Tow power?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: NE Missouri
Tow power?
I'm thinking of trading my F-250 PSD for an F-150 Super Crew. The biggest load I pull is about 5000 lbs.(jeep and trailer). How do the newer 150's with the bigger V8's do pulling that kind of load? I don't tow often or through the mountains,that's why I'm considering trading the PSD,I really don't tow enough to need it.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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jeepnford,
I don't have the 5.4, but have the 4.6 in an 04 scab, I sometimes pull a 5000 lb camper. It does OK, it will pull it comfortably at the speed limit. You do notice slight hills and inclines, and need more distance to pass someone. I only pull the camper about 100 miles to the mountains and back 3 or 4 times a year. I wouldn't want to pull it cross country with the 1/2 ton 4.6. But for what I do I'm happy.
devilclawz!!!
I don't have the 5.4, but have the 4.6 in an 04 scab, I sometimes pull a 5000 lb camper. It does OK, it will pull it comfortably at the speed limit. You do notice slight hills and inclines, and need more distance to pass someone. I only pull the camper about 100 miles to the mountains and back 3 or 4 times a year. I wouldn't want to pull it cross country with the 1/2 ton 4.6. But for what I do I'm happy.
devilclawz!!!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,821
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From: South Dakota
I too had a F250 PSD that I had traded off on my F150 Supercrew with a 5.4L and 4x4.
Unloaded my F150 gets better mpg than my 7.3L PSD did. The 7.3L that I had got 15-17 mpg right at 55 mph. My f150 with 3.73's gets anywhere from 17-20 at that same speed unloaded.
You can call BS all day long, but I do have the records to back it up.
Your PSD definatley will get better mpg towing, but you need to have a trailer on the back of it almost 80% just to make it feasable with todays diesel fuel prices being higher than gasoline. Toss into the equation of more expensive maintanence and it only gets worse.
Don't get me wrong, I sure loved my '00 7.3L F250, but I sure didn't like it filling it up and maintaining it when I was using it as a DD.
Even though my payments went up by $200 (I went from a 5yr loan on the PSD to a 4yr on the F150), my figures show that I am actually saving $200 a month in overall costs vs the F250.
A F150 Supercrew with a 5.4L 4x4 and 3.73's has a max trailer of 9300 lbs, which is more than enough capacity for the family and the trailer. I would expect that towing mpg should be in the 10 mpg range depending on speed.
Unloaded my F150 gets better mpg than my 7.3L PSD did. The 7.3L that I had got 15-17 mpg right at 55 mph. My f150 with 3.73's gets anywhere from 17-20 at that same speed unloaded.
You can call BS all day long, but I do have the records to back it up.
Your PSD definatley will get better mpg towing, but you need to have a trailer on the back of it almost 80% just to make it feasable with todays diesel fuel prices being higher than gasoline. Toss into the equation of more expensive maintanence and it only gets worse.
Don't get me wrong, I sure loved my '00 7.3L F250, but I sure didn't like it filling it up and maintaining it when I was using it as a DD.
Even though my payments went up by $200 (I went from a 5yr loan on the PSD to a 4yr on the F150), my figures show that I am actually saving $200 a month in overall costs vs the F250.
A F150 Supercrew with a 5.4L 4x4 and 3.73's has a max trailer of 9300 lbs, which is more than enough capacity for the family and the trailer. I would expect that towing mpg should be in the 10 mpg range depending on speed.
Last edited by superrangerman2002; Mar 8, 2006 at 02:16 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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plus you can get Air bags, add a leaf, beefy swaybars, all kinds of stuff if your worried about the towing performance with the F150. I would say you'd be just fine. Guys are reporting great things with the Edge Evo tuner with fuel economy, power, and shifting on the new F150's. Plus they are very good looking trucks. I dont know if they even rate as a truck anymore. More like a car with comfort features and ride. Good Luck with your decision, its never easy. Keep reading and be a informed consumer.
FTE *******
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 791
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Not to mention the new F-150's are knocking down a VERY impressive 9,000+ tow capacity......they aren't making F-150's like they used to....they are making them WAYYYYYY better.... Your buying a half ton truck with great ride, great styling, and towing capacity that makes 3/4 and 1 ton trucks from 10 years ago shake in thier boots. Todays 150 frame, brakes, and comfort level are at a level never imagined by yesterdays truck owners. It does make you rethink everything you know about 1/2 ton trucks and thier limitations.....as in..... what limitations?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: South Dakota
Very true,
The days of a 1/2 ton acutally having a 1/2 ton payload are long gone. Todays 1/2 ton's are rated for more weight than most 3/4 ton trucks of yesteryear.
You can get a 1/2 ton truck that does have a 3000 lb payload capacity in certain configurations!
The days of a 1/2 ton acutally having a 1/2 ton payload are long gone. Todays 1/2 ton's are rated for more weight than most 3/4 ton trucks of yesteryear.
You can get a 1/2 ton truck that does have a 3000 lb payload capacity in certain configurations!
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Brett Foote
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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Having towed an 80 blazer cross country on a u-haul car hauler with my 06 screw 5.4, the tow very well. I went from Ohio to Arizona and towed at 70 all day long, anything higer than that and the trailer got squirley. This was before I got the edge so I am really looking forward to towing something because I am a huge fan of the edge.
micky
micky
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Joined: Sep 2004
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I tow 6k travel trailer with my 05 Lariat 5.4, 3.73 ls, scab 6.5 bed, and I average 10.2 mpg when towing 60mph. And my overall average (not towing) is 14.4 mpg, and thats with magnaflow catback, airaid cai, and a computer reflash.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Canada
I tow a 5100 pounds (dry weight) 5th wheel with my '04 supercab FX4. It has not problems pulling it at all. On flat terrain, I can even use the overdrive if I pull at 68-72mph. At 65 of below, I pull with the OD off.
With the food, pops, chairs, BBQ, beer, propare stove, wine, a little water, the weight is more like 6000lbs and it is doing a very fine job at it.
I want to find a tranny temperature gauge though... to be on the safer side. The truck is equipped with the tow package but being able to see the the temp gauge would be re-assuring.
Benoit
With the food, pops, chairs, BBQ, beer, propare stove, wine, a little water, the weight is more like 6000lbs and it is doing a very fine job at it.
I want to find a tranny temperature gauge though... to be on the safer side. The truck is equipped with the tow package but being able to see the the temp gauge would be re-assuring.
Benoit
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Benoit1967 Look at the EDGE prog. I pull an offshore boat that wen full is about 7000lbs if not more. The only prob is stoping that is a trailer issue. I do have to put the truck in 4 low when pulling at the ramp it is steep and the boat gets water in it. but it pulls it. I do not travel far but it is fun to watch the people at the dock tell me that i need to get a bigger truck... Till they see me pull the boat out... I do this with 325/60/18s on.
Senior User
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Couple of thought. I have an 04, 5.4l, 4x4 SCREW
It will tow 5000 lbs all day long. I average ~10ish mpg at 65 when towing. I have towed up to 9000 lbs and it did extremely well. Have towed my 7000 lbs boat with no issues at all.
However, if you are like me, towing is ~10% of the time. The rest of the time you are simply driving. My brother and sister both have 250 PSDs. They do get better milage (both towing and not). BUT ... they pay 30 - 40 cents more per gallon and the ride is rough as hell. If you really tow a lot, get a PSD, however, for most use the 150 is a perfect blend of function and comfort.
It will tow 5000 lbs all day long. I average ~10ish mpg at 65 when towing. I have towed up to 9000 lbs and it did extremely well. Have towed my 7000 lbs boat with no issues at all.
However, if you are like me, towing is ~10% of the time. The rest of the time you are simply driving. My brother and sister both have 250 PSDs. They do get better milage (both towing and not). BUT ... they pay 30 - 40 cents more per gallon and the ride is rough as hell. If you really tow a lot, get a PSD, however, for most use the 150 is a perfect blend of function and comfort.