CarNucopia Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 I'm looking to buy a class B camper van that will tow a small (3,500 lbs. GVW) trailer. Some of the options I see have a Ford 350 chassis with a 3.5 EcoBoost and 5K tow rating. Does anyone have any experience with this powertrain setup? If so, has it been reliable and does it tow well? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 I have a 2013 f150 with a v6 ecoboost. It has plenty of power, I have towed a trailer with a car (04 gto), have pulled a case skidloader on occasion, and I have a 16' (not a 1916) box trailer that gets pulled once a week in the mowing season. It pulls the box trailer like nothing is there. I feel it has as much power as my old 5.? v8 that I had in my 06 f150. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 (edited) We have a 2022 Ford Expedition XL with the V6 and twin turbos. The truck weighs 6,000 lbs, easily hauls my tall 20 ft enclosed aluminum trailer (2500 lbs) and any of my antique cars. We’ve driven from Mass. to Indiana with the loaded trailer. Normal mileage is 18-20 mpg, about 10-12 with the full trailer, depending on how hilly it is. Seeing what’s behind the trailer is tough. I need to get a video camera that mounts on the rear of the trailer. Edited March 29 by Gary_Ash (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarNucopia Posted March 30 Author Share Posted March 30 Thanks guys, very helpful. What I’m hoping to do is when I go camping in the van, I can tow a small trailer behind me with a car in it. That way wherever I am, I can still have some car fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsim Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 I had a 2020 F150 Super crew with the max tow package and 3.5L Ecoboost. It had plenty of power to tow, a decent mileage. I towed a 26' enclosed trailer without issue. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 I should have added that my truck is also the twin turbo ecoboost 6. The mileage stinks! According to the computer I get just less than 16mpg on a daily basis. We were traveling a couple of hours each way on clear highway for a job and we averaged about 18 mpg. I had a v8 in my previous F150 and got the same mileage. I was concerned going from the 8 to the 6 as far as power and pulling was concerned but the 6 has just as much power. I just wish the economy reflected the smaller motor. I will add with tools on board we tip the scales at 7000lbs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorpirate Posted June 4 Share Posted June 4 On 4/5/2024 at 6:54 AM, TAKerry said: I should have added that my truck is also the twin turbo ecoboost 6. The mileage stinks! According to the computer I get just less than 16mpg on a daily basis. We were traveling a couple of hours each way on clear highway for a job and we averaged about 18 mpg. I had a v8 in my previous F150 and got the same mileage. I was concerned going from the 8 to the 6 as far as power and pulling was concerned but the 6 has just as much power. I just wish the economy reflected the smaller motor. I will add with tools on board we tip the scales at 7000lbs. Years ago, I had a 258 5 speed Jeep Wrangler. If I drove it carefully I could get 16.5 MPG out of it. I later converted it to a Chevy TPI 305 and 200R4 trans. Literally twice as fast!! And when I drove it with some care, 16.5 MPG. I can only think that is how much fuel (potential energy) it took to move that weight/shape at that speed(work). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted June 4 Share Posted June 4 On 3/29/2024 at 7:33 PM, CarNucopia said: Thanks guys, very helpful. What I’m hoping to do is when I go camping in the van, I can tow a small trailer behind me with a car in it. That way wherever I am, I can still have some car fun. An open or enclosed trailer with a vehicle in it or on it is going to weigh more than 3500 pounds. Before you buy any tow vehicle even if it is a Class B motorhome make sure it is factory equipped to tow what you are pulling. Towing involves more than engine size - you need to determine the curb weight of the vehicle you plan to tow and the curb weight of the trailer and combine the two to determine how much weight you are towing. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarNucopia Posted June 4 Author Share Posted June 4 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Trulyvintage said: An open or enclosed trailer with a vehicle in it or on it is going to weigh more than 3500 pounds. I appreciate the input Jim, but you’re incorrect. Most of the cars I own weigh under 1800 pounds and the trailer I use weighs 700 pounds. It has electronic brakes and a torsion axle, so it tows very nicely. My goal is to take it with me behind a B class van. Those equipped with the EcoBoost are equipped to pull 5000 pounds. I was curious what others’ experiences with that motor was since I’ve heard mixed reviews. Edited June 4 by CarNucopia (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted June 4 Share Posted June 4 Please post image(s) of your 700 pound car trailer and the car(s) you own that weigh 1800 pounds or less you plan to put in or on it. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarNucopia Posted June 4 Author Share Posted June 4 (edited) I double checked the trailer weight and it’s 1,100 lbs. Edited June 4 by CarNucopia (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted June 4 Share Posted June 4 I have an F150 with the 3.5 eco boost. Lots of power and lousy mileage 15.1 all the time regardless. I would not use it for serious towing but should be more than adequate for what you describe. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted June 5 Share Posted June 5 This - is a snowmobile and cargo trailer - not a car trailer: The company is still in business: @ https://www.tritontrailers.com/enclosed-cargo-snow-tc-series Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarNucopia Posted June 5 Author Share Posted June 5 4 minutes ago, Trulyvintage said: This - is a snowmobile and cargo trailer - not a car trailer: Jim I never said it was a car trailer….and neither did you. It’s a trailer suitable for purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphmyles Posted June 5 Share Posted June 5 I have done a lot of towing with 3.5 EcoBoosts between an F-150 and a Transit 3500. They are very good engines aside from the fuel economy as mentioned above but one thing I can't stand is the newer 10 speed transmissions; specifically when in tow/haul mode. The downshifts are EXTREMELY aggressive and bring the RPMs up way more than I like. The only other problem I encountered was failed cam phasers which was fixed under warranty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wascator Posted Saturday at 12:26 PM Share Posted Saturday at 12:26 PM (edited) Basically power is power; this should tow fine. problem I have is the complexity and high cost of what is under the hood nowadays. This and other similar engines are complex, high-tech engines. They make a lot of heat and they are highly stressed. They can not and will not tolerate neglected oil changes nor the wrong oil. These engines are what the manufacturers have come up with to satisfy federal regulations of emissions and fuel economy; regulations which are unnecessary unless they are intended to force these vehicles off the market (they are by the way). They are expensive to build, to buy and to repair when things go wrong. Just look at the disaster Toyota is having to deal with now over the Tundra. Can't trade ‘em, can’t sell ‘em; wow. Edited Saturday at 12:27 PM by Wascator Correct spelling (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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