Tow vehicle ideas needed! |
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lostagain
Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595 |
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Topic: Tow vehicle ideas needed! Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 10:06am |
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Ben, you may be real happy with the ecoboost engine if you are driving at high altitudes. We lived in NV and camped all around the northeast Sierras. Crossing Ebbetts and Carson passes was easy with the ecoboost engine. The altitude made no difference at all and there was plenty of power for our 4400 GVW trailer. We had a Dodge Dakota with a 4.7 V-8 that we towed our Pod with and it really struggled to get up steep climbs. With a naturally aspirated engine and a 5K weight limit, you may find that the mountain passes are unpleasantly challenging.
The down side of the small displacement engine is that you don't get much compression breaking and have to be careful to keep your speed down so you don't have to use your brakes too much. A diesel engine has the same compression braking issue unless it is equipped with a compression brake system, such as a Jake Brake. If I had it to do over again I would have test driven a 3.5 ecoboost to compare the difference.
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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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Pod_Geek
Senior Member Joined: 04 Dec 2019 Location: Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 261 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:15am | |
I'll just comment that since I switched from a RAM 1500 to a 2500 the towing experience with the R-Pod 195 (weight about 4500 lbs) is much better...much more stable in crosswinds and just overall a more solid ride. I attribute it to the heavier towing vehicle (+ 1600 lbs).
I'm not suggesting that the OP get a 2500 (unless he sees a bigger trailer in his future as we do), but note the weight of any prospective TV in light of my experience.
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2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River
2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
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poohbill
Groupie Joined: 22 Aug 2019 Location: Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 87 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:21am | |
We have been towing a 179 with a 2017 (Gen 2) Ridgeline all over the Rockies for years. They are well matched for each other. The transmission Honda uses has improved tremendously in model years later than mine. Mileage is close to 14@65.
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2016 179 Gastropod
2017 Ridgeline |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2660 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:45am | |
I worked for a company whose work trucks were all the 2.7L EcoBoost. The power was fantastic, but when we did off-road, I was surprised by the lack of compression braking; even in 4L. The 3.5L does not have the compression braking of a diesel, but it is way better than the 2.7L.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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Ben Herman
Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2018 Location: Gr Junction, CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 355 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:53am | |
Thanks, that makes sense. I can see where having the turbo kick in as needed would help.
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Ben Herman
Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2018 Location: Gr Junction, CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 355 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:55am | |
Thanks for that info - I definitely plan to take a look at the 3.5 and see how it drives.
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Ben Herman
Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2018 Location: Gr Junction, CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 355 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:56am | |
Appreciate the feedback on the 2.7 vs 3.5!
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Ben Herman
Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2018 Location: Gr Junction, CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 355 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 10 Apr 2023 at 5:45pm | |
Just a report back to all of you who assisted (I know we all like to hear the ending to a story). We just took posession of a 2016 F150 with a 3.5 V6 ecoboost. We'd gotten as far as putting a deposit down on a new Tacoma (prices on used ones are nearly the same as new), but realized that 1) the Tacoma would still likely fall short of our expectations for towing the 179, especially in the mountains and 2) we didint want to spend so much $$ on a vehicle that we pretty much only use for camping and occasional local trips. It'll take some getting used to - driving a big rig, that is - but I'm sure it will work well as a TV.
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3258 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 10 Apr 2023 at 7:09pm | |
Good choice. We have been very pleased with our 3.5 EB and the seats in our F-150 are very comfortable IMHO. We purchased ours when it was 3 years old, let someone else pay for the depreciation before we got it.
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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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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6329 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 10 Apr 2023 at 7:43pm | |
So far, I am glad we traded the 2010 Frontier for the 2018 F-150 3.5l Ecoboost XLT. Overall, I am getting better mileage with the bigger truck and I have tow capacity to spare. The back seat area of the F-150 crew cab is impressive. It is built with leg room for even big people.
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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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