what kind of mpg's are you getting with your set-up ? i don't hear much about 4.6 motors anymore,although my buddy has one in his 2010. i'm in the 15-17 around town provided i don't sit and idle to much. i guess thats all thats expected with these trucks. i'm curious what the new 2.7 will get. still a big truck to move around.

 

I have some input on the constant shifting. Now I haven't towed much, heaviest was a (6x12?) 2 axle Bri-Mar dump trailer with 6 good size logs in it from the job I was working on last summer to my house. Probably around 40+ miles 1 way, with some hilly terrain in the middle of the run. I have an SCT X3 from 5 Star, and I run daily an 87 Perf/Tow tune, mostly because I couldn't stand the factory shifting. To me it seemed the truck just wanted to row thru the gears to 6th I assume for the fuel economy. Mikes tune has the shifting just the way I'd prefer it. It doesn't hurt that it adds ~ 15hp he says, but I dread having to put it back to stock for inspection. It took 3 weeks last year and close to 400 miles before the computers would let it test for the emissions and I hated it.

I have to say I'm not sure what that trailerload of logs weighed (all were 18+" and 11.5ish feet long- cherry, black walnut and hickory), and I think once upon a time I posted a pic of that set-up. I had no WDH. My buddy that owns the trailer doesn't use one so none were available. I probably got down to 3rd on one good sized hill but it pulled it and stopped it without any drama. Point is, I like the shifting in Mikes tune much better than the stock shifting HTH

 

Here it is

 

Just kiddin', here it really is

 

HAHA! Torklift stable load should help out here

 

thats a funny pic. your trailer probably weighs 3200-3500 lbs and the wood another 3000 lbs. what size tires are you using? they look good and beefy

 

Thanks they are 295/70-18 Nitto Terra Grapplers. Basically a 35"

 

has anyone switched out their stock lights for some aftermarket ones? if so which kind and did it make a real difference? i'm not looking to convert to hids and don't want to blind anyone.

 

I read Philips Extreme Ultras are better than Silverstars but I still have the stock HLs. I do have the next brighter driving lights, they were the stock ones from my 04 SD and I think they are 5 watts brighter. I will have to look at the part number if you need me to. I had Silverstars in the SD and they weren't that impressive but it did have 8" lift and 37s

 

thanks. i think theres another one brighter then silverstar ultras, its called ZXE by the same company. not sure if they have them for our trucks.

 

i remembered back when i had my 04 f-150 there was a way to turn on your fog lights without using the headlights. you had to pull the switch out and clip or jump a wire. that way you could run the fog lights without your headlights. i guess you could call them old time running lights. my model truck doesn't have daytime running lights,thats why i'd light to do this again. has anyone done this?

 

Infrequent poster here:
2009, crewcab, max tow 5.4L with 3.73s, 5.5bed Lariat.
I have been towing my latest boat (just sold, smile/weep) that was a 2570 Pursuit with twin 150hp Yamahas. Plenty of tongue weight and surge brakes. Never considered weight distributing hitch as mixed input on how that affects braking with surge actuator. The boat and alum trlr scaled 7400lbs on trailer axles, I am guessing 500 tongue. Great towing platform with long wheelbase, but could only pull 6th gear on dead flat w/o any headwind or incline. I am OK with the trans shifting, that is why we don't have 2 spd powerglides. Boat had hardtop, huge aero drag. 36 gal tank meant the 9mpg towing was OK. Did add Firestone airbags as everyone would flash lights at me when dark out and towing. Only 49Kmiles and not an issue yet.
Hmm, since sold the boat, not sure I need to keep the truck. Oh, daily around town is a 2.0L Ecoboost Focus ST. A hoot for sure.

 

i think my boat empty is 4700lb, trailer i guess 1500lbs est. all gas and other junk 500lbs more =6700lbs looking forward to pulling it. glad to hear yours did fine. my trailer has surge brakes also.

 

has anyone used the bilstein 5100 shocks to lift their truck front end instead of one of spacer types ? seems like they're easier.

 

I don't have them but have read plenty good from the guys that do. I'd guess its the price? LK you can do for what, $80? I looked up the 5100 with 2.0" adjustment and they're a little over $100 ea. I'd do them if I need front shocks and ditch the LK but when I did my LK I only had ~ 3K on the truck