Is there anyway you could do this same test with the V8? I’m wondering if the turbos in constant spool had more to do with heat than the engine itself! I have a 2020 5.0 FX4 SuperCrew and I believe mine is rated at 12,000 lbs!
@@maverick042121 Per the ford towing spec page for a the year and config you state, depending on your wheel base and axel ratio, it could be as little as 9000 lbs for 145in wheel base and 3.31 ratio to 11500lbs for 157in wheel base and 3.73 ratio. You might want to double check yours.
How we look at towing with our landscaping and excavation business... 1/2 ton for up to 8k 3/4 ton 8-12k 1 ton srw up to 16k 1 ton or bigger drw for over 16k Towing is safer and more relaxing when not pushing limits
Those are excellent numbers to live by. The only thing I’d add is high profile trailers (campers and enclosed cargo) should use the next “class” truck higher than recommended. I would say anything above 10k lbs. and high profile should be pulled with a DRW for the safest outcome.
We have an excavation company and mostly do water and sewer utilities. We use f250s and 350s for most of our trailers hauling pipes, skidloaders, mini ex, etc. anything bigger like a backhoe or concrete structures we usually put on a straight truck or semi. Rather be safe than sorry when dealing with expensive equipment and legal issues
I remember back in the days having to turn the heat on full blast in the summer to keep the cooling system from boiling over on a hot day not towing anything. Vehicles have come a long way in terms a reliability and performance.
that part seemed the MOST interesting to me as the implication was that other brands of half tons may have equally de rated power climbing that hill but you may have just not known.
@@Black70Fastback They have had a Ram 2500 gas defrayed it self and it never told the driver. The only way they really knew is it progressively lost speed where other trucks didn’t.
And before the common use of gasoline engines with turbos the HP was reduced a corresponding amount at altitude. Less HP, less heat. Now with the turbo boost the HP and the heat stay higher. It is a compounding factor.
right, also, the coolant performance decreases with lower air density, but the whole heat-exchange system relies upon ambient air temperature relative to engine temperature (keeping in mind what overheated was the engine, not the trans … TFL got that wrong.)
Ford is using engine coolant to cool the transmission.Thats why both engine and transmission over heated . Aux trans cooler should be standard on towing package.
This is correct but the transmission has a much higher operating temperature. So just because the coolant maybe at 230 the trans will be fine at 230. Still should have a aux cooler.
Water to air cooler are 50,% more efficient on the hybrid f150 there's another cooler sandwich in-between the condenser and radiator the cooler for the electric motor and I will add that there's alot of things very close to gather to get very hot but ford listens to their customers feedback wouldn't be surprised if it gets a larger trans cooler And in case your wondering the raptor has 2 trans coolers the standard air to water cooler and the additional air to air cooler
Hey guys, some clarification on towing weights (as a few of you pointed this out): Andre said (per Ford's F-150 owners manual, page 375), that you need to lower the gross *combined* weight (GCWR) by 2% for every 1,000 feet above sea level to help avert any reduced performance. Based on that, the weight should be lowered by about 3,200 pounds (based on a GCWR of 17,000 pounds, rather than the 11,000 pound towing capacity for a 4x4 PowerBoost F-150). If you take all that weight out of your trailer load, that would reduce your towing weight to around *7,800 pounds*, rather than 9,000-ish. We aim to be as straightforward and honest as possible with you all, so it's important to have that context for this video to understand why Andre and Mr. Truck experienced these issues. And the truck did derate itself as intended in order to protect the drivetrain. Regardless, the overall message is the same: Make sure you keep these figures in mind if you're towing at altitude, and if you can't lower your GCWR before towing, then make sure to have a rig capable of hauling the weight you have (and possibly build in a buffer for good measure). Sorry for any confusion!
@@wilmarbarrick3194 appreciate the response. Looks like it’s a Ford thing, read an article and other manufacturers state their is obviously a loss in power but have enough in reserves to compensate that. Have a feeling it’s due to the turbos on the ecoboost. I’ve had several RAMs and I’ve never read or heard of that direction regarding high altitude. Matter of fact I just went through it again front to back looking for anything regarding high elevation.
@@James-il3tq I've never seen a modern vehicle where the tow rating includes the payload of the towing vehicle. Are you thinking of GVWR? Because that always includes both tow vehicle and trailer.
Nothing wrong with maxing out the towing capacity, just don't drive like a meathead. If you slow down, gear down, anticipate traffic and leave a minimum 5 seconds gap between the car in front of you, you will have no problems.
The truck has a tran cooler, it's just looped into the main radiator. There are benefits/drawbacks to having independent coolers, having a unicooler allows you to have a larger main radiator which could possibly perform better than two independent ones. I'm sure Ford did the math, I doubt an independent cooler would have helped in this situation.
I bought a 2021 PowerBoost and will be towing near Max. I don't push my trucks like that, I move to the slow lane and take my time going uphill as should everyone. I appreciate how these videos test to the extreme.
If you're towing near max i assume you have the max tow package with the coolers coz you prob wont have this problem the had in their one off punish test. I agree with what you said as i do the same.
@@Aussie_Damo I was very surprised to learn that the F150 ( other then the Raptor ) doesn't have have a Aux Transmission cooler in any configuration! Why on earth would ford get rid of that? I just looked at the chart they showed in this video. So far as I can tell upgrading to the Max Tow package gets you a upgraded axle and bumper? My 2017 had max tow and it had extra cooling.
@@rollerbarnadventers kinda wandering the same thing. With the hybrid you already have the upgraded axle. Upgraded strength in the bumper isn’t going to do anything for cooling.
@@southlakeowendrive I wouldn't call this test failing miserably, it limited power so it could cool down, still got up the hill very quickly and with lots of power.
Im definitely the guy who reads the owner's manual, I work hard for my money, and have a lot into a truck and trailer. I literally can't afford to not pay attention and understand basics of towing, and knowing what your set up can actually do safely.
Literally the first thing I do too. I bet there’s always at least one feature that you would have never known about unless you’ve read the manual - at least that’s my experience.
Honestly this is why your reviews are so important, being a Colorado resident myself I am always towing on the roads you guys run your tests on. Tow ratings are definitely not always concrete so it's really awesome to see your tests.
That's why I get suspicious when I see advertising about a new half-ton truck rated to tow 11,000 lbs. plus. It's great to tow the boat to the lake on the weekend, or a twenty-foot camper, but it's not engineered for towing under any condition off the dealer's lot. After you are finished adding on the extra coolers, springs and accessories, it's wiser to buy a sturdy three-quarter ton pick-up. You'll pay more, but peace of mind is worth it.
They really do 11k, and do it safely but you need to be smart enough to understand your individual use case. I wouldn't pick a half ton to tow 11k every single day for work. And if you live in a very hilly, high altitude area you need to understand that's going to derate the towing capacity of the vehicle. If you live in the midwest where it's flat and low it's a totally different scenario than trying to run max towing capacity at altitude up a mountain.
While I can appreciate the fact that the Ford does save the engine and transmission from the driver, and although the email comes off a little sales pitchy, I think the answer to the question was shown. If you have 8k + that you regularly tow, then go with 3/4 ton. 1/2 tons don’t have the weight, brakes, or build for 10k; doesn’t matter the brand. This is why you don’t put a full 5th wheel on a 3/4 but get a 1 ton
another thing they never bring up is payload, how close were they to their max payload on the f150, The 11K tow rating is based on the basic truck with few options. The more the options the lower the payload rating. I learned that Lesson with my F250 platinum diesel, My payload rating isn't any better than and f150 due to the options and diesel.
I agree. I went with a titan XD amd even in 97 degree weather towing my tractor the trans Temps never got above 180. The truck weighs over 7,000lbs and has the stability of a 3/4 ton without the rough ride. I lile having that extra stability of the XD. Sure and f150 with right setup is rated to tow slightly more but I have no doubt that XD can safely tow and haul more than its rated for. Towed my wifes food trailer with a tundra 5.7 and an f150 5.0 and there's no comparison to the titan xd when it comes to stability, especially in windy areas. It doesnt move the truck anywhere near as much as it did the F150 or tundra. While neither struggled to tow it, the XD does it so effortlessly. The tundra did get it moving better because its max torque is at 3600rpm vs 4000rpm for the 5.0, but flat out once the 5.0 rpms are at 4000 and above it pulls just as hard as the tundras 5.7, just not as hard from a dig. Everytime I think about going to a half ton, once I tow with my titan XD cummins I'm reminded how much better of a tow vehicle it is when it comes to stopping power and overall stability.
@@wb6anp you're so right. Everyone thinks their F150 can tow 13,000lbs or whatever the max is. But to tow that much you have to get a stripped down base model XL regular single cab 2wd with the ecoboost amd the max tow/max haul package. That platinum or king ranch doesn't tow much more, if any, than any other 1/2 ton. The people bragging about the max towing and hauling capabilities of an f150 wouldn't buy the truck you have to buy to get that capability.
@@TNAWWE, I imagine when my kids are grown and moved out so we can downsize to a smaller camper and house I will likely do the same. Right now with a big fifth wheel camper, and also a relatively large boat the 3500 ram srw is perfect when I need it. I'll likely only need a half ton pickup in another 5-6 years and it'll be more truck than I actually need then to be honest.
I think there are two types of people that tow trailers: those that are willing to slow down and take it easy and those that want to maintain the exact speeds they normally drive and pretend the trailer isn’t even there. I think the latter are the ones that need to stick with the larger trucks. I understand the point of the test and i doubt Andre would have it pushed it that hard if he just needed to get over the pass to deliver the old truck. In that case, i doubt it would have over heated. I would be curious to know for sure though.
Have to do the exact thing. Have a 4200 lbs camper that we tow with our Toyota Highlander that's rated for 5000lbs. It's not ideal, but my truck blew up and still want to go camping. The highlander does it, but keep it in the right lane going up hills, don't push it terribly hard and slow down up the hills if it needs be and it gets along just fine. Still make it to our camping spots but maybe only 10 minutes later than we would have doing the speed limit the whole way.
@@mattbalt5492 So you're towing with the trailer 100% empty and only the driver in the Highlander? Otherwise, you're WAAAYYY over the tow rating. Find a Cat Scale and have it weighed...I bet you will be shocked how far over you are.
In CA speed limit for trailers is 55 MPH. How many people towing are doing 55? Maybe me and one other guy. And most people don’t realize the tires on their RV trailer are only rated to 65 MPH (some are slightly more)
@the long days of wheeling the gvwr of the trailer is 4200lbs. Weighed it thr other week and was at 3800lbs as it sits. With wife, kid, dog, myself, and trailer on the hitch we were 500lbs to gvwr of the highlander. With both axles being about 200lbs ish under their limit. Hitch weight was under as well. Spent a long time picking the proper trailer. And only using the highlander this year. Waiting anxiously for the new tundra specs to come out.
@@philtripe Plus 45 MPH. Probably need to drop that by 20% also. We'll say 8500 lbs at 35 MPH is about accurate. Then again, I'm sure a lot of the older 1/2 tons with lower ratings might be a lot more appealing if this was more commonly known... Come test drive the new 2022 (insert brand here) 1/2 ton pickup that tows 20,000 lbs more than our competitor (testing used a wagon trailer with no tongue weight, being towed down hill, -20 ambient temperatures, and an aircraft-carrier catch cable system for braking).
They'd have to be ready for another hot day and stick to the SAE spec (45 mph.) Of course, if the driver had been checking the gauges, or thought about why he was holding wide open throttle and not holding the target speed, we wouldn't have learned about this safety mechanism (which Ford I assume implemented only because they already encountered the problem in testing or they have engineers capable of designing a system to protect itself from the driver … : )
In my opinion all truck companies Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota and Nissan should use the Ike gauntlet for their tow testing maybe even use TFL towing videos as their benchmark.
My gas half ton always got uncomfortably warm towing my camper up hills. Now I drive a Powerstroke with 8.2 gallons of coolant, it never goes past normal temp.
You probably forget the trailer is back there. Have that "Crap, gotta slow down, I got the trailer behind me". Lol. Classic case of having more truck than trailer. Good choice on the bigger rig.
I used to drive Chevy thoes through the mountains in California, and had to constantly take cool down breaks cause it would overheat like crazy, might be the worst hill climbing car ever
Interesting information. This is great to know. I’d love to see you guys tow heavy with all the 1/2 ton trucks like this to see how they perform. You will save a lot of people headaches from overheating issues. 👍🏻
They are programmed to do so when reaching maximum temperatures within the powertrain. And depending how severe the temperatures reach the PCM will pull back timing as well.
In reality, most truck owners are not towing heavy loads daily from lower elevations to high elevations... 95% are driving the same elevation loaded daily, unless you're going to climb mountains, it's not the norm...
My over heating experience with a F150 was at speeds of less than 45mph, on a very steep mountain road at between 7k and 9k feet. The road had many switch backs so a max speed of 20mph was only possible. The truck actually went into limp mode 4 times forcing me to pull over, which is very harrowing on a narrow winding road. My trailer weighs in at 6k lbs. This experience encouraged me to go back to the F350, as most of my towing is done above 7k feet, and all of it above 5k feet. The F150 was great around town, and very comfortable to drive, but not so good with towing in my situation. As I am still waiting on my 22 to be delivered, the same mountain pass will be attempted with a Ram half ton in three weeks. Wish me luck. 😜
@@jacobmoll2878 will do. I am not expecting the same level of issues, but I would not be surprised by some over heating. Its a torture test of a pull, and my least favorite in Utah.
@Xxplicit every make struggles with this road. A HD has a fighting chance, no matter who designs it. Its a challenging enough road that you need to put your tow vehicle in 4WL coming down it to keep under control. Bashing Ford over a hill that breaks every manufacturer is just letting a bias color your decisions.
Only 6k lbs and that speed? That’s inexcusable. They need to change their test and ratings for these trucks. Most people say the truck can tow 10k lbs which means in any condition. Not have an asterisk saying only at sea level and at 45 mph for example. This makes me wonder about the lightening now. They say 10k is the max but going by those standards it might only tow 80%
That sounds like the time I took at 20' uhual with a car trailer over the pass on HWY 150 in Wyoming over sugar loaf mountain, was surprised we made it over she was NOT happy lol
I've done 4 hour drives in 90* weather pretty much at max payload but towing about 5k lbs trailer in a 09 silverado and never saw the trans temp go above 180*. Of course I'm driving at sea level and barely any hills. It hardly feels like it's stressing the truck much and I get to wind out the truck more without breaking too many laws. Love the sound of a V8 screaming.
So the truck did exactly what it was supposed to do, derating itself to prevent damage. Its performance against the Duramax was exceptional in my opinion. And kudos to Ford for reaching out to explain what happened. Classy move.
I had my 2015 Ford Escape 2.0 Ecoboost derate itself once when towing near tow limits on a very hot day climbing small hills at less than 1000 ft above sea level. I suspect temperature was the main culprit as the engine was likely running high boost. Haven't had my max tow 3.5 F-150 do it as I never get close to the tow limits.
Great feedback from Ford. I have 2015 f150 2.7 eco. 59k miles now. I take 3-4 trips around 200-400 miles to Michigan pulling my 5k travel trailer with additional weight, no problems at all. Usually around 80-90 degrees. With all equipment and people were probably 6500 total weight.
Well I understand. Lol. I’m impressed that the owners manual had a calculation for decreasing trailer weight due to elevation. But it makes sense. Appreciate this follow up video
They do use transmission coolers, it's just built into the radiator. That's been common practice for a long time. Towing is where automatic transmission really suffer. They do nothing but build extreme heat.
My experience between ZF6 speeds and 4R100 transmissions in the exact same superduty running at one time 3 ZF6 transmissions back to back to back is just the opposite. The manual has all gears in constant mesh all the time no matter what gear you select, and even though the ZF6 does have a pump and cooler it still melted itself and turned the oil jet black thrice. After adding an additional cooler and reducing power to 300 (continuous) I was able to keep them alive. The auto with the factory cooler could run 1 to 200 more horsepower with perfectly sustainable temps. Never overheated one. This is all towing of course. This is not coincidentally why you do not see a manual trans option in a current heavy duty pickup. They all produce power and torque in excess of what any practically sized manual can live through. Unless you want an Eaton Fuller 9 in your pickup experience tells me and every major truck manufacturer you need an auto, or you need to slow way, way down.
it is not built into the radiator. It's actually a coolant feed that is built right into the transmission on the 10r to an "oil cooler" similar to many engine oil coolers out there. even the very first 10r80 truck the 2017 3.5 ecoboost does not have the trans cooler built into the radiator it's a small cooler in front of the radiator.
The primary source of heat in an automatic is the torque converter. With 10 forward speeds, a lock-up clutch that can operate in most gear ranges, AND a tow/haul mode... transmission overheating during a hill climb is inexcusable. If the computer power on board can't find a gear and engine RPM that wll allow the converter clutch to stay engaged, the powertrain engineers have FAILED... this truck flat out isn't capable of its advertised tow rating. If the towing at altitude or up extreme grades reduces the tow rating, it should be stated in LARGE PRINT so every customer knows that when they drive away in their new truck! The rest is just excuses.
Absolutely agree with your recommendations on towing weights. I generally think 2/3 is close enough to get to the recommended capacities. Can doesn't mean should.
DUH! HD truck handles inclines and heat better than standard truck. What a worthless test. ALWAYS equip a vehicle at least one step higher than what you need. It will keep you from having problems from the start! Hope other tests from your site are more real world...
@@jimschauer37 20 seconds. 20 seconds difference..... No other 1/2 ton is pulling that off. This is an embarrassment for GM...not a dis on ford. But proves most people only need an Ecoboost 150.
@ GC Videos I just did this with a higher rated powerboost and the temp got to climbing, but never derated....and let's just say at legalish speeds....and it was hotter out. Both ways. I was shocked at the ability of this half ton.
Simply slowing it down to the recommended 45MPH alone would have worked. Based on the fact it didn't slow itself that much and still finished the climb with no damage. I DON'T tow in the mountains, but I ain't stupid. I would not have TRIED that without having read, and UNDERSTAND the parameters Ford had in place. As another poster mentioned, I think EVERY tow package should include an auxiliary engine and transmission cooler. But even WITH those READ THE FREAKING LITERATURE.
I 100% agree with you Roman! When it comes to towing, you never want to max out a truck. I tow scaffolding equipment for a living...now the company I work for isn't huge, we have done some fairly large jobs! We operate a 2018 F250 6.2 gas, and I have to say, I have been VERY impressed. There have been a few times where I'm pushing the limits of the truck, and you can feel it struggling, but for the most part, the truck feels rock solid. I don't ever have a problem getting up to highway speeds, but going up and down hills, can be entertaining to say the least. I've never used a weight distribution set up, rather, I just balance the load as best I can. Keep up the great work!
Regardless of reasoning, or mathematical equations and a 45mph SAE test, this is a realistic real world application. 99% of people who purchase these vehicles use them based on “tow rating.” Andre put a his truck on the line and essentially taught every viewer a valuable lesson. Thanks TFL!
Hello TFL, a few weeks ago I had gone to Colorado with my 3000 lbs travel trailer, a hi-lo. When I entered Ratón Pass I noticed that my 6.2 L lifted 1500 GMC was not keeping the speed limit, it was slowing down, because of traffic I had to floor it so it would keep the current speed still not the limit. Please note that the engine and transmission were well under the correct temp range. This was very frustrating so when I got home I purchased a Ram 2500 for future trips.
@@1fast10r Correct! With trucks you either have a tow rig or a off road rig. The second you start lifting and adding bigger tires and wheels the less you can tow/haul.
I own a stock Sierra with the 6.2 engine and the max trailer tow package. I tow a 28 foot 7600 GVWR Airstream. I’ve never experienced anything like this, even on the 10% grade heading out of Jackson, Wyoming. If your coolant and transmission temperatures were in the normal range, and the engine was reducing power, you had some other problems.
I’d suggest that they tow the same test with the Ford at 45 mph and see if it gets warm. Then do the same with other brands. I could care less if I get to the top 20 seconds slower if the thing is going to debate it’s self. Running that warm does affect the life of the rig. I’d rather arrive with less stress on the rig. And no transmission coolers on their vehicles? Stupid!
They’ve done a few videos, latest one was the RAM 1500 against the new Ford. Pulling that exact trailer setup and RAM won both uphill and downhill testing. No over heating occurred in either vehicle.
This is part of what makes TFL great - giving manufacturers a chance to respond to what happens instead of just flaming without having full context. Both TFL and FORD look really good here.
I think every manufacturer always test they products using standart (or SAE like in this video) to simulate real condition. But unfortunately, standarize testing cant simulate 100% real world condition and Its ford responsibility to detailed how to use and trucks specs at ford manual guide book. If youve been in manufacturing / engineering field will be understand with this condition. Afterall its a good show, nice to have tfl always give us a wide prespective and honest review + REAL comment from manufacturer. Well done👏🏻👍🏻
@@rollerbarnadventers yes I saw the video. Max towing 11k, bla bla need to decrease wt every 1000ft. Bla bla need to be 20% below max in ikes case which puts you 8800lbs. They were towing 9500-9600 as per Mr. Hair. Bottom line, if you can't tow that much on qn American freeway, then don't advertise 11k.
@@Weak_juan I agree. I'm sure all manufactures are guilt of this. I like how these videos push these trucks so we can see the limits before we decide to buy. Now I'd like to see the same video, same conditions with other half tons to see what happens.
@@rollerbarnadventers They don't do apples to apples tests and never have. They test what they can get, which is why you see head-to-head testing of a HD Chevy and a half ton Ford. It's what they had.
@@Wontreplyeverdontbother I won't say you are wrong but I believe the parameters are such that this reality is baked in (sorry) and this scenario will not be detrimental to the engine. Just like bridges with a 10,000lb. weight limit will not collapse at 10,001 lb. so too with the temps here. IMO
With a normal tow package at that altitude yes they did. If you got the max tow package it would have an engine oil and transmission cooler which would've prevented this issue.
@@jarod144 Will a 5.7 ram 3.92 overheat like the ecoboost towing 9600lbs? I doubt that. The formula is simple, stressing a small turbo'd engine with load and altitude creates ridiculous amounts of heat.
@@Weak_juan I own one of those RAMs and live in Alma CO (my home is at 11K feet), I have zero issues towing with my truck. But, I'm also never in a hurry nor do I feel I have to maintain speed limit. Common sense should tell someone that pushing their truck to the limit may not be the greatest thing. Alas, common sense is no longer common.
Andre - I have resolved my over heating on an older 3.5 Ecoboost by 3 things - Intercooler upgrade from Wagner, a 175 degree thermostat, and a 87 tow tune from 5star that knows about my mods. I run 92 octane. These things have fixed it. I highly, HIGHLY, recommend you look into these for your truck. I believe the Intercooler helped a bunch because it lowered the charge temps from crazy hot 175 down to 130 while towing in the same conditions you did. Mine over heated like yours while it was 95 outside and the road temps were 145.
Over 4th of July weekend towing my boat at Davis Dam had the same issue. I also have the FX4 package with electric brake controller etc. What is interesting I made the trip over the hill twice that weekend with outside temp about the same, first time no issue and towed about 60-70mph. So we towed from Davis Dam/ Bullhead City to Cottonwood Cove to launch the boat. Some of that is at 6% grade and a good 90 plus out side temps. Second trip was heading back over the same hill from Davis Dam 163 to the 95, and heading up 163 is when we had the loss of power. Turned off the AC and temp came down pretty quickly, but still had issues off an on till we made it to the 95. Dry Boat weight around 3200 lbs so with fuel and some gear and trailer weight am guessing total weight about 4500 lbs. We also Tow a trailer with a 4 door Jeep up and down hills and never had this happen before. Thanks a bunch guys for the explanation and reaching out to Ford as I was wondering what and why. Important to note, in past we have towed the same boat with our 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV with the 6.0 up and down the same hill for years, and the Ford F-150 with 3.5 EcoBoost out performs the Cadillac all day long. The Cadillac always had trouble with engine and trans temps going up that stretch highway. We can debate the difference between the Ford and Cadillac all day, but this is real world experience and just my observation of the two with the same boat and trailer over the same stretch of highway.
Most vehicles can go way over the numbers. I've seen Cummins guys pull several tons more than they should and the trucks are still going a decade later. This is crap because hybrids and electric vehicles are crap.
@@americansmark And that's just dumb. Good luck if they wreck. Your insurance claim very likely will be denied. Over the GCVWR. Plus the law enforcement involved will be issuing some serious tickets. Could end up in prison if you killed someone.
@@THEjasonTDI I will say I agree with you, but it isn't that simple. Welcome to rural life, where if a job needs done, it's gonna get done. Cops here don't care. I've seen old F150s towing 20k pounds in square hay bales. It wasn't happy about it, but it rolls. The old farm truck was a 91 Dakota V8 that pulled 10k pounds in farm equipment every day. These ratings nake sense for extreme conditions and interstate travel, but the trucks can easily go well above and beyond them. Hell, my 2019 Silverado LT Z71 is rated at 12,200 iirc. I towed two pallets of brick on a dropdeck and was WAY above the rating. It knew it was back there and did not like hills, but the trailer brake controller did it's job and the anti-sway hitch kept me in line. For the record, I have a CDL and used to be a road safety inspector. I think the rules are good and should be followed when they fit the situation. Either way, the SAE 45mph test is a bad one and needs updated. Trucks need to be able to tow an average 62mph at their weight rating. The hybrid ha sno business towing more than 8000 pounds comfortably on the highway.
@@americansmark love how you bring up the 45mph speed. Very good point. People thing any f150 can just tow 13,000lbs at any speed. You have to get the stripped down single cab 2wd base model xl with the max tow and max haul to tow that much, and nobody buys trucks like that unless its a work truck.
Gotta love it when a manufacturer gets a hold of you to let you know why their truck couldn’t do the job without any drama. At that point you know they are concerned with the massive volume of viewers that respect your findings. Also, it’s a very professional way for a company to make excuses for poor performance. Maybe they should start trying real world tests, like at speed and all elevations.
Ok TFL, now it's time to see the 5.0 Coyote (or the 5.3 GM / 5.7 Ram) run the same test and see what the results are. While I admire the specs of the Ecoboost, I really wonder if it comes at the expense of capability.
They won’t because they love Fords Everyone knows the turbos run extremely hot Ford has had nothing but issues with ecoboost and that’s why the v8 is still king and why tundra still sells and why Titan sells took off because there’s two kinds of v8 people V8 all the time tundra Titan owners and owners disabling the eco mode using a programmer Chevy and ram owners
They ran their long term rebel while towing more weight than Andre's truck and it did fine. The 5.7 3.92 didn't overheat and it finished the run in 8:10.
@@Weak_juan just think after this comment from Ford by rule and safety of owners technically a Ford is unsafe anywhere over 3000ft and may possibly be the least tow rated now of the truck world……..like in true by the book a Titan would tow more than a Ford now
I'm the one. LOL. When I bought my 2019 Ford Ranger new in April of 2019, that night I sat down on the couch and read the owner's manual cover to cover. No joke.
Any turbocharged truck (gas or diesel) near its max tow capacity up a steep grade is prone to overheating. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to create a size/cost effective cooling system that can battle the EGT's created by a turbo. This heat then bleeds into the rest of the cooling system, the oil, motor itself, and even the trans (due to the oil/water cooler in radiator). Now I am not putting them down because the trade off in most cases is well worth it, however people need to keep in mind just because a truck has the power to pull a grade doesn't mean you can just bury your foot in it and not pay attention to what you're doing. Great test and awesome info though! Thanks Andre for sacrificing your truck a bit for all of us!
They’ve done more and my nautique g23 with triple axle weighs 9700 without passengers and I’ve been towing it to Utah and back for three years. Hours and hours up hill never overheated.
Also to the “blow up” comments go watch the last three years of TFL truck and the ONLY vehicles that have ever overheated was fords. The expedition overheated when they took it Offroad , the f250 gasser overheated and broke down. They had to tow it. And now this. Just saying.
@Tron Apostle if the torque converter can stay locked then heat build up in the transmission should be pretty negligible. Wonder what the case is here.
@@kc510 the coolant got hot from the turbos dumpling into the oil and the coolant, causing the transmission to be the cooler (since its cooler is in teh radiator), until it was maxed out, then teh truck derated.
That reply sounded like round about way of just saying the vehicle doesn't have sufficient cooling for extreme conditions despite it's rating. I want to point out that this is not the only time a Ford has had issues on the Ike gauntlet. Of course the climate is variable, but this whole thing just feels suspect. I would love to see what this same scenario does with comparably equipped half tons from the other brands. Really look forward to this new video Roman mentioned.
What it's saying is you can pull near max weight on about 95% of America's highways and be fine, but if you choose to slap a 10,000lb trailer on and drive up the side of a frickin' mountain while doing the speed limit, you might have some issues. Slow down a bit and you'll be fine.
Overheated because it’s a tiny engine under lots of stress from the turbos & the heavy load a V8 should solve the problem, No replacement for displacement.
@@porterdallenbach1639 When in gasoline combustion engine history have we used small displacement turbo charged power plants under constant positive boost to tow trailers? Just because Ford is doing it doesn't mean it's right for everyone or even right at all.
@@southlakeowendrive your kidding right? It's more efficient and honestly does make sense to do it performance cars use forced induction there's no reason not to use it for hauling things also most diesels are turbocharged for a reason
@@specialperson170 A special person, modern diesels are using turbos? Wow! Thank's for setting me straight. Please let me know when they get those gas turbo engines to NOT over heat while towing WELL BELOW their max towing spec's.
Hi guys. I have a 2020 F150 and I must be they one person who read the owners manual. 😊 It took me 6 weeks to finish it but I did read it. It is definitely the biggest owners manual I have ever read but it is very comprehensive. Great content as always guys. Ron
Very informative! Good to see that your truck saved itself. Personally, I prefer trucks to have extra coolers than to derate but it looks like that's not the direction manufacturers are going. 😐
I looked up the Max Tow Package(53C), and there is nothing added to alter the cooling, engine or transmission. I am curious what they are trying to say. Are they saying his truck was not “equipped” to tow that amount or that he was just not rated to tow that amount, using a formula in an obscure guide somewhere. It sounds like J2807 needs a practical revision for average consumers. I would like to see trucks advertise a minimum towing capacity at highway speeds where additional weight is available if you do x, y and z.
You got it. MANY clowns on this thread haven't got a CLUE. How can anyone take these guys seriously when they do so much stupid crap? Sound like the kind of guys who'd stop in a lane of traffic on a busy highway to change a tire. Then BITCH when they got run over.
@@tomswinburn1778 This was a test competition and did not do the overheating for an extended period of time. They were aware of the duration. Any vehicle should be able to withstand that kind of punishment. It is extended times that hurts.
Hey Andre, I am sure you all know this or may have heard but from everything I have seen over the past few years on Ecoboost trucks(I am a Ford fan btw)is that you have to manually lock out gears to force the engine to stay in higher RPM's. This allows the engine to work harder including the cooling function (water pump) while the turbos spool down. Yes, you shouldn't have to do this but as many others said, turbo's produce massive heat.
I have gone by the 75% rule in that I will pull no more than 75% rated capacity on an occasional trip or 60% regularly. So for a half ton that's 6 or 7 thousand pounds out back if pulled regularly. I have never hurt a truck following this rule. It is interesting to learn about towing certifications and how it is done. I am glad your truck is ok. Thank you!
The older ecoboosts had overheating problems. This has nothing to do with the hybrid system. The twin turbos have always created too much heat under hood. That’s why you couldn’t order front wheel well liners on the older ones. They got even worse when they got a layer of dust on them.
I used to tow my sub compact tractor with loader and backhoe on a float with my 2015 2.7 crew cab 4x4. Never had an issue. But possibly the smaller footprint and CGI block might help with heat compared to the 3.5
That comes with the Max Tow package. Anyone regularly towing more than 7-8K probably should get that package and, if regularly towing that, at elevation, up grades, should look at a 3/4 ton.
Turbos generate a lot of heat, they were probably glowing during that test. Max towing should include a secondary cooling system just for the turbos and integrated exhaust manifolds. I bet the Tundra will have something similar to this after studying Ford for the last 10 years.
@@aggiewoodie that would help but the real learning here is that any size vehicle that is rated to the J2807 standard will not take into account all road/weather conditions at the posted speed limit. The most advisable thing to plan for about 80% of GCWR in matching a truck and trailer unless you know you will always be towing at sea level on flat roads, regardless of who makes the truck.
@Rick the Ford turbos have engine oil AND engine coolant going through them for cooling and lubrication. My personal opinion is all turbocharged engines should run full synthetic oil as well. Why Ford is ok with synthetic blend oil in their ecoboost engines is beyond me.
Loved the fact that the Ford F-150 Hybrid warned you first. I’m wondering why you didn’t get the Max Tow package since TFL is always towing something? 🙃
@@coachmixer8230 I have heard otherwise, that MAX Tow adds AUX trans cooler. I sure hope so as I tow heavy up that Ike Gauntlet almost every weekend. I don't go 65 MPH, more like 45-55 MPH.
I just finished a 24 day RV trip through South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, TX & Louisiana from GA. I have a 2014 F150 Ecoboost with MaxTow package with a 11,100 max tow rating 1766 payload with 3.73 gears towing a 32 ft travel trailer weighing 7500lbs. I experienced the same message on my dash when pulling the camper up the Powder River Pass from Buffalo Wy to Tensleep Wy. Once I slowed down to about 50 mph the trans and engine temps came back into normal range (I also turned on the heat to pull the heat from the engine compartment). It happened again when going from Grand Tetons to Moab on Hwy6 outside of Provo UT.
Great video, guys. I too am a CDL driver, and I have overheated engines, brakes and transmissions on just about every size of truck driving with heavy loads on steep grades in the mountains.
Thank you for your real works tests that you guys do. 45 mph is not realistic for the majority of people when the speed limit is 65. Just seems to me like the system these auto manufacturers use is just another clever way of pushing "best in class" numbers.
Towing at max capacity at posted speed limits isn't smart. You can just look around at most of the traffic and figure out that you wouldn't be able to stop like them nor corner like them which makes driving more dangerous for you and others in your way.
It's 45 mph up Davis Dam, that's a gigantic hill. You can get in the right lane just like all the semi trucks set the cruise at 45 and let it work. That's how it used to be back in the day, you slowed down when you went up a hill. You've got air conditioning and music you're not in that much of a hurry. Now people just want to set the cruise at 70 no matter the terrain.
I think you you guys are the best channel out there for pick up trucks. I live in Colorado now I'm from California and I can tell the difference between performance and the altitude does affect the performance in the entire drive train. I originally from Fresno California. And it didn't matter what was the temperature winter or summer I was able to do burn outs with my f150 in California like it was nothing. Here in Colorado is no longer tht eazy for my girl to perform like she use to back home
Having owned and towed with many trucks(current a Tacoma), I think you are spot on with your weight limit recommendations. Mid size 5000lb, full size 8000lb, HD on up. Sometimes people forget you still need to stop and do emergency maneuvering in the real world. The other consideration is how much towing vs day to day driving. That’s why I now have a Taco vs a HD.
What do you get with the max tow option? I had a F150 with the ecoboost(max tow) and it would occasionally cut power while towing. Ford really needs to get better cooling to claim those towing numbers.
The max tow package has the engine and transmission oil coolers class 4 hitch and front sway bar upgrade with a rear locking diff and 36 gallon tank from what i could find online.
I think an even better question is max towing for how long . ? Sure it will.tow 11k for 100 miles then blow up .they test these numbers but are they towing for how.many hrs at that weight how.many miles what temp etc too many variables . This always better to be under max of any thing I'd rather them under rate because consumers will do the extreme and tyically exceed max ratings so they need to over build a little . I do appreciate the tech shutting down things but also a driver one should have enough common since to be aware or temp and.tske nessarly measures.to back off ..
@@Aussie_Damo max tow does not have aux coolers for 2018+ trucks 11-17 do get aux coolers. Only the raptor and expedition can get aux trans cooler in 18+
@@markv78 they are testing exactly the same as every other manufacturer doing the SAE J2807 tests to determine the weight ratings. This test is pretty shitty due to not having the max tow package that is designed for the type of load they were towing.
@@Aussie_Damo If you watch the video at 9:39 TFL has a chart saying no cooler lines for any 2021 F150 except the Raptor. Andres Truck has a 3.73 rear axle, same as the max tow package. I see no difference in his truck and one with max tow. Ford saying to sprinkle with fairy dust. Do better Ford.
I had a 2017 ram 1500 express 2wd with a lift. I pulled a 24 foot enclosed car hauler 5 times back to back twice with a vehicle in it. But I have pulled it from turlock California to Killeen Texas. I’ll be honest I was impressed that it had no issues at all. 5.7 with the 8 speed transmission and the 3:92 rear end. Only downside was the fuel mileage.
The key is understanding the difference between what you can and cannot do with the regular towing vs max towing pkg You'd have to be quite daft to max tow with any vehicle at its very limit, in extreme conditions (altitude, gradient, speed) Great job Ford for providing an honest and accurate response to Andre 😎👍
Great video. It seems to me that Ford (and others) inflate their tow ratings beyond what they should be just to get a big number to publish. The Nissan Titan and other trucks that are in the 9500’ish range seem more realistic, whereas I’ve always been skeptical of the half ton trucks that post 11k lb and up tow ratings. I’d be interested in seeing a side by side tow test with a v8 version of Andre’s truck to see whether the turbos being spooled up for an extended amount of time are what caused the truck to overheat.
Ford doesn't do the tow ratings they are 3rd party tests done to J2807 specs like every manufacturer has to do. An N/A truck would be wore at those altitudes for power. The nissan titan is between a 1/4 and 3/4 tone truck and always has been so that can't be compared to these two vehicles. The f150 was at max towing without a max towing package what does everyone expect to happen?
it was, they are oil and coolant cooled. add in they were redlined due to elevations' thin air, the small displacement (meaning surface area around cylinder to transfer heat) recipe for runaway which is what they experenced.
Change all fluids and upgrade to synthetic where possible.If it was my truck ,I would also look into additional transmission and oil coolers. Might also want to upgrade differential fluids. I bet they were hot as well. On a side note, I thought the advantage of turbos was they didn't lose power at altitude ?
I’m not a Ford fan but kudos to them for giving precise answers as to why. Also the automatic limiting to protect the drive train gets my respect. I do feel that you should tow slower than the speed limit up hard hills like this so you are easier on your engine and tranny.
Great report, and hopefully a lot of people see this and learn from it. I tend to agree with RUclipsr BTBRV that once you start going past 6,000lbs of towing (at least when it comes to RV'S) with a half ton, you are better off going for a heavy duty truck. It is much better to have more capacity than you need. That removes the stress and makes your towing experience much more comfortable and safe. Also, nice to see the Ford follow up.
@@Immolate62 I wouldn’t say it would be for few people. I’d argue most Americans live near mountains or large hills and tow in those areas. I live in Cincinnati which is low altitude but very hilly. And if you’re buying a truck to tow a boat or camper you’re likely driving through states with mountains. I think it just seems dishonest and shady to hide the fact deep in the owners manual that tow ratings are only at sea level and on a los grade.
@@b22chris But that's the point. They aren't at sea level. The Davis Dam test goes from 550 feet to over 3500 feet in 11.4 miles, starts at 100 degrees F (or higher) ambient temperature with air conditioning at max. This is the SAE J2807 test used by all major manufacturers.
@@Immolate62 and we found out in this video that those tests are done at 45 mph. Going on a highway at 45 can be dangerous. For major manufacturers to expect you to go 45mph when going up a hill on a highway is idiotic IMO. Video proves if you’re doing heavy towing you’re much safer getting an F250 or larger.
I had a 2015 3.5 eco boost with max tow package. I live in Denver and tow a 6000 fully loaded travel trailer. I towed the trailer many many times over Ike and Vail pass. The f150 would constantly overheat. I manually geared down to keep rpm’s high and out of boost. Still would overheat. Had way to many issues with the eco boost to list. Traded it in with 96,000 mi and now have a 5.7 tundra. Did the Ike and Vail last weekend with the tundra and zero issues. Air Temp was 90 when towing. I wanted to love the f150 but it was a very abusive relationship. Had to move on. Love the tundra.
This is a great follow up guys. I’ve towed horse trailers for 30 years. To tow safely there is a lot to consider. Stay safely within your allowable weight limit especially if you have to drive in the mountains or hot weather.
Fords statement simplified: " it can only tow that much on flat ground, at sea level in winter at slow speed. But don't worry the truck told you that it couldn't actually do the job, so if you break it doing what the marketing claims it on you and we're not going to pay for it "
Humm, so Ford says buy our truck it will do this; however, not really, we at Ford have fine printed the actual work recommendations. Mr. Consumer you used the vehicle as we advertised. Not what it can actually do! It’s your fault the vehicle failed.
Imagine thinking this isn’t the case with all vehicle manufacturers. You probably think the horsepower number your vehicle came with is what it makes at the tire, too.
@@Islandlazy99 That’s good to hear sport. Maybe you can read your owners manual and know how your vehicle works. It even tells you what oil to use so you don’t need to ask strangers on the internet next time. :)
@@smoeyjith did I ask?? Haha. I could write a long post about the standards of engineering in the automotive industry. I won’t. Being a mechanical engineer and member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. I’m certain that my take is superior in this instance. If you have any follow ups please don’t hesitate to ask.
@@Islandlazy99 sure you are sport. If we’re playing pretend can I be Elon Musk? It would be nice to board a spaceship and fly away from your rising floodwaters of bullshit.
I’ve said this to truck owners for a long time. Just because the factory numbers say your truck can tow #10000, doesn’t mean it can do it safely. You have to factor in braking, the weight of the truck, tires, transmission, rear end gear ratio….
If the truck can't handle the rated capacity then the manufacture should not be rating it at that capacity. It is not the responsibly of the consumer to have to figure out what the real tow capacity is, when the manufacture says it can tow 11,000 pounds safely then it should tow 11,000 pounds safely.
@@ramecodiesel8271 I agree. I also understand that is under "ideal" conditions, kind of like advertised MPG ratings, and not all scenarios are taken into account. It would be interesting to see them redo that test with the same run but hold the speed back to 45, per the manual.
@@ramecodiesel8271 manufacturers test in ideal conditions to appease the customer who buys a new vehicle every year or two,because they marginally improve the numbers. I always look at the big picture. If a guy buys a beautiful camper or toy hauler, why did the same guy buy a regular 1500 series pickup, if he has the jungle to buy the nice camper. Most truck (1500) series guys will never use the full capability of their truck, most of the time it’s pulling a small single axle trailer or boat. The guys you hear complaining why their 3.5ecoboost struggles to pull a #10000 car hauler are the same ones who should have bought a bigger pickup. I used to haul crushed glass on a roll off trailer, pulling it with a freight liner Columbia. Truck weighed around 17-17500# as it sat, throw on #63000 more to get grossed out. Did the truck pull that trailer and roughly #35000 of glass? Yes. Was it rated for this kind of weight from the factory? Yes. But in this case, the truck got pushed around a lot because it wasn’t heavy enough to handle that trailer, and getting it stopped reasonably without being on the jakes constantly? Forget it. Now my father in law pulled the exact same trailer, exact same route, only with a kenworth t600 that weighed 23000# and change. That extra weight on the truck makes an enormous difference. Both trucks could legally haul the same weight, one did it much better because of weight.
10,000 ft is no joke! Even the heaviest duty feel the burn! I think the F-150 did fantastic considering the weight, altitude, and temperature. I was not actually expecting to see it do that well. This was really an apples to oranges comparison.
I guess I’m in this 1%. I’m currently reading the owners manual for my 22 STX along with the other manuals that came with it. Amazing what you can learn. When I had a Ram 1500 I read that manual and learned a lot.
@@IamGroot786 totally agree but I don’t thinking driving in the mountains while towing near max is something a new truck shouldn’t be able to handle. Not like it’s redline for a 1000 miles
@@robertheinkel6225 The Duramax would have badly left the Ford behind except the Duramax was doing the speed limit, it had a lot of power in reserve and could have been a couple more minutes ahead of the Ford without any trouble. Ford saying they are impressed their Ford with within 20 seconds of a truck that did the speed limit when their Ford was not capable of maintaining the speed limit was nothing more than Ford trying to get peoples attention away from the fact their Ford has to derate itself to keep from blowing up.
@@ramecodiesel8271 100% agree! It’s like saying 2 cars traveling 10 miles on the hwy at the speed limit of 65 will arrive at the same time. Yet one is Ferrari and the other is a Prius, you wouldn’t see Toyota jumping saying “you see they arrived at the same time!” Lmao!!! The reduced power could’ve been a safety concern, especially towing that much weight. Yeah it reduced power on its own, great but maybe it’s to give the driver time to move off the hwy and get to a safe spot. Seems to be a Ford issue with the turbos.
Take a Silverado near max towing capacity up the Ike and a Ram when it's hot. Only way to tell if it's just a Ford thing or not. I've had a Ecoboost F150 overheat on me on a big grade only pulling a camper around 7,500 lbs. It was rated for 9,600.
This reminds me of the Ram 2500 with the gas engine that was WAY slower up the Ike than other trucks. It derated itself, but it DID NOT tell the driver it was doing so. It’s great that Ford does.
If you listen to yourself when you say those towing numbers, think back 15- 20 years it would be a conspiracy theory!! Today's Towing numbers even with this issue are incredible
In other words the truck is under (poorly) engineered for cooling. Come on Ford. This is a truck. Make it were it can handle the rated hauling capacity for all situations or de-rate its capacity. In other words be honest upfront.
The ratings are per the J2807 test like every other manufacturer has to abide by. This one off punish test is flawed as if you were hualing this much weight you would be stupid to not have the max tow package.
@@Aussie_Damo your claim is false. They should have rated the capacity at 8000 or less for all conditions, not the 10,000 and then expect people to read through all the if and can'ts. They purposely over rated the vehicle using work a back door approach. .
I have had the same travel trailer for 7 years. The first truck I towed with was a 2013 Ram 5.7, 3.92 gears, 6 speed. Second was a 2016 Ram eco diesel, 3.55 gears, 8 speed. Newest truck is a 2500 Ram 6.4 hemi, 4.10 gear 8 speed. Just did my first trip with the new truck. 400 miles round trip, lots of 70 mph in NY state. Both 1500’s towed it well with proper weight distribution and sway control. The eco diesel did better than the 5.7. Very quiet and always seemed very stable. The 2500 is far louder when towing than the eco diesel. As expected, the 2500 is much more comfortable. Less sway, always more power available, and felt barely different than driving unloaded other than a bit of sway and movement on bumps. The biggest difference I saw was in the operating temperature of ever system. The 2500 was 30-40 degrees cooler for oil, transmission, and coolant. The camper is only 6500 lbs loaded, but even at 70 mph on an 85 degree day, the running temperatures were 5-10 degrees above empty when the 1500 trucks were 30+ degrees above empty.
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Is there anyway you could do this same test with the V8? I’m wondering if the turbos in constant spool had more to do with heat than the engine itself! I have a 2020 5.0 FX4 SuperCrew and I believe mine is rated at 12,000 lbs!
@@maverick042121 - we'll try to run this sort of towing test again if we get our hands on a V8 F-150 soon!
8:15 I always read my owner's manuals. To understand a thing is to control a thing.
@@maverick042121 Per the ford towing spec page for a the year and config you state, depending on your wheel base and axel ratio, it could be as little as 9000 lbs for 145in wheel base and 3.31 ratio to 11500lbs for 157in wheel base and 3.73 ratio. You might want to double check yours.
It overheated because fords 11,000 miles is a lie and its probably 9,000 miles
I’d be curious to see TFL redo the test following Fords guidelines for weight vs altitude, speed etc and see if the temps remain normal.
Being that at that altitude the maximum trailer weight would be about 7500lbs and the speed of 45 miles an hour it would make it up no issue.
Those would be the guidelines that nobody reads.
Without even watching this video, I was thinking that’s too much weight going uphill and with altitude and speed.
I agree, do a towing test where you tow at the max that Ford recommends and make other brands do the same
45mph on interstate is bare minimum speed and unsafe to drive at while others are doing 55-75mph unless your in a 18wheeler size maters
How we look at towing with our landscaping and excavation business...
1/2 ton for up to 8k
3/4 ton 8-12k
1 ton srw up to 16k
1 ton or bigger drw for over 16k
Towing is safer and more relaxing when not pushing limits
Exactly man, I tell people just because it can doesn't mean you should.
Those are excellent numbers to live by. The only thing I’d add is high profile trailers (campers and enclosed cargo) should use the next “class” truck higher than recommended. I would say anything above 10k lbs. and high profile should be pulled with a DRW for the safest outcome.
We have an excavation company and mostly do water and sewer utilities. We use f250s and 350s for most of our trailers hauling pipes, skidloaders, mini ex, etc. anything bigger like a backhoe or concrete structures we usually put on a straight truck or semi. Rather be safe than sorry when dealing with expensive equipment and legal issues
However I’ve also towed 8500 lbs worth of concrete structures with an f250 but that was in a bind
@@TruckerMike089 toyota claims 6500 on the tacoma ranger is 7750 gladiator pu 7000 maybe in the flats of florida or Kansas with 1 150lb driver
I remember back in the days having to turn the heat on full blast in the summer to keep the cooling system from boiling over on a hot day not towing anything. Vehicles have come a long way in terms a reliability and performance.
I am sixty years old and I have never heard of that nor have I ever had to do that.
I’ve gotta do that when doing 70+ in my Omni. The radiator in that thing is almost 1 square foot.
@@ramecodiesel8271 Im around 20 years younger than you and am aware of this...
Lol. The good ole days. Lol. Days of hauling hay, firewood, hunting, or wheeling. Lol
40 years younger and I had to do that 😂
I see no problem with the email answer. They were brutally honest and stated facts. At least it told you something so you didn't break your truck.
that part seemed the MOST interesting to me as the implication was that other brands of half tons may have equally de rated power climbing that hill but you may have just not known.
@@Black70Fastback RAM also informs you in the owner manual, but I have yet to experience it in my 2017 2500/5500.
@@Black70Fastback They have had a Ram 2500 gas defrayed it self and it never told the driver. The only way they really knew is it progressively lost speed where other trucks didn’t.
@@Black70Fastback It derating its power wasnt the issue it was the coolant temp cooking the expensive brand new engine that was the issue
@@MrYaxalot but it didnt cook it, it derating the power instead.
Cooling capacity goes down with altitude. Less dense air transfers less heat
This also applies to air transfer of heat in computer systems at higher elevations.
And before the common use of gasoline engines with turbos the HP was reduced a corresponding amount at altitude. Less HP, less heat. Now with the turbo boost the HP and the heat stay higher. It is a compounding factor.
Bingo. Broke the code. The TFL boss IMO knew this.
FINALLY SOMEONE GETS IT
right, also, the coolant performance decreases with lower air density, but the whole heat-exchange system relies upon ambient air temperature relative to engine temperature (keeping in mind what overheated was the engine, not the trans … TFL got that wrong.)
Ford is using engine coolant to cool the transmission.Thats why both engine and transmission over heated . Aux trans cooler should be standard on towing package.
Nope.
Stand alone trans cooler by itself should be standard.
This is correct but the transmission has a much higher operating temperature. So just because the coolant maybe at 230 the trans will be fine at 230. Still should have a aux cooler.
The system also serves to heat the trans in cold climates.
Water to air cooler are 50,% more efficient on the hybrid f150 there's another cooler sandwich in-between the condenser and radiator the cooler for the electric motor and I will add that there's alot of things very close to gather to get very hot but ford listens to their customers feedback wouldn't be surprised if it gets a larger trans cooler
And in case your wondering the raptor has 2 trans coolers the standard air to water cooler and the additional air to air cooler
Hey guys, some clarification on towing weights (as a few of you pointed this out): Andre said (per Ford's F-150 owners manual, page 375), that you need to lower the gross *combined* weight (GCWR) by 2% for every 1,000 feet above sea level to help avert any reduced performance. Based on that, the weight should be lowered by about 3,200 pounds (based on a GCWR of 17,000 pounds, rather than the 11,000 pound towing capacity for a 4x4 PowerBoost F-150). If you take all that weight out of your trailer load, that would reduce your towing weight to around *7,800 pounds*, rather than 9,000-ish.
We aim to be as straightforward and honest as possible with you all, so it's important to have that context for this video to understand why Andre and Mr. Truck experienced these issues. And the truck did derate itself as intended in order to protect the drivetrain. Regardless, the overall message is the same: Make sure you keep these figures in mind if you're towing at altitude, and if you can't lower your GCWR before towing, then make sure to have a rig capable of hauling the weight you have (and possibly build in a buffer for good measure). Sorry for any confusion!
Do any other manufacturers use this calculation????
@@wilmarbarrick3194 appreciate the response. Looks like it’s a Ford thing, read an article and other manufacturers state their is obviously a loss in power but have enough in reserves to compensate that. Have a feeling it’s due to the turbos on the ecoboost. I’ve had several RAMs and I’ve never read or heard of that direction regarding high altitude. Matter of fact I just went through it again front to back looking for anything regarding high elevation.
How many people are reading and remembering page 375 of there owners manual
@@dolivares81 the 6.4 needs to talk with you.....
@@masonspohn125 it printed clearly in the towing guide your salesman should be handing you when you say you wanna buy a truck and you tow.....
Roman said what I’ve always believed, never tow at the max weight of any truck. More about control and braking, never want the tail wagging the dog.
Isn't it common knowledge to stay under 75-80% max towing capacity? Towing capacity also includes payload of towing vehicle many people forget.
The truck shouldn’t overheat period. Ford crap.
Yeah, but overheating towing underneath the tow rating for a short duration shouldn't happen either.
@@James-il3tq I've never seen a modern vehicle where the tow rating includes the payload of the towing vehicle. Are you thinking of GVWR? Because that always includes both tow vehicle and trailer.
Nothing wrong with maxing out the towing capacity, just don't drive like a meathead. If you slow down, gear down, anticipate traffic and leave a minimum 5 seconds gap between the car in front of you, you will have no problems.
Now I want to see every 1/2 ton truck tested the same way and see which does the best.
Always add Transmission and Oil coolers to tow vehicles. It's negligent that a $1000 tow package doesn't include either.
The truck has a tran cooler, it's just looped into the main radiator. There are benefits/drawbacks to having independent coolers, having a unicooler allows you to have a larger main radiator which could possibly perform better than two independent ones. I'm sure Ford did the math, I doubt an independent cooler would have helped in this situation.
I bought a 2021 PowerBoost and will be towing near Max. I don't push my trucks like that, I move to the slow lane and take my time going uphill as should everyone. I appreciate how these videos test to the extreme.
If you're towing near max i assume you have the max tow package with the coolers coz you prob wont have this problem the had in their one off punish test.
I agree with what you said as i do the same.
@@Aussie_Damo I was very surprised to learn that the F150 ( other then the Raptor ) doesn't have have a Aux Transmission cooler in any configuration! Why on earth would ford get rid of that? I just looked at the chart they showed in this video. So far as I can tell upgrading to the Max Tow package gets you a upgraded axle and bumper? My 2017 had max tow and it had extra cooling.
@@rollerbarnadventers kinda wandering the same thing. With the hybrid you already have the upgraded axle. Upgraded strength in the bumper isn’t going to do anything for cooling.
Wouldn't the "extreme" be at least 11000lbs. for the same test? I'm thinking it would fail miserably at that weight as well. Sayin.
@@southlakeowendrive I wouldn't call this test failing miserably, it limited power so it could cool down, still got up the hill very quickly and with lots of power.
I want this same test with each of the 1/2 tons and see what happens. Great job as always TFL!
it would have to be 90 again which is rare! also if they know they are gonna do this they just won't give them loaners until its cooler.
And with the 5.0 f150 which you’d think would stay cooler without turbos
@@Sptsmn700 no that thing gets hotter than hell
Im definitely the guy who reads the owner's manual, I work hard for my money, and have a lot into a truck and trailer. I literally can't afford to not pay attention and understand basics of towing, and knowing what your set up can actually do safely.
Literally the first thing I do too. I bet there’s always at least one feature that you would have never known about unless you’ve read the manual - at least that’s my experience.
Honestly this is why your reviews are so important, being a Colorado resident myself I am always towing on the roads you guys run your tests on.
Tow ratings are definitely not always concrete so it's really awesome to see your tests.
That's why I get suspicious when I see advertising about a new half-ton truck rated to tow 11,000 lbs. plus. It's great to tow the boat to the lake on the weekend, or a twenty-foot camper, but it's not engineered for towing under any condition off the dealer's lot. After you are finished adding on the extra coolers, springs and accessories, it's wiser to buy a sturdy three-quarter ton pick-up. You'll pay more, but peace of mind is worth it.
add the wife 4 kids 6 bikes 2 dogs plus the 600 lb hitch wt thats just the cargo in the truck now take that off the max tow
They really do 11k, and do it safely but you need to be smart enough to understand your individual use case. I wouldn't pick a half ton to tow 11k every single day for work. And if you live in a very hilly, high altitude area you need to understand that's going to derate the towing capacity of the vehicle.
If you live in the midwest where it's flat and low it's a totally different scenario than trying to run max towing capacity at altitude up a mountain.
While I can appreciate the fact that the Ford does save the engine and transmission from the driver, and although the email comes off a little sales pitchy, I think the answer to the question was shown. If you have 8k + that you regularly tow, then go with 3/4 ton. 1/2 tons don’t have the weight, brakes, or build for 10k; doesn’t matter the brand. This is why you don’t put a full 5th wheel on a 3/4 but get a 1 ton
Well said. The tow wars are getting out of hand and almost dangerous. For a long time all 1/2 tons maxed out at 7,500, a good safe weight for them.
another thing they never bring up is payload, how close were they to their max payload on the f150, The 11K tow rating is based on the basic truck with few options. The more the options the lower the payload rating. I learned that Lesson with my F250 platinum diesel, My payload rating isn't any better than and f150 due to the options and diesel.
I agree. I went with a titan XD amd even in 97 degree weather towing my tractor the trans Temps never got above 180. The truck weighs over 7,000lbs and has the stability of a 3/4 ton without the rough ride. I lile having that extra stability of the XD. Sure and f150 with right setup is rated to tow slightly more but I have no doubt that XD can safely tow and haul more than its rated for. Towed my wifes food trailer with a tundra 5.7 and an f150 5.0 and there's no comparison to the titan xd when it comes to stability, especially in windy areas. It doesnt move the truck anywhere near as much as it did the F150 or tundra. While neither struggled to tow it, the XD does it so effortlessly. The tundra did get it moving better because its max torque is at 3600rpm vs 4000rpm for the 5.0, but flat out once the 5.0 rpms are at 4000 and above it pulls just as hard as the tundras 5.7, just not as hard from a dig. Everytime I think about going to a half ton, once I tow with my titan XD cummins I'm reminded how much better of a tow vehicle it is when it comes to stopping power and overall stability.
@@wb6anp you're so right. Everyone thinks their F150 can tow 13,000lbs or whatever the max is. But to tow that much you have to get a stripped down base model XL regular single cab 2wd with the ecoboost amd the max tow/max haul package. That platinum or king ranch doesn't tow much more, if any, than any other 1/2 ton. The people bragging about the max towing and hauling capabilities of an f150 wouldn't buy the truck you have to buy to get that capability.
No you need double framed K900 with c18 in it and 18 speed transmission.
Moral of the story, always buy more truck than you need.
Exactly! I do not need a 3500 most of the time, but when I do need it I always have the capability.
Amen dude
yup!! i never tow more than a 4wheeler or a lawn mower so i know a 1500 is perfect for my needs.
@@TNAWWE, I imagine when my kids are grown and moved out so we can downsize to a smaller camper and house I will likely do the same. Right now with a big fifth wheel camper, and also a relatively large boat the 3500 ram srw is perfect when I need it. I'll likely only need a half ton pickup in another 5-6 years and it'll be more truck than I actually need then to be honest.
I’d say just get a hD with a gas engine
I think there are two types of people that tow trailers: those that are willing to slow down and take it easy and those that want to maintain the exact speeds they normally drive and pretend the trailer isn’t even there. I think the latter are the ones that need to stick with the larger trucks.
I understand the point of the test and i doubt Andre would have it pushed it that hard if he just needed to get over the pass to deliver the old truck. In that case, i doubt it would have over heated. I would be curious to know for sure though.
Have to do the exact thing. Have a 4200 lbs camper that we tow with our Toyota Highlander that's rated for 5000lbs. It's not ideal, but my truck blew up and still want to go camping. The highlander does it, but keep it in the right lane going up hills, don't push it terribly hard and slow down up the hills if it needs be and it gets along just fine. Still make it to our camping spots but maybe only 10 minutes later than we would have doing the speed limit the whole way.
@@mattbalt5492 So you're towing with the trailer 100% empty and only the driver in the Highlander? Otherwise, you're WAAAYYY over the tow rating. Find a Cat Scale and have it weighed...I bet you will be shocked how far over you are.
@@mattbalt5492 I wouldn’t buy your used Highlander.
In CA speed limit for trailers is 55 MPH. How many people towing are doing 55? Maybe me and one other guy.
And most people don’t realize the tires on their RV trailer are only rated to 65 MPH (some are slightly more)
@the long days of wheeling the gvwr of the trailer is 4200lbs. Weighed it thr other week and was at 3800lbs as it sits. With wife, kid, dog, myself, and trailer on the hitch we were 500lbs to gvwr of the highlander. With both axles being about 200lbs ish under their limit. Hitch weight was under as well. Spent a long time picking the proper trailer. And only using the highlander this year. Waiting anxiously for the new tundra specs to come out.
Do the test again using Ford’s explanation!!!
thats 8900 pounds minus the weight of the crew, 2 guys 8500 pound trailer weight and thats for 10,000 feet so higher means even less weight
@@philtripe Plus 45 MPH. Probably need to drop that by 20% also. We'll say 8500 lbs at 35 MPH is about accurate. Then again, I'm sure a lot of the older 1/2 tons with lower ratings might be a lot more appealing if this was more commonly known...
Come test drive the new 2022 (insert brand here) 1/2 ton pickup that tows 20,000 lbs more than our competitor (testing used a wagon trailer with no tongue weight, being towed down hill, -20 ambient temperatures, and an aircraft-carrier catch cable system for braking).
They'd have to be ready for another hot day and stick to the SAE spec (45 mph.)
Of course, if the driver had been checking the gauges, or thought about why he was holding wide open throttle and not holding the target speed, we wouldn't have learned about this safety mechanism (which Ford I assume implemented only because they already encountered the problem in testing or they have engineers capable of designing a system to protect itself from the driver … : )
any more tests and that f150 will burst into flames.
In my opinion all truck companies Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota and Nissan should use the Ike gauntlet for their tow testing maybe even use TFL towing videos as their benchmark.
My gas half ton always got uncomfortably warm towing my camper up hills. Now I drive a Powerstroke with 8.2 gallons of coolant, it never goes past normal temp.
You probably forget the trailer is back there. Have that "Crap, gotta slow down, I got the trailer behind me". Lol.
Classic case of having more truck than trailer. Good choice on the bigger rig.
I used to drive Chevy thoes through the mountains in California, and had to constantly take cool down breaks cause it would overheat like crazy, might be the worst hill climbing car ever
@@gabrielsasala1875
Cooling system condition makes a difference.
i mean, but are you still at the same % of GCWR?
The 6.7 is really good at managing temperature because they have two independent cooling systems for different components
Interesting information. This is great to know. I’d love to see you guys tow heavy with all the 1/2 ton trucks like this to see how they perform. You will save a lot of people headaches from overheating issues. 👍🏻
They are programmed to do so when reaching maximum temperatures within the powertrain.
And depending how severe the temperatures reach the PCM will pull back timing as well.
Half tons aren’t made to tow heavy
In reality, most truck owners are not towing heavy loads daily from lower elevations to high elevations... 95% are driving the same elevation loaded daily, unless you're going to climb mountains, it's not the norm...
My over heating experience with a F150 was at speeds of less than 45mph, on a very steep mountain road at between 7k and 9k feet. The road had many switch backs so a max speed of 20mph was only possible. The truck actually went into limp mode 4 times forcing me to pull over, which is very harrowing on a narrow winding road. My trailer weighs in at 6k lbs. This experience encouraged me to go back to the F350, as most of my towing is done above 7k feet, and all of it above 5k feet. The F150 was great around town, and very comfortable to drive, but not so good with towing in my situation. As I am still waiting on my 22 to be delivered, the same mountain pass will be attempted with a Ram half ton in three weeks. Wish me luck. 😜
Let us know please
@@jacobmoll2878 will do. I am not expecting the same level of issues, but I would not be surprised by some over heating. Its a torture test of a pull, and my least favorite in Utah.
@Xxplicit every make struggles with this road. A HD has a fighting chance, no matter who designs it. Its a challenging enough road that you need to put your tow vehicle in 4WL coming down it to keep under control. Bashing Ford over a hill that breaks every manufacturer is just letting a bias color your decisions.
Only 6k lbs and that speed? That’s inexcusable. They need to change their test and ratings for these trucks. Most people say the truck can tow 10k lbs which means in any condition. Not have an asterisk saying only at sea level and at 45 mph for example.
This makes me wonder about the lightening now. They say 10k is the max but going by those standards it might only tow 80%
That sounds like the time I took at 20' uhual with a car trailer over the pass on HWY 150 in Wyoming over sugar loaf mountain, was surprised we made it over she was NOT happy lol
I've done 4 hour drives in 90* weather pretty much at max payload but towing about 5k lbs trailer in a 09 silverado and never saw the trans temp go above 180*. Of course I'm driving at sea level and barely any hills. It hardly feels like it's stressing the truck much and I get to wind out the truck more without breaking too many laws. Love the sound of a V8 screaming.
I knew it! Just as suspected! Too much weight for that altitude, and speed. Cool.
So the truck did exactly what it was supposed to do, derating itself to prevent damage. Its performance against the Duramax was exceptional in my opinion. And kudos to Ford for reaching out to explain what happened. Classy move.
Unless you have no social media followers then, I am not so sure how classy they'd be.
I had my 2015 Ford Escape 2.0 Ecoboost derate itself once when towing near tow limits on a very hot day climbing small hills at less than 1000 ft above sea level. I suspect temperature was the main culprit as the engine was likely running high boost. Haven't had my max tow 3.5 F-150 do it as I never get close to the tow limits.
You should do it again using the weight they suggest and drive 45 and see if it overheats.
Great feedback from Ford. I have 2015 f150 2.7 eco. 59k miles now. I take 3-4 trips around 200-400 miles to Michigan pulling my 5k travel trailer with additional weight, no problems at all. Usually around 80-90 degrees. With all equipment and people were probably 6500 total weight.
Well I understand. Lol. I’m impressed that the owners manual had a calculation for decreasing trailer weight due to elevation. But it makes sense. Appreciate this follow up video
They do use transmission coolers, it's just built into the radiator. That's been common practice for a long time. Towing is where automatic transmission really suffer. They do nothing but build extreme heat.
My experience between ZF6 speeds and 4R100 transmissions in the exact same superduty running at one time 3 ZF6 transmissions back to back to back is just the opposite. The manual has all gears in constant mesh all the time no matter what gear you select, and even though the ZF6 does have a pump and cooler it still melted itself and turned the oil jet black thrice. After adding an additional cooler and reducing power to 300 (continuous) I was able to keep them alive. The auto with the factory cooler could run 1 to 200 more horsepower with perfectly sustainable temps. Never overheated one. This is all towing of course. This is not coincidentally why you do not see a manual trans option in a current heavy duty pickup. They all produce power and torque in excess of what any practically sized manual can live through. Unless you want an Eaton Fuller 9 in your pickup experience tells me and every major truck manufacturer you need an auto, or you need to slow way, way down.
Auxiliary transmission coolers aren't found in the radiator.
The trans cooler is not made into the radiator
it is not built into the radiator. It's actually a coolant feed that is built right into the transmission on the 10r to an "oil cooler" similar to many engine oil coolers out there. even the very first 10r80 truck the 2017 3.5 ecoboost does not have the trans cooler built into the radiator it's a small cooler in front of the radiator.
The primary source of heat in an automatic is the torque converter. With 10 forward speeds, a lock-up clutch that can operate in most gear ranges, AND a tow/haul mode... transmission overheating during a hill climb is inexcusable. If the computer power on board can't find a gear and engine RPM that wll allow the converter clutch to stay engaged, the powertrain engineers have FAILED... this truck flat out isn't capable of its advertised tow rating. If the towing at altitude or up extreme grades reduces the tow rating, it should be stated in LARGE PRINT so every customer knows that when they drive away in their new truck! The rest is just excuses.
Absolutely agree with your recommendations on towing weights. I generally think 2/3 is close enough to get to the recommended capacities. Can doesn't mean should.
You said it. My grandpa always said just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Very interesting, I say do the test again with the recommend weight and speed, I'm curious if Ford is correct.
DUH! HD truck handles inclines and heat better than standard truck. What a worthless test. ALWAYS equip a vehicle at least one step higher than what you need. It will keep you from having problems from the start! Hope other tests from your site are more real world...
@@jimschauer37 20 seconds. 20 seconds difference..... No other 1/2 ton is pulling that off. This is an embarrassment for GM...not a dis on ford. But proves most people only need an Ecoboost 150.
@ GC Videos
I just did this with a higher rated powerboost and the temp got to climbing, but never derated....and let's just say at legalish speeds....and it was hotter out.
Both ways. I was shocked at the ability of this half ton.
Simply slowing it down to the recommended 45MPH alone would have worked. Based on the fact it didn't slow itself that much and still finished the climb with no damage. I DON'T tow in the mountains, but I ain't stupid. I would not have TRIED that without having read, and UNDERSTAND the parameters Ford had in place. As another poster mentioned, I think EVERY tow package should include an auxiliary engine and transmission cooler. But even WITH those READ THE FREAKING LITERATURE.
I 100% agree with you Roman! When it comes to towing, you never want to max out a truck. I tow scaffolding equipment for a living...now the company I work for isn't huge, we have done some fairly large jobs! We operate a 2018 F250 6.2 gas, and I have to say, I have been VERY impressed. There have been a few times where I'm pushing the limits of the truck, and you can feel it struggling, but for the most part, the truck feels rock solid. I don't ever have a problem getting up to highway speeds, but going up and down hills, can be entertaining to say the least.
I've never used a weight distribution set up, rather, I just balance the load as best I can.
Keep up the great work!
Regardless of reasoning, or mathematical equations and a 45mph SAE test, this is a realistic real world application. 99% of people who purchase these vehicles use them based on “tow rating.”
Andre put a his truck on the line and essentially taught every viewer a valuable lesson. Thanks TFL!
Based on the text you received it appears that your power train warranty is now void.
😄
Hello TFL, a few weeks ago I had gone to Colorado with my 3000 lbs travel trailer, a hi-lo. When I entered Ratón Pass I noticed that my 6.2 L lifted 1500 GMC was not keeping the speed limit, it was slowing down, because of traffic I had to floor it so it would keep the current speed still not the limit. Please note that the engine and transmission were well under the correct temp range. This was very frustrating so when I got home I purchased a Ram 2500 for future trips.
Being lifted did you put bigger rims and tires too? You lose torque with the big wheels and what rear differential gearing do you have?
@@1fast10r Correct! With trucks you either have a tow rig or a off road rig. The second you start lifting and adding bigger tires and wheels the less you can tow/haul.
@@ShadowOppsRC well unless you keep teh same overall ratio by regearing to something like 4.88, etc.
I own a stock Sierra with the 6.2 engine and the max trailer tow package. I tow a 28 foot 7600 GVWR Airstream. I’ve never experienced anything like this, even on the 10% grade heading out of Jackson, Wyoming. If your coolant and transmission temperatures were in the normal range, and the engine was reducing power, you had some other problems.
@@brucebeckner3049 too much power not enough cooling. Common issue with putting turbos through obnoxious duty cycles at WOT
Try the same test with a half ton chevy and ram and see if they overheat too
That would be nice to see, but they probably wouldn’t be able to pull that same speed.
I’d suggest that they tow the same test with the Ford at 45 mph and see if it gets warm. Then do the same with other brands.
I could care less if I get to the top 20 seconds slower if the thing is going to debate it’s self. Running that warm does affect the life of the rig. I’d rather arrive with less stress on the rig.
And no transmission coolers on their vehicles? Stupid!
They’ve done a few videos, latest one was the RAM 1500 against the new Ford. Pulling that exact trailer setup and RAM won both uphill and downhill testing. No over heating occurred in either vehicle.
Gm overheat and they had to stop the test
This is part of what makes TFL great - giving manufacturers a chance to respond to what happens instead of just flaming without having full context. Both TFL and FORD look really good here.
I think every manufacturer always test they products using standart (or SAE like in this video) to simulate real condition. But unfortunately, standarize testing cant simulate 100% real world condition and Its ford responsibility to detailed how to use and trucks specs at ford manual guide book. If youve been in manufacturing / engineering field will be understand with this condition.
Afterall its a good show, nice to have tfl always give us a wide prespective and honest review + REAL comment from manufacturer. Well done👏🏻👍🏻
Its in the manual.
So you're towing less then the rated maximum towing capacity and it still over heats?
Did you watch the video? They were over the rated maximum for the altitude/speed.
@@rollerbarnadventers yes I saw the video. Max towing 11k, bla bla need to decrease wt every 1000ft. Bla bla need to be 20% below max in ikes case which puts you 8800lbs. They were towing 9500-9600 as per Mr. Hair. Bottom line, if you can't tow that much on qn American freeway, then don't advertise 11k.
@@Weak_juan I agree. I'm sure all manufactures are guilt of this. I like how these videos push these trucks so we can see the limits before we decide to buy. Now I'd like to see the same video, same conditions with other half tons to see what happens.
@@Weak_juan They were also driving way above the recommended speed of 45 mph per Ford’s note.
@@rollerbarnadventers They don't do apples to apples tests and never have. They test what they can get, which is why you see head-to-head testing of a HD Chevy and a half ton Ford. It's what they had.
It’s a good thing that your truck didn’t let you damage it.
Did you see that temp gauge? It was maxed out. There is some damage. Definitely lessened its life.
@@Pantera4u Bummer for him
@@Pantera4u
Change the oil right away will help.
@@Wontreplyeverdontbother well it was his truck, so I guess he can run it…
@@Wontreplyeverdontbother
I won't say you are wrong but I believe the parameters are such that this reality is baked in (sorry) and this scenario will not be detrimental to the engine. Just like bridges with a 10,000lb. weight limit will not collapse at 10,001 lb. so too with the temps here. IMO
So basically ford said the truck isn’t capable towing 11,000 pounds at a 10% grade at 60 mph
You forget elevation
And it isn’t just Ford…….. every truck
With a normal tow package at that altitude yes they did.
If you got the max tow package it would have an engine oil and transmission cooler which would've prevented this issue.
@@jarod144 Will a 5.7 ram 3.92 overheat like the ecoboost towing 9600lbs? I doubt that. The formula is simple, stressing a small turbo'd engine with load and altitude creates ridiculous amounts of heat.
@@Weak_juan I own one of those RAMs and live in Alma CO (my home is at 11K feet), I have zero issues towing with my truck. But, I'm also never in a hurry nor do I feel I have to maintain speed limit. Common sense should tell someone that pushing their truck to the limit may not be the greatest thing. Alas, common sense is no longer common.
Andre - I have resolved my over heating on an older 3.5 Ecoboost by 3 things - Intercooler upgrade from Wagner, a 175 degree thermostat, and a 87 tow tune from 5star that knows about my mods. I run 92 octane. These things have fixed it. I highly, HIGHLY, recommend you look into these for your truck. I believe the Intercooler helped a bunch because it lowered the charge temps from crazy hot 175 down to 130 while towing in the same conditions you did. Mine over heated like yours while it was 95 outside and the road temps were 145.
Over 4th of July weekend towing my boat at Davis Dam had the same issue. I also have the FX4 package with electric brake controller etc. What is interesting I made the trip over the hill twice that weekend with outside temp about the same, first time no issue and towed about 60-70mph. So we towed from Davis Dam/ Bullhead City to Cottonwood Cove to launch the boat. Some of that is at 6% grade and a good 90 plus out side temps. Second trip was heading back over the same hill from Davis Dam 163 to the 95, and heading up 163 is when we had the loss of power. Turned off the AC and temp came down pretty quickly, but still had issues off an on till we made it to the 95. Dry Boat weight around 3200 lbs so with fuel and some gear and trailer weight am guessing total weight about 4500 lbs. We also Tow a trailer with a 4 door Jeep up and down hills and never had this happen before. Thanks a bunch guys for the explanation and reaching out to Ford as I was wondering what and why. Important to note, in past we have towed the same boat with our 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV with the 6.0 up and down the same hill for years, and the Ford F-150 with 3.5 EcoBoost out performs the Cadillac all day long. The Cadillac always had trouble with engine and trans temps going up that stretch highway. We can debate the difference between the Ford and Cadillac all day, but this is real world experience and just my observation of the two with the same boat and trailer over the same stretch of highway.
Max towing is a numbers race by the manufacturers. Bottom line is, don’t max out any vehicle.
Most vehicles can go way over the numbers. I've seen Cummins guys pull several tons more than they should and the trucks are still going a decade later.
This is crap because hybrids and electric vehicles are crap.
@@americansmark And that's just dumb. Good luck if they wreck. Your insurance claim very likely will be denied. Over the GCVWR. Plus the law enforcement involved will be issuing some serious tickets. Could end up in prison if you killed someone.
@@THEjasonTDI I will say I agree with you, but it isn't that simple.
Welcome to rural life, where if a job needs done, it's gonna get done. Cops here don't care. I've seen old F150s towing 20k pounds in square hay bales. It wasn't happy about it, but it rolls. The old farm truck was a 91 Dakota V8 that pulled 10k pounds in farm equipment every day.
These ratings nake sense for extreme conditions and interstate travel, but the trucks can easily go well above and beyond them.
Hell, my 2019 Silverado LT Z71 is rated at 12,200 iirc. I towed two pallets of brick on a dropdeck and was WAY above the rating. It knew it was back there and did not like hills, but the trailer brake controller did it's job and the anti-sway hitch kept me in line.
For the record, I have a CDL and used to be a road safety inspector. I think the rules are good and should be followed when they fit the situation. Either way, the SAE 45mph test is a bad one and needs updated. Trucks need to be able to tow an average 62mph at their weight rating. The hybrid ha sno business towing more than 8000 pounds comfortably on the highway.
@@americansmark This is your future, like it or not. Say goodbye to diesels in the next few years.
@@americansmark love how you bring up the 45mph speed. Very good point. People thing any f150 can just tow 13,000lbs at any speed. You have to get the stripped down single cab 2wd base model xl with the max tow and max haul to tow that much, and nobody buys trucks like that unless its a work truck.
Gotta love it when a manufacturer gets a hold of you to let you know why their truck couldn’t do the job without any drama. At that point you know they are concerned with the massive volume of viewers that respect your findings. Also, it’s a very professional way for a company to make excuses for poor performance. Maybe they should start trying real world tests, like at speed and all elevations.
Ok TFL, now it's time to see the 5.0 Coyote (or the 5.3 GM / 5.7 Ram) run the same test and see what the results are. While I admire the specs of the Ecoboost, I really wonder if it comes at the expense of capability.
I would love to see that test.
They won’t because they love Fords
Everyone knows the turbos run extremely hot Ford has had nothing but issues with ecoboost and that’s why the v8 is still king and why tundra still sells and why Titan sells took off because there’s two kinds of v8 people
V8 all the time tundra Titan owners
and owners disabling the eco mode using a programmer Chevy and ram owners
They ran their long term rebel while towing more weight than Andre's truck and it did fine. The 5.7 3.92 didn't overheat and it finished the run in 8:10.
@@Weak_juan just think after this comment from Ford by rule and safety of owners technically a Ford is unsafe anywhere over 3000ft and may possibly be the least tow rated now of the truck world……..like in true by the book a Titan would tow more than a Ford now
I'm the one. LOL. When I bought my 2019 Ford Ranger new in April of 2019, that night I sat down on the couch and read the owner's manual cover to cover. No joke.
Any turbocharged truck (gas or diesel) near its max tow capacity up a steep grade is prone to overheating. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to create a size/cost effective cooling system that can battle the EGT's created by a turbo. This heat then bleeds into the rest of the cooling system, the oil, motor itself, and even the trans (due to the oil/water cooler in radiator). Now I am not putting them down because the trade off in most cases is well worth it, however people need to keep in mind just because a truck has the power to pull a grade doesn't mean you can just bury your foot in it and not pay attention to what you're doing.
Great test and awesome info though! Thanks Andre for sacrificing your truck a bit for all of us!
Take the new ram up that pass with 3.92 gears with 9600lb and see what it does. Curious.
Probably blow up!
They’ve done more and my nautique g23 with triple axle weighs 9700 without passengers and I’ve been towing it to Utah and back for three years. Hours and hours up hill never overheated.
Also to the “blow up” comments go watch the last three years of TFL truck and the ONLY vehicles that have ever overheated was fords. The expedition overheated when they took it Offroad , the f250 gasser overheated and broke down. They had to tow it. And now this. Just saying.
@Tron Apostle if the torque converter can stay locked then heat build up in the transmission should be pretty negligible.
Wonder what the case is here.
@@kc510 the coolant got hot from the turbos dumpling into the oil and the coolant, causing the transmission to be the cooler (since its cooler is in teh radiator), until it was maxed out, then teh truck derated.
That reply sounded like round about way of just saying the vehicle doesn't have sufficient cooling for extreme conditions despite it's rating. I want to point out that this is not the only time a Ford has had issues on the Ike gauntlet. Of course the climate is variable, but this whole thing just feels suspect. I would love to see what this same scenario does with comparably equipped half tons from the other brands. Really look forward to this new video Roman mentioned.
The f150 didnt have the max tow package for a weight that was near it's max tow capacity and it struggles wow who couldn't see that coming....
What it's saying is you can pull near max weight on about 95% of America's highways and be fine, but if you choose to slap a 10,000lb trailer on and drive up the side of a frickin' mountain while doing the speed limit, you might have some issues. Slow down a bit and you'll be fine.
Yep now that it overheated, then it’s “wasn’t part of SAE standard testing.” But then it passes Ike gauntlet then everything’s ok.
Overheated because it’s a tiny engine under lots of stress from the turbos & the heavy load a V8 should solve the problem, No replacement for displacement.
Not really true but ok
Definitely not
@@porterdallenbach1639 When in gasoline combustion engine history have we used small displacement turbo charged power plants under constant positive boost to tow trailers? Just because Ford is doing it doesn't mean it's right for everyone or even right at all.
@@southlakeowendrive your kidding right? It's more efficient and honestly does make sense to do it performance cars use forced induction there's no reason not to use it for hauling things also most diesels are turbocharged for a reason
@@specialperson170 A special person, modern diesels are using turbos? Wow! Thank's for setting me straight. Please let me know when they get those gas turbo engines to NOT over heat while towing WELL BELOW their max towing spec's.
Hi guys. I have a 2020 F150 and I must be they one person who read the owners manual. 😊
It took me 6 weeks to finish it but I did read it. It is definitely the biggest owners manual I have ever read but it is very comprehensive.
Great content as always guys.
Ron
I respect this video and the comment from Ford.
I’m glad they notify you if your pulling to much.
Very informative! Good to see that your truck saved itself. Personally, I prefer trucks to have extra coolers than to derate but it looks like that's not the direction manufacturers are going. 😐
You didn’t mention what benefits “max towing package “ has over standard or regular tow package.
Yeah I would be curious to see how a "max tow" version of Andres truck would do.
Because TFL planned not to talk about that. Boss man likes setting Ford up into hot water.
I looked up the Max Tow Package(53C), and there is nothing added to alter the cooling, engine or transmission.
I am curious what they are trying to say.
Are they saying his truck was not “equipped” to tow that amount or that he was just not rated to tow that amount, using a formula in an obscure guide somewhere.
It sounds like J2807 needs a practical revision for average consumers. I would like to see trucks advertise a minimum towing capacity at highway speeds where additional weight is available if you do x, y and z.
@@chriswilson433 as Jack Webb would say “just the facts ma’am “ or “man”
Max Tow pack includes separate oil cooler and thicker front sway bar.
So keeping the pedal to the metal while the engine temp is pegging the needle in the hot is not a good idea? Good thing you guys are the experts.
You got it. MANY clowns on this thread haven't got a CLUE. How can anyone take these guys seriously when they do so much stupid crap? Sound like the kind of guys who'd stop in a lane of traffic on a busy highway to change a tire. Then BITCH when they got run over.
@@tomswinburn1778
This was a test competition and did not do the overheating for an extended period of time. They were aware of the duration. Any vehicle should be able to withstand that kind of punishment. It is extended times that hurts.
Hey Andre, I am sure you all know this or may have heard but from everything I have seen over the past few years on Ecoboost trucks(I am a Ford fan btw)is that you have to manually lock out gears to force the engine to stay in higher RPM's. This allows the engine to work harder including the cooling function (water pump) while the turbos spool down. Yes, you shouldn't have to do this but as many others said, turbo's produce massive heat.
I have gone by the 75% rule in that I will pull no more than 75% rated capacity on an occasional trip or 60% regularly. So for a half ton that's 6 or 7 thousand pounds out back if pulled regularly. I have never hurt a truck following this rule. It is interesting to learn about towing certifications and how it is done. I am glad your truck is ok. Thank you!
The older ecoboosts had overheating problems. This has nothing to do with the hybrid system. The twin turbos have always created too much heat under hood. That’s why you couldn’t order front wheel well liners on the older ones. They got even worse when they got a layer of dust on them.
I bought a 2011 brand new and never had any overheating problems and tow on a regular basis up to 10,000 lbs.
I used to tow my sub compact tractor with loader and backhoe on a float with my 2015 2.7 crew cab 4x4. Never had an issue. But possibly the smaller footprint and CGI block might help with heat compared to the 3.5
@@WilliamsonRidge take it to the Ike ... you may think you have big hills but mountains are a different story, especially at highway speeds
@@philtripe do you own a 3.5 ecoboost?
@Xxplicit do you own a 3.5 ecoboost?
The Ford may need a heavy duty transmission oil cooler to assist with towing.
That comes with the Max Tow package. Anyone regularly towing more than 7-8K probably should get that package and, if regularly towing that, at elevation, up grades, should look at a 3/4 ton.
Turbos generate a lot of heat, they were probably glowing during that test. Max towing should include a secondary cooling system just for the turbos and integrated exhaust manifolds. I bet the Tundra will have something similar to this after studying Ford for the last 10 years.
@@aggiewoodie that would help but the real learning here is that any size vehicle that is rated to the J2807 standard will not take into account all road/weather conditions at the posted speed limit. The most advisable thing to plan for about 80% of GCWR in matching a truck and trailer unless you know you will always be towing at sea level on flat roads, regardless of who makes the truck.
@@aggiewoodie Well said!
@Rick the Ford turbos have engine oil AND engine coolant going through them for cooling and lubrication. My personal opinion is all turbocharged engines should run full synthetic oil as well. Why Ford is ok with synthetic blend oil in their ecoboost engines is beyond me.
Loved the fact that the Ford F-150 Hybrid warned you first. I’m wondering why you didn’t get the Max Tow package since TFL is always towing something? 🙃
Towing package provides nothing to cool the engine beyond the standard package.
@@coachmixer8230 I have heard otherwise, that MAX Tow adds AUX trans cooler. I sure hope so as I tow heavy up that Ike Gauntlet almost every weekend. I don't go 65 MPH, more like 45-55 MPH.
@@cleanbiker1306 you might be right- you won’t the truck and would know better than I
I just finished a 24 day RV trip through South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, TX & Louisiana from GA. I have a 2014 F150 Ecoboost with MaxTow package with a 11,100 max tow rating 1766 payload with 3.73 gears towing a 32 ft travel trailer weighing 7500lbs. I experienced the same message on my dash when pulling the camper up the Powder River Pass from Buffalo Wy to Tensleep Wy. Once I slowed down to about 50 mph the trans and engine temps came back into normal range (I also turned on the heat to pull the heat from the engine compartment). It happened again when going from Grand Tetons to Moab on Hwy6 outside of Provo UT.
Great video, guys. I too am a CDL driver, and I have overheated engines, brakes and transmissions on just about every size of truck driving with heavy loads on steep grades in the mountains.
Remember the TFL Trailboss did its 9500lbs several times. It never skipped a beat.
Not at those altitudes or max weight.
@@markconnelly183 it did the Ike at 9500lbs twice.
Thank you for your real works tests that you guys do. 45 mph is not realistic for the majority of people when the speed limit is 65. Just seems to me like the system these auto manufacturers use is just another clever way of pushing "best in class" numbers.
Towing at max capacity at posted speed limits isn't smart. You can just look around at most of the traffic and figure out that you wouldn't be able to stop like them nor corner like them which makes driving more dangerous for you and others in your way.
It's 45 mph up Davis Dam, that's a gigantic hill. You can get in the right lane just like all the semi trucks set the cruise at 45 and let it work. That's how it used to be back in the day, you slowed down when you went up a hill. You've got air conditioning and music you're not in that much of a hurry.
Now people just want to set the cruise at 70 no matter the terrain.
It would be interesting to see the gm or ram half tons on "exact same" test to see how they would perform..
Make it happen.
I think you you guys are the best channel out there for pick up trucks. I live in Colorado now I'm from California and I can tell the difference between performance and the altitude does affect the performance in the entire drive train. I originally from Fresno California. And it didn't matter what was the temperature winter or summer I was able to do burn outs with my f150 in California like it was nothing. Here in Colorado is no longer tht eazy for my girl to perform like she use to back home
Having owned and towed with many trucks(current a Tacoma), I think you are spot on with your weight limit recommendations. Mid size 5000lb, full size 8000lb, HD on up. Sometimes people forget you still need to stop and do emergency maneuvering in the real world. The other consideration is how much towing vs day to day driving. That’s why I now have a Taco vs a HD.
What do you get with the max tow option? I had a F150 with the ecoboost(max tow) and it would occasionally cut power while towing. Ford really needs to get better cooling to claim those towing numbers.
The max tow package has the engine and transmission oil coolers class 4 hitch and front sway bar upgrade with a rear locking diff and 36 gallon tank from what i could find online.
I think an even better question is max towing for how long . ? Sure it will.tow 11k for 100 miles then blow up .they test these numbers but are they towing for how.many hrs at that weight how.many miles what temp etc too many variables . This always better to be under max of any thing I'd rather them under rate because consumers will do the extreme and tyically exceed max ratings so they need to over build a little . I do appreciate the tech shutting down things but also a driver one should have enough common since to be aware or temp and.tske nessarly measures.to back off ..
@@Aussie_Damo max tow does not have aux coolers for 2018+ trucks 11-17 do get aux coolers. Only the raptor and expedition can get aux trans cooler in 18+
@@markv78 they are testing exactly the same as every other manufacturer doing the SAE J2807 tests to determine the weight ratings.
This test is pretty shitty due to not having the max tow package that is designed for the type of load they were towing.
@@Aussie_Damo If you watch the video at 9:39 TFL has a chart saying no cooler lines for any 2021 F150 except the Raptor. Andres Truck has a 3.73 rear axle, same as the max tow package. I see no difference in his truck and one with max tow. Ford saying to sprinkle with fairy dust. Do better Ford.
Still living up to the old adage
Found
On
Road
Dead
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Except they followed up with Chevrolet and it overheated, too, LOL.
This is why I buy trucks that are rated way more than I know I'll tow lol
Because you mall crawl
@@JayElement13 your reply doesnt even make sense.
Same here! 5500 for hard work, and my 2500 for the lighter travel trailers.
Most tow ratings are basically rated off of their weight, suspension and braking capabilities.
You buy magnum condoms as well🤣
I had a 2017 ram 1500 express 2wd with a lift. I pulled a 24 foot enclosed car hauler 5 times back to back twice with a vehicle in it. But I have pulled it from turlock California to Killeen Texas. I’ll be honest I was impressed that it had no issues at all. 5.7 with the 8 speed transmission and the 3:92 rear end. Only downside was the fuel mileage.
The key is understanding the difference between what you can and cannot do with the regular towing vs max towing pkg
You'd have to be quite daft to max tow with any vehicle at its very limit, in extreme conditions (altitude, gradient, speed)
Great job Ford for providing an honest and accurate response to Andre 😎👍
Great video. It seems to me that Ford (and others) inflate their tow ratings beyond what they should be just to get a big number to publish. The Nissan Titan and other trucks that are in the 9500’ish range seem more realistic, whereas I’ve always been skeptical of the half ton trucks that post 11k lb and up tow ratings. I’d be interested in seeing a side by side tow test with a v8 version of Andre’s truck to see whether the turbos being spooled up for an extended amount of time are what caused the truck to overheat.
Ford doesn't do the tow ratings they are 3rd party tests done to J2807 specs like every manufacturer has to do.
An N/A truck would be wore at those altitudes for power.
The nissan titan is between a 1/4 and 3/4 tone truck and always has been so that can't be compared to these two vehicles.
The f150 was at max towing without a max towing package what does everyone expect to happen?
it was, they are oil and coolant cooled. add in they were redlined due to elevations' thin air, the small displacement (meaning surface area around cylinder to transfer heat) recipe for runaway which is what they experenced.
When I tow heavy loads, I don’t keep my throttle at max going up hills. I prefer to keep my RPMs in a reasonable range.
same gear going down hill same gear speed you went up a hill
I agree it is user error in this case.
I wonder if Ford would recommend changing the fluids after running them hot while towing like that?🤔
Would be wise to.
Since maximum temperatures were attained by the powertrain.
I would definitely change fluids. Those temps and they start to break down
Change all fluids and upgrade to synthetic where possible.If it was my truck ,I would also look into additional transmission and oil coolers. Might also want to upgrade differential fluids. I bet they were hot as well. On a side note, I thought the advantage of turbos was they didn't lose power at altitude ?
@@brianbethune862 Haha, well they don't if things don't get too hot
@@MountainMcCumbee did they say what all the fluid temps were?
I’m not a Ford fan but kudos to them for giving precise answers as to why. Also the automatic limiting to protect the drive train gets my respect. I do feel that you should tow slower than the speed limit up hard hills like this so you are easier on your engine and tranny.
Great report, and hopefully a lot of people see this and learn from it. I tend to agree with RUclipsr BTBRV that once you start going past 6,000lbs of towing (at least when it comes to RV'S) with a half ton, you are better off going for a heavy duty truck. It is much better to have more capacity than you need. That removes the stress and makes your towing experience much more comfortable and safe. Also, nice to see the Ford follow up.
A HD truck is better for pulling HD loads? Amazing, I would have never guessed.
Straight up. What that truck did was pretty impressive compared to the diesel.
IMO. If there’s a major US highway that someone could be towing on , the max tow weight should be what it can pull on that grade.
So you're saying that Ford's rating should be most accurate for the smallest group of people? Makes sense.
@@Immolate62 I wouldn’t say it would be for few people. I’d argue most Americans live near mountains or large hills and tow in those areas.
I live in Cincinnati which is low altitude but very hilly.
And if you’re buying a truck to tow a boat or camper you’re likely driving through states with mountains.
I think it just seems dishonest and shady to hide the fact deep in the owners manual that tow ratings are only at sea level and on a los grade.
@@b22chris But that's the point. They aren't at sea level. The Davis Dam test goes from 550 feet to over 3500 feet in 11.4 miles, starts at 100 degrees F (or higher) ambient temperature with air conditioning at max. This is the SAE J2807 test used by all major manufacturers.
@@Immolate62 and we found out in this video that those tests are done at 45 mph.
Going on a highway at 45 can be dangerous.
For major manufacturers to expect you to go 45mph when going up a hill on a highway is idiotic IMO.
Video proves if you’re doing heavy towing you’re much safer getting an F250 or larger.
I had a 2015 3.5 eco boost with max tow package. I live in Denver and tow a 6000 fully loaded travel trailer. I towed the trailer many many times over Ike and Vail pass. The f150 would constantly overheat. I manually geared down to keep rpm’s high and out of boost. Still would overheat. Had way to many issues with the eco boost to list. Traded it in with 96,000 mi and now have a 5.7 tundra. Did the Ike and Vail last weekend with the tundra and zero issues. Air Temp was 90 when towing. I wanted to love the f150 but it was a very abusive relationship. Had to move on. Love the tundra.
This is a great follow up guys. I’ve towed horse trailers for 30 years. To tow safely there is a lot to consider. Stay safely within your allowable weight limit especially if you have to drive in the mountains or hot weather.
Fords statement simplified: " it can only tow that much on flat ground, at sea level in winter at slow speed. But don't worry the truck told you that it couldn't actually do the job, so if you break it doing what the marketing claims it on you and we're not going to pay for it "
Humm, so Ford says buy our truck it will do this; however, not really, we at Ford have fine printed the actual work recommendations. Mr. Consumer you used the vehicle as we advertised. Not what it can actually do! It’s your fault the vehicle failed.
Imagine thinking this isn’t the case with all vehicle manufacturers. You probably think the horsepower number your vehicle came with is what it makes at the tire, too.
@@smoeyjith No champ, I’m well aware of the difference between brake horsepower and wheel horsepower. Thanks though ☺️
@@Islandlazy99 That’s good to hear sport. Maybe you can read your owners manual and know how your vehicle works. It even tells you what oil to use so you don’t need to ask strangers on the internet next time. :)
@@smoeyjith did I ask?? Haha. I could write a long post about the standards of engineering in the automotive industry. I won’t. Being a mechanical engineer and member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. I’m certain that my take is superior in this instance. If you have any follow ups please don’t hesitate to ask.
@@Islandlazy99 sure you are sport. If we’re playing pretend can I be Elon Musk? It would be nice to board a spaceship and fly away from your rising floodwaters of bullshit.
I’ve said this to truck owners for a long time. Just because the factory numbers say your truck can tow #10000, doesn’t mean it can do it safely. You have to factor in braking, the weight of the truck, tires, transmission, rear end gear ratio….
If the truck can't handle the rated capacity then the manufacture should not be rating it at that capacity. It is not the responsibly of the consumer to have to figure out what the real tow capacity is, when the manufacture says it can tow 11,000 pounds safely then it should tow 11,000 pounds safely.
No you need semi and DOT escort.
@@ramecodiesel8271 I agree. I also understand that is under "ideal" conditions, kind of like advertised MPG ratings, and not all scenarios are taken into account. It would be interesting to see them redo that test with the same run but hold the speed back to 45, per the manual.
@@ramecodiesel8271 manufacturers test in ideal conditions to appease the customer who buys a new vehicle every year or two,because they marginally improve the numbers. I always look at the big picture. If a guy buys a beautiful camper or toy hauler, why did the same guy buy a regular 1500 series pickup, if he has the jungle to buy the nice camper. Most truck (1500) series guys will never use the full capability of their truck, most of the time it’s pulling a small single axle trailer or boat. The guys you hear complaining why their 3.5ecoboost struggles to pull a #10000 car hauler are the same ones who should have bought a bigger pickup.
I used to haul crushed glass on a roll off trailer, pulling it with a freight liner Columbia. Truck weighed around 17-17500# as it sat, throw on #63000 more to get grossed out. Did the truck pull that trailer and roughly #35000 of glass? Yes. Was it rated for this kind of weight from the factory? Yes. But in this case, the truck got pushed around a lot because it wasn’t heavy enough to handle that trailer, and getting it stopped reasonably without being on the jakes constantly? Forget it. Now my father in law pulled the exact same trailer, exact same route, only with a kenworth t600 that weighed 23000# and change. That extra weight on the truck makes an enormous difference. Both trucks could legally haul the same weight, one did it much better because of weight.
10,000 ft is no joke! Even the heaviest duty feel the burn! I think the F-150 did fantastic considering the weight, altitude, and temperature. I was not actually expecting to see it do that well. This was really an apples to oranges comparison.
I guess I’m in this 1%. I’m currently reading the owners manual for my 22 STX along with the other manuals that came with it. Amazing what you can learn. When I had a Ram 1500 I read that manual and learned a lot.
Hmmmm so normal driving in Colorado is beyond fords test parameters?!? Ha!!! Let’s go Ford, do better!
Okay troll, towing near max up steep grade is normal.
only west of denver. half of colorado is as flat as kansas.
LOL, if this is "Normal" I'd hate to see your definition of "Tough". I'm not even a Ford guy, but you have to be objective here.
That test wasn't "normal" driving.
@@IamGroot786 totally agree but I don’t thinking driving in the mountains while towing near max is something a new truck shouldn’t be able to handle. Not like it’s redline for a 1000 miles
The only thing people remember was it didn’t work when it was supposed to…
Which is funny because it did work. Hauled the load over the pass just fine. Granted at reduced power with ominous messages on the dash.
And only 20 seconds slower than the Chevy, using part power, going up a steep ten mile hill.
@@robertheinkel6225 The Duramax would have badly left the Ford behind except the Duramax was doing the speed limit, it had a lot of power in reserve and could have been a couple more minutes ahead of the Ford without any trouble. Ford saying they are impressed their Ford with within 20 seconds of a truck that did the speed limit when their Ford was not capable of maintaining the speed limit was nothing more than Ford trying to get peoples attention away from the fact their Ford has to derate itself to keep from blowing up.
@@ramecodiesel8271 100% agree! It’s like saying 2 cars traveling 10 miles on the hwy at the speed limit of 65 will arrive at the same time. Yet one is Ferrari and the other is a Prius, you wouldn’t see Toyota jumping saying “you see they arrived at the same time!” Lmao!!!
The reduced power could’ve been a safety concern, especially towing that much weight. Yeah it reduced power on its own, great but maybe it’s to give the driver time to move off the hwy and get to a safe spot. Seems to be a Ford issue with the turbos.
If you're going to tow heavy, SLOW DOWN.
Take a Silverado near max towing capacity up the Ike and a Ram when it's hot. Only way to tell if it's just a Ford thing or not. I've had a Ecoboost F150 overheat on me on a big grade only pulling a camper around 7,500 lbs. It was rated for 9,600.
This reminds me of the Ram 2500 with the gas engine that was WAY slower up the Ike than other trucks. It derated itself, but it DID NOT tell the driver it was doing so. It’s great that Ford does.
I’ll add that this gave me more respect for Ford.
If you listen to yourself when you say those towing numbers, think back 15- 20 years it would be a conspiracy theory!! Today's Towing numbers even with this issue are incredible
In other words the truck is under (poorly) engineered for cooling. Come on Ford. This is a truck. Make it were it can handle the rated hauling capacity for all situations or de-rate its capacity. In other words be honest upfront.
The ratings are per the J2807 test like every other manufacturer has to abide by. This one off punish test is flawed as if you were hualing this much weight you would be stupid to not have the max tow package.
@@Aussie_Damo your claim is false. They should have rated the capacity at 8000 or less for all conditions, not the 10,000 and then expect people to read through all the if and can'ts. They purposely over rated the vehicle using work a back door approach. .
I have had the same travel trailer for 7 years. The first truck I towed with was a 2013 Ram 5.7, 3.92 gears, 6 speed. Second was a 2016 Ram eco diesel, 3.55 gears, 8 speed. Newest truck is a 2500 Ram 6.4 hemi, 4.10 gear 8 speed. Just did my first trip with the new truck. 400 miles round trip, lots of 70 mph in NY state. Both 1500’s towed it well with proper weight distribution and sway control. The eco diesel did better than the 5.7. Very quiet and always seemed very stable. The 2500 is far louder when towing than the eco diesel. As expected, the 2500 is much more comfortable. Less sway, always more power available, and felt barely different than driving unloaded other than a bit of sway and movement on bumps. The biggest difference I saw was in the operating temperature of ever system. The 2500 was 30-40 degrees cooler for oil, transmission, and coolant. The camper is only 6500 lbs loaded, but even at 70 mph on an 85 degree day, the running temperatures were 5-10 degrees above empty when the 1500 trucks were 30+ degrees above empty.