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RonH · 03-21-2014, 01:10 PM

I would like to hear from people who have been towing a 34ft Airstream with an F-150. I am thinking about an F-150 4x4 with EcoBoost V6, 373 rear end, heavy tow package, four door, 6ft box.

I am less interested in MPG than I am in stability and braking. Also I do not need to be the first up the hill, although I do want to get up the hill.

I do also do not need speculative input from those who cannot share comments based on actual experience with this rig.

Looking forward to some insight on this combo.

Aage · 03-21-2014, 04:42 PM

Hi Ron.

What do you tow your 34-footer with now?

andreasduess · 03-21-2014, 07:07 PM

How old is the 34'? Age affects weight, to a considerable margin.

RonH · 03-21-2014, 07:12 PM

I am towing a 1994 34ft Limited with a 1998 E350 V10.

Firedog1 · 03-21-2014, 07:15 PM

Ron
I have that exact truck, love it. Tow a 25' Classic and plan to to my new 30' Classic. Tows great, 13.5 MPG towing 19.5 MPG when not towing. Truck is rated to tow 11,300 pounds.

Firedog1 · 03-21-2014, 07:20 PM

forgot to mention I did add rear airbags

jdalrymple · 03-21-2014, 08:19 PM

You will be sorry with ecoboost.

My opinion is that Ford has over-advertised the power of the ecoboost. It makes more power than a non-boosted six cylinder, but it ain't no v10.

Regards,

JD

BigAl · 03-21-2014, 08:30 PM

Jeff,
You didn't mention if you have experience with an ecoboost. It will easily handle his trailer. I know I have one.
You're right that it isn't a v10. The v10 is about 20 year old technology.
Al

jcl · 03-21-2014, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

You will be sorry with ecoboost.

My opinion is that Ford has over-advertised the power of the ecoboost. It makes more power than a non-boosted six cylinder, but it ain't no v10.

Regards,

JD

Ford says 365 hp over the 235 hp 1998 V10, and 420 fit lbs at 2500 over 335 ft lbs at 3000 for the V10. Seems like it is more than that particular V10.

BigAl · 03-21-2014, 08:51 PM

Not only that the ecoboost develops it's torque at very low rpms. My trailer weighs about 8000 lbs and even towing in Kentucky, North and South Carolina and such I rarely need to use towhaul mode. Usually does the job in 5th and 6th gear sometimes dropping down to fourth. 5 and 6 are both overdrive.
I am very pleased with how it works. When i had a 5.4 liter 8 it would be in second at about 3000rpm and losing speed on hills.
Al

jdalrymple · 03-22-2014, 05:25 AM

I am not picking a fight here.

I am glad you both like your trucks.

My experience is this: A friend has show cars, Shelby Mustangs to be exact.

He was tired of driving a 3/4 ton pickup and decided try the F-150 Ecoboost.

His nomal load is one car in a short enclosed car trailer. Granted, he is near the "rated" max towing of 11K pounds.

Two trips and he is back to towing with his 2004 3/4 ton GMC.

The Ford is a nice truck, but a turbo charger does not a V8 make.

But advertising tries.

Regards,

JD

AldeanFan · 03-22-2014, 05:35 AM

I have an Ecoboost Flex and a small trailer, so please keep that in mind.

The power is very impressive, I own 3 v8 cars and 3 v6 cars, the Flex has the most horse power and torque, and has the best 50-90mph acceleration (don't ask where in Ontario I was going 90mph and don't tell my wife!). The Flex is faster, smoother and pulls harder than my V8 Toyota.

But the turbos don't make a F150 in to a one tone dually. The F150 Ecoboost will be fine for Horsepower and Torque, payoad and rated towing capacity will be the limiting factors if that's important to you.

KenP · 03-22-2014, 06:09 AM

I have 1981 Avion 34V which is very similar to Airstream 34ft. I tow with 2012 F-150 Lariat 4x4 with Max Tow Package. I have Reese Dual Cam hitch. Absolutely no problems towing. I went camping through NC Mountains and made up and down the hills fine. Just don't expect great gas mileage. ~10MPG when towing. I use the truck for daily driving and I love it. Didn't want to get something larger since I only camp 2 x year.

Ken in GA
1981 Avion 34V
2012 Ford F-150 Ecoboost 4X4 max tow package

xrvr · 03-22-2014, 06:18 AM

Ken, what engine do you have? Jim

xrvr · 03-22-2014, 06:19 AM

The new trannys make a big dif in towing. Jim

JFScheck · 03-23-2014, 12:01 AM

Just sitting back and observing where this thread eventually goes...

jcl · 03-23-2014, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

Two trips and he is back to towing with his 2004 3/4 ton GMC.

The Ford is a nice truck, but a turbo charger does not a V8 make.

But advertising tries.

Just based on advertised specs, the 3.5 Ecoboost has more power and torque than the 2004 GM 6 litre V8. It has more power than the 8.1 litre V8 from the same era, with slightly less torque but with the torque peak at a lower rpm. It has more power than the 6.6 Duramax, but significantly less torque than the diesel.

I don't think it is over advertised. It would be interesting to know if your friend traded back to a diesel, and if there were reasons other than horsepower. Nothing wrong with the GM pickup, but it seems a bit of a stretch to call the Ecoboost power figures advertising hype, unless you have dyno figures.

If you don't believe the Ford figures per SAE J1349, there are independent dyno tests on the net showing the 3.5 Ecoboost and the 5.0 Ford V8 in the same truck platform, tested back to back. The V6 comes out ahead of the V8, not surprisingly.

Jeff

BradB · 03-23-2014, 04:17 AM

Towing an '82 34 Limited with a '13 F150 Ecoboost SCrew.

Very happy with the combination. We towed our previous trailer (31') through Vermont this summer and it had plenty of power. Not the rockies but there were some mountains. The '34 is heavier but I would have to say that it tows better than the 31' did.

I do not have the Max Tow package which suits me fine - if I had a newer trailer I would likely have payload trouble but it works with this combo. There's a bit of a hit with fuel economy with the axle change in the Max Tow so I'm happy to not have it the rest of the time when I'm not towing.

Prior to this truck I had one with the 5.0 litre V8 and really liked it. I think Ford is manipulating their tow ratings to force people into the Ecoboost - the specs are close between the two engines but the tow ratings differ vastly unless you get the 3.73 axle. The 3.55 Ecoboost is rated considerably higher than the 3.55 5.0 litre.

BradB · 03-23-2014, 04:19 AM

I should add that I also towed my 31' with a F250 diesel (albeit a low mileage 1994). Either of the new F150s were vastly better than it was.

JFScheck · 03-23-2014, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradB

Prior to this truck I had one with the 5.0 litre V8 and really liked it. I think Ford is manipulating their tow ratings to force people into the Ecoboost.

EcoBoost acts more like a diesel with the torque coming on at low rpms and is flat where that V-8 has a shallow torque curve with max torque at a higher rpm and narrower rpm range.

It's more than max torque and hp, it's the useable torque & hp and at what rpm range.

Example - better to have 400lbs torque from 1200rpm to 3500rpm then 430lbs torque from 2800rpm to 3500rpm....