2015 F150 HD Payload 5.0L vs F250 6.2L

[KJRitchie]

For those who don't want to go the diesel route or are shy of turbos (Ecoboost) I'm wondering how these two 2015 vehicles would stack up to each other towing a 25' 7300lb Airstream?

F150 with HD Payload and Max Trailer, SuperCrew, 157" wb with the 5.0L engine. Payload 2660lbs (real life more like 2300lbs)
385 HP at 5750 rpm
387 ft/lb at 3750 rpm
Base Curb weight 4930lbs for Supercrew 157"wb with 5.0L V8

F250 Crew Cab, 156"wb with the 6.2L. 3000lb payload
385 HP at 5500 rpm
405 ft/lbs at 4500 rpm
Base curb weight 6828lbs for Supercrew 156"wb with 6.2L V8

The engines specs seem similar and even if the 5.0L is slightly less powerful its not having to push almost 1 ton more of weight before even adding the trailer, occupants and cargo. I would hope the fuel mileage, solo and towing, would be better on the 5.0L than 6.2L. I would expect the towing performance of the 5.0L F150 to be better because of the lower curb weight of the F150 vs F250.

Wheel bases are the same so they are both stable towing platforms.
2300lbs of payload for the F150 is plenty for most towing needs. I would expect the F150 even with HD Payload to be a better ride.

When pricing out an XLT in both the F150 HD Payload and F250 are pretty closely MSRP priced however dealers in my area are discounting F250 6.2L more than F150s. Maybe that will change later on in the year.

To get an F150 with HD Payload special order is needed. F250 you might find one the lot.

Kelvin

[HowieE]

Your comparison leaves out the most important specification of a towing vehicle, the rear axle ration.

All the power in the world is useless if you are allying it through area rear that was selected for Federal fuel economy standards.

[KJRitchie]

The rear axle ratio you get with HD Payload on the F150 is 3.73. The F250 6.2L is 3.73.

Kelvin

[ShinyPete]

I've done the same comparison with 2014 models. I found like you the F250 itself is much heavier.......(poorer solo mileage, higher insurance and tag?, less maneuverable). Plus I think the 6.2L requires premium fuel for rated power? The other considerations for me were a much roomier cab in most dimensions, taller bed sides, and a smoother ride for a driver in the F150. F250 advantage is payload of course.

Our '13 F150 2wd Crew 5.0 does fine with our FC 27fb. I wish I had 3.73 axle over 3.55, but it does good in the Florida mountains! 😄


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[KJRitchie]

If I realize the same towing performance as my Tundra with the F150 5.0L I would be happy. What mpgs do your realize towing or what is the typical towing range?

Thanks

Kelvin

[pappy19]

When the Eco-Boost V-6 came out a couple of years ago, one of the truck magazines had 2 rodeo pairs try both the Eco-Boost and the 5.0 in the F-150, both with 3.73 ratios. The 2 pairs hauled a 2 horse trailer with their rodeo gear for about a month. The 5.0 average over 20 mpg towing, while the Eco-Boost was in the 16 mpg range. I used to have that article and it was posted here, but I can't find it now.

If I was towing a 28'+ AS, I would still consider the F-250 with a 4.30 rearend, especially in the mountains. My wife has a Lincoln LT, a fancy F-150 and while I have towed our AS with it, I much prefer the feel of my F-250 when towing.

[ShinyPete]

Pfft..... 16 nor 20, neither possible towing much with an F150 I know anything about. My 5.0 w/3.55 2wd "might" get 21 empty w/cruise set and air off downhill! 😊

Seriously though I get like 17.5 avg doing pretty much anything unloaded and maybe 14 towing our 27fb in the previously mentioned Florida mountains (you know, overpasses).

What I have found recently that I couldn't believe but it's true is that Plus grade fuel helps. I have better towing performance and less downshifting with it (I run in 5th gear anyhow).


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[KJRitchie]

I run my Tundra in 5th too and mileage doesn't seem to suffer bit I've never got 14 mpg hand calculated. HD Payload restricts you to 3.73 .Apparently Ford is not even building HD Payload packaged F150s yet. Probably make a decision in late summer.

Most of what I've read is Ford recommend premium when towing. Premium is 20 cents cheaper than diesel in our area. It almost makes the case for diesel.

kelvin

[BoldAdventure]

That HD payload is one of the reasons I skipped Ford, if you want to save the depreciation hit buying used, you'll be looking high and low all over to find one.

And yeah, I'm with ShinyPete on Pappy's 20mpg statement. I'm sorry, but you are terribly mistaken in your misquote. Please provide a source because there is no way an F150 5.0L or Ecoboost is doing 20MPG towing.

If you want to read about the reality of someone's MPG with an ecoboost and a 28ft Airstream, I present you this source: Towing gas mileage | glamourstream

[KJRitchie]

Those guys haul a** while towing. No wonder they have low mpgs. Can your really tow Wolf Creek Pass at 70mph? I haven't been on that stretch of highway for a while.

They must have a heavy foot running solo too.

I tow at around 60mph and solo, drive the speed limits. I haven't hit any 75mph speed limit roads yet driving solo.

I think what my research is showing the towing power of the 2015 F150 5.0L and F250 6.2L will be about the same due to the additional weight of the F250. Towing MPGs may be about the same but solo mpg would be a little better on the F150. Comfort and ride may be better on the F150 despite the HD Payload.

I checked Fuelly.com for 2015 averages. The best averages.

F250
6.2L 15.4 average, 16.7 best
6.7L diesel 17.6 average, 19.0 best

F150
5.0L 16.4 average, 17.1 best
3.5L EB 16.4 average, 17.2 best

Tundra 2010 (my model year)
5.7L 16.8 average, 17.9 best

Kelvin

[Stream'n]

KJRichie, I'm curious, what's your reluctance to the eco boost? More torque = more tow. The Eco boost has been out several years now and seems to be a proven engine.

I can't add much to your non eco comparison but I am pleased with the towing capability of my 2012 F-150 crew 4x4 Eco boost with HD package (not max). The past fall I pulled our 27' Flying Cloud from Oklahoma, to SD, Wy, CO, AZ and back home. 19 days and 3331 miles in all. I used 263 gal of gas with an MPG average of 12.66. Although most was actual towing I did unhook a couple of times to run around without the trailer. I had no problems towing with the Eco Boost. My non towing MPG here in Okla is around 18. I don't use premium gas but when in Okla it's easy to obtain 100% gas instead of the 10% ethanol in most states. If I had a 2x4 instead of a 4x4 I suspect I would come closer to 20 non towing. When towing I try to keep my speed at 60 although I often catch myself creeping closer to 65.

Hopes this helps a little.

-Wes-

[DuncanK1]

Interestingly, Ford are tooling up more production facilities with 3 centers producing F-Series in the near future - Kentucky, Dearborn and Kansas. Good news for the economy?

This article gives a hint that the F-250 may soon have a new Alu-alloy body like the F-150. I'm guessing with perhaps 800lb weight saving. I look forward to the inevitable debates when this is released.

Ford on Track to Sell 700,000 F-150s - PickupTrucks.com News

[KJRitchie]

I found this article. Chevy 6.2L, GMC 6.7L, Ram 5.7L, Tundra 5.7L and Ford 5.0L

2015 Light-Duty V-8 Challenge: Overview - PickupTrucks.com Special Reports

The F150 with 5.0L scored well in all the tests and achieved an overall 3rd place overall rating behind the 6.2L GM trucks.

Kelvin

[ShinyPete]

Correction. 12 I should have said around 12 mpg towing our 27fb, not 14. I'm better on a real keyboard than a touchscreen. Still, I'm very happy with the 5.0 "coyote" V8 from Ford.

When it debuted in the 2010 Mustang GT, it was all that and a bag of chips. It's "detuned" in the truck versus the GT and when mine is out of warranty in the fall I will most likely put in a programmer with custom towing tunes for various grades of fuel. Supposedly that really unlocks the potential of this engine.............

[KJRitchie]

How do those tunes work. Do they just reprogram the computer. Can you return to the original programming?

Kelvin

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

How do those tunes work. Do they just reprogram the computer. Can you return to the original programming?

Kelvin

Generally you can return to a factory-stock tune. One of the companies that specializes in Fords is Livernois and they sell you a pricey gadget ($600 these days, about the same as a quality Subaru tuner) that actually interfaces with the OBD-II system and lets you select your tune. The actual tunes for the original vehicle for which you purchase the interface are (I think) included, so you can store several on the box and choose between them. I'm pretty sure it'll require a restart between flashing different tunes, so you can't exactly switch on the fly but it's not too difficult.

They offer tunes for premium fuel, for towing, for economy, for drag racing, etc. The software controls all sorts of parameters like throttle response, transmission shift points, mixture, spark advance, boost on a forced-induction engine... You can make other changes to the engine and get tunes tailored for that, such as bigger injectors, etc. There are a lot more upgrades for a forced-induction engine to tune for, so you get more bang for your buck when squeezing a bit more than stock out of one.

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by pappy19

When the Eco-Boost V-6 came out a couple of years ago, one of the truck magazines had 2 rodeo pairs try both the Eco-Boost and the 5.0 in the F-150, both with 3.73 ratios. The 2 pairs hauled a 2 horse trailer with their rodeo gear for about a month. The 5.0 average over 20 mpg towing, while the Eco-Boost was in the 16 mpg range. I used to have that article and it was posted here, but I can't find it now.

Uh, yeah. :roll eyes:

Can't find the article. Sounds legit.

Here are my consumption numbers.

[KJRitchie]

I found a Canadian Ford website that post photos of the payload stickers. I wish all dealers did this.

Hanna Ford Dealer - Barrie, Collingwood Owen Sound, Sudbury

Their online pricing is very aggressive vs the MSRP.

I checked a few models out and found the SuperCab XLTs have about 2000lbs of useable payload depending on the options. Most of the XLTs are 5.0L, 300a and 302a packages. None had the Max Trailer package but had the trailer tow package and no integrated trailer controller. None had the trailer mirrors.

Lariats and Platinums were around the 1600 to 1700lb range.

Since these are Canadian vehicles I'm not sure if the payload would be the same as an equally US built version.

Kelvin

[tjdonahoe]

I wonder why the 302 and the ego booster only pulled the horse trailers for one month?

[DC Bruce]

I'm just about to pull the trigger on an F-150 Lariat Super Crew with the max payload. I'll probably go with the V-8, given that hp and torque are increased over last year. Interesting, in pick up trucks.com the Ford was the best in their 100 mile towing mileage test, although the GM trucks did better empty. I suppose the Ecoboost will be a little better in the Rockies. However, I view turbochargers and gasoline direct injection as somewhat problematic and turbo engines run rich when under a lot of load. The port injection in the 5 liter is tried and true stuff. Plus, when I drove the Ecoboost it had the non-liner throttle response typical of turbocharged engines. Not bad, but noticeable. And what red-blooded 'murican doesn't like the sound of a V-8? Ford must think so, because they have built in some electronic enhancement to try an make the V-6 Ecoboost sound like a V-8. Seriously!
Hopefully no excessive delays on ordering a max payload package, which BTW comes only with the 6.5 foot bed. I'd love to hear any dissenting views. Thought about the Ram 2500 with the 5.7 but it's hard to find a Laramie with the 60-20-60 seating (no console), which my wife wants in order to be able to move around(the 100 lb. dog gets the back). And I think it will definitely use more fuel, at least when not towing.