HD F-150 or 3/4 ton truck?

[sd455dan]

New review youtube( fuel economy and performance ) showed up today on the ecoboost 3.5 platinum F 150

217 Ford F-15 3.5 EcoBoost: - YouTube

 

[Farmer495]

The 5.0 coyote is already a slick engine internally and breaths really well. I would never expect the EcoBoost to do better than the 5.0 on the highway. Around town with a light touch it should do a little better and run more like a naturally aspirated v6. But there is never going to be a big difference because they are both moving the same truck.

The reason to get the EcoBoost is not for the Eco. It's for the boost! The EcoBoost has a lot more low end torque than the 5.0 and can probably pull a higher gear in many situations resulting in less shifting and more consistent speed on cruise control.

Yes, the eco *feels* like driving a diesel, most of the time it shifts and stays under 2000 RPM. It's nice to cruise along on country road in M6 @ 50 MPH @ 1500 RPM with only a slight push on the pedal. Want lots of boost? push the skinny pedal. I tried a hard launch with traction control off with a brake stand and truck stepped sideways and left black for quite a distance. No way the old (stock) 7.3 would ever do that!

 

[Farmer495]

Not sure on the size of the rear end.My bumper pull 20 ft PJ (14,000 lbs)axles loaded 40hp Kioti tractor front end loader,5 ft brush hog and loaded tires to our cabin up north quite a bit.Haul 8,000 lbs of wood pellets.I believe the trailer weight is around 3,300 lbs empty.

I am guessing this wasn't this all on the trailer at one time? Wood pellets and trailer @ 11300 is pretty well max tow limit for most 3.5 F150s

I understood all 3.5 ecos had the 9.75 axle.

 

[Farmer495]

Find a first gen or second gen, get an LMC catalogue and rebuild it from the ground up.

I sold my 7.3 6-speed at a premium and it was very nice, but not perfectly rust free and needed some minor things. I could have invested the difference spent buying a newer truck into the 7.3 but I'd still had an old truck that wouldn't have been less than what I would have spend making it new again, especially body wise. Now been nice to get a southern truck that never saw salt, but the price to buy a nice 7.3 or 5.9 would have approached a new 1/2 ton.

 

[coobie]

I am guessing this wasn't this all on the trailer at one time? Wood pellets and trailer @ 11300 is pretty well max tow limit for most 3.5 F150s

I understood all 3.5 ecos had the 9.75 axle.

Only 3 ton on the trailer with my 2006 Ford F-150 with 5.4 triton V-8. But the new truck pulls with 4 ton 6.4 hemi.

 

[gladehound]

Only 3 ton on the trailer with my 2006 Ford F-150 with 5.4 triton V-8. But the new truck pulls with 4 ton 6.4 hemi.

And how many miles towing that load before the rear went (not total miles but miles actually pulling the load)?

 

[coobie]

And how many miles towing that load before the rear went (not total miles but miles actually pulling the load)?

Really don"t keep track.Still have the Ford F150 pushing 144,000 miles.

 

[bspeedy]

That's quite a bit more weight than I'll be moving regularly. My equipment trailer is 9,500 with my tractor and a bucket. I only move it about 30 miles a year. My TT is 6,600 gross and tow it several thousand miles a year. My boat is 4,000 and tow it about 1,000 miles a year.

With those weights you're definitely in 3/4 ton / 1 ton territory. With my weights I feel like I'm on the cusp (mostly due to frontal and side area of the TT and miles towed) of either an F150 with the HD springs, axle, and coolers or a 3/4 ton or 1 ton SRW. Either option will probably last many years without wearing out. The heavier trucks have a better chance of making my 200,000 mile target without drive line issues. But the heavier trucks are also more expensive up front in my area. My first choice is an F350 SRW short bed diesel if I can find one slightly used at a good price (still need to be able to park in the underground garage at work and it would be tight with a long bed).

Good summary of your parameters / requirements. I'd personally go with a commuter car and a 3/4 ton pickup in that scenario. In fact, my towing is a bit heavier and more miles and that is exactly my strategy. F250 PSD for towing / hauling only and old Honda Accord for commuting. I love my pickup, but I hate commuting in it.

 

[TomSeller]

. I love my pickup, but I hate commuting in it.

Same here. Hate parking the pickup in the city on the day job. Plus if I don't drive it to work I don't have to muck it out as often.

 

[gladehound]

Same here. Hate parking the pickup in the city on the day job. Plus if I don't drive it to work I don't have to muck it out as often.

I have tried the diesel truck plus commuter car formula before and it didn't really work for me. I probably did it wrong. My commuter car was a 2011 Mustang 5.0 Coyote that got first dibs on garage space. That left my F-250 outside to rot while it wasn't being used enough to keep itself lubed. It would sit for 2-3 weeks at a time between work duties and it seemed like I was always replacing brake calipers. I guess if the pick-up sat inside and a had an beater commuter car that sat outside it would make more sense. But if I had a nice truck I think I'd want to drive it every day. I'm nowhere near a city. Usually miles between stop signs. Only my last mile going to work had lights. The other 14 are all country roads. Add in the extra insurance, registration, maintenance and I just don't see if for only 20,000 miles a year total.

I drove my F250 crew cab to work as my commuter for 11 of it's 14 years. Not problem. Easy. I just couldn't park in the garage due to the ladder rack. Without the ladder rack it would fit.