V8 Strong enough?
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Broken Arrow, OK.
I have a 2000 5.4L and I am pleased with it. I pull a travel trailer that is about 6000 LBS and it does a fair job of it. Everyday driving is fine and I get about 13MPG on the highway. Pulling the trailer I get about 8MPH. All that being said after the first of the year I am getting a diesel because when you start trying to pull up in the mountains she gets winded and has some trouble. If the cost is a issue I would get a V10 because you would have more power and get about the same mileage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 3
From: North Dakota
It'll do the job but so will a V-6 if comes down to it. Theres nothing wrong with 5.4 liter but from my experience I have found the V-10 to be a much better choice for a few reasons if desiel is out of the question. My 00 CC 4x4 had a 5.4 liter - on the hwy in a head wind it didn't know the meaning of overdrive without 500 downshifts. any moderatly sized trailor was definitly pulled in 3rd and milage in that truck empty would run on average about 11 with 13 on the best of days - Now when I purchaced my 03 CC 4x4 Sport I opted for the V10 - I drive any speed in most any wind and have no problem using OD - Pulled my boat home over memorial day weekend dove 72MPH in OD into a 30MPH head wind through rolling hills - only shifted out twice - My mileage ranges between 11-13 in town depending on how I drive and if I let it warm up -on the hwy I regulary see 13 and have seen 15.6 (Ok - one time driveing 65 with a 15mph tail wind) - Plus the extra power is great whether it be towing or just driving around town.
sorry for being so long winded.
sorry for being so long winded.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Cabot, Arkansas
Originally Posted by SLE
Theres nothing wrong with 5.4 liter but from my experience I have found the V-10 to be a much better choice for a few reasons if diesel is out of the question.
Edmo
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
if you get a 5.4 id get it with a manual/4.10 gear also. tows better than the auto/3.73 and gets better gas mileage too. the 3.73 is always hunting for gears and wont keep the engine in the peak powerband. the 5.4 pulls best around 2500rpm and the 3.73 only turns about 2000 at 70mph, so it constantly shifts out of o/d. ive got a 2000 f250 with the 5.4, 5 speed and 4.10 gears and love it. gets 15.5 mpg driving around town and 13.5 towing a 6K trailer. no it wont pull with a diesel or v10, but thats not really a fair comparison, and that doesnt mean that it wont get the job done. thats like saying the v10 isnt a good engine because it wont pull with the 6.0. when compared to other v8s it'll outpull the 5.0 and 5.8 and will pull right with a 460. i like the 5.4, but personally, i dont think you can go wrong with any of the new engines.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 488
Likes: 142
From: Indianapolis
I pull 6K trailer and antique tractor about 500 miles a year. Some trips are 20 miles, some are 150 miles. I am satisfied with the performance of the 5.4 in my truck. It does downshift going up hills. Philip. 2004 F250 CC 4x4 5.4 auto 4.10.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: murphy nc
i have had my 2000 5.4L 4.10 rear stick shift since june and love it. pull 5000 # regular in mountains no problem. supercab shortbed 2 wheel drive.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
I think you would be pleased with the V-10 rather than the V-8. Don't get me wrong, the V-8 is an excellent truck, but for hauling and towing the difference between the two is night and day. The V-8 will get the job done but it will work very hard doing it, especially up hill. This was my reason with buying the V-10 and I'm glad I did.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 27
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I'd second all the above comments on the V-10. I have a 2001 F-250 5.4L 3.73 and tow a 7000 lb. toyhauler. Truck gets it done but patience is the name of the game. I towed about 1200 miles thru Colorado, pulling major passes and the truck did fine, but I was getting passed by diesels pulling 5th wheels all day long. As for the truck, it handled the job fine, tranny fluid was clean after the trip and the temp. gauge never budged (even w/ a/c on). OD was useless (better to just turn it off anyway) and I spent a lot of time at 50-55 mph and 3-4K rpm. The V-10 pulls better and the mileage isn't much worse. Most my trips are an hour or two from home so I won't be upgrading anytime soon.