chimmike

Not even close. The 3.5's torque band is wider and flatter. If both had 3.31's or 3.73's the outcome would be the same, the 3.5 EB would win that acceleration towing up a grade.

a 3.5 eb with 3.73's would walk all over a 5.0 with 3.73's towing a trailer. Way more useable torque. Not good or bad, just a fact.
My 3.31's would walk all over a 10sp 5.0 with 3.55's towing a trailer. Again, not good or bad, just a fact.

I think TFL truck's ike gauntlet tests have proven how efficient power-wise the 3.5eb is at towing up grades with heavy loads.

Don't even need to be talking elevation. Flat land acceleration with a trailer, the 3.5eb still wins, same gear to same gear. every time.

5.0GN tow

I think they are closer than you think. This test by TFL the testers voted for the v8 as the winner even though it was running its least capable 3.15 gears. To be fair it was a lighter truck than the eco, but the eco is supposed to be the unquestioned champ and did have it's best gears at 3.55. So match them up best to best and the 5.0 will still hang with the eco. Once they are rolling you need HP too, not just torque. Torque gets you moving HP keeps the speed up. The v8 engine brakes better and gets better mileage towing despite higher rpms being turned. They are not designed the same so to be a true test it would be best gear set to best gear set on close to identical trucks. With this one the weight difference was offset by the poor gearing of the 5.0 truck.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...NVBpAm&ampcf=1

Captain d

I have a 2015 Lariat 3.5 ecoboost with max tow and 3.55 rear end. I tow a travel trailer that weighs about 5500 lbs. my son has a 2011 with 5.0 with max tow and 3.55 rear end. He tows a 7000 lb. travel trailer. We just returned from separat tips. He went to South Georgia towing at 65 on the highway. He said that in tow haul mode at 65 his truck would not get above 5th gear and would frequently drop to 4th and turn about 3600 rpms. He averaged 9.1 mpg for the trip. I traveled through the hills of Tennessee and Kentucky at 62 mph when on the interstate and several two lane secondary. At 65 mph mine would stay in 6th gear unless I hit a fairly significant grade then would briefly drop to 5th. The difference I have noticed is the ecoboost will boost first before dropping to a lower gear. At 65 mph it was turning about 1700 rpms. Keep in mind the ecoboost produces max torque at about 2300 rpms but still 90% at the 1600 to 1700 rpm level. I averaged 12.4 mpg on my trip. Soon we are going to try towing his camper with my truck to see how it compares to the 5.0. For my money the ecoboost is a dream tow vehicle.

5.0GN tow

The 5.0 has never been available with max tow, it can be had with tow package, and in 2011 the listed max for the 3.55 and 5.0 was 7800lbs in an SCAB 4x4 or less for SCREW. So if he has much in the truck he is probably at max GCWR and could be over the the GVWR. He should lock out 6th, 5th is still overdrive. If he is running bigger than stock tires or a a heavy load in the truck he is really pushing that combo.

I towed a GN horse trailer(2013 5.0 3.55)at over 9k several times, inside GVWR but 1200 over GCWR and 5th at 70-75 netted me around 2250 to 2500rpm and if we dropped to 4th around 3500. I towed all over WV, OH, IN and KY with no issues and could easily stay 70 to 75. In 5th or 4th on grades. He may have a lot more frontal area than I did which can make a ton of difference.

The 5.0 is designed to rev more than the eco, but keep an eye on heat if the eco stays in boost in hot temps on long grades and low rpm. I think once you factor the truck weights 2011 is 700lbs heavier or so, and 2000lbs more trailer your mileage will be similar with his trailer. His GCW is appx 2000 to 2500 lbs more than yours.

blkZ28spt

Is it considered good practice to tow a 9k lb trailer with a half ton at 75 mph while 1,200 pounds beyond your GCWR?

Jeff1024

5.0GN tow

Well since you dont seem to want play nice, here is a pic of the rig, and yes it was stable stopped extremely well since it had very large brakes, 7k axles and was a GN. The trailer was at 9k, of a rated 16.8k GVWR and the truck was inside every rating except the GCWR. I have been pulling large heavy trailer for 30 plus years, everything from low boy pintle hook rigs over 25k to big GN, to boat and RV set ups. It was possibly the most stable and comfortable rig I have pulled. The trailer tires were LT and the trailer was equipped with LT tires from the factory.

acdii

Here is something to consider when thinking about gearing and the "power band" of an engine. Big rigs are geared to use a 300-500 RPM spread where the engine produces it's peak power, usually around 1700-1900 RPM. Gas engines have a much wider band than Diesels, but, the principle still holds true to gear it in it's band. If going 2.7 or 3.5 get 3.55, if going 5.0 3.73 or lower.

tudunka

I had a 3.5EB, now a 5.0L and I'll never go back to a 3.5EB. I will agree that they have pull power over the 5.0L, but in the long run I think that the 5.0L is a better investment. My experience with my EB was that it was in the shop all the time. Your turbos (two of them) are water cooled and oil lubricated and have hoses that WILL LEAK and its great if you have them under warranty, but if you don't - pull out that BIG O' Fat Wallet of yours, and they won't go out at the same time - LOL. Then there is the issue with the Exhaust Manifolds that were a bad design from Ford in that the front of both Manifolds have several bolts attaching them to the engine block, but lets only put two at the back of the block, pressure builds, Manifold warps from pressure and heat and "POP" goes the nuts that are holding the manifold in and leaving the bolts in the engine block - now pull out that BIG O' Fat Wallet of yours again. Oh, Oh, and they don't go out at the same time, same as your turbos......NO THANK YOU !

Ford loves the 3.5EB, cuz the Dealers are the Stealers and they need the service business. My 5.0L may pull a little slower, but I like to just keep things simple with a Nice V8, and I like to keep my BIG O' Fat Wallet in my back pocket.

blkZ28spt

What year was your 3.5?