truck/trailer

Have a 2011 F150 ecoboost rated to pull 11300lbs. Gets 9.6 mpg(yuk) highway when pulling 2500 lb. trailer with about 2k. animals.  
Need to purchase larger trailer 20 ft gooseneck that weighs around 4300 lbs then will put about 2500lbs. of animals, and pull 6, 8, 12 hours on highway.  Will this truck work or do I need new truck as well.  Have been told I need 3/4 ton with gear ratio 3/73 or more.  If I'm able to use current truck to pull this new trailer, will the mpg decrease even more? If I need another truck ie 3/4 ton which ones should I consider.  don't need brand new but do need comfort and not humongous.  

i don't work on a LOT of newer pickups..  i do recall reading a forum post somewhere about the fords with the towing package needing to flip a lever or switch on the dash to turn the tow program ON ..   dig into your owner manual under TOWIng..  if you don't have one.. they are available in PDF form online for free..

i did see this tidbit from the Car and driver review of your truck...

Although the turbocharged V-6 has the potential to deliver better mileage than a V-8, we’ve noticed in other EcoBoost Fords that their much-touted efficiency increase pretty much disappears when driving with any sort of haste. But that’s less important here than in other segments, since, in truth, most pickup owners accept crappy fuel economy as a part of the deal. Given that, and having now experienced the power and performance of the EcoBoost F-150, we think most potential customers will feel right at home in the driver’s seat.

you might want to either invest in a scan tool... or a OBD2 dashboard display to keep an active eye on the short term and long term fuel trims..   trying your best to keep the percentages within 10 percent of 0..  either plus or minus..  

why watch the fuel trims.. i have a friend with a earlier ford van.. 96 E250 with the 4.9.. after replacing a bunch of parts as it has 400,000 miles on it..  yep.. he managed to do a day of service calls..   ran it 370 miles .. still had a quarter tank at the end of the day of so cal traffic..  

his van only weighs 7800 pounds..  so its hard to judge..

i drove with another friend a few weeks ago.. his right foot NEVER STOPPED moving up and down on the gas pedal...  i thought we were stock car racing at a 1/2 mile circle track..    i tried to get him to change his ways.. he only got angry..   each time he lifted.. the engine slowed the truck down.. as he floored it to pick the speed back up..  it went full rich..  my neck was sore at the end of that drive..  and he kept it right at 63 to 66 MPH..

drive it with your foot also...   not in cruise control...   you can judge the needs to keep centered between traffic far better than the cruise control that will keep it locked at what ever speed you set it at..


what i don't know.. is if your truck is equipped with a MPG average display...

you might be able to adjust the settings to set it to MPG instant display..   that will give you instant feedback as to your throttle activity..  

First, you do not need a 3/4 ton to pull that load.  It's well within your specs and the truck is definitely capable.  
Second, your fuel economy is about right.
Third, use your FOOT, not cruise control, just like suggested by one other guy.  You will do, or should be able to do, about 10% better with your foot than w/cruise.
Fourth, keep OUT OF OVERDRIVE, especially on a hill.  Yes, it eats fuel a little more, but you're not stressing your engine with pinging and detonation.  You might be able to tow in OD on flat parts, but many will not recommend this practice.

I tow 22' extra height enclosed trailer with 05 GMC 5.3 X-Cab LB and I get 10Mpg towing that, 170k miles on the truck.  It does as good as a family owned 09 with a 5.3 that has cylinder deactivation.  
Have towed 8,000# with 1/2 tons for an entire day without stopping except for fuel, they have no issues if you know what you're doing.  1000 miles a day is no big deal.  Keep in mind, truck is always moving, so lots of airflow in and over motor to keep it running right and cool, plus everything is then lubed and at operating specs.

So, NO,  you do not need a 3/4 ton.   Just tow a trailer with brakes, which are most likely required by law anyhow, and get a good brake controller if your Ford didn't come with one.  If you went to a 3/4 ton you'd have more truck weight, most likely a bigger motor with less fuel economy every day, and more insurance/registration costs.  Your 1/2 ton is way more than capable and will be for many, MANY thousands of miles.