Where would the failure be?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,098
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Where would the failure be?
Ok, I'm enjoying the steamy 50 degree weather today (hasn't been out of the 20's) cleanin up the truck and cars. So I got to thinking about towing, and what SuperDuty owner wouldn't be. Knowing that the 06 SRW 3/4 and 1 ton pickups are pretty much the same frame, transmission, axles, springs, etc... they are all built to tow the max capacity. The change is the motor that allows more or less capacity. Now towing with my 5.4 is 9300lbs (booooo!). Let's say you hooked up a loaded 12,500lbs, which I am not, what would fail in the 5.4? Overheat? Break? Explode? I'm honestly curious and this is not a "Well a 5.4 could!" thread. Any real world input? Thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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I have the 5.4 as well as the 6.0.
My belief is, if you kept it from overheating, the big hit is in engine life.
5.4 will die towing that load after 100,000 miles or so.
The 6.0 can tow that all day, all nite, for 300,000 or more miles.
My belief is, if you kept it from overheating, the big hit is in engine life.
5.4 will die towing that load after 100,000 miles or so.
The 6.0 can tow that all day, all nite, for 300,000 or more miles.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 276
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From: Bonita Springs FL
All being equal, (spring rates, hitch platform, brakes etc.) I doubt anything would catastophicly fail. Your issue will be acceleration which are determied by engine torque and gearing. To be considered safe to tow, one peramiter is the ability to accelerate to a certain speed in a certain amount of time. There is no way the 5.4 could accelerate 12K fast enough to be considered acceptable. You could probably change the gearing to something rediculousely low like a 5.30 or something and regain the acceleration, but even in overdrive the truck would be singing its death song at 70 mph.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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Trade secret:
Duty cycle design.
5.4 is a light duty engine designed to put out a maximum of maybe 20% of rated output on a sustained basis.
Never mind the peak horsepower and torque claimed.
Try to do that peak output on a sustained basis, and the engine might not last 500 hours.
Visualize things inside the engine bending -- from the block, to pistons to valves, rods, etc.
The 6.0 is a bona fide medium duty diesel, with a B50 rating of 350,000 miles.
That is, in its designed role (say 50 to 70% of its maximum output), it can do that virtually all day, all nite, for 350,000 miles with only 50% of the sample needing major engine repairs.
Your average tractor trailer class 8 truck motor is putting out close to 80 to 90% of its full output when hauling a full load --- not much reserve power.
It can do that typically to B50 of 500,000 to 1,000,000 miles.
That is why the diesel is built like a tank and weighs about 1,2000 lbs.
The gasser is a fraction of that weight.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 745
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From: upstate New York
Speaking purely from experience, I would have to say the 5.4 would overheat with that kind of weight, not to mention you're not going to win any races going up hills LOL. On a regular basis I'm usually at 11,000 pounds well above my limit with no noticeable damage to the engine close to 63,000 miles and still running like a champ. The simple answer is it will do it once in a while however I wouldn't recommend doing it every day it would certainly shorten the engine's life, and the fuel consumption would break you. Now I know I'm going to get in trouble for this but that's why there's diesels lots of torque and low revving engines it's the only way to go, my next truck will probably be the new 6.7 as long as I don't hear too many horror stories ;-) I'm just waiting for the guinea pigs to start reporting the problems take care
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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Guys thanks for the responses. I may get near the 12k mark once or twice with my dump trailer, I'll keep my fingers crossed. It will probably be a 7mile trip, flat ground, max speed limit of 45mph. Definitely will consider a stronger motor next time, just not sure if I'm ready or need a diesel. I guess if I needed to haul that much on a consistent basis might as well step up to a medium duty dump truck anyways.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
I know of people that have towed long distances with their 5.4L Super Duty at almost 50% over the GCVW without any problems.
No, you're not going to win any races, but the 5.4L will do this (at least the 3V engine with the 5R110W.)
No, you're not going to win any races, but the 5.4L will do this (at least the 3V engine with the 5R110W.)
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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Oh yes!
The question is not whether it will do.. the question is can you do it for 350,000 miles on B50?
That is, 50% of engines do not need major work before 350,000 miles.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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Guys thanks for the responses. I may get near the 12k mark once or twice with my dump trailer, I'll keep my fingers crossed. It will probably be a 7mile trip, flat ground, max speed limit of 45mph. Definitely will consider a stronger motor next time, just not sure if I'm ready or need a diesel. I guess if I needed to haul that much on a consistent basis might as well step up to a medium duty dump truck anyways.
I seriously think you don't need a diesel.
Nor a V10.
You are better off to rent a medium duty truck for those few times, or to hire one with a driver.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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If you keep speeds below 50mph.
Are you above your tow vehicle's GCWR?
That is a red flag --- it means you can't handle braking.
Hence only flat ground, no hills, dead slow.
You might risk stretching your entire frame if you are over GCWR enough.
Are you above your tow vehicle's GCWR?
That is a red flag --- it means you can't handle braking.
Hence only flat ground, no hills, dead slow.
You might risk stretching your entire frame if you are over GCWR enough.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
If the frame and the brakes are the same as a vehicle with a V-10 or Power Stroke, why does the addition of the 5.4L suddenly make the frames and brakes weak?