Pulling with a 5.4
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2010
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Pulling with a 5.4
so I am a new owner of a F350 with the 5.4 V8. Does anyone have any experience with pulling with this combo? I have looked through this forum and some people seem to think the 5.4 can't pull an empty landscape trailer unless you were traveling down hill. I chose the 5.4 because I think the motor is tried and true. My parents have the 5.4 in there 98 expedition which has 170k on it with the motor still looking brand new. I have not had a trailer on the truck yet but it seems very powerful when I drive it. We have a 2 horse trailer which when loaded will be tipping the scales and a little under 5k. Also will occasionally be pulling a JD utility tractor which with the trailer will be around 8k. My truck has the 4.10's and is rated around 12k I believe.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 151
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From: Rochester, MN
The 5.4 is a good motor and has been around for years. The only that matters is what YOU think, so don't let what you read bias your impressions ;-) I towed with a '97 Expedition, 5.4l and 3.73 rear axle. It towed my travel trailer at between 4K and 5K for years and managed well. I think the 4.10 rear end will help you. What year is your F350? The 5.4 has continued to modestly improve each year.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 151
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From: Rochester, MN
Modest horsepower improvements every year.....3 valve's instead of 2 valves like the original 5.4L. If you want the details...check on the wiki.
Ford Modular engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ford Modular engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 79
From: Roman Forest, TX
From what you are saying you will be pulling, I don't see any problems. My 5.4L (2003) did great for 5 years with my old travel trailer (5500lbs approx). I also had a 4.30 in it which helped the get up and go and low-end grunt, but didn't do much for cruising speed. However, it did have 125,000 miles on it when I sold it...and has never been in the shop for anything (other than getting the rear-end in and new shocks/brakes, etc...normal maintenance items). The guy I sold it to will be pulling a 6000lb travel trailer. It was a great truck, and there's a lot I'm gonna miss.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2010
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Thanks guys. I am looking forward to my first pull with this truck. A relative of mine owns an excavation company and just for kicks I am going to hook up to his mini excavator. Combined weight will be about 11k. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
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My FIL has a 5.4 in his F150 and it has done everything he has asked it to do (it's a '99). However, it seemed to struggle just a bit with our old 4500 lb travel trailer in the hills. I had a old GMC with a 350 that acted about the same way. I haven't had an opportunity to hook up our current TT (weight about 6k), but i put that old GMC on a trailer (weight about 6500) and it pulled that just fine...like it wasn't even back there. Gotta love a F250 7.3 with every mod available, with the exception of a tuner (pretty sure the previous owner had one thought).
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Brett Foote
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
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Remember the powerband....
This is an overhead cam engine and it lives to rev. If you think you can lug around your load at 1800 rpm's like an old big block (or diesel) you will be unhappy. I think max torque is at 3750 rpm's or so and hp at 5,000 rpm's.
It will not hurt this engine to rev, it was designed to rev.
Once you get used to the powerband, I think you will grow to respect the medium sized mill. I've got an '08 5.4 CC 4WD with a 3.73, which is a heavy truck, and I tow a 7k+ enclosed trailer (aero drag as well) with no problem - but it does down shift on grades. Power and fuel economy picked up a little after it was broken in as well. I love my truck, it's a great stable platform, integrated tow, fantastic brakes, etc.
I'll throw in that what I think the medium duty (F150-F250) trucks really need is a reasonably priced ($3k or so option) medium diesel engine option with around 500 lb ft of torque and fuel economy (unladen) in the mid 20's. That's the only way I'll trade up my truck!
It will not hurt this engine to rev, it was designed to rev.
Once you get used to the powerband, I think you will grow to respect the medium sized mill. I've got an '08 5.4 CC 4WD with a 3.73, which is a heavy truck, and I tow a 7k+ enclosed trailer (aero drag as well) with no problem - but it does down shift on grades. Power and fuel economy picked up a little after it was broken in as well. I love my truck, it's a great stable platform, integrated tow, fantastic brakes, etc.
I'll throw in that what I think the medium duty (F150-F250) trucks really need is a reasonably priced ($3k or so option) medium diesel engine option with around 500 lb ft of torque and fuel economy (unladen) in the mid 20's. That's the only way I'll trade up my truck!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Don't try to baby it for mpg, just drive it and maintain your speed the truck will do the rest. If its an 05-up truck keep it in tow/haul when pulling, if its a 99'-04' don't let the trrans hunt between 3rd and OD. If it starts to hunt turn the OD off until you get on flatter ground. Having the 4.10s is a big plus for pulling over the 3.73s.
Modular motor junkie
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 6,190
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From: Texas
Not trying to start anything, but that 05+ 5.4 will out accelerate any stock 7.3 towing or empty once its rolling.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,339
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From: Smithers, BC, Canada
I tow my 3 horse trailer at around 7000lb with 3.73s and have no problem on our highways up here, even the extended 8-10% grades that are very common around here.
I occasionaly pull trailers of hay around 10,000lb, but there is only minor up hill grades between the farm and the barn.
I did buy an SCT tuner from 5 Star, and it helped alot, but it did it just fine before that.
Only two horses on this day.
I occasionaly pull trailers of hay around 10,000lb, but there is only minor up hill grades between the farm and the barn.
I did buy an SCT tuner from 5 Star, and it helped alot, but it did it just fine before that.
Only two horses on this day.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
You should be able to get over 10mpg with that load easily on the highway. I have the 6.8l in my truck and with a 3klb open fishing boat in tow, 1k lbs in the bed and the cab full of passengers I can easily get 11mpg overall. Thats with a lot of long steep grades on the highway and some winding hilly back roads.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 538
Likes: 11
From: Shiner, TX
You should be able to make 10mpg. It just depends on the style of trailer and the wind in my opinion. I have a 2009 F250 5.4L and when I towed a small boat that was in the neighborhood of 4000lbs, mileage was 9-10mpg. But there was 20mph headwind the whole way.
Good call on the 4.10 axle. I'm glad I opted for them. Although I'm about to "outgrow" them with my 35" tires. Haha
Good call on the 4.10 axle. I'm glad I opted for them. Although I'm about to "outgrow" them with my 35" tires. Haha