F150 - 2.7L vs 3.5L vs 5.0L
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ricoisme26
Active member
What exactly are you looking for a in a new truck? I see in your early comments you mentioned you missed the truck feeling of your 2012 f150 compared to your current chevy, also the power of the 3.5 ecoboost.
I think any new 1/2 ton will disappoint in delivering a truck like ride that your 2012 did. I have a 2012 5.0 and it rides nice but newer f150s and rams ride much more comfortably. If you want to feel like you're in a "truck" you may need to look at 3/4 or 1 tons. I can only speculate that the RAM 2500s are less truck like due to rear coil springs, even Ford reportedly retuned the super duty suspension for 2020+ models and people claim its the most comfortable HD truck they've ever driven.
So what exactly are you looking for in a new truck?
rruff
Explorer
I think if someone wants a firmer ride in a 1/2 ton, a great place to get that is a shock upgrade with digressive damping, or shocks with adjustable damping.
I just went back and looked at this - 6.5' bed, hd payload, hd towing, towing mirrors, 3.5TT power - basically eliminates the 2.7 due to the HD payload and towing packages (require 5.0 or 3.5TT) and missing the power of the 3.5TT should be the final piece of this puzzle. Ride quality, for better or worse, can be tuned with shocks. All 1/2 tons are tuned for a relatively soft, compliant, ride from the factory.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
3.5 EB needs minimum 87 octane. Here in the Rockies regular unleaded is 85 and I have to run "mid grade" 87 octane minimum. At lower altitudes, regular unleaded is 87.
I did try one tank of "Eco 88" which is 88 octane E-15. I can't remember if Ford specifically says not to use E-15 in the EB or not, I just wanted to see how it did. It did OK but MPG was a bit lower than normal at 16.7 in mostly suburban/city driving (this was after our camping season so I wasn't towing the travel trailer anymore.)
I can tell you that running lower octane fuel while towing in high winds results in abysmal MPG. Going across Kansas in September in high cross- and head-winds, I got two tanks below 7 mpg running 87 octane regular. After that I made sure to always run premium which is 91 octane in the Rockies and 93 octane at lower altitudes. Definitely runs better and uses less fuel when running premium, but the $.50 or more price premium is hard to take when you're filling a 36 gallon tank. Most often the difference is more than $0.60/gallon for premium vs. regular so figuring that I typically fuel up around the 30 gallon mark, running premium vs. regular means $18 more per tank.
I had several fuelups over $100 on our Summer camping trips this year. Highest one was around $115.
EDITED TO ADD: As much as it hurts to fill up the 36 gallon tank, one nice thing about the big tank is that if I'm careful I can plan out my fuel stops and only fuel up in the cheaper locations. When I'm planning a trip, I use Gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest gas along my route and then arrange my fuel stops so I'm not buying gas in the most expensive areas.
MOST of the time this works except when events conspire to give me unusually bad MPG, like that trip to Kansas where I burned through 30 gallons in less than 200 miles (196.) Cross winds and head winds were beating the hell out of us on that trip and our trailer has a very high profile so that made it worse.
Todd780
OverCamper
I have the same size tank. The 136 L. But, $1.32 per liter x 136L = $179.52. Sad part is Alberta usually has some of the lower gas prices in the country.I had several fuelups over $100 on our Summer camping trips this year. Highest one was around $115.
tacollie
Glamper
My 6.2L 19' F250 got 15 mpgs on the highway when it was stock doing 80+mph from Anson Texas back to Colorado. Adding 35s and the camper I'm seeing 11-12mpgs. That's on 87 octane
Living in Colorado 85 octane is the lowest grade. 87 is considered mid. I've never had a problem with 85 octane in any NA engine. The 6.2 runs fine on 85 but the mpgs drop a solid 5mpg which is a first for me. It's awful so now I buy mid grade. I'm contemplating trying premium out of curiosity.
My 5.7 Tundra on 33s with the same camper saw 12-13 on 85 octane. 16 without the camper. The Tundra was faster because it's lighter.
Living in Colorado 85 octane is the lowest grade. 87 is considered mid. I've never had a problem with 85 octane in any NA engine. The 6.2 runs fine on 85 but the mpgs drop a solid 5mpg which is a first for me. It's awful so now I buy mid grade. I'm contemplating trying premium out of curiosity.
My 5.7 Tundra on 33s with the same camper saw 12-13 on 85 octane. 16 without the camper. The Tundra was faster because it's lighter.
Buddha.
Finally in expo white.
Ugh. I’m looking to tow a r-pod with my ecoboost ranger(rated for 7500# towing), the 18 gallon tank is gonna suck.3.5 EB needs minimum 87 octane. Here in the Rockies regular unleaded is 85 and I have to run "mid grade" 87 octane minimum. At lower altitudes, regular unleaded is 87.
I did try one tank of "Eco 88" which is 88 octane E-15. I can't remember if Ford specifically says not to use E-15 in the EB or not, I just wanted to see how it did. It did OK but MPG was a bit lower than normal at 16.7 in mostly suburban/city driving (this was after our camping season so I wasn't towing the travel trailer anymore.)
I can tell you that running lower octane fuel while towing in high winds results in abysmal MPG. Going across Kansas in September in high cross- and head-winds, I got two tanks below 7 mpg running 87 octane regular. After that I made sure to always run premium which is 91 octane in the Rockies and 93 octane at lower altitudes. Definitely runs better and uses less fuel when running premium, but the $.50 or more price premium is hard to take when you're filling a 36 gallon tank. Most often the difference is more than $0.60/gallon for premium vs. regular so figuring that I typically fuel up around the 30 gallon mark, running premium vs. regular means $18 more per tank.
I had several fuelups over $100 on our Summer camping trips this year. Highest one was around $115.
EDITED TO ADD: As much as it hurts to fill up the 36 gallon tank, one nice thing about the big tank is that if I'm careful I can plan out my fuel stops and only fuel up in the cheaper locations. When I'm planning a trip, I use Gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest gas along my route and then arrange my fuel stops so I'm not buying gas in the most expensive areas.
MOST of the time this works except when events conspire to give me unusually bad MPG, like that trip to Kansas where I burned through 30 gallons in less than 200 miles (196.) Cross winds and head winds were beating the hell out of us on that trip and our trailer has a very high profile so that made it worse.
rruff
Explorer
That is because the anti-knock properties of 85 octane at altitude are the same as 87 at low. It should run fine with 85. My Tundra "requires" 87 and I always put regular (85) in it.
WAStateOverlander
Member
2015-2020 F-150’s came with a multitude of gearing options;
3.15:1
3.31:1
3.55:1
3.73:1
4.10:1
To my knowledge, all these were available through both the 6-speed (2015-2016/2017) and the 10-speed (2017/2018+). It should be noted that for certain engines, namely the 3.5TT EcoBoost, 3.73:1 gearing was only available eight the Max Payload package, limited to XLT 301A and lower. 4.10:1 is only available on the Raptor to my knowledge.
The general consensus is that with the 10-speed trucks, while lower (numerically higher) gearing is always helpful, one can get away with a higher gearing than previously with the 6-speed.
For the best fuel economy, 3.15:1 or 3.31:1 gearing is recommended, along with the 3.5/3.3NA or 2.7TT EcoBoost engines.
Max Towing is achieved with the 3.5TT EcoBoost, and 3.55:1 (or 3.73:1 if possible) gearing.
Generally my recommendation would be to get the tallest possible gearing, as well as the FX4 package to get the rear e-locker.
TLDR;
Towing: 3.5TT, 3.55:1/3.73:1 Gears
MPG: 3.5/3.3NA or 2.7TT, 3.15:1/3.31:1 Gears
Get lowest possible gears, mileage not majorly impacted. Get elocker.
Anyone else please chime in if I missed anything.
ricoisme26
Active member
I second this, 4.10 was only in raptor to the best of my knowledge. I have a 6 speed with the 3.55s behind a 5.0 and I wish I had 3.73s with stock tires. I'll swap in 4.10s if I get bigger tires.
3.73 requires max tow to my understanding which can be had on pretty well optioned trucks, heavy duty payload pack limits you to xl or xlt with 301a option pack at the most (I want this truck if anyone is Christmas shopping for me).
With the 10 speed I'd take 3.55s but I agree, get the lowest gears possible, you can get away with higher gearing because of the extra transmission gears but the same goes for fuel mileage, low rear end won't hurt your MPGs nearly as bad as in a 6 speed let alone an old 4 speed.
Todd780
OverCamper
You can get a locker without having to get FX4. I believe it's a stand alone option.