If you're towing 7-10,000 lb, you should never be in 6th gear, because the overdrive should be off.

 

You can't turn the OD off on the '09. You can only put it in tow/haul mode. However, tow/haul mode should keep it out of 6th most of the time if you're towing that kind of weight. It might shift into 6th going downhill for a great distance....at least that's how mine behaves.

I too wonder if he was using tow/haul. Mine did very minimal shifting/hunting while towing 8500k, and I think I only briefly hit 3rd two times over a 45 mile trip on a pretty hilly highway. With tow/haul on, it pretty much stayed in 5th for 75% of the trip, and 4th the rest of the time.

 

Shocking... 460 cubic inches will turn more torque at lower RPM compared to 331 cubic inches.

 

You are correct, I knew about that, but was visualizing the button on my truck, but never the less, if in Tow haul, it should not be shifting from 6th to 3rd very often if at all because I wouldn't think it would be in 6 gear.

 

09 F 150 very impressive towing rig. I came out of a 02 F 350 v10 I also tow a 27 ft travel trailer with a FX 4 the six speed trans works flawlessly.

 

WOW!!!

To answer all of these responses...

-The terrain was hilly but nothing major, typical middle Ga
-I tried both tow/haul mode and "normal"
-I estimate I was towing approx 6500lbs and had about 150 in the bed. My passenger and myself weighed in at 400lbs.
-As for aerodynamics, like windellmc stated when you tow a 8'x8'x26' 6000lb box what does aerodynamics have to do with anything.

-Thank You phillips91 for understanding my postings.

-I do love my F150 and will continue to tow my camper with it. If I was towing 50% of the time or only in the appalachains, I would have opted for the F250 with the V10.

-Last note. I am very happy with my new truck even though it has a few weak points (IMHO) but I can live and work with them now that I physically know rather than "book smarts".

-When I was considering my new truck I origanally asked about the 5.4 vs the 460. Well yes, there is no comparison since it should've been the 460 vs V10. The 460 and the 6.8 are mules and the 5.4 is a pony. I'm sorry if that offends anyone but for towing and hard work you need low end torque. Why do you think diesels are the best for heavy towing!!

Anyway, When I get back from North Carolina, I'll discuss that trip

 

If You tow 7-8K lbs around a lot, You prolly shudda got the 4.10 axle?

 

its not shocking to those of us that have owned a 460. when comparing a 5.4 to a 460 each engine is going to have its advantages/disadvantages since they were designed for two totally different things. none of us have said the 5.4 is a bad engine or doesnt belong in a truck or anything like that. its a great engine for a light duty truck, but theres some things its just not made for.

 

That *zing* you just heard was the sarcasm narrowly clearing your head.

 

no, i caught the sarcasm in your tone. but you say it like is impossible that someone would think the 5.4 would tow better than the 460. and thats my point exactly. i have spent the last month or so arguing with two or three people that honestly think the 5.4 will tow better than the 460 because of things they figure up on paper, when people who own both engines have been trying to tell them there is no comparison between the two.

 

Sounds to me like a good tow tune would help you out a lot as far the trans is concerned. I'm not shure if he has a tow tune tested or not for the new 09' or not but Mike at 5 star can set you up with a tune that will make the truck shift better for towing and can actually keep you out of the ODs up to a certain speed.

 

Isn't a 3.73 w/ 6 speed all of 4.10s on a 4 speed? Is a 4.10 rear end available? Not on a SCrew anyway.

 

Ha ha, very funny, 4 spd vs 6spd. 33% less gears. haha

 

A 6 speed transmission is almost always shift more than a 4 speed. That is what it is designed to do, and the reason that they get better mileage. More gear options allows the computer to find the best gear to meet the demand that it is seeing. Just like driving a 6 speed stick you will work yourself to death if you are going through alot of his trying to find the right gear to stay at the speed you want and in turn you may have to shift to a lower gear(3rd or even 2nd). The same logic is happening in the computer of these new trucks. Another I haven't figured out is why everyone is trying to compare a half ton with a 3/4 ton, they are designed to do totally different things. I laugh every time I see some one pulling a 5th wheel camper or gooseneck with a half ton. Yeah they will do it but come on, buy the truck that meets your needs based on what it is designed to do not one what it might servive doing. If you want compare a 5.4L to another engine from the past or the one it replaced compare it to the 5.8L(351). It wins in almost every catagory if not all.

 

phillips91 is a smart towing dude. For the reasons stated above I never could buy a Ford 5.4 to tow my 8Klbs through NJ-PA-NY area. I have been a GM 8.1, 6.0 and now 6.2 owner, and for just these towing reasons. I have been there, and done that with almost every big V8 gasser made. I have even owned 3/4 tons but scraped that idea after the headaches were more than I could bare on NY City metro roads. The most powerful 1/2tons are the only game in this town for me. I am waiting with baited breath for Ford's new 6.2. If/when it arrives, I will most likely purchase one, over another Goverment Motors 6.2. And if they put it in the Expedition, my wifes Denali 6.2 will go down the road as well.