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Old 03-19-2018, 12:39 PM   #1
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Anyone had a diesel and an EcoBoost?

i am interested to hear from people who have towed both with a diesel and an ecoboost, and their impressions of the comparison.
i realize that it matters how much weight you are towing but it would be interesting to see how they compare towing the same trailer with either engine.
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Old 03-19-2018, 12:54 PM   #2
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Kevin I have to guess that most people who've had both a diesel and an Ecoboost for the same trailer have a BIG diesel pickup rather than a medium-sized diesel like your X5. I haven't towed my 26U with anything but the F150 but have driven many diesel vehicles over time. The Ecoboost has a few of the pleasant diesel characteristics like gobs of low-end torque, but is not marvelously fuel-efficient. I see 20-21 hwy most of the time (without the trailer) and that's partially because I run about 78-80 on the highway.

Towing I see more like 11 in the flatlands and less in mountainous areas, but it's perfectly happy to tow the 6500-lb 26U at the speed limit on most climbs.

What are you plotting?
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Old 03-19-2018, 01:11 PM   #3
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When comparing to a 3/4 diesel pickup from any vendor, there is no comparison at all.

Not downing the EcoBoost, but it is designed to allow six cylinder gas engine perform as a mid-sized V-8 gas engine when required and offer better mileage when not under a load.

As David mentions, even that claim is dubious.

They won't replace a big block gas engine, much less a diesel.

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Old 03-19-2018, 01:29 PM   #4
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Well if you are only towing 17' Caravel, you really don't need either.

But for conversation sake, I had a 2011 Ecoboost with max tow and 3.73 gear. It towed the 25' just fine with plenty of power. However, in the Rockies and Sierras, when on secondary roads with 6% -10% grades, it's a bit different story. Oh it will haul up the grades as fast as you want. However, I experienced high temps on both engine and trans in the summertime, Enough to have to pull over and let things cool off. Going down hill, regardless of downshifting to 3rd or even 2nd, you are going to be riding the brakes. This all became even more evident with the 27'.

I just traded the F150 in for a 2017 Chevy 2500 Duramax and all of those issues have gone away. Just turn on the tow/haul mode, flip on the exhaust brake, set the cruise control and it basically drives itself. No more drama in the mountains.

And by the way, I also towed with a V8 Touareg and a V10 diesel Touareg so I have done the SUV deal as well.
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Old 03-19-2018, 02:25 PM   #5
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I have an Expedition EcoBoost. Tows my 6000 lb boat like it is not back there. Typical 11.8mpg towing. My old V8 Expedition had far less power, and 8 to 9 mpg towing.
A 3/4 diesel would tow even better, but I like my Expy for a daily driver.
The real issue becomes payload. My Expedition has a 1319 lb payload. It is too easy to exceed that number.
So a 3/4 diesel may be in my future for my soon-to-be (April 12 offline date) 28 Serenity.
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Old 03-19-2018, 02:44 PM   #6
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I’ve had two EcoBoost and moved to a 2017 F250 6.7 diesel in late 16. I pull a 2015 28 FC and agree with comments made by MOJO. Love the diesel. Lots of travel in mountains. I experienced same issues in summer as MOJO in the mountains with EcoBoost. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a strong engine but for my towing I wanted the diesel benefits. Towing power, better braking, heavier truck not affected by 18 wheelers screaming by you and general ease and comfort of towing with it.
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Old 03-19-2018, 07:09 PM   #7
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not plotting :)

not plotting ----just thinking.

had a friend visit the other day. has a 79 or so 25' airstream weighing about 5800 lbs.
he went on a trip with his fairly new f150 with the large gas motor, not the ecoboost. he felt like it had to change down and rev up quite a bit on the hills and is now contemplating a diesel.


Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX View Post
Kevin I have to guess that most people who've had both a diesel and an Ecoboost for the same trailer have a BIG diesel pickup rather than a medium-sized diesel like your X5. I haven't towed my 26U with anything but the F150 but have driven many diesel vehicles over time. The Ecoboost has a few of the pleasant diesel characteristics like gobs of low-end torque, but is not marvelously fuel-efficient. I see 20-21 hwy most of the time (without the trailer) and that's partially because I run about 78-80 on the highway.

Towing I see more like 11 in the flatlands and less in mountainous areas, but it's perfectly happy to tow the 6500-lb 26U at the speed limit on most climbs.

What are you plotting?
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Old 03-19-2018, 08:42 PM   #8
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That is why I went to a 6.7 F250. My 2500HD with the 6.0L gas was constantly downshift and revving in the 4000rpm range. Was not comfortable with that. I have no experience with the eco boost however.

Fuel mileage is 13.5 towing a 31' Excella weighing road ready at 7300#
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Old 03-20-2018, 09:16 AM   #9
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I have a 2017 Ford 250 diesel to pull my 25’ Flying Cloud, which I am selling to get a bigger AS. I love that it has the pulling and stopping capacity that I need.
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Old 03-20-2018, 09:55 AM   #10
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I currently have a 2012 F350 diesel (is also my daily driver) and tow a 28' FC. I just test drove a 2018 150 with the ecoboost (crew cab, 6.5' bed) over the weekend and was able to tow our trailer about 60 miles with it; half freeway, have back roads. I was quite impressed with the stability and power, and was about 0.3 MPG less than my diesel. On a couple steep hills, I did notice that it didn't have quite as much power, but nothing that was a major issue. Although, the diesel does have better mileage climbing. The creature comforts and ride quality were much better though, so it has us thinking of downsizing.
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Old 03-20-2018, 11:18 AM   #11
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In the Ford world, the 3x liter eco boost lack the air volume displacement of the 6.7l diesel for engine braking in the mountains.

I tow our 2015 23D International Serenity at 6,063 pounds with my 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI turbo diesel and can see 16.5 on the flats at 55 mpg. It downshifts to 4th gear @ 3,000 rpm to maintain 55 going up mountain. Coming back from the summer mountain camp, I downshift to 2nd and 35 mpg (the posted speed) and never touch the brakes..

The difference is the higher compression ratio in a diesel. The 6.7L Cummins in my 2012 Ram 2500 HD with it’s exhaust brake controls our 2014 31’ Classic with a rig weight oh 19,200 pounds down mountain with no issues.

One quickly learns speed is not your friend in the mountains. I even follow the yellow turn speed signs towing.
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Old 03-20-2018, 11:31 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by switz View Post
The difference is the higher compression ratio in a diesel. The 6.7L Cummins in my 2012 Ram 2500 HD with it’s exhaust brake controls our 2014 31’ Classic with a rig weight oh 19,200 pounds down mountain with no issues.
That is a common misconception with diesels. Diesels don't inherently have engine braking, as they aren't throttled. The higher compression ratio is irrelevant to engine braking in this class of engine, because the piston works like a spring. It compresses the air in the cylinder (a lot), and then the compressed air pushes the piston back down (also a lot). There is no net work done. This is unless one has a Jake Brake or similar device and which changes the valve timing so as to exhaust the compressed air to atmosphere after the compression stroke.

Diesels in this class use exhaust braking, not engine braking. The exhaust brake is a form of choke, and it is working against that back pressure, the pumping losses, that produces retardation.
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Old 03-20-2018, 11:46 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverlabs View Post
I’ve had two EcoBoost and moved to a 2017 F250 6.7 diesel in late 16. I pull a 2015 28 FC and agree with comments made by MOJO. Love the diesel. Lots of travel in mountains. I experienced same issues in summer as MOJO in the mountains with EcoBoost. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a strong engine but for my towing I wanted the diesel benefits. Towing power, better braking, heavier truck not affected by 18 wheelers screaming by you and general ease and comfort of towing with it.
I agree with Silverlabs and Mojo. I put 125k+ miles on my 2012 F150 EB, and experienced same issues with my 25' AS when pulling up or coming down steep grades in summer. Moved to the F250 6.7L last June with our new 28' FC. Same experience; set cruise at 60-65mph, engine brake on auto, then sit back and relax! No more payload issues either. I also believe the longer heavier wheel base of the 3/4T is well matched for larger AS's, like the 28' for handling/control and wind conditions. MPG is about the same on the F250 4x4 as with my 4x4 F150 overall. But night and day towing.
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Old 03-20-2018, 11:47 AM   #14
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KevinKatz Friend with 16' F150 5.0 V8

The part that most bothered me about towing with the 5.0 V8 was that I didn't feel comfortable enough to let my wife drive through the hills heading to Big Bend Area. I was constantly down shifting manually to climb hills to keep the truck in what I consider the good power range. It would maintain speed but worked it's butt off doing so. If I let the truck do it's own thing, like she would have, I would find myself at 40mph climbing uphill. It's not that it won't work, but it's not ideal. I would describe myself as impatient and wanting to have available power/torque at my fingertips. That being said, I'm going to pick up a Ford F-250 6.7 and I'm sure I will be VERY HAPPY snoozing in the passenger seat
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Old 03-20-2018, 12:38 PM   #15
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I had a 2003 Dmax that I liked a lot, but when it was time to move on I bought an F150 (see signature below). I didn't need the payload and the F150 does great. I notice little difference towing and it's much better (and more fun, like a hot rod) day to day. Safer too in my book as it handles better. That said, if/when we are both retired and take longer trips (months etc.) I would again consider a 3/4 ton truck, but because of the higher maintenance costs I would likely look hard at a gasser. I like the Ecoboost and likely wouldn't go with a 1/2 diesel if I was getting a new truck that wasn't 3/4 ton or larger. BTW...knocking on wood....the Ecoboost has been way more reliable than my Dmax was. I had to do a number of repairs on it at the same mileage point that the Ecoboost is, and the EB has been repair free, maintenance only - spark plugs and oil changes. I don't constantly worry about the expensive injectors giving up the ghost, that's enough right there.

BTW the specs on my Dmax were 235hp 500 torque. My 2012 EB 365hp 420 torque. Much more HP makes it fun when empty and the torque specs are not far off from the Dmax and are mega plenty to pull my trailer.

That said, you will likely get a bunch of differing opinions on this on here. So in the end, pick whichever one you like and that will get the job done for you.
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Old 03-20-2018, 02:08 PM   #16
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Have driven a couple F-150 EcoBoost, have not owned. Nice truck for a 1/2 ton. Have not towed w/one, however from what I have read it does well for some and not so well for others.

Most of my life was w/gaser's, big blocks, and 3/4 ton. They just worked best for me. Have only owned 2 diesels in my life, 1980 Mercedes 300 SEL Turbo Diesel. Mercedes claimed 1st diesel passenger car to go over 100 MPH and yes it would. At our age, prices on new trucks, all that we tow, and hopefully the last truck we will buy. Yes on diesel, just works for us.

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Old 03-20-2018, 02:37 PM   #17
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I pull a 22' Argosy with a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel. I live in the mountains of NC and the Jeep has no problems towing at all. I get an average of 22 mpg while towing; otherwise, 32 mpg. I love this vehicle. Plenty of power, good stopping capability, extremely comfortable to drive.
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Old 03-20-2018, 03:07 PM   #18
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I currently have a '17 F350 diesel and a '13 F150 with the 3.5l Ecoboost. I have towed our 28' International with both, much of it mountainous driving. So far, about 38k miles with the F150, about 5k with the F350. I also occasional drive my son's F150, similarly equipped to mine but with the 5l V8.

There is flat out no comparison between the Ecoboost and the V8 5l F150's. The Ecoboost has way more power, especially in mountains and at altitude. The old school thoughts on the midsized naturally aspirated V8's compared to the twin turbo Ecoboost are laughable. The only disappointment with the Ecoboost is crappy fuel mileage and I have not had good luck with brakes on the F150.

With going to the F350 diesel, it is a different experience. The exhaust brake is nice to have and the better brakes overall are reassuring. The lower RPM nature of diesel takes a little getting use to. Power is obviously great but I didn't feel a lack of power towing with the Ecoboost. I am finding myself driving a little slower towing with the F350 then the F150 (both using a Propride hitch). I don't know if it is the taller, stiffer riding truck, the nature of the diesel power, or some other factor.

The biggest disappointment I've had with the F350 is the much larger turning radius then the F150, I believe due to the solid axle. It is a PITA in parking lots, tight city maneuvers and dealing with backing into some campsites.

Lastly, I don't see a reason why someone would buy an F250 diesel. Because of the heavier engine, the payload on an F250 is in the low 2000 pound range, the F350 is over 3000 pounds. From driving a number of new F250's and F350's, the ride quality is about the same to me and the price is not substantially different.
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Old 03-20-2018, 04:14 PM   #19
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What he said

Quote:
Originally Posted by mojo View Post

I just traded the F150 in for a 2017 Chevy 2500 Duramax and all of those issues have gone away. Just turn on the tow/haul mode, flip on the exhaust brake, set the cruise control and it basically drives itself. No more drama in the mountains.

.
Though I traded in my 5.7L Tundra for a Ford F250 Diesel. Will never go back when towing a big trailer in the mountains.
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Old 03-20-2018, 05:50 PM   #20
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I've pulled my trailer with a:
2000 Excursion 7.3 liter diesel - 12 mpg
2005 F-150 5.4 liter gas - 9 mpg
2010 VW Touareg diesel - 16 mpg
2016 F-150 2.7 liter EcoBoost - 11 mpg

I dearly miss the Touareg, but the EcoBoost is as close to diesel towing feel as you can get. I have the teeny tiny 2.7 liter and it's a beast. Just like diesel, it tows at lower RPM and spools up turbo rather than downshifting and revving up.

The EcoBoost has a similar feel of the effortless power of diesel but without the fuel economy benefit.

In a few more years I hope to be in the new F-150 diesel.
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