First Tow...
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: ???.....depends on the day
First Tow...
Picture of Boat on truck
Well....This past weekend was the first time I used my truck to Tow something since I bought it in January. The boat weighs about 3500lbs dry and we (4 of us) had over 1000lbs of gear (mostly beer) in the bed of the truck.
Earlier that day, I recieved my ScanGauge in the mail...so I was also going to be able to test that new toy out as well on this trip.
I will say, that with the truck alone, I get between 15 and 16 mpg with my 60hwy/40cty driving and close to 19.8 interstate @ 75mph all while driving like a car ad just around 2100rpm (as most all of you may know).
My towing experience was not as unpleasent as I was anticipating after reading other threads about these trucks. First of all, this truck obviously had no problem towing the boat...it did jerk every so often when the road was uneven...but I get that with any truck/tow. My gas milage did drop to an average of 10-11mpg @ 75 mph at around 2300rpm. It was a little slow at starts (but I tend to baby it).
Overall, I was very pleased with how the new F150's handle. I know that there are some people on here that are concerned with their economy...but if that is their only concern they should look into those Honda Insights....This truck performs exactly how I wanted it to and I am even more pleased that I was before.
By the way....If you do not know what the ScanGauge is, please look at this. I will be mounting it where my 12V is under the A/C controls sometime in the next few weeks...I will create a new thread once that is done....This is by far the best gauge anyone could want in a vehicle. I was able to monitor everything I wanted while towing (other than tranny temp).
Well....This past weekend was the first time I used my truck to Tow something since I bought it in January. The boat weighs about 3500lbs dry and we (4 of us) had over 1000lbs of gear (mostly beer) in the bed of the truck.
Earlier that day, I recieved my ScanGauge in the mail...so I was also going to be able to test that new toy out as well on this trip.
I will say, that with the truck alone, I get between 15 and 16 mpg with my 60hwy/40cty driving and close to 19.8 interstate @ 75mph all while driving like a car ad just around 2100rpm (as most all of you may know).
My towing experience was not as unpleasent as I was anticipating after reading other threads about these trucks. First of all, this truck obviously had no problem towing the boat...it did jerk every so often when the road was uneven...but I get that with any truck/tow. My gas milage did drop to an average of 10-11mpg @ 75 mph at around 2300rpm. It was a little slow at starts (but I tend to baby it).
Overall, I was very pleased with how the new F150's handle. I know that there are some people on here that are concerned with their economy...but if that is their only concern they should look into those Honda Insights....This truck performs exactly how I wanted it to and I am even more pleased that I was before.
By the way....If you do not know what the ScanGauge is, please look at this. I will be mounting it where my 12V is under the A/C controls sometime in the next few weeks...I will create a new thread once that is done....This is by far the best gauge anyone could want in a vehicle. I was able to monitor everything I wanted while towing (other than tranny temp).
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,509
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From: Georgia on my mind...
Only time I've ever had any trouble pulling something with my truck (and it was my fault) was trying to tow a Grand Marquis on a trailer that wasn't long enough for the car. Otherwise, anything else I've towed went along just fine.
That's a nice lookin' boat there too.
That's a nice lookin' boat there too.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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I also towed my first time with my new truck this weekend...my beater 1994 Dodge Dakota blew a radiator, so I towed it on a tow dolly with the Ford. It wasn't near the dog I thought it would be...actually was semi-respectable getting up to speed. I dunno what it'd feel like if I had another 2k lbs back there, though...(the rating for my 4.6L)
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Alaska
Originally Posted by wstahlm80
Picture of Boat on truck
Well....This past weekend was the first time I used my truck to Tow something since I bought it in January. The boat weighs about 3500lbs dry and we (4 of us) had over 1000lbs of gear (mostly beer) in the bed of the truck.
My gas milage did drop to an average of 10-11mpg @ 75 mph at around 2300rpm. It was a little slow at starts (but I tend to baby it).
Well....This past weekend was the first time I used my truck to Tow something since I bought it in January. The boat weighs about 3500lbs dry and we (4 of us) had over 1000lbs of gear (mostly beer) in the bed of the truck.
My gas milage did drop to an average of 10-11mpg @ 75 mph at around 2300rpm. It was a little slow at starts (but I tend to baby it).
Holy crap 75 mph with 4500 extra pounds worth of weight? I'm glad you didn't have to do an emergency stop!
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 74
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From: NC
Hey guys...
My first tow with my 5.4 04 was a 5500 lb Bobcat on an industrial trailer. While I don't necessarily suggest doing this all the time, my truck was more than up to the task. Took off from the guy's place I borrowed it from, and by the time I was half way up a three-mie long hill, I was doing a steady 60, without struggling. That was before my Superchips tuner came in...I don't know what it will be like now that I have the tuner, but this truck had no problem going up that hill, and I know it was close to its max towing rating...
My first tow with my 5.4 04 was a 5500 lb Bobcat on an industrial trailer. While I don't necessarily suggest doing this all the time, my truck was more than up to the task. Took off from the guy's place I borrowed it from, and by the time I was half way up a three-mie long hill, I was doing a steady 60, without struggling. That was before my Superchips tuner came in...I don't know what it will be like now that I have the tuner, but this truck had no problem going up that hill, and I know it was close to its max towing rating...
Oh yeah 
