It's alright. Sometimes I get rather moody and say something then my insecurities make me regret it. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. We're all grown though and entitled to our opinions. My communication skills aren't as good as I'd like and I don't always make my thoughts and words productive. I do think the 5.4 will do what it is intended for. Each engine and truck has a place. I wouldn't try to pull my trailers with a lightning or dragrace with a PSD. Some do. I run mostly F250HD and F350 when a F150 will do the job. My experience has shown that they stand up better. I don't need a Kenworth or other big truck though. As long as I set realistic expectations for my trucks, I am satisfied. And I do buy groceries in a F350 at 11mpg but because it's what's here. I'm glad ford offers a variety and most of us are satisfied. I've run F150 and F250LD with 4.9 and 5.0L as well in the past. I would like to own a 5.4 but don't yet. Thanks for the discussions.

 

Well I think the engine choice is going to have to be thr V8.
Like I said above, it is going to be a 2003 SD Super Cab 4x4 with an auto tranny. My other vehicle was a 93 Dakota 4x4 V6 which currently has 165,000 miles on it and runs great. My 2000 Ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.9L has 145,000 on it and I just dont enjoy driving it anymore. With all the incentives and special financing Ford is offering, I am going to jump into the Ford family. Plus the SD trucks are hands down the best solid axle trucks out there right now. I do tons of preventative maintanence on all my vehicles. So this SD will be expected to last for 200K also.

I would get the V10 motor, but I just dont think I will need that big of engine. If I can find a V10 with similar features as a V8 truck and for the same price, I might buy one. I am going to test drive some when I get back from vacation in two weeks and really see how different the V10 drives compared to the V8.

Does anyone know how much more the V10 weighs over the V8?

Other than the motor, are there any other differences or upgrades Ford does when putting a V10 in a SD 3/4ton 4x4?

I have a take home squad car that I can use pretty much anywhere I want. This SD will be my, camping, hunting, once a month boat towing truck, and ocassionally used to haul items in the bed. It won't be driven 'that' much, I am thinking maybe 100 miles a week, if that. But when I go camping, hunting, fishing, the miles will rack up quick.

With the 5.4L V8 being a smaller cid engine, 333 cid I believe, I am just debating and unsure how it would perform in a 3/4 ton ext cab 4x4 SD. Like I said above, when I get back form vacation, I am going to find a V8 4x4 and a V10 4x4 and drive both. I am just still leaning towards the V8.

How does the V8 react to aftermarket performance accessories like exhaust, air filter kits, etc??

The 5.4L V8 I believe is rated @260 hp@4500 rpms and 350 tq@2500 rpms. Pretty decent numbers, just once again unsure about the weight of the fullsize solid axle super cab truck being too much for the 5.4L, especially with a 3/4 ton truck. Add a tool box, bed shall/cap, camping gear, 2-3 adults, etc? Hmm.
Then again, there are TONS of V8 SD out there and Ford would make them if so many people are buying them and being very satisfied with them.

Sure I would love to have a 6.8L V10 engine. But can I justify having a V10 for my needs?? Hmmm. Especially when it costs like $500-$600 more, and is rated at 50 more hp and 75 more ft lbs of torque. Plus it has a much larger cid, being 415 cid compared to the 333 cid of the 5.4L. I will test them both and let everyone know. Thanks again for all the info and input.

 

If you are already asking about mods for the V8 because you don't want to spend $500 for the V10... just buy the V10.
Otherwise, go with the V8 and when you decide you want more power, you can buy a Superchip from Ken for $300 and get about 25 more hp (still 25 short of the V10). Of course you will have to buy premium fuel from then on too.

 

Well I am going to see first off how both drive.

Trust me, I would love a V10 ove a V8.
Having more power on 'tap' is always a good thing.

I am trying to decide on the longevity and overall eficiency issue basically. For example, take the truck I want: 2003 SD 3/4 ton 4x4 super cab. Hook a 3500 boat upto it, some camping gear, food and 3-4 adults. I have no doubt that the V8 will be upto the task. I just wonder if the V8 will have to work harder to maintain cruising speeds when 'loaded' down and will this hurt efficiency and possibly make me not like my truck? I plan on having a tool box in the bed with various offroad gear and tools. A cap will also most likely be installed on the bed. True, I wont be towing or hauling weekly, maybe once or twice a month.

Sure, the V10 will handle the load and will be upto the task, especially with a cap and tool box full of gear, but will the V10 be overkill for daily driving and overall daily efficiency. Yes I do know this is a truck, and a big one at that. Yes I know it wont get 25 mpg and will like to burn gas.

My 93 V6 Dakota 4x4 got around 15-17 mpg, my 00 Ram V8 (5.9)1/2 ton 4x4 got around 10-12 mpg. Like I said above, I dont want to have something which is overkill, but I also want to make sure the motor wont be overworked and underpower, thus hurting the engine life. I am very **** about vehicle maintenance and am sure this is why my Dakota is still going strong @165K and my Ram is at@145K. This truck must last for a very very very long time. I am just skeptical about needing a V10 when I have alwas gotten by with a V6 (barely though) and my Ram's V8. I do understand also that the 2003 5.4L is more powerful that the 5.9L, so I wil wait and see.

Thanks again!!!!
I just need to go test drive and see what I like.

 

LPD111, did you see my post? If you are only towing 3500lbs, you will have no problem what so ever with the V8. Even loaded with all the gear/people you mentioned, it will do fine. Shoot me an e-mail sometime and I can give you more info. on the V8.

 

You may want to take the "3-4 adults" you plan on taking camping with you to the test drive. I have a Super Cab and unless they were close enemies, I would not have any adults in the back "seat"of my SD for more than a couple of miles. There is not enough room for my daughter's car seat let a lone adults of just about any stature.

Just another thing to complicate your new truck buying decision!

 

Very good point BIG!! I didn't pay attention to the "Super Cab" part. I was assuming Crew. What I get for assuming huh?

We did see a super cab at the lake this weekend with 3 car seats across the back. Too funny!! The kids were not in them though. I would have loved to see that!!

 

The front facing car seat that we have for my 21 month old HAS to go in the center. Her legs are too long for her to go anywhere else except the bed. Mother won't have that, though.

We have a bun in the oven so I am definitely looking to upgrade to a Crew Cab. Actually, come to think of it, a rear facing seat is even tougher to fit in the back seat of my truck. That means I HAVE to get the CC, right?

Big

 

Sounds like a very good excuse, I mean plan to me. lol

They were all front facing car seats in this one. Looks like something you would see in a comercial or something.