Ford f150 6 cylinder and towing

[MasterCASTER!]

My advice is never buy a 6 cylinder full size truck.

And the dumbazz comment of the day goes to this guy.

I've got a 2013 F-150 with the 3.5L ecoboost engine and it's AWESOME! I absolutely love it. It pulls my TR196 like it's not even back there. PLUS the gas mileage is out of this world - both towing AND not. I drove to Ft Myers Beach Florida last year (not towing my boat) - from Massillon Ohio. That's 1,150 miles. The first time I stopped for gas was 25 miles outside of Columbia SC! That's 545 miles (8:35) on one tank of gas. I could have made it there on 2 tanks of gas.....if I hadn't stopped to sleep a few hours and top off.

My next truck is going to be the same one..........I'm forever a fan of the twin turbo. Both for pulling and gas mileage.

[CGWright]

You guys that are claiming 15 - 17 mpg towing... how fast are you driving? I towed a 5x8 aluminum trailer with my quad on a 2 hour round trip 2 weekends ago and got 11 mpg overall. Granted I was running 80 mph.

On my annual 1,100 mile trip pulling the Skeeter I see about 13 - 14 mpg. Both ways, and running 5 mph over the speed limit normally.

[flyinghappy]

You guys that are claiming 15 - 17 mpg towing... how fast are you driving? I towed a 5x8 aluminum trailer with my quad on a 2 hour round trip 2 weekends ago and got 11 mpg overall. Granted I was running 80 mph.

On my annual 1,100 mile trip pulling the Skeeter I see about 13 - 14 mpg. Both ways, and running 5 mph over the speed limit normally.

Speed kills mileage on these turbo charged trucks. Mine gets around 12 with my 206 Allure at 75, but that boat is also getting close to 5000 lbs full of fuel, tackle and whatnot.

[BigFishSteve]

545 miles on a 36 gallon tank isn't stellar for highway with no trailer.

[CGWright]

Speed kills mileage on these turbo charged trucks. Mine gets around 12 with my 206 Allure at 75, but that boat is also getting close to 5000 lbs full of fuel, tackle and whatnot.

Oh no doubt a mileage killer when the turbos are operating under much boost. My Skeeter is also probably 5,000 lbs. loaded. I try to travel with as little gas as possible in the boat also.

I'm just thinking the higher mileage claims must be on flat roads at 55 mph or under. I can get that kind of mileage when running under those conditions. I'm not concerned with the mileage, just curious about others' for comparison.

[RyanJ]

Running a 17 Ford Crewcab with 2.7 turbo now...LOVE IT...tows with no issues...put your foot into it and it goes. I get about 19 mpg all in town driving.

[jg379]

My 2.7 eco 4x4 screw is getting 20.2 mpg average for 12k miles. Milage will drop around 75mph+ to about 18.5 hwy. Get around 11.5 towing but coming from my trundra I save $200/ month on fuel but I drive a ton

[Thermodude]

You guys that are claiming 15 - 17 mpg towing... how fast are you driving? I towed a 5x8 aluminum trailer with my quad on a 2 hour round trip 2 weekends ago and got 11 mpg overall. Granted I was running 80 mph.

On my annual 1,100 mile trip pulling the Skeeter I see about 13 - 14 mpg. Both ways, and running 5 mph over the speed limit normally.

With my 2016 2.7 pulling a 19' fiberglass boat with 200 Optimax up and down hills to and from the lake running 55-60 I get 14-15.5 mpg.......

[BigFishSteve]

Not many are doing a real calculation either. Relying on the truck computer read out. Top off and drive and measure your own milege.

[bdog7198]

545 miles on a 36 gallon tank isn't stellar for highway with no trailer.

Well missing some info...how much was left in tank, was it actually the 36 gallon tank.....cannot say whether that was good or not...

[bossbowman]

Eco-boost is fine, don't go with the 3.3L V-6, same deal with RAM don't go with the pentastar V-6

[ECobb91]

Eco-boost is fine, don't go with the 3.3L V-6, same deal with RAM don't go with the pentastar V-6

I want to know your reasoning behind the disdain for a pentastar (especially if you don’t have real world first hand experience) because I tow with a durango v6 with pentastar and it’s a dream to pull my 19’ Ranger with. Zero issues driving through the mountains or up hills, transmission doesn’t hunt anymore than my cousins Silverado. I average 16-18mpg towing and 24-26mpg without trailer. Have 70k on the engine and only times it’s seen a shop is for oil changes.

[MagicCraw]

2018 F-150 2.7 Eco. I tow a 20ft glass ranger with a 225 on the back no prob.

I came from the 5.4 v8 triton motor in a 2007 f150, and now my much "smaller" engine tows even better.

I was interested in the 3.5 eco, but even with as much as i fish, i commute a hell of a lot more. the MPG in the 2.7 is unbeatable.

[bossbowman]

I want to know your reasoning behind the disdain for a pentastar (especially if you don’t have real world first hand experience) because I tow with a durango v6 with pentastar and it’s a dream to pull my 19’ Ranger with. Zero issues driving through the mountains or up hills, transmission doesn’t hunt anymore than my cousins Silverado. I average 16-18mpg towing and 24-26mpg without trailer. Have 70k on the engine and only times it’s seen a shop is for oil changes.

It aint got the juice to pull a heavy boat, the eco-boost does.

[BigDozer66]

I own an RT188. I tow it with a2018 2.7 F150 no problem.I owned a 2009 5.2 before this . The 2.7 has more horsepower and tork than the 5.2 did. I get 22mpg around town and 15mpg towing the twin turbochargers makes up for the smaller motor.I test drove the 3.5 on wet roads and found it a little squirrelly. I am in my 60s and don't need all that tire burning power. The 2.7 is plenty. Take one out for a test drive and put your foot in it.

Our results are similar to yours.

We have a '17 3.5L EcoBoost FX4 Max Tow (3.55 rear, 10 speed) and we get 21 around town and towing our RT188 we get 17 in it.

The 36 gallon tank is a real plus as well on it.

You would not have any trouble with the 5.0L models either so don't eliminate them from your search.

[BigDozer66]

You guys that are claiming 15 - 17 mpg towing... how fast are you driving? I towed a 5x8 aluminum trailer with my quad on a 2 hour round trip 2 weekends ago and got 11 mpg overall. Granted I was running 80 mph.

On my annual 1,100 mile trip pulling the Skeeter I see about 13 - 14 mpg. Both ways, and running 5 mph over the speed limit normally.

70 mph if the speed limit is 75.

It isn't always how fast you are going but also how quickly you get to 70-75 that kills your MPG.

What year model is yours so we will know if it is a 6 speed or 10 speed model?

[BCapes]

I have the 2.7 v6 f-150 super crew 2018. It has PLENTY of power to tow and I get good gas mileage as well. I towed from Arkansas to Atlanta on a little over a tank of gas last summer.

[CJ1]

My advice is never buy a 6 cylinder full size truck.

Please explain why. CJ

[bdog7198]

Please explain why. CJ

Because the marketing departments convinced him he has to have a V8.

[CJ1]

Because the marketing departments convinced him he has to have a V8.

Yea, I can honestly say I have driven and worked on way more 6 cylinder turbo charged trucks than V8's BUT that is including class 7 and 8 trucks! Anyway a lot of people are resistant to change but after owning and working on EB engines the turbo's are the last thing to worry about. OR he may of had a lemon but like I stated I would like to know why he believes that other then ignorance or 1 bad experience. CJ