Looking for input from anyone who has a 5.4 4X4, and what they pull with it. I have a 27ft travel trailer, (4900lbs dry). I know it dfepends on what gear ratio you have also. I will be pulling it on 1/2 to hour trips all camping season, then a lengthy vacation every summer. Any input is appreciated.

 

No problem for the 5.4.

Waxy

 

I have a '02 4x4 reg cab with 3.73 and the 5.4. I think the real ? is "will it pull in overdrive, and will I get good mileage?" I like the motor and it pulls great, but it needs the rpms to make the power and that costs gas. I don't pull in OD, but maybe a stick guy can answer how it would do in 6th on the highway. I think the 5.4 can pull anything you hook to, but you will not pass many gas stations.

 

I have a 2000 F250 auto 4x4 with the 5.4 and 4.10s. I have occasionally pulled several thousand pounds of building materials pretty comfortably. I have also pulled a 10,000 lb 26' Sport Craft fishing boat that my Dad has on Lake Erie. Pulled ok on the dead-flat OH roads, but always dipped out of OD on overpasses and when pulling into the wind. Like profireguy posted, these trucks make their power higher in the revs.

I do ok on gas - about 8 mpg (is that ok to you?). Not bad in my opinon for a work truck. My old man's suburban pulls pretty good and gets better mileage but then he is driving a C***y. Poor guy.

Most of my pulling has been under an hour with the exception of pulling the boat. Those were like two hours or so.

I would say that your camper would be most like the boat for my comparison. Your camper is lighter but has a bigger frontal area to pull. If you have the truck, don't worry about pulling. You will be fine. If you are looking for a truck, I would look for a V10. Mileage will not vary much but you will have an easier time pulling.

Good luck

Big

 

Thanks for all the input so far.

Big, do you get 8 mpg every day driving?? or towing??

I am looking to buy. Unfortunately for me the V10's are more scarce and a little bit higher than I may be able to afford. I am in no hurry, just anxious. I have called on 6 trucks today, all have been sold. Seems like th gas $ increase isn't stopping anyone!!

I would rather have the V10, so I may keep looking. But I figured for as little twoing as I am going to do I could settle for the 5.4, although I don't usuually settle for anyhting.

 

After much deliberation, I bought a used V10 instead of the 5.4 and in hind-sight, I made a very good decision. Everything I hear, the 5.4 with 4.10 rear end gets about the same MPG as my V10 with 3.73 rear end. The engine has to work alot less to pull my camper and I can pass with the reserve power. My mileage is about 11 MPG around town and 15-16 on the highway (if I keep it under 70). Towing, I get around 10 - 11.

My advice? Hold out for the V10; they may be scarce but there's a reason for that!!

Jim

 

I tow a 26' camping trailer around the northeast with my 5.4 and i feel as though i do resonably well. Would the V10 pull better?, probably, but i feel as though this engine does what i ask of it.

 

The V10 sounds like a ratty V6 though. I'll take a few less hps for that nice V8 sound.

 

You won't be disappointed with either the 5.4 or the 6.8.
My F150 (7700 package) has the 5.4 and 3.73 rears. I don't really consider my driving to be "city" driving, but running empty, I average about 14mpg. Pulling my 20ft flat bed loaded to the rated max (8400#) it was not real impressive on steepassed hills but on the flats and not so steep hills it did just fine. Your trailer at under 5000# should be no problem.

Bob

 

If you plan on driving the truck for personal use too,.......i.e. Empty most of the time, then go with the 5.4.

I have a 4x4 5.4 auto crew and have towed a wide variety of loads, 2 snowmobiles, a skidsteer on a float, my buddies Yukon on my landscape trailer............................The last one seems to be a common occurence, LOL.

Nomatter what I am towing, O.D. is only for the downhill or at least level roads.

If you really feel the need for speed when towing then go for a P Stroker. There's nothing that you can legally attach to the truck that will slow it down significantly.

Of course you already mentioned that the funding might not be there for a diesel so all I can say that if you are realistic about your performance expectations while towing then the 5.4 should do.

Forgot to mention I have 3.73 gears.

 

I've got a 01'SD-5.4L /4.10-manual trns-but it's 2wd so I don't know if I'll be as much help to you but here it goes,

The 5.4L is a good engine-its what I got so it must be.....

As far as towing-I pull an 18ft Cargo Mate(easily weighs -6-7000lbs loaded with all tools and materials) to and from various jobs ,sometimes as far as 100 miles in each direction(I'm a contractor).
Besides that I occasionally tow a 2 horse trailer to and from Haileah for my races (my hobby)-never any problems.

The v10 will do the same job with less work on the engine-as much as I tow I shoulda waited for one but all I'll drive is stick and it was there, so I'm happy.

I did get the 4.10 gears along with the manual -which in my opinion (both) are essential for the 5.4L if it's gonna be constantly pulling.
I will prolly end up replacing a clutch or 2, but I got more grunt goin to the rear wheels with the manny.(albeit at higher rpm's and slower speeds than it would be with the v10-auto or manual)

So i'd say-if you need a super tough 3/4 ton but only pull on weekends-most any kind of weight(10,000lbs) the 5.4/4.10 in either tranny will more than do it.)

If you think you would be pulling more often than that-than I'd go 5.4L with manual/4.10-(I don't care what the books say), or better yet the V10 with either axle ratio or transmission.

Hope I've helped.


Regards.

 

My SD is a 5.4 4X4 SC ShortBed......

I put lots of highway miles on my SD and occasionally tow a 27' Sport Cat loaded with 240 gallons of fuel (you thought SD's used some gas?) total boat, trailer and gear probably around 8k#'s or so. I pull the boat 25-30 miles at a time and have no complaints about the 5.4's abilities. That being said, I pass no open gas stations or anything in the left lane with the boat in tow. Also, forget using OD when towing with a 5.4. At 60 mph, it turns just under 2500 rpms and gets right into the engine's sweet spot.



If you tow more that occasionally, hold out for the V10. It is a monster and will pull your house off the foundation. In hindsight, I think all of us 5.4 owners had gotten 6.8's for the extra $600 but we still love our Super Duties. I know I love mine and am very happy with the 5.4. It is a very low maintenance engine, easy to change fluids and I get ~15 consistently on the road from Central Va. to the Outer Banks of NC......My next SD will have a V10 though~

 

Dare to be different! I love the V10's Song!!!
Matt

 

[In hindsight, I think all of us 5.4 owners had gotten 6.8's for the extra $600 but we still love our Super Duties. I know I love mine and am very happy with the 5.4. It is a very low maintenance engine, easy to change fluids~ [/B][/QUOTE]


Well most of thats true but I wouldn't have got the v-10 the only thing I would have change is the tranny. I have the auto and whish I would have ordered a 6-speed. My 5.4 with the 4.10 rears pulls my 16' equipment trailer and 16' enclosed trailers with out any problems. I will admit unlike some others that my dads 6.0 chevy will out pull me any day of the week, but my 5.4 gets the job done at about 8-9 mpg just like his chevy. I do have a set of 315x75x16 tires wich do hurt the towing performance quite a bit over the stock tire size. When I do tow for a greater amount of distance I do go back to the stock tires.

 

I'll bet that song is nice with the Flowmaster 40's........