towing with my 5.4 you all hate
#46
04-13-2014, 10:13 AM
Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C'mon guys...
Who's kidding who here?
Both engines have their place but to try and compare or justify having a 5.4 instead of a PSD for pulling is only half answered.
I know some of you have both and fair enough. Like many of us, it's easier to compare both when you have driven both.
However, as much as I have liked our 5.4 and towed 7,000 lb boats and 10,000 toy trailers, trying to compare it's pulling power to a PSD is a losing proposition.
Yes, more oil per oil change, fuel filters more often, diesel fuel prices, potential eot/ect's delta's etc.
Either one will most likely get your there. One quicker and less stressful then the other, but at the end of the day, 5.4 owners don't know what they don't know unless they've pulled with a PSD.
That's okay, just different.
Who's kidding who here?
Both engines have their place but to try and compare or justify having a 5.4 instead of a PSD for pulling is only half answered.
I know some of you have both and fair enough. Like many of us, it's easier to compare both when you have driven both.
However, as much as I have liked our 5.4 and towed 7,000 lb boats and 10,000 toy trailers, trying to compare it's pulling power to a PSD is a losing proposition.
Yes, more oil per oil change, fuel filters more often, diesel fuel prices, potential eot/ect's delta's etc.
Either one will most likely get your there. One quicker and less stressful then the other, but at the end of the day, 5.4 owners don't know what they don't know unless they've pulled with a PSD.
That's okay, just different.
I'm happy w/ my 5.4. Always done what I've asked and reliable.
#47
04-13-2014, 10:14 AM
I wasn't getting my panties in a wad and did not mean for any part of my post to come across that way. I was just asking questions and looking for actual data to go with why you had that opinion. Most of the reasons I have seen for why people think the 5.4 is gutless is because it won't pull like a v10, it had to downshift and their psd does not, it had to turn 3,500 rpm and they were afraid of blowing the engine, their old big block did it a different way, it wouldn't run 80 mph up an 8% grade with 10,000 lbs, etc. I was just wondering why you thought it was gutless towing only 6,000 lbs, which is a weight that has never caused mine to see 3,000 rpm.
#48
04-13-2014, 10:40 AM
Postmaster
I didn't ask if you were pulling the trailer, I asked where you were pulling the trailer. If you were pulling it up Vail Pass and I was pulling mine up 77 in wv(6-8% for 9 miles) then that would explain why we have different results.
I wasn't getting my panties in a wad and did not mean for any part of my post to come across that way. I was just asking questions and looking for actual data to go with why you had that opinion. Most of the reasons I have seen for why people think the 5.4 is gutless is because it won't pull like a v10, it had to downshift and their psd does not, it had to turn 3,500 rpm and they were afraid of blowing the engine, their old big block did it a different way, it wouldn't run 80 mph up an 8% grade with 10,000 lbs, etc. I was just wondering why you thought it was gutless towing only 6,000 lbs, which is a weight that has never caused mine to see 3,000 rpm.
I wasn't getting my panties in a wad and did not mean for any part of my post to come across that way. I was just asking questions and looking for actual data to go with why you had that opinion. Most of the reasons I have seen for why people think the 5.4 is gutless is because it won't pull like a v10, it had to downshift and their psd does not, it had to turn 3,500 rpm and they were afraid of blowing the engine, their old big block did it a different way, it wouldn't run 80 mph up an 8% grade with 10,000 lbs, etc. I was just wondering why you thought it was gutless towing only 6,000 lbs, which is a weight that has never caused mine to see 3,000 rpm.
#49
04-13-2014, 11:15 AM
Mine has gone across the scales with the travel trailer and 3 people bunch of dogs and two weeks of gear at 17k. I dont feel it needs more power per say but instead of 3.73 i wish it had 4.30 or 4.56 there are times when i am ready to shift but the rpm drop is too much. Plenty of hills where i normally drive in 6th that i pull in 3rd with the trailer.
#50
04-13-2014, 06:27 PM
My superchips tuner was the best thing I ever did for the truck. I hate driving the truck without it installed
As for the 5.4 vs 7.3 thing. The 5.4 will not tow more then a 7.3. The highest rated 5.4 can only tow 12,500. It doesn't take any kind of special model or optioned diesel to tow that. I was only talking about speed. My 5.4 is much faster towing up to about 10000.
You do also have to remember the 5.4 isn't a diesel. 4000rpms is not a lot and the motor could care less if you drove it at that rpm all day long.
I also would not hesitate to own a 7.3 again but I definitely wouldn't trade my truck for it. The newer truck are so much nicer to drive then the old truck.
As for the 5.4 vs 7.3 thing. The 5.4 will not tow more then a 7.3. The highest rated 5.4 can only tow 12,500. It doesn't take any kind of special model or optioned diesel to tow that. I was only talking about speed. My 5.4 is much faster towing up to about 10000.
You do also have to remember the 5.4 isn't a diesel. 4000rpms is not a lot and the motor could care less if you drove it at that rpm all day long.
I also would not hesitate to own a 7.3 again but I definitely wouldn't trade my truck for it. The newer truck are so much nicer to drive then the old truck.
#52
04-13-2014, 06:38 PM
I actually really wanted a v10 when I broughty truck. Ford had bought back a Lemmon focus from me but the deal was I had to buy a truck from the lot so I couldnt go to another dealer or order one. Oh well. At least I can tow more then my focus could lol
#53
04-13-2014, 06:53 PM
#59
04-13-2014, 08:12 PM
