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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » My Jeep XJ kept pace with an Eco-Boost F150

Feb. 4, 2012 7:13 p.m. a401cj Reader

So I was travelling through some fairly steep hills on interstate in WV today when I got blown off the road by one of those new F150 Eco-boost trucks. I knew there were some really steep grades ahead so I dropped in behind, shifted down to 4th and nailed it. He kept pulling ahead. Dropped to third and tached up to over 4000 rpm. I slowly caught up and hung with him to the top of the hill (85 mph plus).

So what you say? He happened to be towing a beautiful '57 Ford Fairlane convertible on a tandem axle trailer.

DAYUM!
Feb. 4, 2012 7:44 p.m. Knurled Dork

I remember towing an open tandem-axle trailer with a Durango... a 4.7l Durango... slowing to 50mph up some grades trying to preserve the transmission which felt like it was starting to slip over 3/4 throttle (truck's owner's idea of maintenance is "Bah, I wanted to get a different car anyway")...

and going up one hill, something that'd been following me pulled out and whipped past like I was standing still!

It was one of the new Ford Diesels, towing a trailer that I think could have swallowed my entire rig.

Showoffs...
Feb. 4, 2012 7:46 p.m. dean1484 SuperDork

If I was the F150 driver I would be saying WTF is this Jeep thinking. I am towing a 57 Fairlane.

Seriously you had me until you noted he was towing something that probably weighs as much as your jeep. I would not be advertising this little event. I am impressed with the F150 though.
Feb. 4, 2012 8:03 p.m. a401cj Reader

dean1484 wrote:

I would not be advertising this little event.

Why not?

My Jeep is not a fast car and I don't pretend otherwise
Feb. 4, 2012 8:05 p.m. dculberson HalfDork

dean1484 wrote:

If I was the F150 driver I would be saying WTF is this Jeep thinking. I am towing a 57 Fairlane.

Seriously you had me until you noted he was towing something that probably weighs as much as your jeep. I would not be advertising this little event. I am impressed with the F150 though.
Feb. 4, 2012 8:13 p.m. irish44j Dork

an XJ with the H/O is actually alot quicker than alot of people think. I can think of one two-seat sportscar that is quite popular here that would lose to an XJ in the 1/4, if we were comparing mid-90s models
Feb. 4, 2012 8:18 p.m. a401cj Reader

irish44j wrote:

an XJ with the H/O is actually alot quicker than alot of people think. I can think of one two-seat sportscar that is quite popular here that would lose to an XJ in the 1/4, if we were comparing mid-90s models

not lifted on 31's with the stock 3.07 gear they won't

a re-gear is in the near future
Feb. 4, 2012 8:26 p.m. irish44j Dork

a401cj wrote:

irish44j wrote:

an XJ with the H/O is actually alot quicker than alot of people think. I can think of one two-seat sportscar that is quite popular here that would lose to an XJ in the 1/4, if we were comparing mid-90s models

not lifted on 31's with the stock 3.07 gear they won't

a re-gear is in the near future

I meant a stock one, perhaps a 2WD model!

I'll see your lifted 31s with stock gearing, and raise you my old lifted on 31s with the non-HO Renix engine...It was not fast by any measure...
Feb. 4, 2012 11:15 p.m. Strike_Zero Dork

There was a 5speed 2-door down the street for CHEAP that I passed on. I couldn't stand to get another project (what was I thinking . . . It sounds like I'm becoming regular lol)
Feb. 5, 2012 1:03 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Autos are faster. Mine is surprisingly sprightly for a truck.
Feb. 5, 2012 2:00 a.m. Travis_K SuperDork

I have to wonder what someone was thinking driving 85 mph towing a trailer, that doesn't sound like a good idea at all.
Feb. 5, 2012 7:17 a.m. a401cj Reader

Travis_K wrote:

I have to wonder what someone was thinking driving 85 mph towing a trailer, that doesn't sound like a good idea at all.

oh, i forgot to mention that it was pouring down rain too
Feb. 5, 2012 7:34 a.m. Knurled Dork

Travis_K wrote:

I have to wonder what someone was thinking driving 85 mph towing a trailer, that doesn't sound like a good idea at all.

Probably just trying to get away from the a-hole tailgating him for the last fifty miles with his headlights off...

I will say that there is an enormous difference between towing with a small pickup or SUV and towing with something with a looong wheelbase and some mass to it. That Durango was sketchy over 75 and got pretty spooky going downhill, especially after some dumbass thought it'd be a good idea to load most of the heavy stuff on the trailer instead of in the truck.

But a real truck could do 85mph upways, downways, leftways, rightways, no problem. Especially if it's a dually.
Feb. 6, 2012 7:18 p.m. Vigo SuperDork

Autos are faster. Mine is surprisingly sprightly for a truck.

Autos feel punchier due to the rear gear but they arent actually faster.

A friend of mine ran his stock 4.0ho/5spd/3.07/2wd (on 235/75/15, about 29.5" iirc) and got 16.0@85, on his first time ever drag racing. I didnt see his slips so i dont know what his 60' was. I can only assume it was mediocre.

We put a 3.50 in it a few weeks ago. It feels a lot quicker. He was going to go to the track the next day but the water pump conveniently asploded, possibly because he found the rev limiter for the first time ever during some massive tire spin. I took one of my dodge dynastys and ran 15.2. I was concerned he might have beaten me when i thought he was coming.. so take that as you will.

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