would have probably gone 2.7 if it had the 9.75 rear.
That smaller rear axle in the 2.7 being part of the difference
13 5.0 3.55 stock pulling 9k in this pic. Pulled all over WV, KY, OH and IN, no issues at all. Maintained speed limit with no drama on 6 plus percent grades many times. Engine braking was very good too, really couldn't ask for a better set up to tow the 8k to 9k rig. It never heated up even in 90 plus degree temps and usually stayed in 4th even on steep grades at around 3500rpm.
13 5.0 3.55 stock pulling 9k in this pic. Pulled all over WV, KY, OH and IN, no issues at all. Maintained speed limit with no drama on 6 plus percent grades many times
Peak torque and HP in the 3.5 eco and coyote are fairly close. Where they differ, is when that torque kicks in. Turbocharging brings the max torque in around 1500rpm and keeps it there. The Coyote has to wind up a couple thousand more rpm to get it.
I've had a 13 with the 3.5 eco and 3.31 gears, and now have an 18 with 3.55. Between the slightly lower gear in the rear, and the significantly lower 1st gear in the 10sp transmission, I'm absolutely amazed at how much better the 18 pulls. If I have to get on the gas when merging onto the highway with the travel trailer, I can with no problem and rarely need full throttle.
My dad has a 16 with the 2.7eco. It's a fine engine for his usage (17' aluminum fishing boat, occasionally towing our ATVs for hunting), but between the smaller gas tank (I don't know if the 36 gallon is an option) and having 300lbs less payload despite only being an extended cab to my SCREW, and it has the older 6 speed.
It should be an ECOorBOOST. When you start shoving all that extra air into the block, it needs a lot more fuel to make everything go boom. I love having a truck that has plenty of power when I need it, then gets 20+mpg with heavy all terrain LT tires when I don't.
05-30-2019, 08:59 PM
