Ecoboost+Trails West (Burandt)

[dalyracing]

Anybody pull a Trails West 28' bumper model with a Ford Ecoboost? any details how it pulled, swayed or so forth, salesman telling me only 400lbs on bumper when trailer is empty, any info is much appreciated< thanks in advance

 

[Growaton]

Trails west says that model was designed to be half-ton towable.

 

[Coldfinger]

Jayco says my 9800gvwr TT camper is designed for pulling by 1/2 ton trucks. Ya, right. It all depends how far, how fast and if you want to maintain speed in hills. It has a 6400 empty weight. I believe the frontal area of the trailer has a lot of coorelation to how easy it is to pull and this thing is like a wind sail.

Having said that, I can't imagine the Eco would have any problem pulling this trailer.

 

[skibreeze]

If a Tundra can pull the space shuttle.......

It's all in what performance you expect.

 

[powerstroke 350700]

NO PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!
Got a trailer about the same!

 

[Slednoggin23]

Easily

The EcoBoost will handle it with or without the Max trailer tow package. It will handle it in either goose neck or bumper tow without Max trailer tow package. You probably wouldnt want to go lower than the 3.55 rear end ratio.

Trails West Trailers
RPM Enclosed BP » Specs

SIZE LENGTH WEIGHT TONGUE AXLE TIRE SIZE
RPM 20 20 ft. 3200# 380# 3500# 15" 8-ply LRD
RPM 28 28 ft. 4200# 440# 3500# 15" 8-ply LRD


RPM Enclosed GN » Specs

SIZE LENGTH WEIGHT TONGUE AXLE TIRE SIZE
28 ft. Box 35'6" 5600# 1100# 5200# 225/75/r15 LRD
34 ft. Box 41'6" 6100# 1525# 5200# 225/75/r15 LRD

2012 F 150

Maximum Towing Capabilities - Conventional/Fifth-Wheel Towing


Engine Ratio GCWR Max Trailer Weight lbs Cab

3.5L EcoBoost V6 3.73 16900 11100*/‡ Super Crew 4X4 157"WB
3.5L EcoBoost V6 3.73\4.10 15500 9600 Super Crew 4X4 145"WB
3.5L EcoBoost V6 3.73\4.10 15500 9500 Super Crew 4X4 157"WB
3.5L EcoBoost V6 3.73\4.10 17100 11200* Super Crew 4X4 145"WB
3.5L EcoBoost V6 3.73\4.10 17100 11100* Super Crew 4X4 157"WB

*Requires Max. Trailer Tow Package
†Limited
‡Heavy Duty Payload Package Required

I got this info off the Ford website http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/towing/
And the Trails West website http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/towing/

 

[GlennRMK]

I've towed a 4 place enclosed with mine and was very impressed. No problems.

I normally tow a 3 place enclosed. About 1500 miles around Montana last year and the truck tows it very well.

My truck weighs about 6000 lbs empty for anyone wondering. Thats a Supercrew FX4 5.5 ft bed with 3.73s.

 

[snow4shover]

I want an ECO Boost so bad

 

[GolfPineAcres]

Anybody pull a Trails West 28' bumper model with a Ford Ecoboost? any details how it pulled, swayed or so forth, salesman telling me only 400lbs on bumper when trailer is empty, any info is much appreciated< thanks in advance

The ECO will "get the job done" but thats probably it. Please don't misunderstand my post. Ford did a great job on that engine, and the chassis. Very nice, and performance enhanced. However, its still a half - ton chassis and mid size gas engine.
When the trailer is fully loaded what do you think the gross weight will be?? Most likely a bit more than your thinking. Now throw some frozen slush and ice underneith the trailer and she gets a lil heavy. Another question, what is the highest elevation you think you will be operating at? Obviously the higher the elevation the less performance that gasser is going to have.
My opinion.... if your pulling a few times a season get the half. Pulling all winter long.... Get the 3/4 ton gas...That 6 ltr gas is supposed to be quite stout also. The diesel is fantastic... However Ford wants more for the truck than what I paid for my first three homes...

 

[Bacon]

The ECO will "get the job done" but thats probably it. Please don't misunderstand my post. Ford did a great job on that engine, and the chassis. Very nice, and performance enhanced. However, its still a half - ton chassis and mid size gas engine.
When the trailer is fully loaded what do you think the gross weight will be?? Most likely a bit more than your thinking. Now throw some frozen slush and ice underneith the trailer and she gets a lil heavy. Another question, what is the highest elevation you think you will be operating at? Obviously the higher the elevation the less performance that gasser is going to have.
My opinion.... if your pulling a few times a season get the half. Pulling all winter long.... Get the 3/4 ton gas...That 6 ltr gas is supposed to be quite stout also. The diesel is fantastic... However Ford wants more for the truck than what I paid for my first three homes...

I agree. Will it pull the trailer around? Probably, and if all you are doing is going 50 or 100 miles it might be fine. I see Glenn said he pulled his trailer 1500 miles last year. We do that in one trip and multiple times a year. When we get caught pulling on the interstate with a big head or sidewind, I am happy we have a dually diesel in front of the trailer. I think that the ecoboost is a great truck, but people are expecting them to do a little more than a half ton is designed to do. Big miles, get a big truck. Short trips, I'm sure the Eco will get the job done.

 

[GlennRMK]

Yep I'm fortunate to live close to my riding areas.

Keep in mind I'm in the mountains and I constantly drive from 3000 ft to 7500 ft. Mountain passes and nasty roads and wind all the time.

You guys are worried about driving across the the interstate from Minnesota to Montana with rolling hills?

I drive an 02 Chevy 6.0 2500 HD work truck once in a while and that truck actually weighs 200 lbs less then my Ecoboost.

Now my 03 Cummins I had prior weighed an extra 1500 lbs and had a way stiffer suspension. Although it rode like a lumber wagon in comparison.

I do have Firestone airbags on my Ecoboost. Thats a nice upgrade for towing the big enclosed often.

Sorry, but if you haven't ridden in Ecoboost towing a trailer, you have no idea how well this truck tows. Mine far exceeded my expectations and I'm coming from a diesel, not some POS 350, 360 or 5.4 half ton. I've ridden in the 6.2 Chevys, 8.1s and V10s and the Ecoboost really makes them look silly. Compared to a stock 7.3, stock 5.9 Cummins, stock LB7 or stock 6.0 Powerjoke, the Ecoboost will hold its own. I'd race them up a pass with a trailer anyday.

Just my 2 cents, but for those that are saying it will just barely get the job done, you flat out haven't ridden in or driven an Ecoboost.

 

[Slednoggin23]

I gotta disagree with golfpineacres and Bacon. I understand your post. Lowly half tons are plenty capable of towing 10,000 plus pound trailers. Why would the manufactures even rate them to do so if they couldn't. Ford puts their F series pickups through one of the toughest proving grounds on the planet before they even get put in consumer hands. A F 150 super crew with a ecoboost a 145" WB and max tow package is 1,000 lbs less in the weight of trailer it will tow compared to a F 250 crew cab super duty with a 156" WB and 6.2L gas engine. Both with 3.73 rear ends.

I'm not sure what ecoboost powered F 150 the OP is looking at but I will assume it is a super crew 145" WB and max trailer tow package with a GCWR of 17,100. From what I can gather the OP is looking at a 28' BP with a empty weight of 4,200 lbs. They add some accessories and that pushes the empty trailer weight to 4,700 lbs. He/she and three buddies pushing 300 lbs bring 100 lbs of gear totaling 1,600 lbs. They are going for two days so they bring 50 gallons of extra gas and oil for another 350 lbs. They all ride 2013 M1100 turbos ready to ride at 725 lbs. times four is 2900 lbs

The above F 150 is advertised at 6100 lbs, full of gas lets call it 6350 lbs. add trailer, gear, gas and people equal to 9,550 lbs come is at 15,900 lbs GCVW. That's 1,650 lbs under the rated max trailer weight and 1,200 lbs under the rated GCWR. And under what it is designed to do.

Some of the weights I listed are actual and some are exaggerated. Along the way they pick up 1200 lbs of snow, slush and ice. That puts them at the limit of what is advertised but still doable. Add 10 ply tires and heavy duty payload package and your even better.

As far as it losing power at elevation is incorrect. I think the power of the ecoboost will stay the same up to maybe 10,000 + feet. Not many parking areas above that that I know of.

Like GlennRMK said if you havent driven or rode in a EcoBoost towing you'd be surprised. It really does tow like older diesels and holds its own. I have driven 1 ton diesels over 2 million miles and I'm very happy with my EcoBoost.

 

[adrenaline junkie]

I also want to chime in on this, golf pine acres also stated that the Eco is a gasser and will fall off at elevation, and says to get a 3/4 ton with the 6.2. The 6.2 is a nice engine as well, but is naturally aspirated compared to the twin turbos on the ecoboost. I believe the higher you go the more the Eco will shine over the 6.2. Look at turbo sleds...

 

[Bacon]

I guess you can talk your way into buying whatever you want. I never told anyone to not buy the Eco. Just gave my opinion. Use it or not, no skin off my a$$.

 

[GolfPineAcres]

As I said also, I'm certain the 3.5ltr ECO is a great engine, and the chassis is very nice as well. "In my humble opinion" I would'nt be trying to tow a 5 tons with this truck "on a regular basis". Just my opinion.
Couple things to note.... There is no long term track record of the 3.5 ltr yet with respect to long term durability. Now, with that being said, when this baby goes in for some sort of service... Are we looking at diesel territory,in reference to costs?, with the Twin Turbos on the ECO?

 

[hurricane2]

Pulling a 10000lb trailer with a 7000+ lb truck is a lot better than doing it with a 5500lb truck, even if the 1/2 ton is rated to pull that much. Everything is stronger/stiffer in the chassis as well as larger brakes. The 3/4 ton will have a much more in-control feel, especially in the mountains.

 

[GlennRMK]

I'm not saying everyone should trade in their diesels for an Ecoboost.
I'm not saying the Ecoboost is better then the newer diesels pulling.

I am saying for towing the 5000-6500 lbs that I tow all the time, the Ecoboost pulls it with ease.
I am saying the Ecoboost saves you 10-13k over a Powerstroke or Duramax. Maybe 6-8k over a Cummins.
I am saying that gas is cheaper then diesel.

I loved my diesels, and love most of the new ones, but the initial buy in and rediculous prices of the fuel drove me away. Not to mention all the emissions garbage. I might be back in a Cummins or Duramax next time around, or I might not.

I'm still waiting for a smaller diesel in a 1/2 ton damnit!

However, right now the Ecoboost is the closest thing to that!

 

[Coldfinger]

I found these numbers when I was throwing out papers today.

2013 Vortec 6L Crew 2500 - 6434# Max Payload 3066#
2013 Duramax - 7294# Max Payload 2706#
2013 Eco - 4925# (I believe that was with the 6.5 box, crew) Max Pay 2310#

The max payload of the Eco is only 396# less than the Duramax. That number surprised me.

It also surprised me the Duramax is 2369# heavier than the Eco.

 

[meathooker]

The Eco boost should be fine pulling a trailswest trailer; now the bundrant edition is a horse of a different color. You'll need a desiel for that one.

 

[skibreeze]

The Eco boost should be fine pulling a trailswest trailer; now the bundrant edition is a horse of a different color. You'll need a desiel for that one.

WTF are you talking about? The OP is talking about a bumper pull, and the Burandt package doesn't add all that much weight to it.