2015 Ford Expedition and 30' FC

[John Moody]

We tow our 30' FC with a 2015 Ford Expedition EL V6 Ecoboost paired with Pro-pride hitch! What a DREAM ....no mountain challenged us so far.....

[Ray Eklund]

North Carolina has the highest peak in the Appalachians at 6,684, Mount Mitchell.

Our home in Castle Rock is flat land living in Colorado at 6,500+ feet and we drive at 6,500 feet, daily, if not higher. Mile High Denver is not even a mile high, but rounded out to a few extra steps up, at the Capitol Building... but close enough.

Our Western Mountain Passes run into the 12,000 feet and higher. The peaks are 14,000 and higher in Colorado.

But you bring up a great contrast. Your F150 works great in your part of the country. Even better in the entire Midwest from Canada to Mexico.

Once you get into the Rockies... all bets are off. I was impressed with the V6 Ecoboost from the Ford Dealership in Denver. But I needed the 3/4 ton F250/350 for our Airstream and opted for the Diesel for the off the highway mountain camping we do.

The highest point in... FLAT Texas? 8,751 feet elevation.
Highest point in Missouri. 1,772 feet.

Location, location and location. You have an impressive Ford. But everyone needs to consider where they live, what kind of traveling is expected, length of trailer in tow and then decide.

Geologically the Appalachians were closer to the Himalayas in elevation at one time. Mount Everest is gaining height, while the Appalachians are losing... and building up the Piedmont.

For a daily driver out west, the Eco-6 would be fantastic. Add a trailer and weight... just be very careful. Just my opinion and from experience.

People and engines can be affected by 'altitude sickness'.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

For a daily driver out west, the Eco-6 would be fantastic. Add a trailer and weight... just be very careful. Just my opinion and from experience.

People and engines can be affected by 'altitude sickness'.

But his Ecoboost is turbo-charged. Doesn't this make it nearly immune to the "altitude sickness" you mention?

[brick1]

I just swapped my 2016 Expedition Ecoboost for a 2018 F250 Diesel, towing a 28 Serenity. The Expy had plenty of power, but I was out of Payload (1319 lbs). The F250 tows so much easier...
brick

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

But his Ecoboost is turbo-charged. Doesn't this make it nearly immune to the "altitude sickness" you mention?

*****

Driver's are not Turbo Charged at elevation.

Our Blue Heelers are Turbo Charged every time we stop to top off the fuel tank at any elevation.

I have heard that about Turbo Charged engines... like our turbo Diesel 6.7L. Someone with a calculator and understanding of Turbo charging 'thin air' at 10,000 feet and 2,000 feet may have an answer. It is out of my pre turbo gearhead experiences.

I thought stock Fuel Injection sucked in 1963 to 1965 Corvettes. Today... what an improvement.

Two out of three is not too bad. Horsepower use to be calculated at Sea Level and then getting nicked as you gained elevation.

Brick1 and I have to agree that payload is going to put a strain on an engine at elevation. Even Turbo Diesel 18 wheel trucks, loaded, can barely make it up the slight incline at 2500 feet elevation, Boulder City from the Hoover Dam, heading to Las Vegas.

There is an absence of 18 wheelers traveling over Monarch Pass in south central Colorado... Even turbos have their limitations.

[brick1]

A normally aspirated engine looses about 3% of it’s power for every 1000 ft of elevation, as the air is less dense. Less air equals less power.
On a turbocharged or supercharged engine, air is compressed, which eliminates the loss at elevation. The turbo / super charger may have to spin a but higher to make boost, but 10 lbs of boost is 10 lbs of boost, regardless of elevation. As in any equation, there can be other factors, but as a general statement boosted engines do not lose power at elevation.
The reason a semi truck slows down on a hill has to do with mass/speed/grade, not boost at elevation.
brick

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by brick1

A normally aspirated engine looses about 3% of it’s power for every 1000 ft of elevation, as the air is less dense. Less air equals less power.
On a turbocharged or supercharged engine, air is compressed, which eliminates the loss at elevation. The turbo / super charger may have to spin a but higher to make boost, but 10 lbs of boost is 10 lbs of boost, regardless of elevation. As in any equation, there can be other factors, but as a general statement boosted engines do not lose power at elevation.
The reason a semi truck slows down on a hill has to do with mass/speed/grade, not boost at elevation.
brick

It’s because they weigh 80,000 lbs. it would take 3000 horsepower to maintain speed at those grades.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by John Moody

We tow our 30' FC with a 2015 Ford Expedition EL V6 Ecoboost paired with Pro-pride hitch! What a DREAM ....no mountain challenged us so far.....

Where have you gone?

[John Moody]

We are going to be upgrading to the new 2018 Expedition V6 Twin turbo charge 375 hp and around 470 Torque next year which should be suitable for the high elevations. One amazing SUV especially if you don't want to drive a truck.

[brick1]

I have not seen the payload sticker on a 2018 Expedition yet. That’s where my 2016 Limited SWB came up short, at 1319 lbs. . When you add fuel, net tongue weight, passengers and gear you run out of capacity quickly.
My new F250 tows so much easier,..
brick

[DKB_SATX]

If it weren't so annoying, and so harmful to people actually looking for objective information, it would be funny to see people spread FUD about vehicles they clearly don't know much about.

The Ecoboost does really well at altitude, for the same reason turbodiesels do. LOTS of torque available across a broad range of RPM, and turbocharging to compensate for the thinner air at elevation. Modern diesels have genuine advantages with their controlled-backpressure engine braking systems and some people want or need more payload than is readily available in a half-ton or an SUV, but a LOT of people (myself included) find them to be excellent tow vehicles. Even when I go to Colorado and Wyoming with a 27-foot-long modern Airstream.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by brick1

I have not seen the payload sticker on a 2018 Expedition yet. That’s where my 2016 Limited SWB came up short, at 1319 lbs. . When you add fuel, net tongue weight, passengers and gear you run out of capacity quickly.
My new F250 tows so much easier,..
brick

Full fuel is included in the payload numbers as part of the truck's base weight, it is not part of payload. More FUD...

[brick1]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Full fuel is included in the payload numbers as part of the truck's base weight, it is not part of payload. More FUD...

My understanding is that curb weight does not include fuel. GVWR includes everything - curb weight, and payload, including fuel.

My ‘16 Expedition Ecoboost had plenty of power, and did not squat much with 961 lbs of tongue weight (before WD). With or without fuel, with 4 passengers, I was out of payload. The F250 has solved this issue.

Yes, you can tow with an SUV or 1/2 ton. The 3/4 ton just does it more easily.
brick

[TruckerFritz]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

If it weren't so annoying, and so harmful to people actually looking for objective information, it would be funny to see people spread FUD about vehicles they clearly don't know much about.

Welcome to the forum..always get a kick putt of the crowd that thinks a 19ft Bambi needs a 350 diesel to pull it..

[brick1]

Originally Posted by TruckerFritz

Welcome to the forum..always get a kick putt of the crowd that thinks a 19ft Bambi needs a 350 diesel to pull it..

Maybe not for a 19, but it sure tows my loaded 28 Serenity with ease.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by brick1

My understanding is that curb weight does not include fuel. GVWR includes everything - curb weight, and payload, including fuel.

My ‘16 Expedition Ecoboost had plenty of power, and did not squat much with 961 lbs of tongue weight (before WD). With or without fuel, with 4 passengers, I was out of payload. The F250 has solved this issue.

Yes, you can tow with an SUV or 1/2 ton. The 3/4 ton just does it more easily.
brick

Your "understanding" (at the very least where Fords are concerned) is entirely wrong. Ford's placard payload numbers are available payload assuming a full tank of fuel, that's why otherwise-similar F150s with the 36-gal tank have a bit less payload on the sticker than a small-tank truck. The driver's weight is *NOT* assumed in the Ford payload, you have to add that to tongue weight and cargo, but a full tank of fuel is.

[Olscot]

And then some of us just happen to like big heavy diesel trucks. Much like those that prefer Harleys. If you have to ask there is no way to explain it that you would understand. Get what makes you happy and enjoy the experience.

[brick1]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Your "understanding" (at the very least where Fords are concerned) is entirely wrong. Ford's placard payload numbers are available payload assuming a full tank of fuel, that's why otherwise-similar F150s with the 36-gal tank have a bit less payload on the sticker than a small-tank truck. The driver's weight is *NOT* assumed in the Ford payload, you have to add that to tongue weight and cargo, but a full tank of fuel is.

Thank you, I learned something new today. Maybe I was thinking of my boat, where fuel is definitely not included in base weight. So I get 171 lbs of extra payload - now my wife can bring her purse...😳
brick

[brick1]

I get a kick out of those who think you can (safely) tow a 33 Classic with a Yugo...
brick

[jcl]

Originally Posted by brick1

I get a kick out of those who think you can (safely) tow a 33 Classic with a Yugo...
brick

Reductio ad absurdum