New Tow Vehicle - 2010 Ford F-150

[beerrun'r]

Originally Posted by mello mike

Sweeeet!!! Very nice truck. The silver sure goes well with the Airstream!

Thanx

Currently I'm on it's 'maiden voyage' camped here near Granger Indiana headed for Rochester, NY--Hershey, PA--D.C.--Nashville, TN and back to EC IL. (over 2,000 miles) All is good so far.

**note new avatar

[AUstreamer]

For anyone considering an F150...

Ford is supposed to introduce a twin turbo V6 as the premium engine replacing the 5.4L V8. This engine is used in the Taurus SHO and the Flex and has increased fuel economy. The HP and tq numbers should be comparable to the 5.4L, but the fuel economy should be in the mid 20's highway... (unladen, of course)

So.. look for the 2011's in the fall to include this option... That's what I will be looking at..

[Minnie's Mate]

but the fuel economy should be in the mid 20's highway... (unladen, of course)

This is kind of puzzling to me. I get low 20's with my F-250 diesel crew cab with 3.73 rear end. I had a 1995 F-150 extended cab with the 5.0L engine and got around 22 mpg on the interstate with it. Unfortunately, the tow capacity wasn't enough for my 30' Airstream so I went diesel to make sure I had enough.

My puzzlement is that I was getting almost the same fuel economy with my F-150 as the new 6-cylinder is supposed to get. Why would there be a need to down size the motor for just a couple of MPG's and risk not having the torque and horse power I'd become used to before getting with my F-250? BTW, my wife's Expedition that is fully loaded with the heavy options (power reclining seats, sun roof, DVD player, power folding rear seats, and power lift gate; all of which add additional weight to the SUV.) gets around 23 MPG on the interstate with the 5.4L and 3.73 rear end. I guess my view point is why bother with the 6-cylinder?

[AUstreamer]

The fuel economy numbers I said may be incorrect. I don't think Ford has released any of those figures yet. I went looking around last night and the best fuel economy I found on the sticker for an F150 was 21 mpg with the 4.6L. The 5.4 was either 20 or 18, depending on how the truck was configured.

As to why Ford is changing to the V6? From everything I have been able to find on it, you'll not give up any horsepower or torque, but you gain fuel economy, which bolsters their overall fleet average.

None of the new F250s have fuel economy numbers on the sticker. I would be interested in hearing from someone with a 2011 F250 and see what the real numbers are.

I guess we'll have to wait until the fall to see what the "sticker" fuel economy numbers are for the F150 with the V6 turbo.

[Minnie's Mate]

If I stick to 60 MPH-65 MPH, I get around 12.9 MPG. However, I rarely stick to that speed.

I am the type of person that will go for power over economy unless the economy has been proven with power to spare...that's why I drive a 3/4 ton diesel.

[Florida 55]

Originally Posted by mello mike

Broke down and bought a beautiful red 2010 F-150 Supercrew, 5.4L, 4X2, 3.55 gears. Rated for 9800 lbs max towing. I'm really looking forward to towing with this truck, but first I need to break it in at least 1000 miles before I can tow with it.

I've been wanting a pickup truck for quite some time and now was the perfect time for me. Yes, the truck features some nice anti-sway capabilities but I'll still be using my Equal-i-zer for WD and anti-sway.

I discovered this official Ford video on the built-in anti-sway feature. It shows the truck towing a new Airstream:

2010 Ford F-150 Features | Official Site of the Ford F-150 | FordVehicles.com

Another video showing the Ford anti-sway system compared to other makes:

2010 Ford F-150 | Official Site of the Ford F-150 | FordVehicles.com

Mike - Now that you've had it a while, how's your experience been with the F150 and the 3.55? Did you add a supplemental transmission cooler? Have you done any substantial mountain towing? I'm looking at an Airstream and the owner is willing to sell with his 2010 F150 5.4 engine with 3.55 axle. He tows in mostly flat areas, I'll be doing hills and mountains.

[au_ee]

Originally Posted by Florida 55

Mike - Now that you've had it a while, how's your experience been with the F150 and the 3.55? Did you add a supplemental transmission cooler? Have you done any substantial mountain towing? I'm looking at an Airstream and the owner is willing to sell with his 2010 F150 5.4 engine with 3.55 axle. He tows in mostly flat areas, I'll be doing hills and mountains.

My father in law used to tow a 25' fifth wheel (GVW ~ 7,000) with a F150 with that setup. He was satisfied on flat land but when in the mountains said it was very slow going. In Colorado, he had to climb hills at about 35 mph max. We have a F250 Powerstroke diesel and on similar hills (with both a 27' fiver and our current 31' Classic) we can maintain normal speeds and can pass the big trucks.

[mello mike]

Originally Posted by Florida 55

Mike - Now that you've had it a while, how's your experience been with the F150 and the 3.55? Did you add a supplemental transmission cooler? Have you done any substantial mountain towing? I'm looking at an Airstream and the owner is willing to sell with his 2010 F150 5.4 engine with 3.55 axle. He tows in mostly flat areas, I'll be doing hills and mountains.

Florida 55,
The 5.4L 3.55 axle has been a real joy. We have some very steep mountain overpasses here in AZ, and she does great towing our 31' Sovereign which weighs about 6,000lbs loaded. At 4000rpms we easily maintain 60mph going up these steep passes. We run a fully stock engine. Our first pickup truck, the F150 has been a real joy to own and drive. No driver fatigue at all, drives like a sedan. We have the built in brake controller.

What I've been really surprised about is the anti-sway feature. The Sovereign has an equilizer hitch but my Overlander still doesn't. When I tow the Overlander on the freeways with the anti-sway engaged I get zero sway when the big rigs pass me or when high winds kick up. A wonderfully engineered truck.

[Turtle]

OK, everybody loves their F150 for towing. How about stopping? I've hear some not so nice things said about the F150 brakes. I have a 4 Liter Ranger with a tow package and it goes forward just fine with my 16' Bambi hanging on behind, but I really need to be aware of braking distance. Or is that just what towing is all about? I'm thinking a F250 would be appropriate. Jamie

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Turtle

OK, everybody loves their F150 for towing. How about stopping? I've hear some not so nice things said about the F150 brakes. I have a 4 Liter Ranger with a tow package and it goes forward just fine with my 16' Bambi hanging on behind, but I really need to be aware of braking distance. Or is that just what towing is all about? I'm thinking a F250 would be appropriate. Jamie

My impression from obsessively reading these forums is that if the brakes on your trailer are adjusted properly, you should stop about as quickly with the trailer as without. Quite a few pickups may stop even shorter, since the bed is too light without a load and they don't get full traction on the rear tires to stop.

[LFM]

Picking up a new TV tomorrow. Trying out the new F150 Ecoboost V6 and am sure it will work fine for the 19' Bambi. 7680 GVWR , so no worries there, but anyone else have a comment about the new rig, (2air?).
Greg