2015 F150 2.7L Ecoboost

[Oxen]

Does anyone have experience towing an AS with the Ford F150 2.7L Ecoboost engine? Was it adequate? Was it reliable? What was the mileage?

[jcl]

The 2.7 Ecoboost is fairly new, so for reliability you will probably have to use other Ecoboost models as proxies. The 3.5 Ecoboost has been well received.

What trailer are you planning to tow?

For a smaller Airstream I think it would be fine. For a larger Airstream I would consider the 3.5

[Oxen]

I plan to buy a FC 25 or 27 FB. The weights are within spec. for a F-150 2.7L EcoBoost with some safety margin.

[KJRitchie]

Why bother with the 2.7L vs 3.5L EB? Make sure you get the extended range tank. Check the yellow load sticker on the door to make sure payload is adequate for your needs. FLT tow test of the 2.7L was with the Supercab version to get safe payload to show on their video.

Kelvin

[Jaxon]

I had a 2012 Ecoboost that I towed a’77 International (27’) and a ’67 Safari (22’) and it did a great job on flat lands as well as in the mountains. Never came close to the 12,000b tow capacity... The Ford was a great truck and realy nice daily driver...

I did tow a friends ’05 Safari 25’ on a trip of about 1500 mostly flat miles and it also did very well. All trailers either used a Reese dual cam hitch or an Equilizer hitch. The ONLY problem I encountered was being pretty close to maxing out on my payload capacity for the truck towing the ’05 Safari. This is something you will absolutely need to check into as the hitch weight of the trailers you’re looking at adds to that. You’ll need Fords heavy duty tow package and the heavy duty payload package... Remember to leave yourself with room )pounds), to spare, don’t push it to the load limit.

Good luck!
.

[TRizzuti]

I've been toying with the notion of trading my 2014 F-150 with the 5.0 liter V8 for a 2015 with either the 2.7 or 3.5, the reason being that my 5.0 liter struggles on steep inclines. I estimate I'm towing about 6,000 lbs in trailer weight and everything in and on the truck including passengers. So, I talked to a Ford service manager that I trust, one that has a lot of towing experience. His opinion in my case is that I'd be close to maximizing out the 2.7 and would be a lot happier with the 3.5. Not sure it's worth trading for either at this point, though.

[graysailor]

You also cut to the chase and just get a F250. The question at all about towing and payload.

[TRizzuti]

I actually talked to the service manager about getting an F-250 instead. His answer was it's too much truck in my case, but if all I want to do is tow with it, it would be fine, but if I also want to use it as an everyday driver, which I do, I won't be happy with it because it'll beat me to death. He seemed to make sense.

[Jcimral]

We tow a 2015 Classic with a 2015 F150 3.5 Ecoboost with no problems. Set it up very carefully based on tow ratings, since a Classic can top out at 10,000 lbs. We've come back and forth over the Cascades several times this summer. Easy tow and no lack of power. The F150 is our daily driver and we did not want a bigger truck. By the way, we love both vehicles.

[TruckerFritz]

Yep..have a 2011 F-150 with that engine..tows our 2005 28ft Safari with.no problem..a few trips to CO and NJ (our kids) and one go VT..think it's rated to tow 7000# right around the AS weight.

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by TRizzuti

I've been toying with the notion of trading my 2014 F-150 with the 5.0 liter V8 for a 2015 with either the 2.7 or 3.5, the reason being that my 5.0 liter struggles on steep inclines. I estimate I'm towing about 6,000 lbs in trailer weight and everything in and on the truck including passengers. So, I talked to a Ford service manager that I trust, one that has a lot of towing experience. His opinion in my case is that I'd be close to maximizing out the 2.7 and would be a lot happier with the 3.5. Not sure it's worth trading for either at this point, though.

I'm pulling a 25' FC, (new) with a Ford f-150, 3.5 EcoBoost and it seems to handle the Airstream quite fine. Keep the RPM between 2000 and 2500 and everything is 'Jake'. The max torque on this engine is 2500 RPM, where you should get your best gas milage.
When towing on our 400 series highways, I cruise at usually 110 KPH, (70 MPH) in fifth gear at 2250 RPM, on the level. Going up hills, I downshift to forth, and 110 KPH is at 3000 RPM.
I could CRUISE AT 120 KPH quite easily, but wifey gets antsy.
My fuel milage towing the AS is comparable to my previous Toyota 4-runner 6 cyl. towing a Hi-lo at 100 KPH.
Note of caution: Avoid using 6th. gear on any mission; it's far too 'tall' and is useless and redundant. You would need a 4.30 rear end ratio to use it properly.
2500 RPM in fifth will give you 120 KPH or 75 MPH. (My F-150 has a 3.55 rear end ratio) That's fast enough!
Contrary to what Ford says, do not 'work' the engine at under 2000 RPM, or risk piston damage.
This 3.5 EcoBoost is a marvelous engine that should be 'driven' properly to get the best results.

[Coolbreeze]

I just completed my first trip to CO, over the Raton Pass, in a '14 F150 3.5 Ecoboost, HD TOW and HD payload pkg AND the 3.73 rear end. I used the Tow/Haul mode in the mountains and large hills. Ran quite well and returned about 10 MPG. staying at 60-65 MPH. Pulling a 2008 Classic Limited at about 8K pounds. In NM and TX, on the flatter sections, I would get 11-12 MPG at 60MPH in 6th gear. Uphill, downhill, the transmission did a stellar job of picking the right gear and maintaining set speed going up or down. On some steep grades, I did have to apply the brakes some to keep the speed down. Not often and certainly not enough to heat anything up. I highly recommend the 3.5. I have owned the Ford 7.3 turbo diesel and loved it....except for the harsh ride and maintenance expenses. For the lighter AS trailers, Gas is the way to go....IMHO.

[kscherzi]

I think the 2.7 ecoboost is one amazing power plant. It has more power, horsepower and torque, than the slightly older 5.4 liter V8 that Ford offered just a few years earlier as its premier power plant.

[merchantmm]

"No problem" seems to be the consensus. I went thru the same considerations last year and ultimately decided "No problem" was not good enough. I decided on the F250 and went all in with the diesel 4x4. It's a fine daily driver and I NEVER worry about payload or towing capacity. The deal was sealed when I considered the engine braking capability of the 6.7 diesel. Lots of mountain driving where I leave in the west. I sleep fine.

[IanPoulin]

//speculation only

Be aware that towing capacity must be met with braking ability -- I drive the 3.5L ecoboost engine and it's engine compression is simply not up to the task on downhill driving of any slope greater than 4 or 5 degrees. Taking Bent Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday, 3 miles at 6-8 degree declines, the 3.5L kicked down to 2nd gear and I was forced to manually apply trailer control and foot brake nearly the entire way.

Thankfully I have the heavy duty brakes that go with the tow/cargo packages; and the blue ridge parkway at that section has pull-outs fairly well spaced out allowing me to give the vehicles a good rest.

If I were to consider the US or Canadian Rockies, I'd really want to look at a diesel I think....

Ian

[jcl]

OP: as suspected, more experience here with the 3.5 than the 2.7. For the $1200 or so I would step up to the 3.5

IanPoulin: do you mean degrees or percent grade?

Jeff

[IanPoulin]

sorry; percent grade.

[Oxen]

But, no problems have been described regarding the 2.7L Ecoboost, despite that there are some out there. Nothing about mountains or engine failure.

[Road Ruler]

Is the 2.7 supposed to get better fuel mileage than the 3.5?

[kscherzi]

By the EPA estimates a little better than the 3.5. Browsing online people are reporting above 20 average and up to 26 highway. It makea sense a little less ppwer and a little more economy. I suggest doing the research and forming an opinion.