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Old 09-15-2016, 10:04 AM   #1
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Towing an Eagle HT 27.5 with a F250 SD

Need to pick some brains here. We just bought a 2017 Jayco Eagle HT 27.5RLTS in Indiana. We are from TN.

Here are the specs on the 5er:

Unloaded Vehicle Weight = 7865
GVWR = 9950
Dry Hitch Weight = 1490

We're towing with a 2008 F250 Super Duty 5.4 Gas Engine. Unloaded, the 5er is squatting the truck somewhat. (We know about the option of adding the air bags.) It towed fairly well, but coming over the mountain from Kentucky, into Tennessee, the engine was struggling and 50 mph was the best we could do at 3500 rpm's.

Do any of you have a similar rig, and if so, what do you tow with? DH is wondering if there is anything we can do, short of trading for a diesel. We were told over and over that our truck would pull this, so we weren't planning on buying another vehicle. Thoughts or suggestions?
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Old 09-15-2016, 11:02 AM   #2
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Your truck will pull it, just not very satisfactorily. You don't say what rear end you have in the truck, but if it's a 3.42 or so, you will have a tough time pulling up hills and mountain passes. Our 26.5 RLS "squats" my GMC 3/4 ton 2500HD about one inch, measured the first time we hooked up. Depending on the squat, you might want to install some air bags or additional springs. However, I would wait to do that in order to find out if your truck really will pull satisfactorily. I did have a Ram 2500 diesel with a 3.42 rear end and I looked at changing out for a 3.73 or something around that ratio. Figured it probably wouldn't fix my concerns about the truck so traded it for the GMC and haven't looked back.

Easy answer would be to buy yourself a 3/4 or one ton diesel and you won't have any problems, but that might be an expensive fix.
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Old 09-15-2016, 11:31 AM   #3
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I am towing with a 2010 F150 with 5.4 and similar weight to you with 28BHBE tow trailer (but less tongue weight) My warranty recently expired so I added a Livewire TS tuner from 5star tuning with Custom tunes. Website claims an increase of 40 ft/lbs of torque which, while not earth shattering, is a 10% increase. While it requires premium fuel, it is worth it while towing. It also changed the shift patterns and locked out 6th gear and holds gears a little longer with the Tow Haul mode engaged.

I definitely noticed an improvement in acceleration while climbing hills and mountains with the trailer hitched up on a recent trip to Lake George, New York. There are a couple of steep climbing stretches where I had to slow down behind semis to allow traffic to pass and was able to accelerate past the semis while still climbing. Did the same stretch the year before and accelerating past definitely took longer. My truck seems to not have to work as hard to maintain the speed limit. I also like being able to keep an eye on temperatures while towing.
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Old 09-15-2016, 11:37 AM   #4
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I don't have any experience with a similar combo but I do know that the 5.4 likes to rev and you won't hurt it revving it up. Other than the noise it is fine.

Once I got used to revving up our 6.2l engine it performed much better than it was when I was trying not to let it scream.

Your rig is capable and unless you want to go for a diesel you will have to just be patient climbing some of the steeper hills and mountains.

Cheers
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Old 09-15-2016, 11:49 AM   #5
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Sorry, I forgot to include the gear ratio. It's 3.73. You all are making me feel much better as I did NOT want to put more money into another truck. DH bought this truck in 2013 when he retired. It had low miles on it and we hardly use it, so the thought of trading made me ill. LOL

We were concerned about the "screaming" as Subaru297 called it. We were concerned about blowing up the engine, so I'm glad I asked my question. Thank you all for your help!
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Old 09-15-2016, 11:53 AM   #6
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Believe it or not, you're close to your weight limit with that engine. You have a 3.73 rear.


9900 lbs. tops TT (depending on your cab style and 4X2 or 4X4)
10,000 lbs. FW
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Old 09-15-2016, 11:55 AM   #7
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TWP, could you elaborate? I don't understand what you mean. Thanks.
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Old 09-15-2016, 12:03 PM   #8
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7900 lbs dry trailer + you + DH + kids (if any) + ANYTHING you put in the truck + ANYTHING you put in the trailer.


10,000 lbs. is closer than you think. 2100 lbs. goes fast.
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Old 09-15-2016, 12:26 PM   #9
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Your 5.4 is a bit of a turd, for lack of a better description. Not saying that to excite Ford owners, but I had that exact same truck as my company work truck, back in '08. Just not enough engine there for what the truck is capable of, and nothing much you can do about it. I used to pull a large goose neck trailer from job site to job site, some of which were up in the mountains. You just have to get used to being a rolling road block in the right lane, or trade up to a diesel.
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Old 09-15-2016, 04:01 PM   #10
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I also live in tn . The mountain you are talking about will make any truck slow down.
as for your truck squatting , go get some heavy duty shocks put on. I have a 2016 27.5
egale ht .And I have no problem pulling it with my gm 2500 hd.I have a 373
gear.
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Old 09-15-2016, 05:29 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobx2 View Post
Your 5.4 is a bit of a turd, for lack of a better description. Not saying that to excite Ford owners, but I had that exact same truck as my company work truck, back in '08. Just not enough engine there for what the truck is capable of, and nothing much you can do about it. I used to pull a large goose neck trailer from job site to job site, some of which were up in the mountains. You just have to get used to being a rolling road block in the right lane, or trade up to a diesel.
+1!
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Old 09-15-2016, 06:52 PM   #12
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If you prefer gas engines, Ford does make larger ones. I don't know the years but some F250s were even equipped with a V10. I had one (V10) in my 2002 F250.
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Old 09-15-2016, 07:07 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Wrascal View Post
If you prefer gas engines, Ford does make larger ones. I don't know the years but some F250s were even equipped with a V10. I had one (V10) in my 2002 F250.
I have the 6.8 V10. 315 hp two valve.
Not huge at all but it pulls pretty good.
All of the "modular" ford engines need to spin pretty fast to make full torque/horsepower.
The V8 super duties have always been underpowered in my opinion.
While they don't make a ton of power, they make enough.
They ARE good tow vehicles.
You just need to keep the revs up!
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Old 09-15-2016, 07:10 PM   #14
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PS
Ford still offers the V10 3 valve (360 hp I believe) in cab and chassis only.
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Old 09-15-2016, 07:58 PM   #15
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I would like to echo some others is respect to gas engine rpm. You need to let them work. My 5.7 I force v8 cranks out 380 hp and 401 lbs ft of torque, and to reach that it has a work zone of 2000 to 4000 rpm. Towing flat on interstates its running 2000, and pulling long grades at 60 mph it has a sweet spot at about 3000 rpm. Starting from a stop light on hills I let it wind up to 4000 rpm before shifting to 2nd so I stay up with traffic, after that it revs to about 3200 between shifts so it can deliver the most power. My Tundra also has 4.30:1 gears so with the Six speed tranny it finds optimal torque at 3800, it pulls really well on hills and from stops. So please if you have a Gasser, let'r Rev and let'r shift its just doing its job.


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Old 09-15-2016, 08:16 PM   #16
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I had a 02 f250 with 5.4l engine. It really wasn't a tire burning truck stock but wasn't a total dog.After a 8" lift kit and 40" tires it really lost it power.i upgraded to a k&n cold air intake,throttle body spacer and it did regain a little pep but nothing to brag about.After if blew out the 3rd spark plug I had a performance shop install 5.4l supercharged engine and tuning and upgraded pulley for more boost,basically the stock lightning engine,took some massaging to get it but it really woke the truck up something fierce.Point being the truck has great tow potential but the engine is your down fall,you can do some simple bolt on performance stuff like custom tuner and the gains may help with towing up hills.If you do deciede to keep go with air bags for the squat,it will ride great with them installed
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Old 09-15-2016, 08:26 PM   #17
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^ This guy beat me to it. After reading this whole thread this is the first time forced induction was mentioned. If I were the original poster, I would be looking into a bolt on supercharger for that 5.4. That WILL fix the power problems, and since it's already "enough truck" for that trailer I would argue that this is the best, cheapest and most effective fix.
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