Got a 04, thinking bout getting a new one, what is the best engine option?

 

That's an easy one. Any of them will do pretty much anything you'll ever need. The question is, what do you need the 11 to do for you?

 

light hauling and towing, and will be used on the interstate mostly

 

I think he was looking for a little more detail. IMHO, the 3.7L V-6 would suffice for most of us. But, who wants to just suffice?

You'll likely never haul more than the bed can hold and any of the four new engines can pull that around. How much are you towing and how frequently?

Are your concerns with MPG's or capability?

 

I've got a 4.6 in my '10 XLT Screw that does everything I need it for. I also don't do any heavy hauling or towing. 90% of my time is spend highway driving. Fuel mileage is more important to me. Ford doesn't offer a 4.6 in '11 model F150's so it would have to be a personal choice and priorities.

 

I vote for the 5.0. Its by far strong enough to do what it sounds like you want to do and still gets decent mileage for a 4x4 truck

 

Likewise I am looking at getting rid of my 04 and getting either the 5.0 or ecoboost. I tow alot, a 6500 lb enclosed trailor, though mainly on the interstates. Trouble with giving customers too much choice, is it creates confusion !

Has anyone taken their trailor into the dealer and asked to test drive the different engines with the trailor hooked up ? I think thats what I am going to try and do !

 

Mileage is probably going to rule the choice, but will the ecoboost pull a 21' Caravelle boat?

 

The EB wrapped in the right truck body, options list and gear set will pull 11,200 lbs.

 

5.0 V8 is in order!

 

3.7L= Best Mileage/Least Power, but still quite powerful for what it is.

5.0= Decent mileage/Good Power/Good Torque Extra/ Cost over 3.7

3.5L= Decent Mileage/ Good Power/Good Torque/ Extra Cost over 5.0L

6.2L = 411hp/Low Mileage/3,000$ upcharge/Limited model availbility.


Personally I'm going to get the 5.0L, seeing as you will only be towing every now and then I think you would be best off going with either the 5.0L or Ecoboost. Both are sweet engines and you can't really go wrong with either.

 

EcoBoost has my vote. On top of all the other advantages it has, I bet it will be the most sought after engine when you go to sell it.

 

Perhaps it will but personally having towed daily for work for almost thirty years having a trailer weighing twice the truck is not something I would look forward to. That kinda weight pushes hard in corners and on rough roads , a larger truck is a better option IMO for heavy hauling.

 

EB gets my vote, been driving mine for 3 days now all city/town/shopping centers, and still getting 18.5 - 20 mpg's. I would not believe all the mpg horror stories out there, with the "right" configuration and "Proper Driving habits" This engine gets fantastic mileage. Mine is a supercab 4X2 3.15 LS rears EB 3.5. and it has more HP and Torque than the 5.0. With my configuration I can tow #8600, with 3.55's #9600, with 3.73's #11,300, of course the mileage will drop with each step in gears. I think the base gear for the 4X4 is a 3.31 instead of the 3.15. It sounds like the EB will best meet your needs to me. Drive them both and decide, towing = torque and the EB will out torque the 5.0 all day!

 

3.5 EB
hp=365 @ 5000 Tq=420 @ 2500
5.0
hp= 360 @ 5500 Tq= 380 @ 4250