Author Topic: Ford truck for towing  (Read 7032 times)

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bsprowl

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Ford truck for towing
« on: May 16, 2019, 12:14:37 PM »
I need a truck for towing a trailer and race car.  I'm wondering if a 2011 F-150 2wd will be enough.  It won't be a heavy car.  Most likely under 3500 pounds.

Jay: what truck (year, model and engine) do you have and what kind of mileage do you get empty and then towing and the weight of the load?

Thanks

Bob


chris401

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2019, 01:03:26 PM »
I need a truck for towing a trailer and race car.  I'm wondering if a 2011 F-150 2wd will be enough.  It won't be a heavy car.  Most likely under 3500 pounds.

Jay: what truck (year, model and engine) do you have and what kind of mileage do you get empty and then towing and the weight of the load?

Thanks

Bob
That is a dependable choice I think. 5.4 would be plenty powerful. I would hear around 11 or 12 mpg towing around 10,000 gvw. Timing chain and guides every 150,000 miles and Moog suspension parts are the norms I recall.

chilly460

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2019, 01:12:39 PM »
I had a 2004 5.4L 2wd with 3.73 rear, it towed 6300lbs OK.  Mileage was 19mpg empty/12-13mpg towing.  I fully admit I'm on the side of overkill when towing, the 5.4L was "adequate" but I wouldn't call it ideal.  If you live in flatlands it would be fine. 

I have a 2017 2.7L 4wd Ecoboost with 3.55s now, towing same 6300lb combo.  Just towed it up to PA, returned 14.5mpg running 70mph from Va, I do 22-23mpg empty.  The little V6 is miles ahead for towing, tons of torque at 2500rpm.  I've towed with supercharged 5.8L and the 5.4L Lightnings, and I will say the Ecoboost combined with 6spd auto is just as good for towing, power is right now and the 6spd keeps it right in the power at 65-70mph. 

Joe-JDC

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2019, 01:45:37 PM »
My Ford with 5.4 would only get 14-15 on open road at 70 mph, and 9-11 towing.  Have since had two Tundras that get 19-21 empty, and 14 towing mustang on trailer to and from Fl.  Joe-JDC
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Royce

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2019, 01:56:37 PM »
I had a 13 150 4wd with a 5.4  I towed my enclose trailer at about 10,000 GVW and all the wind resistance you get at 70 mph.. I would say it was the minimum required for the job, but I never had any kind of failure.. I would drop out of overdrive on grades. about 10 towing and 18 empty
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HarleyJack17

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2019, 04:06:30 PM »
If you stick with a Ford, I would look for an eco-boost. No comparison to a 5.4 motor as far as towing.  The little turbo'd suckers are very stout/torquey little engines.
I am not impressed with the 5.4/6.4 Triton Engines on durability or power.

Kirk Morgan

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2019, 06:30:17 PM »
If you get a truck with the 5.0 you will not be disappointed. We went to Ohio last year from San Antonio Texas and got 17mph towing a empty 16 foot flat bed doing 75 to 80 miles per hour going. Coming back with a 95 Mustang on the trailer we got 15mph going 70 to 75 miles per hour. Empty gets 20 to 21 miles per gallon. Going thru Tennessee and Kentucky in the mountains we had plenty of power to spare.   

Falcon67

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2019, 08:55:15 AM »
2004 F-150 5.4L, 3.73 rear.  Open trailer with car = 5500 lbs plus people.  Average 11 MPG @ 70.  With 9200 lb 24' box, about 8~9 MPG.  Been all over Texas with both.  It's pulled a 6000 lb skid loader on the open trailer no problem.  If you decide to pull a box, for sure get a load leveling hitch setup and possibly beef up the tail section with good shocks and an add-on sway bar.  The only issue with the F-150 is the light weight tail end.  Ours is rated for 9900 lbs but you can't really put 900+ lbs of tongue weight on the tail end without load levelers.  600 is OK, enough for an open trailer and a car.  I've also pulled my daughters ex-BIG dodge SUV halfway across Texas on the open after she got in a wreck.  No problems.  I prefer to run around 65 when towing with either truck.  Note that most of your ST rated trailer tires should be speed rated at around 65.  The guys bitching about tire issues on trailers are the ones that never inspect the tires and go by you at 80 with a full load. 

With the 1993 F-350 DRW 7.5L gas, 4.10 rear we're pulling a 34' at around 11,500 lbs.  6.5 MPG  36 gallons, max under load about 160 miles.  Switch tanks at 80 miles, 40 miles later start looking. 

Empty - 5.4L about 19 MPG.  F-350 - maybe 10 MPG if running with the wind.
« Last Edit: May 17, 2019, 09:02:59 AM by Falcon67 »

Falcon67

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2019, 09:05:23 AM »
ALSO - know your weight.  Ask around the track "How much are you pulling?"  "Have no idea".  ::)  We have one guy that comes from New Mexico - about 5 hr pull - with a 48' 5th wheel and a SRW one ton. 

jayb

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2019, 09:33:34 AM »
Bob, I've towed my race car on an open trailer with a 2005 F150 4X4 with the 5.4 liter engine.  No problems, got about 9-10 MPG when towing.  Probably about a 6000 pound car and trailer.

With my new F150 FX4 (new as in 2014), 3.5 Ecoboost engine, I tow my fully enclosed trailer with the car and a bunch of other stuff.  I am right up at the max recommended weight, just over 10,000 pounds for the fully loaded trailer.  That engine is unbelievable as far as power, it has absolutely no problem towing that trailer.  However, mileage drops precipitously, from around 17-18 for just the truck to 6-7 when towing the trailer.  Also, my trailer is 28' and it acts like a big sail in the wind, it jerks that half ton pickup around pretty good when its gusty or when some big semi goes by at speed.  It gets me there, though...
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cjshaker

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2019, 12:02:19 PM »
1970 F-350 dually 6.4 (390 ;)). Pull 9000+ lbs and have no issues at all getting through the hills of Pennsylvania, and getting the same mileage as the new 'high tech' $50-$70k trucks. Tongue weight isn't an issue, and with my 100 gallon auxiliary tank, I can drive all day without stopping. Only issue is I don't have puddle lights on my exterior mirrors  ;D

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FrozenMerc

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2019, 01:12:41 PM »
1985 F-350. 6.9 IDI, 4 speed + 2 spd Range Splitter.  Gets 14-15 mpg empty and 12 mpg with my '24 enclosed (10,000 lb capacity) hanging off the bumper. 

We used my buddy's '14 F-150 (5.0) and my trailer to go get a '59 Merc M-100 Panel Truck out of Winnipeg two summers ago (I hadn't purchased the '85 yet, and my '76 F-250 had the tranny out of it.)  The F-150 had plenty of power , but that enclosed would walk the F-150 all over the place with a cross wind (I-29 across eastern No-Dak), even with the load leveler.  The trailer doesn't do that to the F-350.  I can load my '62 Merc Monterey wagon (Think 5000+ lbs of car) into the trailer, and pull it comfortably any where I want.  The 6.9 is a bit down on power compared to modern diesels, but the range splitter helps that alot, and it will soon get a Banks turbo kit as well.  Being all mechanical, no DEF, no emissions equipment, and stupid reliable makes up for some of it's other shortcomings.

« Last Edit: May 17, 2019, 01:48:07 PM by FrozenMerc »

RustyCrankshaft

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #12 on: May 17, 2019, 07:42:41 PM »
1970 F-350 dually 6.4 (390 ;)). Pull 9000+ lbs and have no issues at all getting through the hills of Pennsylvania, and getting the same mileage as the new 'high tech' $50-$70k trucks. Tongue weight isn't an issue, and with my 100 gallon auxiliary tank, I can drive all day without stopping. Only issue is I don't have puddle lights on my exterior mirrors  ;D


Easy to add some puddle lights and then you'd be nearly as hi tech at the 70k trucks!


1985 F-350. 6.9 IDI, 4 speed + 2 spd Range Splitter.  Gets 14-15 mpg empty and 12 mpg with my '24 enclosed (10,000 lb capacity) hanging off the bumper. 

We used my buddy's '14 F-150 (5.0) and my trailer to go get a '59 Merc M-100 Panel Truck out of Winnipeg two summers ago (I hadn't purchased the '85 yet, and my '76 F-250 had the tranny out of it.)  The F-150 had plenty of power , but that enclosed would walk the F-150 all over the place with a cross wind (I-29 across eastern No-Dak), even with the load leveler.  The trailer doesn't do that to the F-350.  I can load my '62 Merc Monterey wagon (Think 5000+ lbs of car) into the trailer, and pull it comfortably any where I want.  The 6.9 is a bit down on power compared to modern diesels, but the range splitter helps that alot, and it will soon get a Banks turbo kit as well.  Being all mechanical, no DEF, no emissions equipment, and stupid reliable makes up for some of it's other shortcomings.

And when the 6.9 finally gives up a 12v Cummins swap is basically a bolt in to that generation truck with off the shelf parts now.

FrozenMerc

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #13 on: May 17, 2019, 09:06:46 PM »

And when the 6.9 finally gives up a 12v Cummins swap is basically a bolt in to that generation truck with off the shelf parts now.

I don't think so.  The Cummins swap is too cliche', equivalent to an LS swap in my warped mind.  When the 6.9 dies, a built 6.9/7.3 IDI turbo will replace it.

I may own a bunch of Fords, but my first car was a '67 IH Scout and I will always have a soft spot for IH power, and this truck scratches that itch.  The engine is old enough that it still has IH labels on it despite being produced after the bankruptcy.  The Navistar stuff hadn't started showing up yet.  Now, what to do with that 392 I have sitting in the shed.....?
« Last Edit: May 17, 2019, 09:11:43 PM by FrozenMerc »

AlanCasida

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Re: Ford truck for towing
« Reply #14 on: May 17, 2019, 10:22:49 PM »
I have a 2015 F250 XL 2wd with the 6.2 gas motor. It usually gets around 16.5mpg driving to work and around 11.5 pulling my 4300lb Galaxie on an open trailer at about 68mph. I prefer an F250 or more for towing due to the stability.