Dad has an 07 F150 with the 5.4 engine. Driving around it is fine. Any ideas on what to do for towing? It seems to be working really hard when it is hooked up to a 6000#+ boat.

What mods would be good for it? I know DP-Tuner offers a tune for it and you just fill up with 89 octane. Any other power adders? Headers? Exhaust? Intakes?? TIA

 

I don't think any motor mods are worth the expense. You just don't get much bang for the buck. Not to mention voiding your warranty. However, regearing the differential(s) can make a big improvement. You most likely have 3:73 now. Going to 4:30 gears would impress you, and reports are that it doesn't hurt fuel mileage too much if at all.

Bill

 

Won't that be a PITA tho? You would have to change both front and rear differential gears I would think.

 

Yes, on a 4x4 you have to do both axles which doubles the cost. It's not a DIY project either. Take it to a good gear shop and have it done. Runs around $750-$1000 PER axle.

But the point is, it is the only thing that will make a dramatic difference in towing power. Exhaust, intake, tuning, will only make small improvements in HP and when towing you won't feel a thing in the seat of your pants except for a thinner wallet. You will FEEL a gear change.

Bill

 

Those trucks weigh so much the extra 40hp over the older models is needed just to move its bulk. Those engines are very nice though, but there isn't much you can do to them to make it run nicer without dumping big bucks for little bang. Diesels allow MUCH more return on your cash than gas engines do.

 

I'm almost afraid you two are confirming my suspicions.

 

Just for the record, I did not say you needed a diesel. Although your dad would love the power. But you don't need that to tow 6k#.

I owned an '04 F150, 5.4L, auto, 3:73 gears, and pulled a 5,200# travel trailer with it, through the mountain passes of the Sierra. It did a good job, but yes, as you said it was working hard. How you drive it makes a difference. You need to let the 5.4L run at high RPMs. Don't be afraid to shift down and run it a 4k RPM. It's designed for that.

I traded up because I wanted diesel, not because my old truck could not do the job. It would have been financially better to keep the old truck and regear it. So it was a choice, not a need. I also wanted a better hunting truck, so that played into my decision too.

So, if dad likes the truck and wants to keep it, regear it. If he wants another truck, consider diesel.

Bill

 

He has a 7.3 Diesel already. His camper sits on that diesel and he tows the boat with it. But in town fishing trips he wanted the F150 for easier driving.

 

Well regearing would help with towing, but then you will lose some MPG on the streets. I tow with my ranger and I am running 4.56 and 31's just to help my 4.0 out and I saw the mpg drop daily driving.

IT wouldnt hurt to run an intake/exhaust/tuner on there and I'm sure you would (he would) notice a difference, even if it isn't a huge increase.

I have been selling alot of the S&B intakes and customers have been telling me they notice a power increase. Let me know if you wanted to try some bolt ons and I can give you a quote on some parts.

Alon

 

Well shoot! In that case, you don't need to do a thing.

Town fishing - now there's a ... I don't even know what that is.

Bill

 

Basically, he goes to a nearby lake say within 50 miles.