Towing specs and suggestions for 2018 3.5 Ecoboost and 5.0 V8 needed
06-08-2018, 09:58 AM
#41
Grumpy Old Man
I ordered my 2012 F-150 to get exactly what I wanted. I didn't want the max tow pkg because it came with 3.73 axle and I assumed that meant awful unloaded MPG. For 2012, the bigger gas tank was not an option for a 4x2 without the max tow pkg, so I couldn't order the 36-gallon tank as OEM without the 3.73 axle ratio. But I soon realized that only 200 miles between fill-ups when towing was not going to get the job done.
For the current F-150 the 36-gallon gas tank is a stand-alone option, so you can get it without having to be stuck with the short legs that come with max tow or HDPP. And other owners with HDPP have reported about the same MPG as I get, so the 3.73 is not such a gas hog as I expected. So when I order my 2019 this fall, it will include both max tow and HDPP with the 3.73 E-locker axle.
06-08-2018, 10:24 AM
#42
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Guys - I won't be towing much, and I won't be towing often.
I was mostly curious what kind of tow weights the various 'rear end gearing' options would provide for the two engines I noted. I would tend to overbuild for what my needs would be in reality - just in case, however, I have NO desire to have a large gas tank. The furthest I would haul my little subcompact tractor might be 1.5 hours distance.... but that would be a RARITY.
I drove the 2.7 and did not care for it. I drove the 5.0 and 3.5 and liked them both, so have to decide between the two. I am trying to figure out which engine would be the best choice considering a mix of proven 'reliability/longevity and mpg'... realizing that neither will be as good on mpg as the 2.7.
99.9% of the time, I will be a suburban truck owner.... tossing suburban type stuff in the bed as needed: bags of mulch, hauling a snowblower or lawnmower over to the in-laws, hauling some home improvement building supplies, etc. So, I want my truck to be a 'comfortable' daily driver with lots of amenities - but some hauling credentials if I need to haul my sub-compact John Deere 1025 R on a flatbed trailer.
I like the idea of having a stronger front sway bar and a transmission oil cooler.... just in case. And I like the 'backup assist' option, because I might occasionally haul a small 5 X 8 foot utility trailer I have for dirt, etc.
My build is as follows:
I was mostly curious what kind of tow weights the various 'rear end gearing' options would provide for the two engines I noted. I would tend to overbuild for what my needs would be in reality - just in case, however, I have NO desire to have a large gas tank. The furthest I would haul my little subcompact tractor might be 1.5 hours distance.... but that would be a RARITY.
I drove the 2.7 and did not care for it. I drove the 5.0 and 3.5 and liked them both, so have to decide between the two. I am trying to figure out which engine would be the best choice considering a mix of proven 'reliability/longevity and mpg'... realizing that neither will be as good on mpg as the 2.7.
99.9% of the time, I will be a suburban truck owner.... tossing suburban type stuff in the bed as needed: bags of mulch, hauling a snowblower or lawnmower over to the in-laws, hauling some home improvement building supplies, etc. So, I want my truck to be a 'comfortable' daily driver with lots of amenities - but some hauling credentials if I need to haul my sub-compact John Deere 1025 R on a flatbed trailer.
I like the idea of having a stronger front sway bar and a transmission oil cooler.... just in case. And I like the 'backup assist' option, because I might occasionally haul a small 5 X 8 foot utility trailer I have for dirt, etc.
My build is as follows:
- LARIAT
- SUPERCREW
- 3.5 or 5.0
- 4X4
- Option Package 502A
- Sport Appearance Package
- Trailer Tow Package
- Tailgate Step
06-08-2018, 10:51 AM
#43
Scoundrel
Guys - I won't be towing much, and I won't be towing often.
I was mostly curious what kind of tow weights the various 'rear end gearing' options would provide for the two engines I noted. I would tend to overbuild for what my needs would be in reality - just in case, however, I have NO desire to have a large gas tank. The furthest I would haul my little subcompact tractor might be 1.5 hours distance.... but that would be a RARITY.
I drove the 2.7 and did not care for it. I drove the 5.0 and 3.5 and liked them both, so have to decide between the two. I am trying to figure out which engine would be the best choice considering a mix of proven 'reliability/longevity and mpg'... realizing that neither will be as good on mpg as the 2.7.
99.9% of the time, I will be a suburban truck owner.... tossing suburban type stuff in the bed as needed: bags of mulch, hauling a snowblower or lawnmower over to the in-laws, hauling some home improvement building supplies, etc. So, I want my truck to be a 'comfortable' daily driver with lots of amenities - but some hauling credentials if I need to haul my sub-compact John Deere 1025 R on a flatbed trailer.
I like the idea of having a stronger front sway bar and a transmission oil cooler.... just in case. And I like the 'backup assist' option, because I might occasionally haul a small 5 X 8 foot utility trailer I have for dirt, etc.
My build is as follows:
I was mostly curious what kind of tow weights the various 'rear end gearing' options would provide for the two engines I noted. I would tend to overbuild for what my needs would be in reality - just in case, however, I have NO desire to have a large gas tank. The furthest I would haul my little subcompact tractor might be 1.5 hours distance.... but that would be a RARITY.
I drove the 2.7 and did not care for it. I drove the 5.0 and 3.5 and liked them both, so have to decide between the two. I am trying to figure out which engine would be the best choice considering a mix of proven 'reliability/longevity and mpg'... realizing that neither will be as good on mpg as the 2.7.
99.9% of the time, I will be a suburban truck owner.... tossing suburban type stuff in the bed as needed: bags of mulch, hauling a snowblower or lawnmower over to the in-laws, hauling some home improvement building supplies, etc. So, I want my truck to be a 'comfortable' daily driver with lots of amenities - but some hauling credentials if I need to haul my sub-compact John Deere 1025 R on a flatbed trailer.
I like the idea of having a stronger front sway bar and a transmission oil cooler.... just in case. And I like the 'backup assist' option, because I might occasionally haul a small 5 X 8 foot utility trailer I have for dirt, etc.
My build is as follows:
- LARIAT
- SUPERCREW
- 3.5 or 5.0
- 4X4
- Option Package 502A
- Sport Appearance Package
- Trailer Tow Package
- Tailgate Step
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Joe Friday (06-08-2018)
06-08-2018, 11:59 AM
#44
Senile member
Then you haven't tried to tow a trailer 300 miles between gas stations that have reasonable gas prices. At 10 MPG, you have to begin looking for a gas station at around 200 miles, and hope you find one before you begin sucking fumes. In the desert SouthWest, that's a serious concern. My F-150 came with the small gas tank, so it cost me around $1,000 to have it replaced with the 36-gallon tank. Now I can make that 300-mile jaunt with no problem of having to buy some high-priced gas at the two-thirds point in the trip.
I ordered my 2012 F-150 to get exactly what I wanted. I didn't want the max tow pkg because it came with 3.73 axle and I assumed that meant awful unloaded MPG. For 2012, the bigger gas tank was not an option for a 4x2 without the max tow pkg, so I couldn't order the 36-gallon tank as OEM without the 3.73 axle ratio. But I soon realized that only 200 miles between fill-ups when towing was not going to get the job done.
For the current F-150 the 36-gallon gas tank is a stand-alone option, so you can get it without having to be stuck with the short legs that come with max tow or HDPP. And other owners with HDPP have reported about the same MPG as I get, so the 3.73 is not such a gas hog as I expected. So when I order my 2019 this fall, it will include both max tow and HDPP with the 3.73 E-locker axle.
I ordered my 2012 F-150 to get exactly what I wanted. I didn't want the max tow pkg because it came with 3.73 axle and I assumed that meant awful unloaded MPG. For 2012, the bigger gas tank was not an option for a 4x2 without the max tow pkg, so I couldn't order the 36-gallon tank as OEM without the 3.73 axle ratio. But I soon realized that only 200 miles between fill-ups when towing was not going to get the job done.
For the current F-150 the 36-gallon gas tank is a stand-alone option, so you can get it without having to be stuck with the short legs that come with max tow or HDPP. And other owners with HDPP have reported about the same MPG as I get, so the 3.73 is not such a gas hog as I expected. So when I order my 2019 this fall, it will include both max tow and HDPP with the 3.73 E-locker axle.
But for me here in FL.....the furthest you'll go without seeing a gas station is probably alligator alley, maybe 50 miles? Traffic is crappy enough through most of Florida (except the panhandle) now that getting out every couple hours to stretch and punch a tree from bad driver aggravation is good for health anyways.
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Joe Friday (06-08-2018)
06-09-2018, 12:54 AM
#45
06-09-2018, 10:14 PM
#46
The vast majority of 2 axle flatbed trailers will have electronic brakes and require an electronic brake controller. A JD 1025R with a few implements on a 2 axle flat bed trailer is going to weigh nearly as much as the truck. You need brakes. State trailer brake laws vary, but I would think every state would require brakes for this to be towed behind an f150. In my state, any trailer over 2,000 pounds is required to have brakes.
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Joe Friday (06-10-2018)
06-12-2018, 05:28 PM
#47
Same engine, different tune, different intercooler, different intercooler vent blocking. Pre-2015s were dogs next to the 5.0 w/3.73 . 2015+ were much more responsive and a completely different animal.
06-13-2018, 06:06 PM
#49
06-19-2018, 09:18 PM
#50
duplicate
Last edited by Mike Up; 06-19-2018 at 09:20 PM.