Sorry for all the questions but I'm going to be buying soon and really appreciate any and all input.

I'm wondering how the 5.4L is on the Superduty. Mostly the truck will be used to haul a light under 2k lbs trailer and for light residential snow removal. I prbably should get the F150 but I really love the looks of the 250 Super Duty. Anyone had power issues w/the 5.4 or any other issues for light duty hauling and work ?

 

go for the v10 you will be much happier.the 5.4 can and will do the job, but the v10 will do it a lot easier

 

If you're buying the new 2005, the 5.4 has about 300 HP give or take. Should be plenty of motor for what you want. That being said, if you decide to tow later, the Six Eight is a better choice for the small upcharge to the larger motor.

 

Mike,

Will you only be throwing the extra 2,000lbs on for a few months a year? or what? What year truck are you talking about? 4WD? 2WD? Standard cab? Extended cab? or 4-door Quad cab?

The new 2005 5.4L gassers are rated at 300hp. In comparison, I have a 2002 5.4L gasser (rated at 260hp) that has occasionally pulled a 3,000lb rain gutter trailer with no problem whatsoever. So, as previously alluded to, the 5.4L CAN and WILL do the job... "but" the 6.8L (V-10) is definitely better-suited for a "working man's" F-250. The 5.4L is great for the F-150, and it's fine for me in my F-250 since I rarely tow, I use it primarily as a people-mover, and occasionally fully-loaded runs to the County dump.

I've never driven a 6.8L F-250, but I know that my 5.4L F-250 (with "only" 260hp!) does just fine when I need it to tow the 3,000lb trailer. The question then becomes: "Will the 5.4L do alright on a full-time basis pulling the 2,000lbs you said you'll be burdening it with? And... "Will you be satisfied with the 5.4L's performance both on- and off-duty"? And, "Will the V-10 be overkill for all the times you DON'T have the extra 2,000lbs on it, and you wish you had the 5.4L instead?" Hmmmm....

Food for thought.... Meantime, welcome to FTE!!!

Daryl

 

DS02F250, you pretty much summed up my dilemma. I will use it daily for towing but its a light trailer only 2k loaded and also for my personal vehicle. I'm talking about a super cab 4x4 w/short box.

If there's no big difference in gas mileage I'll go for the V10 but if the V8 is significantly better gas mileage and can handle the light hauling etc. I would go that route.

 

My brother has an F-250 with the 5.4. He didn't feel the need to go with the V-10. He's more than happy with it. He plowed many driveways this past winter that were covered with over a foot of snow and the stock tires were the only limiting factor he complained about. He also tows a 3500lb boat on the weekends during the summer and hasn't once said he didn't have enough power or torque. But, just my $0.02.

 

05 F250 with the 5.4, 4wd, 3.73 Rear, towing 7000+ lb TT, no problem! Can't say enough about the Towcommand brake controller. F250 replaced Chevy Suburban with the 350, and outpulls it unbelievably. Not a lot of miles yet to be sure, looks like about 10 pulling and 13-15 otherwise.

 

I have an '04 4X4 with a V-10 and I know a guy that has the same truck as mine except his has the 5.4L Our fuel mileage is with in 1/2 mpg city and highway.

6.8L is the wat to go, IMO.

 

Not sure about the mileage diff. but at $600 or so, the V10 is a bargain! A mile or so a gallon will never offset the feeling of wishing you had the bigger engine. As I've heard it said "never get the smallest engine that's offered in a vehicle". I have a V10 and am very happy with it. I worried about the weight of an F250 being moved by the same engine that's in an F150.

Good luck!

Jim

 

Go with the V10 its only $600 if your buying new and the same price if your buying used. The mileage is the almost the same 1/2-1mpg better with the 5.4L. And you can come on down to the V10 forum and join the BSEG club.

As far as towing performance, things change. Maybe in a year or two you might have something bigger to tow and then your out looking for a better vehicle to do the job. For as little as the V10 option is I don't know why anyone would pass it up. Any dealer can be haggled down to make a 5.4L and 6.8L the same price out the door.

 

I have a 02 V-10 super cab long bed with 4.10 gears, my buddy has an 01 5.4 super cab short bed with 3.73 gears. We both work our trucks about the same 1500#'s in the bed and pull trailers about 4000#'s. The 5.4 does a good job but the 6.8 does it alot easier. Mileage almost averages the same: The 5.4 does a little better unloaded but when worked hard it seems to get a little worse. My V-10 averages 10-12.5 MPG and does not work as hard to get the jobs done and when I need to pull 10,000#'s it will do it.

When my buddy gets a new truck he will get the V-10!

 

man go with the big lady she want let you down
01V-10/2wd/xtracab /LWB average 12 city unloaded 13.5 -17.6 hwy and no dissapointment for need to move when wanted. Its all in what youy can be comfortable with although what was stated above 5.4 vs 6.8 you either have it or you don't when you really need it.

have fun Raybo54

 

i have to say i agree with every one my 05 v10 is just a out right awsome machineboth loaded towing my boat up a 25% grade to home or unloaded running to and from work,my mpgs are almost as evry one with the 5.4 say they get. cost wise 600 msrp and and 510 invoice go for the v10 it will not let you down performance wise.

 

The very little extra fuel the V10 will use is worth every penny. Think of it like a luxury tax. It makes a big pickup like mine feel light and nimble. The nicest vehicles in the world all have more power than they need. The nicest pickup in the world should have no less.

 

The V8 has 300hp and that sounds good but the V10 blows the 5.4L off the map in the torque department.

Even my "weak" 2 valve 2003 V10 is rated to produce alot more torque at only 2000rpm than the new 3 valve 5.4Ls are at their peak torque output. Here's the best way to look at it:

We have an '05 F150 4x4 Crew 5.4L. On the highway our 5500lb F150 with 3.73s will drop out of OD to third on most hills to maintain 65/70mph.

On the other hand my 6800lb 2003 F250 V10 with 3.73s never drops out of OD on any hill to stay at 65/70mph. It chugs along at about 1800/1900rpm and holds it's speed without the need to rev any higher.

For a 3/4 or 1 ton truck you need torque at low rpm. HP is good but the torque makes alot more difference when it comes to moving weight. I'm not bashing the 5.4L because I like it alot-it does get the job done and is super dependable. But if you want to get the job done and still have tons of reserve power the V10 is the way to go.

My wife's 5.4L F150 is averaging 13/14 mpg overall and like I said-it weighs about 5500lbs. My F250 6.8L averages 11/12 mpg overall and weighs 6800lbs! In my experience there's no practical difference for mileage in these engines in equivalent trucks. On the highway her F150 will get as high as 17.5mpg if you take it easy and the F250 V10 will get a little over 14mpg if you do the speed limit and stay in OD.