I’m looking at a new XLT F-150 for sale with a great price point. 4x4 supercab 3.73 ratio and 3.3l v6 flex fuel. There are a few things I’m not sure what they mean on the sticker and some things I’m wondering if they could be added later. It says it has a 6500# GVWR payload package that I’m not sure what that adds and it doesn’t seem to have a towing package but does have a class iv hitch and upgraded sway bar.

I don’t do much towing other than my enclosed cargo trailer that last time I weighed it was 3900#. This would be my everyday vehicle. Would I be able to add the trailer brake control and other towing package options after purchase to get the full tow capacity if I ever needed it? Sale price is in low 30s right now. Thanks for any help figuring out if this would be a good truck for my needs.

 

The 3.3 is not a good choice for towing. It will do it but it won't be comfortable. Without a trailer towing package, I don't know if it has the wiring for a TBC.

 

Just curious about the towing when you say it won’t be comfortable, does that mean it would just struggle with my 4000# trailer or more issues than just less power? I was comparing the tow guide from my 2002 supercab 4x4 5.4 and the specs on the 19 and they looked identical and my 2002 hasn’t really had an issue with the trailer. I don’t ever plan to tow anything over 5k in the future.

 

Even though the engine specs look similar (or sometimes better), doesn't mean that the engine is up for it.

The 5.4l V8 is a way lower revving engine than the 3.3l V6. That 3.3l V6 will be screaming going up hills and you might end up with more wear problems down the line. Plus the transmission will be doing more work hunting for the right gear to be in.

Then again, a lot of these newer engines love to be worked, so eh, I don't know. If you don't use them, they get all fouled up if you just put-put around town like grandma.

To me, the lower the revving engine, the better off it is for hauling loads.

 

You're not going to want that truck for long. The engine is just not up to the task of pulling a trailer. To give you an idea, 2 years ago I moved my youngest girl from Charleston to Hendersonville NC. I live in Texas and was loaded fairly heavy with some of her things she left in Texas. I picked up even more stuff in Charleston but the truck was not down on the axles or anything like that. The truck actually sat level. Going from Charleston to Hendersonville requires going up the mountains there. I ran the truck more than I liked flat on the floor and NOT keeping up with traffic. Gas mileage was single digit on the trip. If I had a trailer on it, the truck would have been in first gear a LOT! Add that the truck you are considering is 4x4 and mine is 2wd, your truck would suffer even more. My truck is a 2014 F150 Supercrew, 3.73 axle, 3.7 V6 with the 6 speed automatic. Comfy ride but if I lived over there, the engine would have to go away as it just doesn't have the grunt for the terrain over there, even empty. Pulling a trailer, not a way in the world would that work. My 3.7 makes 302HP and 278lbs of torque. The 2019 F150 3.3 engine makes 290HP and 265lbs torque. My engine is the more powerful and again, I don't have the power robbing 4x4. The truck may be a great deal but you'll learn to hate it pretty quick.

 

thanks, I was looking at hp and torque specs of my 2002 to compare and see while lower horse powered it does have 100lbs more torque than the 3.3 config. What engine would be best if using as a daily driver in city with towing the 4K trailer maybe 1000 miles/year? Right now I get 15mpg normal driving and 8 when towing so the new ones all are better gas savers than mine.

 

2.7 Ecoboost or 5.0 V8. If you weren't towing, the 3.3 is a very good little engine.

 

Yeah, the 3.3 is a dandy LITTLE engine but a little engine that's naturally aspirated just doesn't cut it in any kind of hill climb. While the 2.7 sounds like a good choice, far too many of them are sitting on dealers lots with bad heads and no parts. As of now, I wouldn't trade my 2014 for a new 2019 with a 2.7 on an even, no cost to me, trade. It would be a 5.0 with the 3.55 gears and regardless of any trailer, I always opt for the max trailer tow package. The 3.5 EB engine is a dandy and carrys 2 injection systems but it has a not so stellar record for in town gas mileage. Hiway, it's a gas miser but in town sucks- expect 14-15 town. Hiway should be over 20 mpgs easy, no trailer. And the 3.5 gets better overall gas mileage than the 2.7 in road test after road test. Might want to give YouTube a visit. The world renown Wards 10 Best Engines said point blank, the 2.7 EB kinda sucks.

But here's some reading for you and a couple of vids on the page. LOTS of folks real unhappy with the 2.7 engine and Ford not being able to either supply parts or fix them.
https://www.google.com/search?ei=JQJ...30.BLypwQGQPxY

Ford catalog of specs
https://media.ford.com/content/dam/f...2019-F-150.pdf

 

thanks, I’ve done some more searching and with Labor Day sales found a 2018 XLT 3.5 supercab no tow package new, a 2019 xl Stx crew no tow package, and a 2019 XLT 5.0 supercab with tow package. None are 4wd but after thinking about it I’ve only used it a handful of times in the last few years. Leaning toward 5 with tow

 

That's what I'd get.

 

I tow a boat (about 4000 lbs total) with a '19 XLT 5.0L V8 with tow package (mine is a Supercrew, though) and it does really well. I moved to this truck from an '05 5.4L Triton powered XLT Screw and this new truck pulls just as well.

 

So went in today and found out the XLT on the site was already "sold" (ordered as a dealer trade for someone specifically but not marked in the dealer system as sold). Ended up finding a XL STX with 4x4 5.0 tow package. Seems to have everything the XLT did that mattered to me. A little less gas mileage due to 4x4 but I will take the trade off as its still better than my 2002.

 

Good choice.

 

x2 Great choice.