Well I don't want this to turn into another "battle of the engine" because it just doesn't end. It's gotten a little off track. I was just curious what could possibly happen to the truck/motor if it was towing over Fords recommended towing for each motor. My thoughts were that an F250 equipped with the V8, V10, or Diesel is the same truck with the obvious exception of the motor between the frame rails. So its not that the truck itself cannot handle Fords max trailer of 12,500, the motor would be the weak link. I'm talking 3v motors not 99-04. So if anyone wants to continue lets keep to the topic of what could happen and not motor comparisons of whose is "bigger" or "better"

Thanks guys!!

 

Its slower. Thats it. Its got the same cooling system as the 6.8l and will not over heat. Its made of all the same parts as the V10 and will last a very long time no matter how much you tow.

Not a single one of the things quoted are true.

The 5.4/6.8 is in the same class as the 6.0.
The heavy truck 6.0 is not the same as the 325HP Light truck 6.0.
On the other hand, the 6.8 ( which is a 5.4 with two more cylinders) is put in the F750 with the same HP,TQ and life span ratings as in an F350.

Ford tested them to 4000 hours at peak HP and 4000 at peak torque, for a total of 8000 WOT hours and everything was still within spec. A farcry from the 500 hours you claim.

And no, nothing inside the engine is going to bend...

Like it or not, the Modular is just as capable of a very long life at high works loads.

 

I have to say I have never seen one catastrophic failure of a 5.4 due to towing. I have never seen one get nuclear, kick a headgasket out, or ventilate the block with a connecting rod. Not one broken valvespring from twisting the engine to the moon even. (Those long pulls up 5-6 % grades at WOT in 2nd/3rd are crazy!).

The thing I would expect to be problematic, if anything, would be the trans./torque converter from building crazy heat up the aforementioned grades. But I honestly have never seen that happen either... due to towing alone.

Anyway, I have seen some crazy weights towed with late model 5.4's. With no catastrophies. The corporation I work for currently has over 4000... Yes, four thousand, Super Duties, mostly with 5.4's and 6.8's. Most of our fleet (light duty trucks anyway) averages 250k before they are are auctioned off.

I do think it is much more fun (assuming weights in the 8-12k range) to tow with a 6.0 or a 6.8, especially if long ascending grades are part of the equation. Even with a stock height tire and 4.30's, a 5.4 truck dragging a trailer close to, or over max weight up long grades can be cumbersome.

I have to agree with TritonF150, I love a Super Duty regardless of what it has under the hood. A 2WD Standard Cab with a 5.4 and 250k on the clock is just as cool as a low mile 4WD CC with all the goodies.

Sand_Man... way to work that Toadyota! I have overloaded a Toyota or two in the past, when I didn't want to scratch one of my 'real' trucks. And I love the reference to 'Stellar Employee'!!

 

P.S. Hey Sand_Man... I have to say you must be the only person in all of FTE to ever mention Willits, Ca!

 

Well luckily with any of the heavyweight towing I may encounter will not have any long steep grades, speed limits will be below 45, and no high speed merging. I should be fine.

 

For the towing you have to do, I wouldn't hesitate to do it with a 5.4 truck. You have the perfect tow truck.

 

I've been happy with it so far. Definitely not winning races but I'm not using it for that. Just turn on Tow/Haul, get to the jobsite, make some money. Its served me well and hopefully will continue to do so.

 

Keep changing the oil, change the fuel and air filters regularly, service the trans. and diff(s) once in a while, and laugh all the way to the bank when you have 300k on it!

 

This spring I'm doing filters and getting the trans flushed and changed. Grease the fittings on the u-joints. I would like this one to last. No truck payments will be nice. This year Ford replaced both bedsides under corrosion warranty so hopefully I'll get more years out of the body here in the rust belt.

 

I have had 6000 pounds in the bed of my 01 SRW F350 and it was still 3" off the bump stops. Can't go far like that though. The truck can take it but the tires will only put up with it so long.

 

I've had that in the bed of my 5.4 and no problems except for feeling it hit the bumpstops. It loved it.

 

LOL! Imagine my suprise when one time one of the FTE members PM'd me to tell me he knew where Hydesville was!

 

Sand_Man, that is so cool! I am obviously a SoCal human, but my Dad lived in Willits for many years after he retired. I love it up there.

orng1, the pic is so small I can't tell, but it looks like you have a Cummins powered rear engined Superduty wheelstander?? Just being facetious, but what engine is that in the bed?