5.0 auto pulling power
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2007
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5.0 auto pulling power
I have a 1995 F-150 2wd with a 5.0 Auto (3.55 rear end). I use it to pull an 18' boat thats probably weighing in around 3000 to 3500 lbs. I am not impressed on how my truck pulls the boat on level ground. The 5.0 just does not have enough stroke to be a good puller. I am now planning on moving to Washington state (CA SUCKS). My consurned is: will my 5.0 be able to pull my boat up the mountains (Grapevine-Southern CA and Mount Shasta area)?
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
You will be able to make it for sure, just like deez said, it will be slow.
The 5 liter never was a monster puller. Its more of the daily driver, weekend work warrior type of a truck engine.
The 5 liter never was a monster puller. Its more of the daily driver, weekend work warrior type of a truck engine.
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Freshman User
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Thanks for your input. I totaly agree that the 5.0 is a daily driver engine. It is a great truck to haul stuff and geting from point A to B, but pulling is a different story. I have decided to go ahead and sell it and get me a double cab with an engine that has more bottom end tourque for pulling. So if any of you guys in Sothern Ca. that want a super clean 95 F-150 supercab (91,000 miles) let me know.
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
Sounds and looks like a nice truck 
Ive owned a few of these trucks over the years with the 302 in it, that was just my experience, although I use my trucks fairly lightly They excellent engines though, definatly one of my favorites.
Ive owned a few of these trucks over the years with the 302 in it, that was just my experience, although I use my trucks fairly lightly
They excellent engines though, definatly one of my favorites.
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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Yeah, I have a 302 powered f150 with 33" tires. I have found that as long as you let the engine do what it wants to do - rev - you will have plenty of power. Fuel mileage is another story..
I have a manual, so without the benefit of a torque converter I find I have to keep it OVER 65 mph to stay in the powerband when geared 1:1 with a 3.55 rear. As long as im over 65 and the RPM's are over 2500 this motor has plenty of power. Definitly, more stroke would fix this, but it really doesn't do too bad pulling at 2700 rpm (like a boat, with similar fuel mileage)
I have a manual, so without the benefit of a torque converter I find I have to keep it OVER 65 mph to stay in the powerband when geared 1:1 with a 3.55 rear. As long as im over 65 and the RPM's are over 2500 this motor has plenty of power. Definitly, more stroke would fix this, but it really doesn't do too bad pulling at 2700 rpm (like a boat, with similar fuel mileage)
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Joined: Sep 2008
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after driving my 90 model to 220k miles i will say this it will do just fine as long as you keep the revs up i pull a small boat at about 2000 lbs along with gear quite a bit from here in east tenn to the gulf coast and many times on the long uphills i just take it out of overdrive and let the motor sing right along but its been retired and now have an 08 in the driveway and i haven't had the chance yet to hook the boat up but hopefully real soon
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2007
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Thanks for all your input on my question. I have done some minor mods to help me out: Took off the muffler and ran 2.5” pipe from the cats back exiting the side just before the rear tire. I was very surprise to hear it with no mufflers; the stock cats do a lot of muffling. It has a nice low rumble without being too loud on the freeway. I also put in a K&N replacement filter and opened up the air cleaner housing to allow more air flow. Between that and a good tune up (with new plug wires) made a big difference in pulling, but it still struggles at low RPM’s.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 813
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From: foristell, missouri
no power
like everyone has said already, the 5.0 is not much of a torque monster. i had a truck about like yours and i could pull anything i wanted but it took a while to get to a cruising speed. i would get a 351w with 3.73 and youll pull plenty good and still get decent mileage. or if you really want to pull stuff get a 460 with 4.10 gears, not great mileage but you would be able to pull anything you grabbed on to.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Scarborough, ME
This may just be me, BUT:
My 92 4x4 with a 302 was able to pull a 6000 pound car (1973 Thunderbird, huge *** car) around my yard and down about a 5 mile stretch of road with hills and such, with relative ease. However, I'm not sure of the gears.
Also, it was able to pull around a 1996 Contour (3000 pounds if it was filled with cement, probably) 30-40 feet out of about a foot of sand, with all four of the contours wheels locked.
I don't have any problem's towing / hauling things with my truck. I'm not sure of the gears, though.
My 92 4x4 with a 302 was able to pull a 6000 pound car (1973 Thunderbird, huge *** car) around my yard and down about a 5 mile stretch of road with hills and such, with relative ease. However, I'm not sure of the gears.
Also, it was able to pull around a 1996 Contour (3000 pounds if it was filled with cement, probably) 30-40 feet out of about a foot of sand, with all four of the contours wheels locked.
I don't have any problem's towing / hauling things with my truck. I'm not sure of the gears, though.
