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Ford 2.7 vs 3.5 vs. 5.0

DMG said:
The load definitely pushed the truck around more so I will probably put the airbags on sooner rather than later.
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I’ve noticed the same thing with mine if I’m towing something heavy and there’s too much tongue weight. It’s really sensitive to finding the right balance on the trailer.
 
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Jackie Treehorn said:
I’ve noticed the same thing with mine if I’m towing something heavy and there’s too much tongue weight. It’s really sensitive to finding the right balance on the trailer.
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I have a weight distribution hitch setup for this trailer but I haven’t used it since I started towing with heavier trucks. I either need to us that or install the airbags
 
DMG said:
I have a weight distribution hitch setup for this trailer but I haven’t used it since I started towing with heavier trucks. I either need to us that or install the airbags
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The hitch is probably the way to go. I need to get one for my dump trailer.
 
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DMG said:
I have a weight distribution hitch setup for this trailer but I haven’t used it since I started towing with heavier trucks. I either need to us that or install the airbags
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(2011 F150 3.5L bout 7k lb truck, contractor cap on it)
Towing my Scout on a 14k deckover, I used blue ox sway pro and timbrens set about 3/4" above the pads empty.

Towed great but the load would push the limits when roads were wet.

Braking especially.
 
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Winchested said:
(2011 F150 3.5L bout 7k lb truck, contractor cap on it)
Towing my Scout on a 14k deckover, I used blue ox sway pro and timbrens set about 3/4" above the pads empty.

Towed great but the load would push the limits when roads were wet.

Braking especially.
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That is a heavy trailer too. Mine only weighs 2k with tongue box and ramps.
 
DMG said:
I sold the 3V V10 super duty so the 5.0/10speed truck got to tow yesterday. It didn’t have the factory brake control so I called my favorite junkyard and had them send me one, installed it and enabled it with Forscan.

The Sequoia was supposed to have a bad motor but it turned out the radiator cap was stuck which caused the radiator to blow. I put a radiator in and have been driving it since.

Anyway, the truck towed better than most 1/2 tons I have towed with. Good power and good braking. The load definitely pushed the truck around more so I will probably put the airbags on sooner rather than later.
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How was it vs the 3V V10 super duty? I've owned one of those so it is a good reference point for me.
 
I have no real complaints about the 3.5/hybrid/10sp I got recently. It's fast as fuck and can power my whole house. :smokin:

MPG is definitely not what it's supposed to be but it's crew cab 4x leveled 6.5' bed on mildly aggressive ATs. I'd bet a 2wd regular cab short box with a canopy could actually get 24 mpg if you really babied it. I'm getting 17-22.
 
mjlogan88 said:
How was it vs the 3V V10 super duty? I've owned one of those so it is a good reference point for me.
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Mine had headers, exhaust and a 5 star tune. It pulled a little better in the hills. It was a beast with that tune.
 
RusM said:
I have no real complaints about the 3.5/hybrid/10sp I got recently. It's fast as fuck and can power my whole house. :smokin:

MPG is definitely not what it's supposed to be but it's crew cab 4x leveled 6.5' bed on mildly aggressive ATs. I'd bet a 2wd regular cab short box with a canopy could actually get 24 mpg if you really babied it. I'm getting 17-22.
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My MPG went down quite a bit with a canopy on the back...
 
DMG said:
Mine had headers, exhaust and a 5 star tune. It pulled a little better in the hills. It was a beast with that tune.
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Mines a 2v but I put on headers and did the y pipe fix, feels way better. I have 5 star tunes as well. Did you run a tow tune, like a 91 or 93 octane? I haven't run my 91 tow. I have a 93 "performance" tune I've run, I will say it sure seems to scoot around much better. Gears are next for my old pig. Was gonna get a 5.0 F150 but can't stomach the prices as of late.

Thatg9659 said:
Whose headers?
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I run Gibsons. RemFlex gaskets.
 
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blthomas said:
Mines a 2v but I put on headers and did the y pipe fix, feels way better. I have 5 star tunes as well. Did you run a tow tune, like a 91 or 93 octane? I haven't run my 91 tow. I have a 93 "performance" tune I've run, I will say it sure seems to scoot around much better. Gears are next for my old pig. Was gonna get a 5.0 F150 but can't stomach the prices as of late.



I run Gibsons. Reflex gaskets.
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I dont think tney called it a tow tune but they said it was good for towing. It improvd the (5T110) transmission as much as the motor, imho. I had a 87 and 93 octane tune. I only ran the 93 tune once to try it out.
 
DMG said:
I dont think tney called it a tow tune but they said it was good for towing. It improvd the (5T110) transmission as much as the motor, imho. I had a 87 and 93 octane tune. I only ran the 93 tune once to try it out.
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Agreed on trans improvement.

I ended up with four tunes. 87/93 performance. 91 tow. 87 economy.

87 economy nets me right about 1-1.5 better mpg.

They said towing in a none tow tune would get the trans hot. I dunno.

I tried the 87 tow, guessing its corrupt file or something, I got a p171 & p174 codes. No problems on either performance tune or economy tune.

If I could find a clean super cab short bed 5.0 XL 4x4 for a good price, I'd consider it. Love the old superduty, but its a crew longbed. Lots of truck for one dude not towing real heavy or often.
 
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DMG said:
I sold the 3V V10 super duty so the 5.0/10speed truck got to tow yesterday. It didn’t have the factory brake control so I called my favorite junkyard and had them send me one, installed it and enabled it with Forscan.

The Sequoia was supposed to have a bad motor but it turned out the radiator cap was stuck which caused the radiator to blow. I put a radiator in and have been driving it since.

Anyway, the truck towed better than most 1/2 tons I have towed with. Good power and good braking. The load definitely pushed the truck around more so I will probably put the airbags on sooner rather than later.
Click to expand...

10 ply tires aired up to 70-80 make a big difference if you haven't already.
 
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mjlogan88 said:
How was it vs the 3V V10 super duty? I've owned one of those so it is a good reference point for me.
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Went from a 2V Excursion V10. Night and day difference in the hills. Super duty chassis is obviously way better, but for the Jeep on a flatbed loaded to go camping (7500lbs ish total) or a buggy and a SxS and 3 quads on a 26’ flatbed (I have a problem, I know), tows great enough that the wife easily handles it by herself (big trips to the desert means we bring all the toys and I drive the Motorhome)
 
I'll say this; I do a lot of engine repair, one right after the other, I don't care if it's a weed whacker or a dozer and over the last 20 years Ford has come out with some real turds, 5.4-3V, 6.4 (Navistar) any gas engine with a turbo period, they all break, 3.5 non turbo has it's problems, now a 6.0's is probably the engine I've done the most of and I actually can make those be reliable when you use all the right parts.

The only Ford engines I think that are worth owning is the 5.0 and the 7.3, the 6.7's are pretty good just expensive too own and fix...... way more expensive than a gas engine and a lot of parts are on back order from Ford.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
10 ply tires aired up to 70-80 make a big difference if you haven't already.
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I have them. I cant imagine towing 7k+ without them. I also live where the roads were designed by the mountains so it is steep and curvy everywhere.

I have a set of Rotiform wheels with D or C range 285s that go on this spring with the mid travel suspension so I guess i will see how they do.
 
18-up 5.0 are problem childs conpared to pre direct injection. And those r still plagued with bs oil pressure reduction and vct solenoids causing stalls.
 
Levigarrett76 said:
18-up 5.0 are problem childs conpared to pre direct injection. And those r still plagued with bs oil pressure reduction and vct solenoids causing stalls.
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Some are. Mine has 121k now and is fine.
 
Rockwood said:
Are there any brand-specific mechanics that DON'T think the brand they work on is junk? :flipoff2:
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I talked to the #1 CAT skid steer salesman in the world about this one time.
I said "damn Harry is our stuff really that good? We always have 20+ of these in the shop at any time how good can they be."

He said Weldon we sell more of these than any dealer in the world, and we have 75% market share in this market so there going to be some in the shop. :homer:
 
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Rockwood said:
Lol, I know some. Hate them too, everything rusts and the owners behave like Italians: not doing shit to it until something breaks.
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Yep.

I have known a lot of dealer techs that bought the brand they worked on, too. I know a guy that hoards 70s Ford crew cabs for fun and 90s taurus for his family to drive. Everyone of his kids and him drive them and they have at least half a dozen taurus parts cars. All bought for under $500.
 
DMG said:
90s taurus for his family to drive. Everyone of his kids and him drive them and they have at least half a dozen taurus parts cars. All bought for under $500.
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