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Go attach a large parachute to your truck. It weighs what, 20 pounds? Guarantee that amount of drag a large parachute has on the truck will greatly affect how the truck moves. Essentially that is what you are doing, AND adding a lot of weight.
I get it... never disputed that one bit. Reread my post, there’s a time where light weight and large front area will equal high weight and low frontal area but there are a a lot of variables. Too many , in my opinion, for Ford to blanket state, don’t tow a trailer with greater than X sf of frontal area. Towing a parachute is easy if you’re going slow enough for example. That’s the only reason I thought it was a stupid statement, and still do. You can’t correlate what a trailer’s surface area will do to a trucks drive train without knowing a lot of other factors. Again, why I said it’s just a CYA statement.
My 2011 F150 S/Crew with 5.0L 3.55 gear typically saw towing in the northwest about 9 mpg avg. Low was around 7.8 to high about 10.5.typical towing speeds around 60-65 pulling a 29ft 7000 lb loaded trailer.
Just purchased a new 2018 with 3.5L and 10 speed trans. New trailer as well but only about 500 lbs lighter loaded. While I, hoping the 10 speed will improve my mileage I will settle for what I’m currently getting. Lot of trailer. In winds it can get the feeling of a sail. But when I get there and set up it feels more like an exclusive resort. Be happy!
I really dont see much difference towing my 6x12 enclosed with a weight of about 2000 pounds compared to my 6500 pound travel trailer. That frontal drag on the 6x12 V is still enough to affect fuel economy. Either trailer is 10 MPG or less on the Interstate.
We have pulled a 9,100lb loaded MXT303 toyhauler nearly 15K miles. At 60-65 mph we got 8.5 on our recent trip from Ohio to Florida which would include going through the mountains of the Virginias on I-77. Fighting intense headwinds travelingwest through Kansas, we got only 6.1 mph. The truck has 1,976 payload with added airbags and upgraded Bilsteins 5100 shocks equipped with a Propride WDH. Could not ask for more from a
1/2 ton truck.
I get it... never disputed that one bit. Reread my post, there’s a time where light weight and large front area will equal high weight and low frontal area but there are a a lot of variables. Too many , in my opinion, for Ford to blanket state, don’t tow a trailer with greater than X sf of frontal area. Towing a parachute is easy if you’re going slow enough for example. That’s the only reason I thought it was a stupid statement, and still do. You can’t correlate what a trailer’s surface area will do to a trucks drive train without knowing a lot of other factors. Again, why I said it’s just a CYA statement.
For the bolded underlined part in the quote; X = 60
Mine is 60 and the wind really makes a difference in fuel economy going with/against the wind on the highway.
"Exceeding these limitations may significantly reduce the performance of your towing vehicle"
Or it may not. If you drive a little slower, if you have a tail wind, or maybe if you just don't have a massive headwind, it may not significantly reduce the performance of your towing vehicle. Ford uses "may" because Ford cannot possible know the conditions in which you will be towing or the speed you will be towing at.
I think what Ford is really trying to say here is that at 60 sq ft of frontal area, you are beyond the sanitized world in which there is no accountability - you may actually need to think about what you're doing, pay attention to your gauges and drive accordingly.
I get about 8-11.5 with mine depending on a lot of factors, if you are really concerned with mileage keep your eye on the bar graph while driving. I got about the same with my 02 Silverado 5.3 but I have a lot more power so I am happy with that. Now if I could get rid of the trailer sway I will be a happy camper.
New F150 owner here. I get very confused on the whole what can my truck tow calculation. I have a 2015 F150 XLT Crew Cab with the 3.5L TTV6 Ecoboost and the FX4 package. According to the dealer is can tow up to 11,500LBS. Where I get confused is with all of the GVWR numbers and how to calculate exactly what the truck can tow. I purchased the truck to two my 2018 Jayco Jayfeather Trailer with has an unloaded weight of 4,350 pounds. Any help would be appreciated.
The hitch does have the weight distribution bars as well at the sway bar.
01-16-2018, 09:20 PM
