For all you 5.4 guys have you really noticed a lack a power with the 5.4 in your SD? I am leaning toward the V10 but I don't think I can do anything newer than a 03' 4x4 in the V10 2V. I see 5.4 3V 04's 4x4 in the same price range. I know the 2V V10's have 310 hp and 425 ft lbs TQ, the 3V 5.4's have 300 hp and 365 ft lbs TQ. Thats 10 hp and 60 lbs TQ difference. The gas milege is pretty much the same with the same set up. I have had 2 diesels before and loved them but the cost of the truck and fuel prices, it's just not worth it to me and I would have to get something with a ton of miles in my price range.

I am just debating whether I want to try and get something a year or two newer with a 5.4 or go with a 03' V10. Allot of guys on the V10 forum have told me that I would be happier with a V10. But I want to get the oppinion of you 5.4 guys that have driven and towed with it. I wouldn't be towing a house or anything. Just a daily driver and a boat on the weekends. Maybe a RV trailer a few years down the road. I have always loved the SD in looks and potential. I have had many half tons and that would probably serve me just fine but I want a SD again.

This would be a longterm truck for me. Driving it till the bolts fall out as my wife would say. I am a believer in "Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." But I want oppinions from both sides of the house (5.4 & 6.8). I want to get the best I can for the best price and long term use. Sorry for the length. Thanks for your imput. Great forum, I have learned allot since finding this site.

 

I drive an '07 3V 5.4L, I love it. I tow trailers up to the rated weight of the truck without any issues. I would get one '05 or newer (if possible) so you can also get the 5R110W transmission. Having the 3V engine with the 5 speed automatic makes a big difference. Also, the Tow Command system is awesome, if you can find it.

That being said, if you forsee a need to tow over 10,000 pounds while you own the truck I would not hesitate to recommend the V-10. It has more power and can tow a heavier load. Some V-10 owners will also tell you the fuel mileage is equivelent to a 5.4L V-8, but you should check that out yourself.

Because of fuel prices, used V-10s seem to be at a discount. Money saved during the purchase may make up for any loss mileage you might encounter.

I will tell you that neither will get 20 MPG.

 

i have a 06 f250 w/ the 3v 5.4 and my parents have a 00 excursion w/ 2v v10.... they are both good running motors.. the v10 gets about 13 with a mix of highway and some around town driving... i drive the 5.4 everyday and have been averaging 17 mpg.. they both tow great but like redford said about a heavier trailer you might wanna go with the v10...

 

Thanks for the imput. I just want to get the opinion from both sides of the house. I don't know if I would see myself ever towing 10000 lbs or more. How does it handle without a load? Does it have plenty of get up and go? How about passing on the highway? I don't know if I could swing a 05' with out allot of miles. I had a 05' F150 with a 5.4 and I was very impressed with the power. Just not sure how much difference there would be with about 1500 plus lbs of more truck. Unfortantly for me my wife has put me on a buget this time. What is the longevity of the 5.4? I know I have read guys getting 200,000 on the V10's but I have not heard about the 5.4. I know that the F150's can go that far but I am curious as to the SD being allot heavier and towing larger loads if that causes them to get less life out of them. Of course I know that if you take care of it with proper maintence it will go allot farther.

 

With what you say you will be doing, I think the 5.4 will work for you. But then you also say "Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." It really sounds to me like you should go with the V-10 because you really are not sure what you will end up with in the future. You tow a boat right now, and the 5.4 will do that just fine. But if you get a RV later, even a relatively smaller TT or a smaller 5th wheel, you will be glad you got the V-10. Again, the 5.4 will probably do, but you would be happier with the v-10. As far as longevity, everything I've seen and read leads me to believe that if you take care of it, it will take care of you. That goes for either the 5.4 or the 6.8. These SD's are beasts, no doubt about it.

 

Tough decisions to make. Well you are probably right in the sense that a 5.4 will work. I don't know what the future holds but then again as far as a camper goes, hell it may be time for a new truck buy the time that I get my wife to buy off on it. No sense of humor about toys. I am still curious about how it handles with out a load and passing on the highway. I do try to keep my foot out of it but it is nice to have that power when you need it to get by.

 

By the way what is exactly the tow command system? I have seen it on the ford web site but not sure what it all entails

 

The 5.4l 3v was offered starting in 05' for the SD and in 04' for the F-150. The 6.8l 3V was also put into SDs starting in 05'. 05' was also the when Ford switched to the Torqueshift from the 4R100.

99'-04' 6.8l V10s are 2V with the 99' having 275hp vs. the 310hp of the 00'-04' 2V, torque is the same. 99'-04' 5.4l are 2V as well.

 

Really I didn't know that the 04' SD still had the 2V I thought that they switched over to the 3V with the F150 in 04'.

 

3 valves didn't show up in Super Duty trucks until '05, along with the updated front end styling, new frame and coilsprung front suspension.

If I was in the used truck market I'd look at this truck. It sure got my attention while browsing ebay today.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...spagenameZWDVW

 

i have a 03 2v 5.4 and i tow a 5th wheel camper that is about 10,000lbs loaded with no problems. you will not win any races with that load but we get there with no problem. unloaded power is good, but i have learned not to use it to much because it can suck gas with the best of them if you are in it all the time. normal driving you can get 15mpg. look for one with the 4.10 rear end.

 

That is a nice truck. Thanks for the info. Well I think I could get away with a 5.4. I guess I will just look around and see what kind of deal I can find in either the 5.4 or the 6.8, and go with the best deal. I plan on doing this around Jan Feb time frame when I get my tax return. Is that 15 mpg with a 4x4 or 4x2? Just curious.

 

Someone was saying that Ford upgraded the heads in 03' to fix the problem with the blown spark plugs and exhaust manifold bolts breaking. Did Ford upgrade the heads in both the 5.4 and the 6.8 in 03'? Or was it just the 6.8? Or is this B.S.?