Towing Capacity?

[rd_macgregor]

I was watching comparisons of the characteristics of the 2.7 Ecoboost and 3.0 EcoDiesel on TFLTruck and noted that the Ecoboost not only went 0-60 in about half the time of the Ecodiesel, they also had to be careful not to speed up the Ike Gauntlet in the EcoBoost, but, floorboarded, had a struggle keeping the Ecodiesel in the 50-55 mph range. The Ike Gauntlet for both trucks was towing a 7200# trailer with an Ecoboost rated at 7600# towing and an Ecodiesel rated at 9200# (?) towing, but (except for fuel efficiency) the Ecoboost far outperformed the Ecodiesel. If this is the case, what factors makes the Ecoboost tow rating about 1500# less than the Ecodiesel?
My wife just bought an Ecodiesel quad cab 4X4, but I'm still curious.

Bob

 

[KennyG]

Tow rating is a combination of engine, transmission, axle, wheelbase and what the manufacturer thinks is appropriate for the package. I checked the Ford website and found the 2.7 can be rated at 8600 with the right axle and wheelbase. The slight difference in capacity is probably because Dodge is more comfortable with consistently loading and lugging the diesel than Ford is with the same duty cycle on a turbo gas engine. I know my Dodge Dakota with a 6 cylinder is rated to tow 1000 lbs less than a V-8 in spite of having exactly the same frame and axle (and I think, transmission).

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have not towed with a 2.7 Eco Boost, have driven it, but own a 3.5 Eco Boost with 3.73 gears and tow with it weekly. Our company bought 3 Ram Eco Diesels and there is just no comparison. I bet my EB could put 10 lengths on the a Eco Diesel towing that 7,200# test load.

Then will be the first really capable 1/2 ton diesel.

Just remember, it takes torque to get a load rolling but HP to help it moving. The Eco Diesel lacks HP

Chris

 

[dodge man]

As a rule, a diesel engine will make less horsepower than a gas engine, all things being equal. Fords Eco Boost engines are cranked up pretty good and make a lot of power for their size. Thats why almost all diesels used on trucks have a turbo now, without the turbo, they would be a real dog. Tow ratings are not based on power alone, but axles, springs, brakes, frame strength, transmission strength and gearing and other factors. The advantage of the diesel is they tend to use less fuel than a gas engine and the harder you work them the more the gap widens compared to a gas engine. Real world results seem to show the Eco Diesel will haul down almost 30 mpg in real world driving on the highway.

 

[Baby Grand]

Is the service life between overhauls for each one the same?

 

[Diamondpilot]

As a rule, a diesel engine will make less horsepower than a gas engine, all things being equal. Fords Eco Boost engines are cranked up pretty good and make a lot of power for their size. Thats why almost all diesels used on trucks have a turbo now, without the turbo, they would be a real dog. Tow ratings are not based on power alone, but axles, springs, brakes, frame strength, transmission strength and gearing and other factors. The advantage of the diesel is they tend to use less fuel than a gas engine and the harder you work them the more the gap widens compared to a gas engine. Real world results seem to show the Eco Diesel will haul down almost 30 mpg in real world driving on the highway.

Diesels could make the power without a turbo. The real advantage of a turbo is to use a smaller displacement to not only save weight and space but to also maintain HP. HP stated by SAE standards are at 59 deg and Sea Level. Every thousand feet you go up you loose 3% of the power it product SL. So in Denver at 6000' a 300 HP truck motor is only producing 246 HP. As temps go up the same thing happens. A turbo can "normalize" the engine to bring back SL performance up to a point.

The 30 mpg thing is true. I drove one and after a week I nearly forgot to fuel it. It just keep going and going. I got 28 plus without trying.


Chris

 

[dodge man]

Yes diesels can make power without a turbo but not much. My Cummins is rated at 305 hp and 555 ft-lbs, I bet without a turbo it would be 150 hp. The early Cummins were all rated at less than 200 hp and that was with a turbo. Diesels can also take a lot of boost, 30 psi or more is not uncommon, anything over 10 psi in a gas engine is a lot.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I appreciate the replies, but I'm not sure it really answers my questions. Does each manufacturer decide what the ratings are, or are there standards against which the manufacturers measure their vehicles to assign the ratings? From the comparison tests I've seen, it seems like the 2.7 Ecoboost could easily match the hauling performance of the Ecodiesel, while surpassing it in speed/acceleration (even while towing). I'm presuming that the F150 Ecoboost is the same truck as the other manifestations of an F150, except for the drivetrain, so the engine and gearing should be the major determinants of the tow rating.
Except for the novelty value of a 1/2-ton diesel and the (admittedly fantastic) fuel efficiency, I don't see what else the Ecodiesel has going for it.

Bob

 

[RedNeckRacin]

SAE J2807 is the towing specs that all domestic manufactures should be adhering too. I think ford is not complying with their HD trucks but I'm not sure about the half tons.

 

[TheGoose]

How fast a truck gets up to speed with a load has almost nothing to do with how much it can tow. For example, 18 wheelers on the road are very "slow" but are rated to tow ?80,000 lbs. It's all about the truck being able to handle a load once it's moving, not how fast it gets it moving.

I was watching comparisons of the characteristics of the 2.7 Ecoboost and 3.0 EcoDiesel on TFLTruck and noted that the Ecoboost not only went 0-60 in about half the time of the Ecodiesel, they also had to be careful not to speed up the Ike Gauntlet in the EcoBoost, but, floorboarded, had a struggle keeping the Ecodiesel in the 50-55 mph range. The Ike Gauntlet for both trucks was towing a 7200# trailer with an Ecoboost rated at 7600# towing and an Ecodiesel rated at 9200# (?) towing, but (except for fuel efficiency) the Ecoboost far outperformed the Ecodiesel. If this is the case, what factors makes the Ecoboost tow rating about 1500# less than the Ecodiesel?
My wife just bought an Ecodiesel quad cab 4X4, but I'm still curious.

Bob