This word some use ... "underpowered" ... is a very subjective term. It often means only that that writer wants more acceleration or less slowdown on grades, not necessarily that it's incapable of moving the load well enough.

The 5.4 is better at towing than a 4.6, all else being equal, while the 7.3 PS or 6.0 PS diesels are both better yet maybe. Towing is simply the application of torque. Put enough gear under it to multiply the torque available, maintain traction, and they'll all pull.

Today you have many who want to pull loads at the same clip as they drive when empty, up hills, passing, etc. Safe towing requires a lot of concentration ... and patience.

Just my $0.02 .... the 5.4 if towing with gas for the same reason I'ld pick a 4.6 over a V-6, likely better mileage and less strain and more reserve power ... but they'll all pull if geared right or if one just uses patience.

I've pulled 2 tons on a trailer with another ton pallet in the bed of my '77 F-150 4x4 with low compression 351M / C-6 / 3.50 geared combo ... just not in a hurry.

Likewise, job I worked in the '70s hauling mail for a contractor in 1 ton trucks. We had several Fords with 360 and 390 engines and a Chevy with a 400 SB, and one '74 F-350 originally equipped with a 300 that he put a 390 2bbl in while leaving the 4.56 gears in ... and it had a larger body off a 2 ton truck on it with stretched frame. It liked gas, but when Sears or Penny's shipped catalogs and you had a load going south over White Oak, that '74 was the real deal. Spare truck was at one time a '67 ton Chevy with 283 and a low geared rear, it done pretty good too.

Higher gears with bigger motors last longer though ... but motor jobs weren't so expensive or complicated then.

 

i got a 2004 expedition xlt 5.4L with the tow package 4x4 it tows great. the gas mileage wasn't bad either around 13mpg. i was pulling a 84 f150 long bed on a 2000lb uhaul trailer plus the wife 2 girls dog and luggage... and the 05 and up has more hp than mine they have 300hp i have 262hp.. i hope this helps!!!!

 

Yup no problem. I know it works great for the towing I do. Not sure if thats what you want it for or if you would be using that as a everyday thing. Whatever you use it for im sure you would be happy.

 

5.4 3v all the way Baby!

 

3-valve is good; 4-valve is better. When did the engine go 3V?

 

Way back in 2004.

And to be honest....the 4-valve head being the better of the two is debatable. If higher RPM horsepower curves are your thing, then by all means go with the 4V, but in almost every single comparison I've seen with a 3-Valve vs. 4-Valve engine, the 3V usually makes far usable torque and horsepower more under the curve. And I'll take increased torque and horsepower numbers throughout the lower ranges over higher peek numbers in the upper ranges in a 6,000lb + truck any day.

 

Dont mean to hijack a thread,but you mentioned an SCT....My 07 with the 4.2 had this exact logo on its front fenders..I removed it when I got it.Thought it was just a decal....what IS SCT?.
I am a stickler for OEM,and until now,ive figured the truck was indeed all OEM...this has me curious....thanks...and sorry about the hijack folks...

 

Um, well.... I think good flow, intake or exhaust is always desireable - torque is dependant on other engineering decisions, IMHO. For instance, my last Dodge/Cummins straight 6 had 505 lb-ft of peak torque, from 1600 rpm all the way to 2300 rpm with a 6-speed manual transmission, and it had 4 valves per cylinder.
I'd go turbo-D again, but don't really need that much pull. And, low mileage examples are expensive. I think the 5.4 will do what I need, and I've always liked Fords.

 

As far as getting a limited slip, you will get it with the Tow Package. If you get the package on a 5.4L, it will also have the 3.73 rear end, class IV reciever, transmission cooler and a 7 pin/4 pin trailer hookup.

If you are concerned about cost, an XLT with the tow package would probably be cheaper than an FX4...

Let us know how it goes!

 

I tow with mine and i run 93 oct all day and every day.. The extra 5-10 dollars it cost at fill up its worth it to me. Engin runs better and less noise. Here is what i tow as well as a 7x18 foot trailer.

<a href="http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg359/muddedprairie/?action=view&current=1232377846.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg359/muddedprairie/1232377846.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

I hear what you're saying, but you're kind of talking apples and oranges with your comparison here. Your Cummins (whether it was the 5.9L, or 6.7L) didn't make 505lbs/ft of torque because it had 4V heads. It made the power it did because of the strait-six, long stroke engine design, large displacement and Holsten or VGT turbo handling the induction duties. I'm not saying the more efficient 4-valve head design didn't make for a smooth power delivery and high peak efficiency....but the majority of that engines motivation was due to the previously described attributes, not how many valves the head was sporting.

 

Great information, Stanger. Does the FX4 option include the Tow Package, or is it a different mix altogether? The reason I'm asking, original option price for FX4 is $10,000+, while it only commands a fraction of that in resale - a bargain, if it's useful.

 

I think we're saying the same thing: if an engine is engineered to deliver torque, it will.
Does the 5.4 have overhead cams? I recently saw it advertised as such, but I thought it was a pushrod design. I know the 4.6 has SOC heads.

 

Yes, all modular truck engines (4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L) are "overhead cam" and of either the SOHC, or DOHC design. The SOHC 2-Valve were found in all '96-'08 4.6L's, '97-'03 5.4L, or '97-'04 6.8L engines. The SOHC 3-Valve engines were found in all
09-current 4.6L's, '04-current 5.4L's or '05-current 6.8L engines.

As for the DOHC 4-Valve engines....they were only offered in the earlier Lincoln variation or Fords line up of trucks. The Lincoln Blackwoods and '99-'05 Lincoln Navigators could be had with the 5.4L DOHC engines...but they really didn't make any more power than the current crop of 5.4L 3-Valve engines (and actually slightly less torque)....which is why I'm sure they dropped them in 2005 and all of the full sized Lincoln trucks/SUV's got the same 5.4L 3-valves engine we've currently got in our trucks.

 

What a great forum! I'm learning all kinds of valuable info from you guys.