2015 Ford F-150 Pulls 22 MPG Combined, 12,000 Pounds Of Boat

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

So, how many miles per gallon did the 2015 Ford F-150 gain for the trouble of losing 700 pounds by gaining an aluminum body? How does 22 mpg combined sound?

The 4×2 model with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost delivers 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The 19/26/22 rating bests the 2008 model with the 4.6-liter V8, which brought a rating of 14/19/16 to the party.

Aside from the 2.7-liter mill, the F-150 can be had with a standard 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6, 3.5-liter EcoBoost, or 5-liter Ti-VCT V8. Horsepower ranges from 282 for the V6, to 385 for the V8, while torque comes at 253 lb-ft for the former, 420 lb-ft for the 3.5-liter EcoBoost.

As far as towing boats and hay are concerned, the larger EcoBoost 4×2 pulls the most at 12,200 pounds, whereas the 5-liter V8 edges out the EcoBoost with a max payload of 3,300 to 3,270.

Per Ford, new models are being shipped to dealers now, though special orders will be delayed until February.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Stuki Stuki on Nov 24, 2014

    So, in other words, the Alu truck with the pedal powertrain returns mpg similar to a Canondale bicycle, and Ford also sells an alu truck that can tow as much as a steel truck, while using as much fuel as a steel truck.... ? Or am I missing something?

    • See 5 previous
    • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Nov 25, 2014

      stuki - Ford is playing a numbers game. I do agree that an apples to oranges comparison is being played out. Ford did the same thing with the 3.5 Ecoboost by comparing numbers to the 5.4 all the while giving the impression that they were going to beat everyone by 15%. All one can do is compare the 5.0 V8 and the EB 3.5 2015 model to the 2014 model to see how big a difference the aluminum bod y has made. That would be easy to do but most automotive journalists will not bite the teet that feeds them.

  • Mason Mason on Nov 25, 2014

    Yep, because Ford needs to use a truck with 19.5 wheels and larger axles and heavier suspension and a $3500 dollar premium over the F350 to competively tow with Ram. What a joke that is, and the fact they're threatening to sue is an embarrassment to Ford lovers. Gee, I wonder if they will test with their spare tire and radio this time. I've said it before and I'll say it again, anybody who has towed anything with an Eco Boost knows the 12k lb rating is a fallacy. I wouldn't want to tow that kind of weight with a small displacement v6 (in a half ton, no less) on a local route let alone long haul, and you can rest assured the uneducated will be lining up to purchase one to tow their high profile 5th wheel camper.

    • Dieselone Dieselone on Nov 25, 2014

      That goes for any half-ton. Not all towed weights are created equal. Towing 12k lbs of brincs on a flatbed trailer around town is once thing, but no way would I want to tow 10klb+ 35' foot box trailer/RV with a 1/2 ton on a 1,000 mile trip. I know I wouldn't want to much more with my '14 Ram than what my 7k lb boat weighs. You start towing much more on a regular occasion and you're better off going with a 3/4 ton. I have no doubt the Ecoboost v6 has more towing power than most v8's available, but once you start approaching 10k lbs and over 1k lbs of tongue weight and most 1/2 tons are overloaded no matter what's under the hood. Particularly 1/2 ton Crew Cabs. Looking at Ford's Website, looks like most loaded up SuperCrews will be in the 1,600-2k lb cargo capacity range. So that is often the limiting factor when trying tow something pushing the max rating. That's why all tow ratings start with "can tow up to". Lots of things will eat into that rating. People, gear, tongue weight, etc all need to be factored in.

  • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Nov 25, 2014

    @jrmason - I do know guys who tow 10-12k with the EB 3.5. They say that they have had no problems. Fuel economy sucks under load but they expected that.

    • Dieselone Dieselone on Nov 25, 2014

      Yeah, I don't know why many seem toe think the Ecoboost is suppose to defy the laws of physics when towing (Probably the fault of Ford's marketing deparetment). I know several people with Ecoboost F150's Most are very happy with them, particularly with the towing performance. My '14 Hemi Ram with the 8 speed gets 8-10mpg towing my 7k lb boat. Pretty much just like my 5.3 Suburban, and 5.4 powered Expedition I had prior. The biggest difference is I don't have to keep it floored when accelerating or climbing any type of grade;) To the Ecoboost's defense, having so much torque available at low rpm while towing means, you might actually use it, thus it will burn more fuel doing so.

  • Mason Mason on Nov 25, 2014

    I suppose if all ones ever towed with is a half ton then they very well could be satisfied with the performance. I guarantee you if they towed with an HD pick up for any length of time they would be white knuckled the next time they got back in their half ton with 10-12k hooked to it. A tow vehicle needs to be heavy to be stable and predictive, and no matter how you slice it a truck with 6 ply tires that rides like a sedan does not fit the bill. I realize most that buy a half ton do not tow on the upper end of their GCWR but there are too many people who see the published numbers and assume the truck is capable of towing loads that heavy on a regular basis. I live on a Lake that booms with tourism in the summer and I can't tell you how many people I see with large 5th wheel campers or toy haulers hooked to the back of a half ton truck. They're just not capable of safely hauling heavy loads with such a large profile, yet because the truck says it can tow X amount then it's off to the races they go. I rode with a friend through the Allegeheneys towing a 6k lb boat with his 12 Eco Boost and I was far from impressed. The truck just seemed to be laboring awfully hard for not being anywhere near it's max GCWR. The trip back was quite windy, and that boat which had a large side profile was blowing him all over the road. And yes, the fuel economy was less than favorable, but that's to be expected with a small displacement engine with a poor torque curve. I have owned a diesel pick up since the 90's, so my opinions are obviously biased, but if you need to tow that heavy you need to be stepping up to a 3/4 ton pick up at a minimum For safety reasons. I think anyone who has ever towed with both platforms would agree with me.

    • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Nov 26, 2014

      @Jrmason, Very good post. Anything, that on a longish trip makes you feel very uncomfortable driving it ,towing that sort of load, in reality cannot tow that load. It may tow 10,000-12,000lb for a relatively short distance, but when the trailer "starts to wag the dog" , then it is dangerous. A test done elsewhere on a HD Truck waxed lyrical about the load it could tow, but seemed to disregard brake fade, coming off a mountain. In other words it could not actually tow that load.

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