F250 6.2 V8 vs F150 Ecoboost

[94BULLITT]

Personally, I don't believe nuances in gears are as big a deal as they used to be...3:08 vs 373 sure but, 3:42 vs 3:73 not so much in my experience. 3:73 is certainly better but not as much as it used to be.

A 6 speed trans will allows truck with a higher axle ratio to still perform good.

 

[timswi]

A 6 speed trans will allows truck with a higher axle ratio to still perform good.

Agreed, my point exactly.

 

[deere5105]

Go for it. My Fathers and Uncles Ecoboost trucks both have 3.55 gears and mine has 3.73 gears. I really can't feel the difference. None of us 3 Ecoboost owners have had any issues. Chris

I hear the same comments from others, but get a little hung up on the numbers on the tow chart. Looks like a significant increase by moving from 3.55 to 3.73. This will very likely be a truck I would keep 10 years and don't want to have regrets. My gut feeling is the 6 speed with 3.55 will outperform my 4 speed with 3.73 I have now...not to mention the engine difference.

 

[deere5105]

Agreed, my point exactly.

I tend to agree...but...why is Ford showing a 1600 lb. increase with the 3.73 over 3.55? I don't tow daily and could very easily get by with either. I will likely keep a truck ten years or so and want to get what works as best for my needs as I can. Who knows...down the road we could end up with a camper to tow.

 

[check]

I hear the same comments from others, but get a little hung up on the numbers on the tow chart. Looks like a significant increase by moving from 3.55 to 3.73. This will very likely be a truck I would keep 10 years and don't want to have regrets. My gut feeling is the 6 speed with 3.55 will outperform my 4 speed with 3.73 I have now...not to mention the engine difference. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/trailers-transportation/413566-f250-6-2-v8-vs-image-858884852-jpg"/>

I don't get it. Your window sticker says 7200, but I don't see that number on the towing chart.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I hear the same comments from others, but get a little hung up on the numbers on the tow chart. Looks like a significant increase by moving from 3.55 to 3.73. This will very likely be a truck I would keep 10 years and don't want to have regrets. My gut feeling is the 6 speed with 3.55 will outperform my 4 speed with 3.73 I have now...not to mention the engine difference.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=413566"/>

I will say I have never towed with the 3.55 gears, only mine with 3.73 gears, and it's a beast.

Go with your gut. Mine is usually right. Have the dealer find you a 3.73 truck. Me and my friends travel to get what we want. A one way airline tickets a a day or two drive home in your new rig is a small price to pay to get what you want and have to live with for the next 10 years.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I don't get it. Your window sticker says 7200, but I don't see that number on the towing chart.

7200# is the GVWR not tow rating. Not even close to the same thing.

Simply put the GVWR is the maximum weight that can be on the trucks tires. Let's say the truck weighs 5200 pounds, that would leave 2000 pounds of payload. Payload includes passengers, cargo, trailer tongue weight, ect.

Tow ratings are obtained by subtracting the truck empty weight from the GCWR. For arguments sake let's say the F150 GCWR is 15200 pounds. Once you subtract the truck empty weight this would leave 10,000 pounds for tow rating.

Chris

 

[jejeosborne]

I have kept holding out, but feel now may be best time to make s change. The guy that has the 2011 has postponed moving to the 2015 until prices come down and I have found that they are running around $9500 off on 2014 XLT's with the 302A packages. Was looking for a Ecoboost, 4wd, Supercrew with Max Tow and 3.73 axle ratio. These are proving to be hard to find. I had convinced myself to move to the cloth seats from the current leather. Was wanting 40/20/40 seats versus buckets like have now. Rest of the family strongly encouraging to stay with leather. Found this truck on local lot with XLT, leather and few upgrades like HID lights and 20" wheels, all that I like. Been reading and talking more on the Ecoboost too about the moisture/condensation/misfire issue. Seems to be a fairly common issue. Overall seems a 50/50 split on Ecoboost versus 5.0 preferred. I will trailer my 5303, 4wd, with FEL with either 8' 3pt disc or MX6 cutter on a 22' bumper pull 3-4 times a year for approximately 30 miles round trip.

Looks like with a trade in I can get in a brand new truck for what I got in my current truck used with 45,000 miles almost 8 years ago with same features. Any reason to be concerned with the 3.55 axle or Ecoboost? Will be daily driver approximately 300 miles per week. All opinions and feedback appreciated!

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=413486"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=413487"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=413488"/>

I have a 2011 with the max tow package and 3.73 rear. My friend has had two with the 3.55 rear and our mileage is identical because we don't spend much time on the interstate. I enjoy the huge mickey mouse mirrors that cone with the max tow package over the stock mirrors even without towing.

The towing advantage with the 3.73 over higher ratios is the torque stress on the gears happens in the rear end rather than within the transmission. The gears in the rear end are better supported and larger than those in the transmission so you are having less wear due to extreme pressures needed in a smaller gear pack. Your driveshaft will be spinning a little faster but with less torque. These driveshafts on modern trucks are huge to take the stress of these modern engines as it is. One other area helped by a lower rear end would be the u-joints being loaded less.

 

[deere5105]

From what you can tell, is the mirror change the only/major difference with the Max Tow? I have a window sticker from a Max Tow and it seems to have an increased GVWR too.

Two questions:
#1) How many miles do you have on your 2011?
#2) If replacing today...Ecoboost or something different?

 

[sld]

The picture shows a 5.5 long box but the sticker says 36 gallon fuel tank. I thought you had to have the 6.5 box to get the larger fuel tank.

 

[deere5105]

I believe all of the 2014's I have looked at stated 36 gallon tanks. The 2015's have a smaller tank.

 

[deere5105]

Here is a chart I found on the Tow Packages.

 

[jejeosborne]

From what you can tell, is the mirror change the only/major difference with the Max Tow? I have a window sticker from a Max Tow and it seems to have an increased GVWR too.

Two questions:
#1) How many miles do you have on your 2011?
#2) If replacing today...Ecoboost or something different?

The hitch design is also different with a higher rating, they call it upgraded bumper for some reason but it is the bumper hitch though. I have 45,000 miles on mine and would definately buy another. You can look through my post and see that once I did have a water ingestion event after towing in the rain for hours on the interstate. Many just drill a small hole in their intercooler like me to remove that worry. The low rpm's power, silent cab, lack of downshifting, and smile factor when you push it to the floor is unique to this gasoline power plant. Don't expect to get the sticker mileage and tell yourself that this engine is a replacement for a 6.x liter engine and you will be satisfied. I get 18.5 doing 70-75 mph and 15.5 running around town not paying attention. Winter gas drops it about 1 mpg. I've also said if you tow or ENJOY playing with the power, get the ecoboost. If you you don't, get the 5.0 and enjoy the lower risk engine.

 

[94BULLITT]

I hear the same comments from others, but get a little hung up on the numbers on the tow chart. Looks like a significant increase by moving from 3.55 to 3.73. This will very likely be a truck I would keep 10 years and don't want to have regrets. My gut feeling is the 6 speed with 3.55 will outperform my 4 speed with 3.73 I have now...not to mention the engine difference.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=413566"/>

I believe you have to get a truck with 3.73s and max tow for it to be able to tow more than 3.55s with the ecoboost.

 

[check]

7200# is the GVWR not tow rating. Not even close to the same thing. Simply put the GVWR is the maximum weight that can be on the trucks tires. Let's say the truck weighs 5200 pounds, that would leave 2000 pounds of payload. Payload includes passengers, cargo, trailer tongue weight, ect. Tow ratings are obtained by subtracting the truck empty weight from the GCWR. For arguments sake let's say the F150 GCWR is 15200 pounds. Once you subtract the truck empty weight this would leave 10,000 pounds for tow rating. Chris

Yes, I know the difference, but the 7200 lb. GVWR should be in the chart so the purchser can identify which line it applies to in the big towing capacity chart.

 

[deere5105]

I believe you have to get a truck with 3.73s and max tow for it to be able to tow more than 3.55s with the ecoboost.

I guess my "common sense" approach to this would be that a Ecoboost with 3.73's can tow 11,300 lbs with Max Tow couldn't the same without the Max Tow technically tow 11,300 lbs? Is this a physically/structurally different truck? I think it must be to make rational sense of it.

 

[jejeosborne]

The only structural difference is, as I mentioned, the hitch. It is rated for 1000 more lbs. My GVWR is 7350 and I am not sure if that is due to my max tow package or not.

 

[aczlan]

The only structural difference is, as I mentioned, the hitch. It is rated for 1000 more lbs. My GVWR is 7350 and I am not sure if that is due to my max tow package or not.

Ford says that there is a little more than that for the 2015s:

The Trailer Tow Package is required for towing over 5,000 lbs, and is optional on XL, XLT, LARIAT, King Ranch® and Platinum.
Includes:
• 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness
• Auxiliary transmission oil cooler
• Class IV trailer hitch receiver
• Engine oil cooler (3.5L V6 Ti-VCT only)
• Smart Trailer Tow Connector
• Upgraded front stabilizer bar

The bolded items are the ones that would seem to me to make a difference when towing.

Aaron Z

 

[94BULLITT]

I guess my "common sense" approach to this would be that a Ecoboost with 3.73's can tow 11,300 lbs with Max Tow couldn't the same without the Max Tow technically tow 11,300 lbs? Is this a physically/structurally different truck? I think it must be to make rational sense of it.

The max tow may have different springs. I'm not sure what the max tow package actually includes other than mirrors. The brakes are the same size on all the f150's except some have 7 lug wheels. Nobody ever told me why the ecoboost is rated to tow more than a 5.0. A 5.0 can tow 9300 with 3.73's. The old 5.4 could tow upto 10k. Then if you want get more confused a f-250 with a 6.2 can tow 12k of the bumper. A 2015 f150 can tow upto 12k.

 

[deere5105]

The only structural difference is, as I mentioned, the hitch. It is rated for 1000 more lbs. My GVWR is 7350 and I am not sure if that is due to my max tow package or not.[/QUOTE]

Interesting. Here is a sticker on one that was found in another state that is reportedly no longer available. Notice I believe it states GVWR is 7650.