HI
I do snow removal on residential properties over 80 have had diesels since mid 80's.I have a 7.3 with over 200k only one tranny change still runs like a champ.Pretty good considering all the back and forth this thing does.I'm looking into getting another truck i see lot of king cab short boxes for sale.I'm keeping my 7.3 it's well maintained and figure can use a king cab for personal use as well. I was wondering what is the opinion using the 5.4 for plowing, i know it won't be like my 7.3 but looking for opinions on like the tranny,diffs,reliability and pitfalls of a 5.4.Lot of guys around here are starting to move away from diesels more expensive to buy and not cheap to maintain compared to the old one's.But most are GM and dodge,i hate to jump ship never owned anything but ford.--thanks

 

A 5.4 will do a fine job plowing snow.

 

Ya, it should be "alright" for plowing, not an engine to be expecting much of though. Does that have 4:10 gears?

 

Haven't purchased anything,looking at my options,i'm sure most of these trucks don't have 4-10 sure most have highway gears.Talked to a local guy and he had a tranny done under warranty and than another they didn't want to fix it he's not happy going back to diesel.Maybe he is hard on it you can't be an idiot with any machine,

 

You're kidding right? One of my buddies plows with an F150 STX 4.6 commercially he voided his warranty putting the plow on the truck I believe its at Fisher standard duty 7 foot, but he claims he has saved so much fuel. He could throw the truck away in three years and he still made a fortune, so is his claim. in upstate New York there seems to be a lot of super duties with the 5.4 regular cab configurations plowing lots. I don't think you have a problem especially with the newer version, three valve engine, take care

 

I plow both commercial and residential with a 250 with the 5.4 It does pretty good. I just replaced the tranny at 158xxx miles. So I guess no complaints. A lot of litte things starting to go now though. I am in the opposite boat as you I am looking at going diesel.

 

Not the same thing when plowing straight to constantly forward and backwards in residential driveways.But it's what i'm looking for positive and negatives to these small gas engines,like my original post 200k on my 7.3 only one tranny and this thing works,darn good for up here in Canada same as upstate NY.Not expecting the same but with saving on diesel truck purchase and upkeep waying all options.Have a buddy with 6.0 gm gas and he's ok with it,i just want to not stray from blue oval lol.

 

Mine was an early model '99, SC, 4X4 LB. I don't know what I was thinking of when I ordered it. At that time, with the limited slip rear axle, the only ratio Ford would put in it was the 4:10. I wanted the 3:73 limited slip. Maybe I had a bad one, but it was the most gutless truck I ever owned for a F250. I dragged, and I mean DRAGGED a 14' Haulmark tandem to Denver. I might of had a 3k load plus the trailer. That thing would not stay in overdrive, even across Nebraska. I didn't want to drive over 65 because it seemed like it was screaming. And the best part? Try 4.5mpg average both ways, around 3k miles.I got back to Michigan, and the dealer the next day. I then ordered my 7.3, the only difference other than I got the 3:73 this time. There is/was no comparison, even before any of my mods. I can now tow that same trailer at 70mph, in OD, on cruise, and still get 12-13mpg..
And I lived happily ever after!!

 

What is your problems with the 5.4 besides the power like a diesel,what's starting to go.

 

The F150 is not a plow truck. Ford says not to plow with it, so, why would you? I have an 08 5.4L F250 CCLB 4x4 that I plowed with last winter. Did a fine job, other than being awfully damn long. Plenty of power to push my 8.5' blade and a bunch of NH snow. I manage 15-17mpg empty on the highway, if I keep it around 70. 75mph drops me to 14, 80mph brings me back around 15.5mpg. Weird, yes, but I do a lot of highway driving, and I promise you, it's the truth. Also pull a 3 horse gooseneck trailer, about 9K loaded. Will easily do 70mph, gives me about 9mpg. Not a bad engine at all. I'm very pleased with it.

 

I have plowed tons of snow with mine but if you are worried look for a v10 dont go without 4:10 gears makes a big differance

 

I have an '02 F250, 5.4, automatic, 3.73 gears, 111k miles, 8 1/2 foot Fischer Minute Mount. I have never had a problem plowing. Have even done 90 mph with the plow still mounted.

 

I have a 02 CCSB F350 5.4 with 6spd man 4x4. On the front is a 7.5 ft Western Commercial grade plow with the uni-mount quick mount. No need to worry about overheating the automatic with the 6spd. I run 235x85x16's studded with the 3.73's and it does fine all winter long, and the best part, is dropping the plow or putting it on in just a couple minutes!
The only thing I have ever had a problem with, is that when plowing in real windy conditions, I packed some snow into the engine bay, and it got up on the intake area, melted when I shut down plowing, and later the melted water sucked up into the coil-on-packs spark plug boots, and cause a miss till the plug fully dried out (a few weeks of intermittent missing ;-() But now I cover the grill if it is really blowing and don't have any more problems!
Hope this helps!
Garry in Kodiak, Alaska

 

I plow with mine. Not a lot, about 7 driveways and 2 parking lots. I have a Supercab shortbed with 5.4 and 3.73's. I have never wanted for power when plowing. 102k miles on it now. Only been plowing with it for the last 2 years though.

 

My last Ford was a 04' F250 Reg cab w/ 5.4L auto and it plowed very well. I never lacked for power, it was pushing a Fisher 8' Commercial plow. Two things I didn't care for were maneuverability and that the plow was so heavy that if you hit a rock in a gravel drive with any slickness to it the truck would want to go sideways rather than the plow riding over it. I made sure when I bought my 2010 that it had the plow package ready in case I decided to put one one, man the prices have gone up...in 04' I paid $3850 installed for my 8' Fisher commercial....the quote I got this year was over $5k