5.4 towing
#16
10-16-2010, 12:10 PM
#17
10-16-2010, 05:42 PM
A perfect example of why people tell you that the 5.4 can't handle heavy loads "I have towed with a 5.4 and they will do most lighter loads just fine" bill11012 how do you consider 10,600 GVW A light load ? I'm really not trying to start a fight with you I just want to know what you're hauling 16,000 GVW fifth wheel. Then I would even consider anything less than a diesel, if I were going to pull 12 GVW every day it would be a diesel no questions at all. It's going to be really curious in a few years since the 6.8 L are no longer an option F250 or 350s how people will be arguing about the 6.2 versus the 6.7 diesel. I wish you could've seen my 1981 GMC 2500 with a 305 the trailer loaded to the roof with ceramics and hardwood flooring Well over 8,000 pounds on a truck that was never meant to haul more than 6500 pounds LOL. I honestly never understood why Ford offered a 10 cylinder if you need that much serious hauling power you need a diesel fuel savings alone Diesel would be the way to go take care.
PS please don't turn this into a 10 cylinder versus PSD argument you may convince other people with your BS. I've made a life of hauling equipment and materials to job sites, Gasoline engine will never have the power of a compression ignition engine or the effective braking effect When you're trying to stop that weight and as far as longevity goes a well maintain diesel will outlast the body it's sitting in. I grew up on a farm, and before I could ride a bike I drove a tractor :-) . I laugh when I hear people tell me the maintenance on the diesel is hard, drain the water checked the fuel filter regularly and keep up on your oil changes.
PS please don't turn this into a 10 cylinder versus PSD argument you may convince other people with your BS. I've made a life of hauling equipment and materials to job sites, Gasoline engine will never have the power of a compression ignition engine or the effective braking effect When you're trying to stop that weight and as far as longevity goes a well maintain diesel will outlast the body it's sitting in. I grew up on a farm, and before I could ride a bike I drove a tractor :-) . I laugh when I hear people tell me the maintenance on the diesel is hard, drain the water checked the fuel filter regularly and keep up on your oil changes.
(just kidding)
#18
10-16-2010, 09:51 PM
I'm simply trying to stay that on this site People are always putting the 5.4 down for lack of power. If you're old enough to remember the 70s and 80s, which I made my living through and still to this day Thank God, most trucks didn't break 240 hp, and nobody complained about lack of power.
I'm too young to have been there, but I have driven both gas and diesel trucks from the 80s that were thought to be towing beasts at the time they were made.
Badly underpowerd and very poor fuel mileage compared to anything being made now.
I wish I had a picture of it, but I did not think of it until after I unloaded.
There is not any one thing I haul, so my weights ( and the amount of wind drag) are kind of all over the place.
The 7.3 might be as reliable, but just look at the posts about the 6.0 and 6.4 problems.
#19
10-16-2010, 11:14 PM
i have a 05 250 ccsb with 120,000 and purrs like a kitten a great motor.But to me it lacks power i know people were talking about the older trucks with less horsepower pulling and stuff but mine is pretty much gutless when the travel trailer is hooked up.lol.My travel trailer is 7500 lbs dry and man with the stuff in the trailer and people in the truck it is a gutless turd.Not that i am out to break any land speed records but dam that thing just screams to keep it up at about 65-70 mph.I am guessing total weight wise with people and little water and crap about 9000 lbs maybe little more.But i also came from a dodge ram 1/2 ton with a hemi and man that motor would just pull my trailer like no tomorrow maybe that was what i was used too or something but that hemi was strong pulling this thing.Now the dodge though didn't pull it no where near like my ford does as in bouncing or swaying that isn't even close but the power was awsome.Just my .02 is they should of just kept the 5.4 in the 150's and just put v10's and diesels in the 250 and 350's.I know people are gonna chime in and say just let it rev that what it is meant to do but i just can't let a motor rev like that for periods of time i guess it is just me or something but i hate hearing a motor rev like that.
#20
10-17-2010, 12:39 AM
Cargo Master
#21
10-17-2010, 01:03 AM
But i also came from a dodge ram 1/2 ton with a hemi and man that motor would just pull my trailer like no tomorrow maybe that was what i was used too or something but that hemi was strong pulling this thing.Now the dodge though didn't pull it no where near like my ford does as in bouncing or swaying that isn't even close but the power was awsome.Just my .02 is they should of just kept the 5.4 in the 150's and just put v10's and diesels in the 250 and 350's.I know people are gonna chime in and say just let it rev that what it is meant to do but i just can't let a motor rev like that for periods of time i guess it is just me or something but i hate hearing a motor rev like that.
One guy here was bragging about an early 80's Chevy 305 having power, wow, my brother had a new early 80's short bed 4WD truck (with a 4 speed and 3.73 rear no less), talk about a gutless turd! That engine never ran right, he cursed that truck (great looking truck though) until he traded it on a used Scout II. That IH 345 was a tractor engine, (a gas engine with diesel torque), I think max torque was around 2,200 to 2,400 rpm's or so - he loved that Scout and drove it many years but the tin worm finally ate it, but I digress....
#23
10-17-2010, 02:11 PM
I've towed the same 29 ft toy hauler that weighs about 10k with 3 different trucks. 1) 1991 F250 SC 460 auto 2wd 3.73 2) 1997 F250 SC 460 auto 4wd 4.10 3) 2006 F250 CC lb 5.4 auto 2wd 3.73. The 91 was adequet and ended up not working as well as the 97. The 06 does much better than the 97 and will beat it to the top of the same hill pulling the same trailer. The trannys are not in the same league. I have not towed this trailer with a V10 or PSD but would imagine they would be much better, but the 5.4 gets the job done and beter then the previous generations big block.
Just my opinion so don't take it as fact.
Just my opinion so don't take it as fact.
#25
10-17-2010, 03:59 PM
Funniest thing yet!!
I currently own an 06 5.4 supercab 4x4. Turd......no, but if I would have been reading this site before I purchased I would have done V10 or just saved a little more for a diesel. I don't tow all the time but it gets near daily during the spring and early summer. I just feel it really struggles to get going, but I am not one to mash the throttle either. Fuel economy with a 5500# load is only about 8, however, thats with stop and go and not highway. On certain days it feels like its pulling with ease and others as if its dragging a drag sled and this is with using the same load. I had the 150 with the 5.4 and that thing moved. But is was what, 1,000#'s less? I bought the 3/4 ton for payload and a better towing experience as the 150 just got pushed around by the trailer. It does tow better, but man that 150 was a smooth ride. Does it get the job done....yes. Do I regret the purchase.... no. I'll use it until it rots away or has nothing left. But the next one will probably have a more powerful power plant in it. Its a good truck but I agree with people that if you tow heavier loads daily you may want to have more power. Again I didnt say need just that you may want it
#26
10-17-2010, 04:59 PM
Or a thread where you tell someone with a different powertrain than you have what he can or can't do.
I'm very new to this forum but the mindset from above quote is getting very old to read on practically every thread.
I have a 5.4 that works for Me... sorry if that can't possibly make sense to someone else with a different motor.
I'm very new to this forum but the mindset from above quote is getting very old to read on practically every thread.
I have a 5.4 that works for Me... sorry if that can't possibly make sense to someone else with a different motor.
#27
10-17-2010, 05:30 PM
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Or a thread where you tell someone with a different powertrain than you have what he can or can't do.
I'm very new to this forum but the mindset from above quote is getting very old to read on practically every thread.
I have a 5.4 that works for Me... sorry if that can't possibly make sense to someone else with a different motor.
I'm very new to this forum but the mindset from above quote is getting very old to read on practically every thread.
I have a 5.4 that works for Me... sorry if that can't possibly make sense to someone else with a different motor.
Sometimes you just gotta read it and move on. Overall this sight is bloody awesome!!
#28
10-17-2010, 05:44 PM
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I drive an '08 5.4 CC 4x4 LB w/ 4:10 gears. Regularly pull a 3 horse trailer w/ living quarters. Trailer weighs 4500lbs empty, probably 7-8K loaded. Truck pulls it just fine. Won't win any races, but I don't need to with 47' of truck and trailer. Pulls at 70mph on the highway. Should you go faster pulling a trailer? Personally, I don't think so. Averages 16mpg empty, 9-ish towing. I also have a '99 E-350 2v V-10. Love that engine. Pulls effortlessly. Averages 10 mpg almost all the time, towing or not. Think I'll keep them both.
#29
10-17-2010, 05:51 PM
I'm surprised the Ram felt that strong. I know the Dodge chassis probably weighs at least 1k pounds less, but the ram (I'm guessing it was a gen I 5.7) only had 10 ft pounds more torque, and at a higher rpm (375 at 4,400 rpm's) where the 3V 5.4 was 365 ft pounds at 3,750 rpm?? Maybe the Dodge had a 4.30 rear and the Ford had a 3.55 or something?
One guy here was bragging about an early 80's Chevy 305 having power, wow, my brother had a new early 80's short bed 4WD truck (with a 4 speed and 3.73 rear no less), talk about a gutless turd! That engine never ran right, he cursed that truck (great looking truck though) until he traded it on a used Scout II. That IH 345 was a tractor engine, (a gas engine with diesel torque), I think max torque was around 2,200 to 2,400 rpm's or so - he loved that Scout and drove it many years but the tin worm finally ate it, but I digress....
One guy here was bragging about an early 80's Chevy 305 having power, wow, my brother had a new early 80's short bed 4WD truck (with a 4 speed and 3.73 rear no less), talk about a gutless turd! That engine never ran right, he cursed that truck (great looking truck though) until he traded it on a used Scout II. That IH 345 was a tractor engine, (a gas engine with diesel torque), I think max torque was around 2,200 to 2,400 rpm's or so - he loved that Scout and drove it many years but the tin worm finally ate it, but I digress....
