tow vehicle

Leo, the engine is still very strong as well as the clutch and throw out bearing.  Main issue is with the deteriorating body, getting a fair amount of rust, especially in those areas where deer have met their doom.

Originally posted by jato Thanks GlueGuy !  Next question is how long can one expect an ecoboost engine to last in miles, such as the 3.5L?  Curious as my 94 F-150 with a 5.0L V8 is beginning to get a bit tired and rusty with 315,000 Michigan salt miles on it.  Also the 31 deer kills have not helped either, nor all the other "hits" (I haven't kept track of those) where they only got maimed and limped off the road.

The bottom end (crank, journals, and piston rods) on EcoBoost engines are built like diesel engines. Both the 2.7L EcoBoost and the 3.5L EcoBoost are built with 6-bolt main bearings (that is not a misprint). In the "old days" one sign of a so-called bullet-proof engine was the use of 4-bolt mains. Well, these engines are built very seriously. The original EcoBoost engines have been around almost 10 years now (first production in 2009 for the 2010 model year), and it looks like Ford is going all in. Their track record is very good by all accounts.

Based on the EcoBoost engines I have seen, you can almost double the effective "displacement" of an EcoBoost engine. IOW, the 2.7L EcoBoost performs like a 5.4L engine, and the 3.5L EcoBoost performs like a 7L engine. The second generation of the 3.5L EcoBoost is now producing ~~ 470 ft-lbs of torque, and it's still a flat curve.

Originally posted by lostagain And keep in mind that with torque, it increases up to a point with increased engine rpm, but then starts a rapid decline despite the fact that the engine is going faster and faster.  Once you hit your maximum torque, there is little point in trying to go faster or make the engine turn faster because you'll only lose relative motive force.  When you hit your maximum torque, stick with that speed if you can.  If you can't sustain your speed, it's time to downshift.

Generally true, but there are exceptions to the rule. The "peaking" of the torque curve is a classic characteristic of a normally aspirated (NA) engines. Boosted engines behave quite differently.

The graph below shows the torque curves for 4 engines, a 6.2L V8, a 5.0L V8, and an early version of the 3.5L EcoBoost, and the 3.7L (NA) V6. On the face of it, you might think that the 6.2L V8 is the stronger engine with 438 ft-lbs, but that torque happens at ~~ 4800 RPM.

By contrast, the 3.5L EcoBoost "only" produces 420 ft-lbs of torque, but that torque happens at ~~ 2400 RPM, and it stays there all the way up to ~~ 4500 RPM. This is what is called a "flat torque curve", and it is a feature of many/most diesel engines. It is very desirable for vehicles that have to tow.

For example, if the speed you're going requires the engine to run at 2000 RPM, the 6.2L V8 is producing a little under 300 ft-lbs, the 5.0L V8 is producing slightly over 200 ft-lbs, but the 3.5L is already producing just a shade over 400 ft-lbs. If you were cruising along and came upon a big uphill grade, which engine would be able to maintain 2000 RPM?

We've been driving our EcoBoost F-150 now for almost 3 years, and it is really a stump puller. That flat torque curve is amazing when it's at work.

Torque matters even more than horsepower when towing. You can have a lot of horsepower, but unless you can get that power to the wheels (torque) and get that torque to the ground (traction), you won't have much success in towing. Think a sports car (lots of horsepower but not as much torque) vs. a tractor (lots of torque but not much horsepower).  2011 Edge 3.5L had 285 hp at 6500 rpm and 253 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm when it was new. At 6+ years old, performance may not be as good due to wear. The 2L Ecoboost engine in the Escape had 240 hp at 5500 rpm and 270 lb-ft at 3000 rpm. A Ford F-150 with the 3.5L Ecoboost engine develops 375 hp and 470 lb-ft torque and the Raptor High Output 3.5L engine develops 450 hp and 510 lb-ft torque. The higher torque number with more than adequate horsepower means a better towing experience.

As for purchasing an R-Pod, not all dealers try to jack up the prices. Are you considering new or used?
Check RV Trader to see what kind of deal you can find.