All day long, lockout higher gears and it will tow it no problem all day long. Keep the revs up and it will do just fine.

 

I'm not sure what you mean lockout higher gears

 

The lock out 6th (and maybe 5th) is to keep the RPM’s up, which means the turbo won’t be turbo-ing as much. Less turbo-ing means less heat in the engine which means happier towing.
I think… 🤔

Regardless, your truck will tow fine.

 

Thank you

 

Yes it does I've never used it

 

It is a great feature. I have a 2014 with the 6sp and set whatever top gear turns about 2200rpm at the speed I am goin and rock on.

 

It definitely will. Didn’t the 12’s in particular have a higher tow rating than other years? Probably thinking wrong 🤔That’s a 7x18’ trailer if I remember correctly and idk how much bikes weigh but a Tacoma might be comparable. Towed no problems, not super far but hilly. Also a 2012 XLT.

 

Owners manual reference:

 

Thank you

 

Just for more "info" on my personal towing experience, I'm old, so I have "been there and done that" experience to look back on with this subject..

Towing with the Ecoboost was yet another new experience I had to learn however.. So, since 2014, I have been learning how this truck likes to tow! I think I have it "dialed in" now, but there is always room to "learn more".

Like was said already, you need to use the 6 gears to keep the engine in it's "happy" power band.. Not it's "Eco" mode...

Low rpms when you need power, is the recipe for an overheated engine. Bottom line... These Eco's like it in the mid to upper 2-3,000 rpm range. I like mine in the 2200 rpm range when just cruising down on a flat hwy going about 65 mph.

For my truck, this is in 5th gear. I lock out 6th for the most part unless I'm going down hill and my speed can be kept around the 65 mph mark without having to ride the brakes or even touch them..

I only use the "tow/haul" button when cruising on the flats. This is because when you hit the brakes, the trans wants to downshift. This helps a lot when you need to slow down in a hurry, or just for the up coming stop light while towing..

You also don't want to ride the brakes when going down hill... This is probably the most critical part of towing.. You over heat the brakes, there ain't no more options if you are still bombing down the road, or that slow moving car is in front of you!

This is when I turn OFF the T/H mode and then use my +- button to control my down hill speed. I try to keep the rpms in the low 3000 range and just TAP the brakes as needed... It's a game you have to learn how to play, just like poker...

If my rpms are too high, I'll hit the brakes hard to slow down quickly (make sure no one is ridding your a$$ at the time!) Then let off and let the speed gradually go up again. The longer you keep off the brakes, they have time to cool down and when you are going too fast again, repeat. If you just ride them to hold a specific speed, you will boil them in a couple of minutes and then you have zero brakes!

Anyway, I've rambled on for way too long.. If you want more info, PM me and I can give more of my "experience" doing this thing..

Mitch

 

Just for more "info" on my personal towing experience, I'm old, so I have "been there and done that" experience to look back on with this subject..

Towing with the Ecoboost was yet another new experience I had to learn however.. So, since 2014, I have been learning how this truck likes to tow! I think I have it "dialed in" now, but there is always room to "learn more".


If my rpms are too high, I'll hit the brakes hard to slow down quickly (make sure no one is ridding your a$$ at the time!) Then let off and let the speed gradually go up again. The longer you keep off the brakes, they have time to cool down and when you are going too fast again, repeat. If you just ride them to hold a specific speed, you will boil them in a couple of minutes and then you have zero brakes!
Mitch

Well said.
Same principle with a commercial truck on downhills, as far and 'how' to brake-regulate your speed.. never stay on the brakes. short bursts of heavier braking will keep them much cooler than riding the pedal for an extended seconds of time..

@Mitchf150 [roughly] what kind of fuel economy do you get when towing with your 6 spd F150? I recently picked up a '20 F150 3.5eb with 10 spd, but I've not hooked up my 25ft Coleman Dutchmen TT yet.. Just curious

 

It definitely will. Didn’t the 12’s in particular have a higher tow rating than other years? Probably thinking wrong 🤔That’s a 7x18’ trailer if I remember correctly and idk how much bikes weigh but a Tacoma might be comparable. Towed no problems, not super far but hilly. Also a 2012 XLT. View attachment 205878

Thank you

Just for more "info" on my personal towing experience, I'm old, so I have "been there and done that" experience to look back on with this subject..

Towing with the Ecoboost was yet another new experience I had to learn however.. So, since 2014, I have been learning how this truck likes to tow! I think I have it "dialed in" now, but there is always room to "learn more".

Like was said already, you need to use the 6 gears to keep the engine in it's "happy" power band.. Not it's "Eco" mode...

Low rpms when you need power, is the recipe for an overheated engine. Bottom line... These Eco's like it in the mid to upper 2-3,000 rpm range. I like mine in the 2200 rpm range when just cruising down on a flat hwy going about 65 mph.

For my truck, this is in 5th gear. I lock out 6th for the most part unless I'm going down hill and my speed can be kept around the 65 mph mark without having to ride the brakes or even touch them..

I only use the "tow/haul" button when cruising on the flats. This is because when you hit the brakes, the trans wants to downshift. This helps a lot when you need to slow down in a hurry, or just for the up coming stop light while towing..

You also don't want to ride the brakes when going down hill... This is probably the most critical part of towing.. You over heat the brakes, there ain't no more options if you are still bombing down the road, or that slow moving car is in front of you!

This is when I turn OFF the T/H mode and then use my +- button to control my down hill speed. I try to keep the rpms in the low 3000 range and just TAP the brakes as needed... It's a game you have to learn how to play, just like poker...

If my rpms are too high, I'll hit the brakes hard to slow down quickly (make sure no one is ridding your a$$ at the time!) Then let off and let the speed gradually go up again. The longer you keep off the brakes, they have time to cool down and when you are going too fast again, repeat. If you just ride them to hold a specific speed, you will boil them in a couple of minutes and then you have zero brakes!

Anyway, I've rambled on for way too long.. If you want more info, PM me and I can give more of my "experience" doing this thing..

Mitch

thank you

 

@Mitchf150 [roughly] what kind of fuel economy do you get when towing with your 6 spd F150? I recently picked up a '20 F150 3.5eb with 10 spd, but I've not hooked up my 25ft Coleman Dutchmen TT yet.. Just curious

I get roughly 9-10 mpgs. I do a combo of flat running and going over a pass or two. Not much altitude here in WA state over I-90, but there are multiple passes to get over, so it all averages out I guess. Nothing over 5% grade.

If I hit any kind of head wind, I have to go in 4th and just ride it out so I don't get too hot. Once out of the boost, it cools down fast. Get into the boost and it gets hot.

As long as I can keep the boost below 5 psi, it does the best mpg and stays the coolest. Once over 10 psi, and you are just dumping fuel in and the temps rise fast. After about 4-5 minutes, it's over 225* and the fans kick into HIGH, so I try to keep it around 220* as most.. Most I have gotten it was 230*, but I got caught in the passing lane by a greedy semi that wanted to mess with me... I got around him, but the Eco had to work harder than I usually like to push it..

Mitch

 

How fast? I would use the posted speed limits as a guide.

 

I understand that I'm asking what speeds can I go with the top 2 gears locked out

 

How fast? I would use the posted speed limits as a guide.

How fast? I would use the posted speed limits as a guide.

How fast? I would use the posted speed limits as a guide.

 

Depends on your rear gear ratio, but in general, you want to keep you engine rpms in the 2000-2500 rpm range, but I would not want to hold 3000 rpms for any extended amount of time?

For me, that's between 60 and 65 mph.. In WA state, the max speed limit is 70.. If I do that, I'm lucky to get 8 mpg while towing and I'd be near that 3000 rpm mark as well... It's just not worth it to me to go that fast to get to my destination... If I need to get there sooner, I leave earlier..

I have had the big bad diesels pass me going 75+ mph... Funny thing is, they end up passing me again, because they stopped for whatever reason, but not getting there any quicker than I did at that point??

Also, it's what YOUR towing comfort level is going to be... Mine is the speed I go. A lot of others are just fine with the higher speeds, and that's fine too.... As long as you don't end up in the ditch in the end, and you get to your destination safe and not all stressed out, it's a good trip!

Mitch

 

I understand that thank you. It's an over 1000 mile drive

 

Absolutely

 

 

@JasonMink - that would be a great picture to post here:

(1) 3/4 front views - Pictures only - no comments please | Page 9 | F150 Ecoboost Forum

 

All this towing talk makes me reminisce about 1/2 ton EB towing, watching temps, checking speed, planning lane changes/hill climbs, ect.

Now I barely know the camper is back there and almost take stop signs out. It is truly night and day. Anyway... I'll shut up now.

 

All this towing talk makes me reminisce about 1/2 ton EB towing, watching temps, checking speed, planning lane changes/hill climbs, ect.

Now I barely know the camper is back there and almost take stop signs out. It is truly night and day. Anyway... I'll shut up now.

I don't disagree, of course. Afterall, I too have the mighty F350 for the "just in case" scenario. Yet I have been towing and camping almost continuously for the past 8 weeks and the twin turbo F150 is the horse hitched to the wagon.

It just depends on the cart and cargo.