I own a 5.9L Dodge 2500 to tow a 7500 lb enclosed race trailer but I have since sold the enclosed and have an open. I hate the Dodge and it will soon be sold off to buy a 97-03 Ford. The total loaded trailer weight will between 4500 and 5000 lbs.

I will tow about 6-8 times a year, mostly 2 hours one way but other times much further.

With gas prices and my limited towing use, would a 2wd 4.6L truck be adequate??

I am sure a 5.4L will do the job better at the expense of more fuel all the time.

What say you??

 

Get the 5.4 for sure. It has more power and the MPG isn't much worse. Make sure you get a truck with 3.73 gears instead of 3.55s.

With my 5.4 I've gotten up to 20MPG empty on the highway.

Mike

 

The 4.6 will do it, the 5.4 will do it better.

Unless you live in a mountainous area, the 4.6 will handle it easily IMO.

 

Aside from more displacement, what other benefits come with the 5.4L?? IIRC my old 97 5.4L F-150 had a 9 3/4 rear axle. Would the 4.6 have a smaller rear??

 

Yep, the 4.6 gets the 8.8 rear instead of the 9.75.

Plus if you haven't kept up, the 5.4 got a bump to 260HP and 350ft/lbs in 99 so that widens the power gap between the 4.6 and 5.4.

Mike

 

Towing a car trailer with a 4.6L?

Good luck...mine barely pulls around my empty truck...

 

My 4.6 pulls loads in that range well.

PI heads and cams must have made a difference.

 

Go with the 5.4. I have the 4.6 in my '97, and while it gets good mileage, even at 187,000, it just doesn't have the power to tow. I have a 4,000lb boat, and the 4.6 really, REALLY struggles with it. My wife has a 5.4 in her 2000 Expedition, and it pulls it with ease. Uses lots of gas while pulling, though! That's why I bought the SD.

 

from what i understand, the 4.6 (when not towing) only gets about 2 MPG more than my 5.4L....then again, i have 3.55s

 

Mine also pulls well in that same range. Maybe a little higher, I have pulled 6000# with my 4.6.

I don't even have PI heads or cams since mine is a 97.

 

you might get 2 more miles on the gallon if you dont put you foot in it to much when pulling get a 5.4 hands down. 4.6 can do it with a few mods like mine it nicer than a 5.4 stock. but i miss my 7.3 back home in wv. o well only one more year of school in ohio. i have pulled some heavy heavy loads with mine guess thats why my 8.8 LS is worn out. if anyone knows where a 9.75 rear axle is with 3.55 great PM me asap thank. o and if you have mountain around where you live towing or not get a 5.4 so just get a 5.4. the only reason i got a 4.6 for the 5 speed guess its not all that bad but i still wish i had a 5.4 all the time. i got the truck new in feb 97 and i now have 183,000 miles on her she has been a good truck can't complain i guess

 

If your towing will be limited, I would go with the 4.6 and a set of 3.73 gears.
Once you get a 5.4 you have it full time.
I tow as much as 12,000 lbs gross combined weight with an 02 4.6 and 3.55 gears.
It handles it with enough power to be reasonable.
The 5.4 will only make a little difference on the hills but like mentioned, you have it full time, otherwise.
Fuel mileage at these weights is about 10 or less depending on the terrain and gas quality.
Large trans cooler is in order as well as watch the cooling system in hot weather.

 

I agree with bluegrass about the limited towing etc the 4.6l will do it but like many say the 5.4l will do it better and get about the same mpg

 

get a 5.4L, you will be happier. The 4.6 is sluggish at best, without a trailer. The "2 mpg" you'll save at the pump will vanish the moment you hook up a trailer to your rig. I know the 4.6L is much cheaper than a 5.4L, much of this is due to the fact that the 4.6L is undesireable to most. The 4.6 will pull your trailer down the road, but you'll be flogging it the whole way.

 

funny how some 4.6s are sluggish, and some really shine... I'm lucky - I've got a shiner!

I realize I'm not towing the world here.... only my 3200 pound TT - but my 4.6 with 3.08 and 285 tires does great. HOWEVER, the caveat is I do it in Southeast Texas... no hills to speak of, and certainly no mountains.... but lots of 65-70 MPH highway towing.

I didn't search out this truck. I bought it from a friend, who was in financial trouble. if I had really wanted a truck - I would have gotten one with the biggest motor available, and the tallest gears.

good luck with your choice.