So I just spent the past two days towing my 4000# plus boat back and forth to the lake with my new F250 with the 5.4, 3.73 rear end. I was satisfied with how the truck felt as far as very little bucking or jerking while from the trailer.

That 5.4 impressed me as well, I made sure to read many threads before towing with this truck/engine combo as I have never owned a F250. One thing was consistant. Let the thing rev! So I did. Pulled fine. Not gonna win any races but was able to get up to speed on the interstate with no problems. Now, I can see how having the PSD would be helpfull when merging, but I just can't see the benefit of owning a PSD unless your pulling serious weight most of the time.

At 70mph I was turning about 2500rpm, getting about 9.5-10mpg. Felt like the engine was more then content with this and the transmission seemed to know when it needed to make a change.

The only thing I HATE about this truck is the dang rattle coming from underneath. I have check every heatshield, inspection plate, and everthing else under it and it won't stop. In fact it was worse when under load. It soulds like BB's in a can and is always at 1900 RPM and ONLY after the transmission gets up to operating temp. Do I have a bad tranny or torque converter?

Anyway just wanted to give my impression of the truck. Owned for exactly one month and already has over 4K on it. Not even a daily driver I have another Ford for that.

 

I know my 06 had a heat shield on the upper portion of the tail pipe that was causing a similar noise at about 3k. A portion of it rotted off and i ripped it off. You could check that or the shield around the muffler if your 09 has one.

 

This was the big decision point for me. Pulling a 7-8K pound travel trailer, I would get 7-8mpg. Either way, it meant making nearly twice the number of fuel stops as I do now with the PSD.

I guess it all depends on how far you're going.

TX

 

The heat shields are attached to small metal strips welded to the exhaust pipes. I traced an irritating buzz like you describe down to a busted weld....

 

I had an 06 F250 with the 5.4, towed my 8K trailer pretty good up into the mountains. Does rev pretty good but I was lucky to get about 190 per tank.

good dependable motor.

 

Excellent summation. You did your homework. I corrected the little typo to say what I know you meant.

 

I would think that rattle would be covered under the 3/36 warranty, make them find it.

 

I pull a 3 horse gooseneck trailer, 4,900lbs empty. With 3 horses loaded, I can roll 65-70 on the highway and average 9mpg. I set the cruise control on the highway, as the computer shifts much better than the awful fly by wire throttle. Would have liked the PSD, but couldn't justify the extra $$ for the occasional weekend tow. The 5.4 is a capable engine that really shines at 4-5K RPM

 

My 5.4 towed 9,000lbs on the few times I needed to tow it, like a champ.

 

Mine did well with a u-haul car trailer and our Mustang Vert on the back, got peretty much the same mileage and at times it almost didn't feel like it was pulling anything.

 

in Overdrive or direct?

With 4.11s I run just under 2,250 in OD going 70.

my 10,000# travel trailer will bring my 5.4L down to about 9 mpg when towing on the highway, and will comfortably go about 65 mph steady. It does what it needs to.

 

The 5.4 is great, underappreciated engine. Thanks for giving it the kudos it deserves!
Out here in the land of 7000 foot+ mountain passes with 9%+ grades, they start coming up short. But for towing a reasonably aerodynamic boat on flat, low altitude roads it is more than adequate.

 

On the rattle - is it an automatic trans? Check the flexplate cover. I know on the older 4R100's there was a tendency for the sheet steel covers to vibrate. Tightening bolts and/or applying a thin bead of silicone would shut them up. Not sure if the new trans still uses the same design....

 

Also on the rattle, are you sure it isn't auto-ignition pinging?

 

I have a buddy that tows a 32' 5th wheel with a 2000 5.4 CC 4x4 manual tranny. He likes it. Like he says, "I'm not winning any races, but I'm getting there." He's right. I followed him last weekend to the hill country. I would quickly get on his tail going up the hills, but we both got there. I gotta admit, I got better gas mileage following him...helped me keep my foot out of it. both of us were towing a 32' 5th wheels.