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towing ability of the f-150 3.5L

pinenut
Explorer
Explorer
hey guys, I'm in the market for a new f-150 STX and wanted to pick your brains for any info. about the 3.5L turbo. I currently own a 2013 STX 4x4 with the 5.0L and haul a 29'(grey wolf 22 RR UVW-5,057# GVWR-7,686#) toy hauler with an 850# streetglide in it on occasion. I live in eastern ohio and travel to the west Virginia mountains, florida, Maryland and the blue ridge mts. I have a 2 week loop planed next year out west to Sturgis, through the bighorns to beartooth highway, Yellowstone, the tetons and Colorado, to ride pike's peak. I've never had a problem towing my rig with the 5.0L through the smaller mountains in the eastern U.S. but wonder if anyone has experience with the 3.5L in an f-150 towing through the real mountains out west? I will only need to scale the bighorns to get from S.D. to Montana, all other mountain climbing i'll be taking the bike. any input would be greatly appreciated, pinenut
12 REPLIES 12

JeremyFr
Explorer
Explorer
The 3.5 EB absolutely dominates in the mountains. I can't tell you how many NA half tons I pass on hills and at altitude doing 65+ in my EB while they're struggling. Then you can add the Livernois tune's (best $600 I ever spent) and outside of a diesel there is not a **** thing that'll touch the 3.5 for towing.
2016 Ford F150 XLT SCREW Long Bed 4x4 3.5L EcoBoost with Stage 3 Livernois Tunes

2007 Jayco JayFlight 23FB

Groover
Explorer II
Explorer II
I pull close to 12K with mine and am never short for power. Traction sometimes, but not power. And that is using the cheapest gas that I can find. The 4wd auto setting that comes with Lariet and above comes in handy for the traction issues.

I bought mine with load range C tires and max tow package. I have added 2K airbags and Rancho 9000 shocks. I made sure that the load distributing hitch is set up properly and that the trailer brakes work well and it tows solidly.

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
^Yeah if power is the main goal and you’re only going with a gasser, the Ecoboost will smoke the 6.2 and 7.3 at altitude as well.
7.3 I’d say will almost keep up though. With 4.30s it might.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

blt2ski
Moderator
Moderator
kellem wrote:
Your almost towing 8K....time for a F250 for the big hills.


Because the 3.5 has a supercharger, it would do as well or better than a 25 series gas option. Obviously not as well as a diesel.
Still, OP does not NEED a 25 series, unless he is like me, had 4 adult sized teens, parents, hitch wieght etc out 3000 lb onto the truck. Then yes you would need a 25 or 35 sw rig. But a couple that wieghs in the 500-600 lb range including winter clothes, purse, travel gear, snacks in cab, plus 1000 lb, max 1200 lbs of hitch wieght, you are with in capacities of a heavier suspension 15 series truck.
With the 3.5 iirc having 350-400 ponies, don't think HP is an issue. With 10 gears in transmission, no issues here either.

Marty
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
2014 Chevy 1500 Dual cab 4x4
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer

kellem
Explorer
Explorer
Your almost towing 8K....time for a F250 for the big hills.

APT
Explorer
Explorer
If you think the current truck performed well for you, a newer Ecoboost with 10-spd transmission will be even better especially at higher elevations.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2x 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV (Gray and Black Twins)

bikendan
Explorer
Explorer
pinenut wrote:
hey guys, I'm in the market for a new f-150 STX and wanted to pick your brains for any info. about the 3.5L turbo. I currently own a 2013 STX 4x4 with the 5.0L and haul a 29'(grey wolf 22 RR UVW-5,057# GVWR-7,686#) toy hauler with an 850# streetglide in it on occasion. I live in eastern ohio and travel to the west Virginia mountains, florida, Maryland and the blue ridge mts. I have a 2 week loop planed next year out west to Sturgis, through the bighorns to beartooth highway, Yellowstone, the tetons and Colorado, to ride pike's peak. I've never had a problem towing my rig with the 5.0L through the smaller mountains in the eastern U.S. but wonder if anyone has experience with the 3.5L in an f-150 towing through the real mountains out west? I will only need to scale the bighorns to get from S.D. to Montana, all other mountain climbing i'll be taking the bike. any input would be greatly appreciated, pinenut


I've been towing my 26ft 6500lbs TT with my 2014 3.5 Ecoboost SCREW 4x4, through the Cascades, Siskiyous and Sierras for the past 4 years. Tows like a dream and at altitude, like a diesel. i have the Max Tow package and 3.73 rear end. Payload of 1828lbs.
Dan- Firefighter, Retired:C, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur:W, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever(RIP:(), 2014 Ford F150 3.5 EcoboostMax Tow pkg, 2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255 w/4pt Equalizer and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes

souraider
Explorer
Explorer
I used my 2014 3.5 Eco with Max-Tow to tow the trailer in my signature all over the Canadian Rockies with no problems.
'17 F350 STX 6.7
'15 Stealth WA2313
'20 Can Am Maverick Sport 1000R

Lwiddis
Explorer
Explorer
Isn’t the F150 due for a major “redo?” Otherwise, if you’re within max towing and payload, go for it.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
Umm, it’ll absolutely destroy an old 5.0 6 speed towing. Destroy.
Look at the numbers and then add in altitude loss for na engines. Not even a fair fight between the two, especially at altitude.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

MitchF150
Explorer III
Explorer III
I've got a 13 EB with the MaxTow and 3.73 gears. Tows my #7000 GVWR trailer just fine, but it was a change from when I towed my #5000 GVWR trailer before..

I do run premium fuel now and that actually made a difference. I've done some other suspension mods just to make the towing experience better for me. Installed some Bilstein 5100 shocks, Hellwig overload springs and some PowerStop Z36 brake rotors and pads.



Engine wise, it's all stock. The manual suggests running premium fuel when towing and I didn't do that with the #5000 trailer. Didn't run it on the first tow with the #7000 trailer and it was a dog... Next trip, ran a couple of tanks of premium before towing and it was back to the same performance as the old #5000 trailer.. Been running it ever since.

Anyway, the new 3.5's are a different gen from mine, and the trucks are different too, but in the end there is "ECO" mode for these things and there is "BOOST" mode.. The two won't mix however.. You either have "ECO" or you have "BOOST".. In boost mode, it'll still only get 8-10 mpgs towing..

Good luck! Mitch
2013 F150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab Max Tow Egoboost 3.73 gears #7700 GVWR #1920 payload. 2019 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511S.

ShinerBock
Explorer
Explorer
The 3.5L Ecoboost will tow a lot better than the the 5.0L will especially at higher elevations. I towed 9,500 lb from Texas to Utah twice with my old 2012 and I could maintain the speed limit on every mountain road along the way. This was back when they had 6 speed transmissions and I am sure that the new 10-speed makes even better now.

I also used to have a 2011 F150 5.0L 3.55 rear ratio company truck that I towed with a few times and then they gave me a 2012 3.5L 3.15 rear ratio and it towed better than 3.55 5.0L pulling the same trailer. The 5.0L would always downshift even on slight grades while the 3.15 3.5L Ecoboost was able to make enough low end power (because of the turbos) to hold 6.th on most of the same grades that would cause the the 5.0L to downshift to 6th. On the hills that the 5.0L would downshift to 4th, the 3.5L Ecoboost would be in 5th turning at much lower rpms.
2014 Ram 2500 6.7L CTD
2016 BMW 2.0L diesel (work and back car)
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 3.0L Ecodiesel

Highland Ridge Silverstar 378RBS