In a search for a tow vehicle for our newly purchased 21.5' (5,200 GVWR) fifth wheel, we came accross a very nice 99 F-250SD 4X2 with the 5.4 . Even with the relatively light fiver, I am somewhat concerned with the towing ability of the 5.4, as there will be a lot of mountain hauling. I realize that a diesel is the preferable way to go, but is out of my budget.Any comments from members towing with the 5.4?

 

Occasionally I tow a skid steer (with a 10,000 lb gvw) with my 5.4 and it does okay around here (no mountains) as long as I keep the overdrive locked out. Otherwise it does alot of needless shifting on the highways. Ever consider the V-10??

 

You shouldn't have any problems at 5200 lbs - We have an '05 with the 5.4 (little more hp & torque, but our tt is 7000Lbs+). Just don't expect to pull the hills at 70 MPH. Stay out of OD unless you're in fairly level country.

 

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If it has the 4.10 gears then you'll prolly be alright. Don't expect to win any races. If it has the 3.73 I'd keep looking.

 

3.73 and stock tires are ok, no ball of fire, but it works well for us.......

 

Do'nt think that a diesel is out of your budget in a 99 Ford a 5.4 to a V10 to the 7.3 diesel is not that much more. If you plan to use your rv for a few weakends a year. then the 5.4 will do. If you plan to take a lot of trips then get a diesel you will be happy you did.

 

I presently have a 04 SCSD 5.4 auto and we tow a 29' 5ver. It works ok, as the other s have said keep it out of OD. We recently made a trip to florida from ny with it. PA was slow, but TN was turtle thru the mountains. the rest of the trip was great..but lucky for me....next year the mountains will be no problem as a 06 6.0 is on its way to me....

JAS

 

I'd go v10 or diesel, okay i did go diesel but that is besides the point. I had a 5.4L previous to the diesel, it did a fine job at everything I wanted to tow. It had 3.73 gears, would have been much better with 4.10s but at the time I bought it I wasn't thinking much, just wanted a truck. The v10s should be very similarly priced to the 5.4 as it was a 600 dollar option at the time. Course demand probably has a lot to do with what is available in your area. Drive a few and tow your trailer with each, see which one you like better. Happy RVing

 

If you are towing ANY mountains or decent hills or head winds....you won't be happy unless you don't mind 35 mph on the highway and close to redline. The 5.4 is great for small loads and around town but it has to downshift on hills when it's empty just to keep the speed limit.

V10 or PSD and you will be glad you did. When towing it's ALWAYS better to have too much power than not enough.

I am not saying the 5.4 won't do....it just won't do it well.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

You sound like someone who hasn't towed with a 5.4. The man is asking about towing a 5200 lb trailer - read some of the other comments in this thread and others - the 5.4l does a good job even at 7000 lbs. I haven't redlined min yet - and I tow thru the Pocono Mountains and up thru the Endless Mountains in PA - while they aren't like Bear Tooth or Wolf Creek, they get steep in places, and the 5.4 works just fine.

 

Alchymist, please don't take my comments personally. I am just stating what I have learned from talking to folks and reading. I never said it wouldn't tow it. I was only trying to point out that the V10 or PSD would do a much better job.

All of the folks that have posted in this thread have stated that it will do okay. No one has said that it will do great. Even you said "...it works okay..."

Why settle for okay when you have the chance to get plenty of power. With a bigger engine he will also have the option of towing 10k or more if the need or want ever comes up. If he never gets any heavier than 5200k then he will never be telling others that his truck tows it "okay". He will be saying that it's a joy to tow with and that the mountains or head winds are easy.

I checked kelly blue book. Identical 4x4 F250 Lariat Short bed. $665 more for the V10 or $5200 more for the 7.3 PSD. Prices were retail.

To me $665 or less is worth it for the extra power. The mpg isn't that much different (unless you go diesel). The V10 is just a 5.4 with two more cylinders.

Happy new year to everyone!!!!


ON EDIT: I have not towed with the 5.4. I have towed with many vehicles and know that too much power is always better than "just enough" power. <-- my opinion only

 

An 8 percent 14 km (~6 mile) grade over the Rockies convinced me to go diesel.
I have a 'lite' 5th (28 ft ~5400 lb) trailer, and this summer we went up this mountain
hill - slowwwly. My 7700 F150 5.4 did fine elsewhere, but on that grade the engine
was screaming at 45km/hr(~20mph?). We made it to the top without overheating,
but man it was tense.
I now own an 04 350 PSD CC, and very happy to have made the switch.

 

The most important thing is, if you like what you drive and if it's doing the job you think it should. Then that is what counts not what we think.

 

Mwachel, wasn't trying to be sarastic, overbearing, whatever. Just sounded from the comment that you hadn't towed with the 5.4. Far too many people present as fact what they've read or heard. There is one poster who is really obnoxious about this, and "works all this out mathematically", and even points to his own web page as proof. Just want to keep the record straight. Something we sometimes miss it that the 5.4 for '05 and up has an increased hp & torque rating. I towed originally with a '93 Suburban 1500, and would have described it as "adequate". It was a 350 CI with auto. It did nowhere near the towing performance that the '05 with 330 CI does.

I think there are two classes of people who tow - those who have to hit the hills and pass everything going up with power to spare, (fun in itself), and those who accept a little less performance from a vehicle that does a more than adequate job 95% of the time, and "adequate" for the balance.

Even when I'm not towing I let the truck slow 5 mph or so as I hit a hill, without giving it more throttle. As I crest the hill, it regains speed......but I am convinced it helps in the MPG department. I rarely tow over 65, and will let the rig settle to 55 on steep hills - that's what the right lane is for. As to "if I want to", the 5.4 will pull them hills at 65 or more, and pass semi trucks and other rigs. But Why wind it at 3500 rpm in third and suffer the greatly increased wear and tear for the gain of 60 seconds in pulling the hill? Our tt weighs in at 7000+, and we are consider9ng a 5W in the near future, and judging from the current performance, I would not be adverse to going up to 10000 lbs. (actually about 9500 as defined by the GCWR).

And when we went looking, there wasn't a V10 on any lot ....... Would I like to have a V10? Yes. PSD? Perhaps. Am I satisfied with the 5.4? Very.