b_salgado
Salisbury ,NC,USA
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CND SuperCrew wrote:As a former F150 with the 2v 5.4, I'm going to say you will not like the handling characteristics of the whole setup. My 03 F150 SuperCrew was 5k #'s dry weight, even loaded up, your trailer is going to weigh more then the TV. IMHO you will be burning through brakes every year or two. A V10 or diesel is much better suited for that trailer. Now that being said, if you only plan to camp locally and tow within a 150 mile radius with few hills, you can probably get away with it.
My 2 cents DO NOT compare an 03 to an 04. It is like comparing apples and oranges! I do not burn through brakes and my setup is rock solid. On flats, in mountains, on the back roads, on the highway, it doesn't matter. The 04+ has a 3V 5.4 with 300 HP just under your right foot. The 03 was a 2V with 260HP.
The body, frame, suspension, brakes, drive train, interior, ALL of it are different. If the OP is going for an 09', he will get the 6 speed trans, with IBC and tow haul. I love these people that come here and say you need a 250 with a V10 minimum to tow a TT with a GVWR under 7000# and a relatively light tongue weight! I dropped my friends Jayco 29' TT on my truck. It didn't even drop the suspension! He struggles with it. BTW.... he has an 03' We often go camping together.... His combo is shorter and lighter than mine is. I out pull him all day! He gets a little upset when I pass him in the hills.... he's doing 50, I pass him at 55-60. This is in a 65MPH speed zone.
The f-150 now has more tow capacity and is more capable than the F-250 was 10 years ago.
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Gman22
Burlington, Ontario
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Oh man, another can truck X tow trailer Y thread. Which brings out all the opinions i.e. "I wouldn't do that.....get a 3/4 ton" or "I do that and have been doing it just fine for this many miles/years".
To the OP, stop asking what others think.....is the truck you want within it's ratings/limits or not? If yes, go for it. Then it's just a matter of personal preference. Some people get off on their ability to pass a sports car doing 80 mph up a 15% grade into a 100 mph head wind with a bed full of cement blocks while towing an 8000 lb travel trailer, others are happy to stay in the right lane for 1500 miles doing 55 and don't mind losing a little speed going up hills. So, confirm your numbers provided by FORD and don't just seek opinions on forums, then decide which driver you are above and you'll have your answer.
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ghaindle
Louisiana
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[The f-150 now has more tow capacity and is more capable than the F-250 was 10 years ago.]
My BIL says that my 09 F150 has more towing capacity and interior room than his 6.4 2003 F250. I can't speek from personal experience but I'll take the BIL at his word. I will now go into hiding. The diesel police are knocking.
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TomG2
Central Illinois
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I would ask the trailer salesman and Ford, you know they don't lie. F-150's are rated for over 11,000 pounds of towing power, I saw it in a commercial. Certainly don't listen to what real world users have to say.
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ib516
Up here!
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dansdad77 wrote:My main concern is a 5.4 should pull my trailer ok on the flats but what about mountains?
You are correct to be concerned. The 5.4L V8 is a great engine durability wise, but it is really down on power when compared to the competetition. It is ~90hp and 50 lbs-ft weaker than the 5.7L Hemi when tested on a chassis dyno for example. That is significant.
Ford 5.4L Dyno
Dodge Hemi Dyno
Ford is addressing this by coming out with some new more powerful engines in the next year or two.
If you are patient in the hills, and don't mind using the lower gears and lower speed when climbing, it might not be a problem for you.
Now, before the Ford loyalists get their panties in a knot, I am not knocking the F150. It is a very good truck, as good as any out there. The power output by the 5.4L V8 is it's only negative IMO.
In a recent test done by Edmunds.com, it came in last when compared to the other "half tons", including last place in a timed hill climb when towing a trailer up hill. They cite it's biggest drawback as being the 5.4L V8s lack of power.
LINK TO TEST
* This post was
edited 11/06/09 08:12am by ib516 *
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waroads
WA
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ib516 wrote:dansdad77 wrote:My main concern is a 5.4 should pull my trailer ok on the flats but what about mountains?
You are correct to be concerned. The 5.4L V8 is a great engine durability wise, but it is really down on power when compared to the competetition. It is ~90hp and 50 lbs-ft weaker than the 5.7L Hemi when tested on a chassis dyno for example. That is significant.
Ford 5.4L Dyno
Dodge Hemi Dyno
Ford is addressing this by coming out with some new more powerful engines in the next year or two.
If you are patient in the hills, and don't mind using the lower gears and lower speed when climbing, it might not be a problem for you.
Now, before the Ford loyalists get their panties in a knot, I am not knocking the F150. It is a very good truck, as good as any out there. The power output by the 5.4L V8 is it's only negative IMO.
In a recent test done by Edmunds.com, it came in last when compared to the other "half tons", including last place in a timed hill climb when towing a trailer up hill. They cite it's biggest drawback as being the 5.4L V8s lack of power.
LINK TO TEST
As somebody who's actually towed their 7200 GVWR trailer (5500-6500 loaded depending on the trip) with their '04 3v 5.4L (tow rating 9200lbs so I am within the "75%" rule) over many "tall" pulls including snoqualmie pass, stevens pass, blewett pass, washington/rainy pass (north cascades highway), the I-90 vantage climb, etc. I can verify that it has plenty of oomph to make it at highway speeds through that sort of terrain with that size of a trailer. The limiting factor will be tranny temps so keep an eye on them.
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Gman22
Burlington, Ontario
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The OP stated:
...went to Ford towing site and it said I needed a 5.4 to be safe for towing as my TT said Gvwr is 6900#.
...Does the forum here believe that a 1/2 ton with a 5,4 would do? as I would not rather go to a 3/4 and diesel is not an option.
Safe???? Certainly. Contrary to team "Diesel" and team "V10" your 5.4 L wil not spontaniouly combust the moment you drop 6900 lb. on it and go sailing over the cliff exploding into the school for the blind at the bottom.
Again I say.........If the truck is rated to tow the loaded weight of the trailer, why would it NOT be safe? Then it's just a matter of performance. Will the guy beside you in the diesel get the same trailer up the same mountain climb faster? Sure.....so what? Are you concerned with safely towing, or posting a great time on the 1/4 mile with your trailer in tow?
6900 lbs. behind a properly equipped half ton with a 5.4L V8 is a fine tow combination - safe and sound from a numbers perspective. Will you enjoy the performance? That's up to you decide. For me, I'm not racing when I tow. I don't have a need to pass people going uphill with my uber truck screaming yeeee-haw. That proves nothing other than you'll be at the gas pump before me.
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cronus
Michigan
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TomG2 wrote:I would ask the trailer salesman and Ford, you know they don't lie. F-150's are rated for over 11,000 pounds of towing power, I saw it in a commercial. Certainly don't listen to what real world users have to say.
Who's trying to tow 11,000 pounds? We're talking about a 4,700# dry 6,900 GVWR trailer that will most likely be 5,500-6,500 pounds ready to go.
I am certainly a real world user, towing approx. 6,000 pounds with an 04 F150 5.4. The chassis is stable and the brakes are excellent. Power is adequate, I can hit 60-65 mph by the end of most freeway entrances and my biggest problem on steeper grades is getting stuck behind slower traffic. Granted I have never towed out west but if I'm stuck behind OTR trucks going 50mph out here, I doubt they're going any faster in California.
To the OP, if it was my decision I would stick with the 5.4, even though the HP numbers on the 09 4.6's look pretty good, the 5.4 is going to feel a lot stronger towing.
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TomG2
Central Illinois
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I totally agree that the 5.4 is an adequate engine for a 6,000 pound trailer. That is what I went back to after trying 8,000 pounds. Two valve, three valve, they both took a lot of pedal to get going and a long time to get there. I may have had the only three that performed that way, but I doubt it. Three different trucks, three different trailers, same results.
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