30 years ago, nobody would have batted an eye if you said you were going to tow a 5,000 pound skid steer behind a 300 I-6. The 3.3 liter has very close to the same torque ad the 300, considerably more horsepower, a transmission with more gears, and just as a tiebreaker, your 2018 absolutely has better brakes than anything that came with the 300. The 3.3 may get screamy but it will pull that thing just fine.
People don’t realize. The 3.3 V6 with a 3.73 axle towed more than the 2.7 Eco boost (+7000 lbs). Great truck with a simple and reliable engine. It’s make as much power as the V8s from about 10 years ago.
the 3.3 L v6 and the 6 speed transmission is the smoothest power train by far in the line up. Its just a beautiful combo. The 10 speed and the other power trains are rough and jerky shifting power trains.
You can definitely tow with that. The engine is on par with what people were doing with small block v8’s back in the 90’s. You have way better suspension, brakes, and transmission than back then. The engine may scream a bit, but as long as you’re not in a huge hurry, that 3.3 will get you there.
Oh man, this is super interesting. I pull a u-haul car trailer and car several times a year with my 3.3 and I've had zero issues. With the 3.73 gears, it's fine! Ask anyone online though and they'll tell you you're crazy.
The rear end gearing makes the difference. I believe with the 3.73 you are at the 7,000lbs tow rating, but some, like mine unfortunately, come with a 3.55 I think and puts us at 5,000lbs.I’m looking to swap the gears in mine soon and some other supporting mods to pump those numbers up.
@@jamesyoung3288 My 3.3 reg cab with the 3.73 is rated for 7500 but I don't go over the 5k mark with the uhaul trailer because it has no load distribution hitch capabilities
Thanks for the towing demonstration. Excellent common sense advise. Well, common sense once you know. P.S.: I really like the wrap and fenders you have on your truck.
I have 2 F150 with the same 3.3 V6 one with 3.53 gears and one with 3.73 gearing. Both have been super reliable. The 3.7 definitely feels snappier. I plan to get in for myself with a back sheet and the changes I plan on doing is getting it in 4WD.
Good video bro! Question, I have the same truck 3.3 rated at 5000 pounds for towing. If I added the parts that Ford is stating, would I be able to tow more ?
Probably not. If yours is rated at 5,000 my research tells me you have the 3.55 gear rear end. If you want to tow more weight I believe you’ll need to change the gearing in the rear end. I’m talking with a mechanic friend of mine about putting the 3.73 gear in mine. That with the other supporting mods should allow me to safely tow up to 7,000lbs.
@@cr_7146 I’m no mechanic so do what you choose. That being said I plan to change my rear end to the 3.73. That will give me more low end torque but I will sacrifice a little up top. Meaning I will be running higher in the rpms at highway speeds with that gearing. Added with that an after market transmission and oil cooler, maybe even aftermarket radiator too. Once all of that is completer I will feel confident towing more weight. Not necessary but I also just purchased the larger 36 gallon fuel tank since I know I will loose a little mpg.
Does anyone with 3.3l v6 get weird air gurgling sound with it in drive at slow speeds giving it some gas but doesn’t do it in park neutral or reverse? Like air pressure build up and release ?
Put it in sport mode. It'll Rev higher without having to press the gas as much to keep up with the speed you want and will hold on to the lower gears longer. Other wise in normal mode you have to press the gas to the floor to maintain speed when going up hill
@@apexcorner45 sounds good I love towing a light trailer with my 2012 Impala and just listen to my 3.6 v6 talk. I got true duals on it with Jones flowpacks and no cats
Hard to believe my 96 Explorer was rated to tow 5000lbs with a 4.0L (4.10)gear and 6800Lbs with the V8(3.73) :lol:. The V6 only had 160HP and 225tq (but at 2300 RPM).
I pull a 5k tractor and 2.5 k trailer from Alabama to Virginia but mine was a ecoboost but still little painful for the truck specifically for the suspension.
30 years ago, nobody would have batted an eye if you said you were going to tow a 5,000 pound skid steer behind a 300 I-6. The 3.3 liter has very close to the same torque ad the 300, considerably more horsepower, a transmission with more gears, and just as a tiebreaker, your 2018 absolutely has better brakes than anything that came with the 300. The 3.3 may get screamy but it will pull that thing just fine.
True, until they saw the truck hit the highway and do the speed limit.
People don’t realize. The 3.3 V6 with a 3.73 axle towed more than the 2.7 Eco boost (+7000 lbs). Great truck with a simple and reliable engine. It’s make as much power as the V8s from about 10 years ago.
Maybe 20 years ago lol
I have a 18 super cab with the 3.3l it’s 4x4 and has the 3.73 gears it goes just as good as my old 05 f150 with the 5.4
The 2.7 EB with 3.73 gears tows 9000 lbs the 3.3l can’t do that.
@@billbrown893 true, but no turbos to grenade
@@brentheron198 turbos rarely ever gernade on ecoboost.
the 3.3 L v6 and the 6 speed transmission is the smoothest power train by far in the line up. Its just a beautiful combo. The 10 speed and the other power trains are rough and jerky shifting power trains.
I have a 6 speed truck and my opinion is the opposite of yours. I drive my bosses 10 speed Ford and it’s an absolute dream.
Yeah my 6 speed is clunky in my f150 2.7 eco. Not bad just clunky.
You can definitely tow with that. The engine is on par with what people were doing with small block v8’s back in the 90’s. You have way better suspension, brakes, and transmission than back then. The engine may scream a bit, but as long as you’re not in a huge hurry, that 3.3 will get you there.
I tow my lawn trailer everyday only 3600 lbs but it does it. But I can feel it versus my 3/4 ton hemi
I love my 3.3 but I haul mostly trash and tree debris. That skid steer is the absolute heaviest thing I would tow and not on highway.
That things sounds good toting a load. I love to hear any engine pulling though.
Oh man, this is super interesting. I pull a u-haul car trailer and car several times a year with my 3.3 and I've had zero issues. With the 3.73 gears, it's fine! Ask anyone online though and they'll tell you you're crazy.
The rear end gearing makes the difference. I believe with the 3.73 you are at the 7,000lbs tow rating, but some, like mine unfortunately, come with a 3.55 I think and puts us at 5,000lbs.I’m looking to swap the gears in mine soon and some other supporting mods to pump those numbers up.
@@jamesyoung3288 My 3.3 reg cab with the 3.73 is rated for 7500 but I don't go over the 5k mark with the uhaul trailer because it has no load distribution hitch capabilities
@@jamesyoung3288 hey man I have a 3.3 2019 f150 as well. What mods do you recommend?
Good video. I feel there aren’t too many vids of towing with the 3.3L. Love mine.
The 3.3 V6 with a 3.73 axle towed more than the 2.7 Eco boost (+7000 lbs). Great truck with a simple and reliable engine.
Love my 2018 XL 6.5 bed, reg. cab with tow package ! I'll tow you home when your Eco Boost busts !
Thanks for the towing demonstration. Excellent common sense advise. Well, common sense once you know.
P.S.:
I really like the wrap and fenders you have on your truck.
I have 2 F150 with the same 3.3 V6 one with 3.53 gears and one with 3.73 gearing. Both have been super reliable. The 3.7 definitely feels snappier. I plan to get in for myself with a back sheet and the changes I plan on doing is getting it in 4WD.
V6 can tow a lot more than people realize as long as your not in the mountains you’ll be just fine.
I've got the 3.3. I can't see towing anything over about 3500lbs. It just takes too long to get up to speed
My dump trailer weighs 4000lbs empty. Guess I’ll keep the diesel
Good video bro! Question, I have the same truck 3.3 rated at 5000 pounds for towing. If I added the parts that Ford is stating, would I be able to tow more ?
Probably not. If yours is rated at 5,000 my research tells me you have the 3.55 gear rear end. If you want to tow more weight I believe you’ll need to change the gearing in the rear end. I’m talking with a mechanic friend of mine about putting the 3.73 gear in mine. That with the other supporting mods should allow me to safely tow up to 7,000lbs.
@@jamesyoung3288 what list of mods would you suggest in order to tow more ?
@@cr_7146 I’m no mechanic so do what you choose. That being said I plan to change my rear end to the 3.73. That will give me more low end torque but I will sacrifice a little up top. Meaning I will be running higher in the rpms at highway speeds with that gearing. Added with that an after market transmission and oil cooler, maybe even aftermarket radiator too. Once all of that is completer I will feel confident towing more weight. Not necessary but I also just purchased the larger 36 gallon fuel tank since I know I will loose a little mpg.
Your truck can tow what it's rated to tow and no more legally.
Did you plasti-dip the truck or wrap it? Cool look!
I recently installed a throttle controller on my 3.3L made a huge difference.
I was thinking about that... just didn't want to compromise reliability.. don't know if it does but decided to leave it be
These 3.3's can't haul to save their life. Still a firm believer in a truck sticking to a V8 for towing power. Not V6 turbo or non.
V6 turbos murder the v8s
It does the job.
Yup my v6 turbo tows better than any v8 I’ve used. Tons of torque down low.
Do u still have truck, if so how many miles now. I’m looking to buy the same truck it has 125k on it dealership wants 24k
yup! still have it. currently have 85k miles on it. I recently did an update video on it on my channel.
Does anyone with 3.3l v6 get weird air gurgling sound with it in drive at slow speeds giving it some gas but doesn’t do it in park neutral or reverse? Like air pressure build up and release ?
Turn volume up on radio
My 2018 f150 3.3L speed drops when going up hill. Can someone tell me why?
Put it in sport mode. It'll Rev higher without having to press the gas as much to keep up with the speed you want and will hold on to the lower gears longer. Other wise in normal mode you have to press the gas to the floor to maintain speed when going up hill
Stock exhaust?
Just a magnaflow muffler
That truck sounds great ! I would not hesitate to buy a 3.3 . Which rear axle do you have ?
@@apexcorner45 sounds good I love towing a light trailer with my 2012 Impala and just listen to my 3.6 v6 talk. I got true duals on it with Jones flowpacks and no cats
Finally someone acknowledging that the stock XL and XLT 3.3L with 3.55 cannot out-tow most 3 row CUVs and even the Honda Ridgeline.
Hard to believe my 96 Explorer was rated to tow 5000lbs with a 4.0L (4.10)gear and 6800Lbs with the V8(3.73) :lol:. The V6 only had 160HP and 225tq (but at 2300 RPM).
You are full of it
We do not tow with gas engines in Pickups. This is a 2.8 litre diesel towing a 6,6000lb trailer
ua-cam.com/video/5wlt2uPNe40/v-deo.html
I pull a 5k tractor and 2.5 k trailer from Alabama to Virginia but mine was a ecoboost but still little painful for the truck specifically for the suspension.
Could I tow at least 7500 lbs. 100 hay bales weighing 50 lbs each plus a 2500 lbs trailer?