Well,

I bought a few years ago, and I love it! The whole family loves it. The wife likes it so much she said she wanted it. I was about to hit the roof when she finished her sentence with the words, "...and you can pick out a new one".

So we are ditching her older car for another truck. The leaves me with an option between a v6 eco boost, or the "normal 5.0 V8".

Looking at the towing guide, the eco boost actually has a max tow of around 9500, compared to the V8's 7000 in the same cab style. I'm not a expert at all, but I have heard that those numbers aren't the whole story. The eco supposedly gets terrible gas mileage while towing compared to the v8.

Is that true? Are there other considerations? I'm concerned about towing a as yet non-existent boat. So maybe 3 tons or so?

I need advice please, thanks a lot.

Oh, also considered a S-crew 250, but likely out of my price range.

OK well yeah for your own research... turns out the boat of my dreams is still only 3k lbs.

A couple of things to consider:

1) are you buying 4wd or 2wd

2) how much are you towing

Pickuptrucks.com has done some good write ups comparing the different models in real world and towing situations. I'll see if I can find a link to a recent review

A 4WD this time. About 3K empty so maybe allow for 4 or 5 with gear, gas, and family butts?

I was hoping you guys with more experience would know what I need better than I do honestly lol.

The reason I want a 4x4 is because there are some nice bank spots I want to go to and I would feel a lot better about a 4WD on those trails. (Ironically when I get a boat I suppose this requirement will no longer be a consideration).

I found this one, and a V8 just like it...

http://www.vernonautogroup.com/web/new/Ford-F-150-2013-Vernon-Texas/1262688/?condition_id=10425

the V8 is a grand less

I've never heard anybody brag about the V8, heard many brag on the Eco. But then again they may just be saying that to help justify their purchase. I'd go Eco but its not going to be much better of fuel mileage.

Just stick with the v-8 you want be dispointed. eco boost is ok but just a hot item to have. its okay but I preffer the v-8. 4x4 is up to you if you are really going to use it more than 1 time a month than go for it. besides that I woulnt buy a 4x4 if your only going to use it 3 times out of the year. they talk tourqe curve and all out [censored] but I built big machinery, heavy iron all my life and turning wrenches on them. if you want tourqe buy a diesel. if you want v-8 power buy the 5.0 liter. Besides that if you want a v-6 buy the eco boost because to me when I drove a eco boost its just a v-6 with pep..

What really struck me was that according to fords own tech sheets, the eco-boost can haul a whole ton more than the v8, seems crazy. If that's the true I'd like the extra power just in case.

...Please do not take that as me disregarding your experience. It just confusing cause everyone is telling me different things.

Believe the people that actually own one, not the guy who has driven one or the "my uncles brothers sisters nephews cousin" had one guys.


Go to a Ford forum (ford enthusiast is I read) and read all the post about this motor, you will find out what the cons are.

I opted for 2012 Supercrew with the 5.0 2 wheel drive, pulls my Champion 190 DCX with 200 with no problem. Does much better than my 5.7 Z71 and I also didn't want to deal with turbos later on.

the eco boost really is all that. I drove one from here to colorado and back and the guy who owns it pulls a 50 hp kubota tractor with a front end loader 75 mph when his 5.4 liter barely wants to pull it at all.

My uncle owns a 2012 F-150 4x4 with a 5.0 V-8.

pulls a cattle trailer with 3 or 4 cows in it no problem. unloaded the 5.0 gets about 2 mpg better than the eco boost.

If i were to buy a new truck tomorrow, I would buy the 5.0. dang thing has 360 hp and 385 ft.lbs of torque compared to the 5.4's 260 and 350 ft. lbs.

Im gonna correct that to... If you want torque buy an engine with a turbo. The turbo is why diesels have all their power, take the turbo off and they are dogs. Ford found a way to put a turbo on a gas powered motor that would enable it to have the awesome torque curve that most diesel/turbo charged engines have.

If you keep the turbo spooled up it will burn more gas. From what I hear the eco is doing as good or better than the 5.0 on gas mileage both towing and empty and will for sure tow your boat and probably do it better than the 5.0. For about 6 months I asked every person I saw driving one(ecoboost) their opinion and what kinda mpg's they got out of it. Most were happy some were not and most got around 18-19 mpg for a mix city hwy.

Edited to add.. If I was buying now I would probably get an Ecoboost.

with stock 275 tires, the eco with the 3:73 rear end is getting 16.5-17.mpg typcially with mixed driving.

all the way to colorado we never got better than 18 mpg and that was all high way

in the 5.0 we get 19mpg on the highway, and about 16-17 mpg mixed.

you don't buy the eco for the enocomy, you buy it for the power.

I think they fibbed a little on the mpg to get people to look at it.

your right in that everyone who has one loves it

I own an Ecoboost and coming from a Chevy 5.3 V8, I'm extremely happy. I bought it for the power and the economy to go with it. I look at it as having my cake and eating it too. My average MPG on the screen is at 17.2 and getting better. I've never been able to drive mine outside the city (Houston traffic) on a nice long highway trip, so I'm pretty happy. I was getting 14.7 out of my 5.3 in the traffic and my Ecoboost is at 17.2 (hand calculated).

I'm going to Arkansas for Memorial Day so I hope to see what it really gets on the highway.

The low end torque in the Ecoboost is great and it's diesel like torque curve is great for towing. (a bass boast at least). I don't have anything bad to say about mine.

Hey Trophy, were y'all driving the speed limit or hauling azz? What kind of load did the truck have? 4 guys, guns, food, ice chest, tons of clothes & accessories?

doing 70-75 mph the whole way. as far as gear we had 3 guys, 3 bows, 3 ice chests and sleeping bags,each of us had a bag.....not anything really heavy.