I have a 04 f150 4x4 lariat 373 gears 5.4 looking for a little more towing power. chip exhaust system both or something else help me out people

 

Go with a programmer,that's your best bet. A cold air intake is just engine bling and an exhaust just makes you louder, unless you do headers back.

 

Back in 2009 I bought my '07 FX4 5.4 with 3.55 rears. Low miles, but the trans shifted soft and jumped in / out of OD at midrange speeds. I thought engine made good power and responded well enough.

Early 2010 I called the folks at Troyer Performance in Covington, Va. They listened to what I was looking for and as my truck had only a cat back DO exhaust and aftermarket intake tube setup (still stock air cleaner) with no plans for more extensive mods, they suggested a SuperChips FlashPaq 1865 tuner. I drove over (45 minutes away) and they set me up. They could easily have sold me a tuner with custom tunes, but this was their suggestion.
It came with a total 3 tunes, a 4th was added later in a update. The 3 were 87 octane Performance tune with 6,000 pound towing limit, a 93 octane Performance tune with NO toiwing, and a 93 octane "Heavy Tow" tune. Later a "XS Economy" tune was added.

We loaded the 87 Perf setting that day and immediately at start up, response to throttle was sharper. As I accelerated on the entrance ramp to 64 east, the shifts were crisper and the truck had a new feel .... that made the same truck just an hour earlier seem "lazy" in comparison. And no more "OD Hunting" ....
.... and while they said no mileage increases were guaranteed, it might show some depending on driving .... in use since, back to back on road trips, places like Indy and Atlanta .... there is no doubt I picked up 1-1.5 mpg easy ..... I can stretch a gallon of 87 octane "go juice" 20-20.5 miles between fillups on the highway if I just go easy and keep speed at 65 or close. (I have tried that mileage tune too, but it softens response so that mileage suffers on grades like in western Va and West Va, it likely would be OK out in Kansas I think, where no hills .... and it did sharpen trans shifts as well).

The SC-FP-1865 will likely not pay for itself in fuel savings, but when you count driving satisfaction, better shifting, better response, some better power ..... I think it was a huge gain. I also believe they have combined the 1865 with a later version for more recent vehicle coverage under a new number.

The SC people and Troyers claim dyno results of:

Just something to consider .... and the factory tune is saved first before the other tune is loaded so you can always revert back.,

 

once again thanks for your advice

 

I too have the superchips tuner on my 08 5.4 superduty and it made a huge difference. I will say that in my truck the economy tune is by far the best. Even better then 87/93 performance. I saw no mpg gains in fact it went down 1.5 overall but towing and Normal driving is way better. I will also note, and I can't say for certain that this is related but shortly (20k miles) after I installed the 93 performance tune my cats both blew out. Thus was at 55k miles. Again I can't say they are related but I havey suspicions. Since then I always run with a 87 tune and have had no issues approaching 100k miles.

 

This is my truck towing with a gcwr of 14,800lb. You truck should be lighter, and have better gearing so I would imagine it would tow even better

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-all-hate.html

 

Your looking for the cheaper option to solve your problem. I suggest doing it properly and installing larger gears. I swapped my 3.73 to 4.88s to aid in hauling my heavy steel dump trailer with all kinds of materials. This was the proper option required to properly handle my problem. Not the cheaper option but the correct solution.

 

He doesn't indicate how big of a hole he intends to poke in the air with that trailer at what speed nor how heavy the trailer is or if there's mountains present ....
.... so he may need it all for all we know. Going to 4.88s with stock or near stock rubber would be much like tossing OD out to gain a granny low. It'd work for
many .... but it'd sure kill my "non-towing enjoyment" when using my BP card at the pumps.

I have 3.55s, not even 3.73s .... and stock 275/55-20 rubber and I have a single axle trailer for materials or to haul our GoldWing or GoldWing Trike on and mine pulls
it with little fuss.

Anytime I pull a trailer or haul a ton, I go easy on the throttle and just hold it steady and let the truck "catch up" to me.

 

I have a 04 f150 4x4 5.4 lariat super cab 60k miles, gross combined wt rating 15000 lbs, gvwr 7200 lbs, frt axle 3900, rear 3850, 373 gears trailer is a skyline koala super lite 30ft dry weight 5,375 gvwr 6,800 same question looking for a little more towing punch you guys have been great this is all new to me

 

I have the same engine and rear in my F150, and I tow an 8000 lb travel trailer. I put in an egde evolution programmer, set at level 2 for towing. I am happy with its towing performance. You have to remember these are gas engines and make most of the torque close to 4k rpms, so you will have to let the engine rev higher to get the pulling power. It is not a diesel.

I would think the best bet is to change the gearing, an expensive upgrade since it is a 4x4.

Ultimately, just take your time. I do, I have no problem merging onto the interstate, and keep my speed around 60.

 

I never suggested 4.88s, just larger than factory. I went to 4.88s to make up for 4.6L engine. The larger gears helps save stress on engine.

 

I know that you didn't suggest them in particular for him .... and yeah, I see you tote a pretty heavy trailer, heavier than I by a good deal .... and I am sure the taller gears help bunches .... and would whether 5.4 or 4.6.
My comment about the net effect, losing OD but gaining a granny low is pretty "close on the mark", all else remaining unchanged ... and was just an observation.

 

You could have just posted updated info in your other thread, we'd have seen it .....

I still think that as long as you are patient and not hammering on it, just mash about 1/2 and let the truck and load catch up and limit speeds on grades, a tuner like I described or similar will show good results. Lower gearing will multiply available torque .... but at a pretty stiff cost for install and fuel mileage depending on how much of your use involves towing and not towing.

 

noted and well do in future

 

As stated above, it makes zero sense to start a duplicate thread.

Threads merged.

Stewart