Trip report from June 24th to the 30th
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Grant, the Ford f 150 has a digital readout that does come on around 225 degrees, at lease in the 2017. Cray, the kids had the best time of all. You always have someone with them.
We gave our kids a break for a nice jet ski ride to West Canyon. The 4 year old love the jet skis. She rode in front of dad in quiet water.
Overall I think the summer towing conditions in Arizona and California can be extreme. I also hope that Ford can
make a small adjustment or two to correct the problem. If you read the threads, Ford has sold millions of Ecoboosts with very few problems. I just hate to take two half days to get to
the lake. Leave San Diego late and up early from Las Vegas or Goodyear to make the rest of the trip.
We gave our kids a break for a nice jet ski ride to West Canyon. The 4 year old love the jet skis. She rode in front of dad in quiet water.
Overall I think the summer towing conditions in Arizona and California can be extreme. I also hope that Ford can
make a small adjustment or two to correct the problem. If you read the threads, Ford has sold millions of Ecoboosts with very few problems. I just hate to take two half days to get to
the lake. Leave San Diego late and up early from Las Vegas or Goodyear to make the rest of the trip.
I have a 2013 F150 with ecoboost and max tow package. I have taken it from Phoenix to Page each July (four years so far) towing a #7500 trailer and boat with an additional 1300# load in the truck itself. It will hold 75mph cruise without flinching except on the steepest uphill grades. It will power down when it gets hot after showing a warning. If I slow to 60mph it cruises right up the steeper hills. Prior to the F150, I towed with a GMC Denali 6.2liter gas burner and had to slow to 30mph on the same hills. The ecoboost is amazing. I struggled to purchase it--I really doubted it would tow for me. I would have bought a diesel if it would have fit in my parking spot at work. This truck fits in the parking spot just right and although I have to slow "a little" up the most strenuous hills (at 110 degrees), it has not been underpowered for my needs. My friend who has a 3/4ton late model GMC diesel, and tows a similar load was impressed with the ecoboost performance as I kept up with him except for two of the steepest hills.
A year ago, I had two boat trailer tires blow out at different stages of my trip and learned that trailer tires just should not run over 65mph. They are not designed for that. I am certain that my constant 75mph took its toll on the two year old tires and have now slowed to a constant 65mph. This last trip, the ecoboost kept up a constant 65mph up the hills without overheating. But I do watch the gauges closely.
A year ago, I had two boat trailer tires blow out at different stages of my trip and learned that trailer tires just should not run over 65mph. They are not designed for that. I am certain that my constant 75mph took its toll on the two year old tires and have now slowed to a constant 65mph. This last trip, the ecoboost kept up a constant 65mph up the hills without overheating. But I do watch the gauges closely.
Sparking,
We replaced our surge brakes with electric. Like you we would lock out the surge brakes to get from Denver to Bullfrog, leaving us with no trailer brakes. The retro fit was easy and we've never regretted it.....or our purchase of a Dodge Cummings
Great report, thanks for the info.
I tow from Southern Cal with no 2013 Ecoboost towing roughly 5000lbs, no issues at all in the summer temps. I can tow any hill at any speed if I wish. The truck is amazing for what it is built for, I previously had F450 6.7 Diesel, I don't miss it at all (I used to tow a big 5th wheel too). I have not seen any temp issues so far, truck has 42,000 miles.
Headed to the big lake on Saturday, can't wait.............
I tow from Southern Cal with no 2013 Ecoboost towing roughly 5000lbs, no issues at all in the summer temps. I can tow any hill at any speed if I wish. The truck is amazing for what it is built for, I previously had F450 6.7 Diesel, I don't miss it at all (I used to tow a big 5th wheel too). I have not seen any temp issues so far, truck has 42,000 miles.
Headed to the big lake on Saturday, can't wait.............
Ryan
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
For those of you that are interested in further reading on tow ratings, here is a good one.
http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/towing/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard/
Since about 2013, the major players have been following these guidelines. They do the tests in somewhat extreme conditions. The short story is, there is a level playing field in regard to tow ratings, and I believe they are accurate enough to not need to second guess the engineers rating.
http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/towing/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard/
Since about 2013, the major players have been following these guidelines. They do the tests in somewhat extreme conditions. The short story is, there is a level playing field in regard to tow ratings, and I believe they are accurate enough to not need to second guess the engineers rating.
I towed it to Page this last week and did not notice a digital temp, just analog engine temp. I did use the electronic transmission temp gauge which I found in the computer menu. It read 203-206 most of the time, but going up or down grade it climbed to 226. My electronic reading was only for the transmission, not the engine. I keep it at 65 and 60 up the hills and have not had any overheating warnings since dropping the speed from 70-75. (And trailer tires are holding up better also.)
sparkin5280
Well-Known Member
Very cool, you're the second person I've heard of that's replaced their surge with electric. I'm researching that now, sounds like you need a electric/hydraulic actuator up by the tongue, they run about $500. For now what I did this time (and it worked pretty well) is that I wedged a couple thick washers into the sliding tongue slot so that the tongue could only slide about 1/2 way. That way it gives me SOME brakes, but they don't go into full lockup going down those steep grades for several minutes at a time. I think they still got hot as I lost some grease out of the hubs, but I didn't melt them. I have some more pressing issues with the trailer though.....I found a HUGE crack/tear and subsequent bend in the frame on the left rear of the trailer. The manufacturer of the trailer cut a hole in the bottom of the frame there to run the brake lines to the front in the frame channel. Now I need to get that straightened and welded with some plates on either side of it.
Back to the 2015 F150 3.5 Ecoboost. It towed great on the way home, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my Dodge Ram Megacab with the 6.7 Cummins. The diesel definitely had more power, and better fuel mileage. I got about 9mpg with the 3.5 Ecoboost gas, the Cummins I would get 11-12 mpg. Same 36 gallon tanks. I'm pretty familiar with the drive towing a boat from Denver with my diesel, so with the gas I was having to make fuel stops a bit sooner, not too bad though.
The tranny kept at about 206-208 degrees for most of the drive but up Vail pass it hit 215, then up the Divide at Eisenhower it hit 219 briefly. That's when I decided to throttle back and hop in the slow lane to let it cool down. I think the 3.5 Ecoboost gas Ford is a great motor for occasional towing but I wouldn't want to be doing it all the time. I'm watching those Nissan Titan XDs with the 5.0 Cummins to make sure they're reliable, and then Ford is going to introduce a 3.0L Diesel in a year or so to the F150. That might be the ticket!!
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