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lostagain 
Senior Member 
Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595 |
 Calendar Event: Towing rpod 192Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 9:30am |
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The best choice for anyone involves a set of compromises and balances. As I said, there is no "right" choice for all. So we agree that everyone's "right" choice is dependent on what they want and, hopefully, how they will affect the rest of us as a consequence of their choices. For some, a Kenworth tractor may be the most ideal choice for towing, for others, as we often see in the European RV world, a small car may work fine.
I just pointed out that I have been happy with our new truck. It won't work for others. Some people put catsup on their scrambled eggs while others put spicy salsa.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 8:48am |
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lostagain, I'm glad you're happy with your 2.7. You are a conservative driver with a light right foot so you'll be fine.
With any given engine, selecting a lower gear and reducing speed while climbing will improve cooling. With your previous tow vehicle insufficient cooling was your limiting factor so I suggested you try that. I know there are some reports of both 2.7 and 3.5 eb engines overheating while towing uphill, don't know if that is a general problem or not but lets assume not, it is poor engineering to have an underdesiged cooling system. A larger engine will turn at lower rpm to generate the same hp so will suffer less wear over time, that is not a temp issue but it is an engine longevity issue.
The question was what is the better choice, and that will depend on many factors and will be different for different folks. Driving style, altitude, how often you tow vs just drive the truck around empty, how long you plan to keep the vehicle, whether you focus on first cost or life cycle cost, who does your maintenance, etc. I was raising some of those points for consideration. If some of them aren't important to you that's fine. Like I said, for me, I'd personally select the 5.0, I didn't say that would be right for everyone. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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CharlieM
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 8:09am |
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Offgrid, I think your point on 5.0 vs 3.5EB is right on for low altitudes. At low altitudes the larger and simpler engine is adequate and more reliable. However, at high altitudes and climbing the lack of air takes over. That's the reason I bought the supercharger for my Tacoma. It sure makes a difference.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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lostagain
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595 |
Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 8:06am |
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OG, you haven't driven an F-150 with the 2.7. You don't know what the rpm is going up the hills. I do and it isn't all that high, well under 4000. Indeed, I recall you once telling me that it was better to run a higher rpm because it circulates the cooling water through the system faster.
As for whether the 3.5 is better or worse than the 2.7, that's not the point and I could care less. The 2.7 meets our needs to tow a trailer in the same weight class as the 190 series and does a good job. It has plenty of reserve power where we travel in the Sierra Nevada mountains and is comfortable and economical. For others, they'd find the larger engine much more satisfying. We each have our preferences for what works for us. You chose what worked best for you. More than one person can be "right" at the same time.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 7:32am |
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lostagain, you have to look at total cost of ownership not just first cost or fuel economy. What rpm were you turning on that engine climbing that grade? I think charlieM's point about screaming is that to develop the hp the little engine is going to be turning faster and the boost is going to be higher. That inevitably will effect long term reliability. The $1500 first cost difference between the 2.7 and the 3.5 is easy to eat up in repair bills, and the resale value of the 3.5 will always be higher as well. The fuel economy difference will save you all of about $130 per year if you drive 10000 miles a year not towing. I doubt there is any fuel economy difference towing.
In fact, after looking into this a bit more and watching a couple of videos polling Ford service techs on what they would pick, I think I'd personally go for the old school 5.0 V8. The techs picked that over the 3.5 eb by about 4 to 1. Not one picked the 2.7 as their favorite engine. These guys have to maintain this stuff after all. I'm not a big fan of turbos myself. I keep my stuff forever and maintain it myself as much as possible. The normally aspirated V8 is long time proven tech and doesn't have all that plumbing to break. It has the same fuel economy as the 3.5eb and more hp if I ever needed it. If I lived and drove all the time at high altitudes maybe I'd get a 3.5 eb but there's nowhere to go in the East where I'm ever over 4000 ft so its not an issue. Its also $600 cheaper than the 3.5eb. Anyhow while I like the F150's I'm not in the market for a pickup so it doesn't matter, just my opinion.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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lostagain
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595 |
Posted: 01 Jun 2020 at 11:06pm |
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StephenH, our towing capacity is 7800# and we have plenty of power pulling a trailer that similar to the rPod 190 series. We pulled up and over a 7500 ft pass in a head wind and had power to spare. Right now onboard dash computer says we're getting 24.1 mpg. I do drive with a very light foot, though. While towing with no wind, we were getting around 14 mpg. When the high head winds came up, we got down as low as 12 as we climbed into Tonapah and over the other passes north of there. The 10 speed tranny really helps with getting the right gear for the load.
If you have the do-re-mi, to get the 3.5 eco, it'd be nice, but we're very happy with the 2.7 and don't feel the need for more power. We also have no plans for a heavier trailer in the future, so getting a bigger engine would be a waste of my Social Security check.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 01 Jun 2020 at 3:56pm |
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I'd get the 3.5 as well. There is a 3 mpg difference between the 2 engines but that's with an unloaded vehicle. Bet it disappears or even goes the other way towing.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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jato
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3346 |
Posted: 01 Jun 2020 at 3:33pm |
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We just picked up a 2017 F-150 last November with the 3.5 EB. Hopefully we will finally get to pull our pod with it soon for the first time. I did check a couple weeks ago when I pulled it out of our horse barn if the bargman plug is functional (yes and all the lights work) as well as the electric brakes (and they work as well) so we are off to a good start. Want to do a shakedown run in the UP of Michigan next week and then we still plan on having the Traverse City R-Pod Roundup June 18-21.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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CharlieM
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 01 Jun 2020 at 3:29pm |
No decision here. Get the 3.5. Better to cruise up the hill than listen to that little engine scream.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6428 |
Posted: 01 Jun 2020 at 2:36pm |
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I've been thinking about it. The question would be whether to get the 2.7 or the 3.5.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Towing rpod 192 - Event Date: 28 May 2020 - 30 Jun 2020