Anyone here own a F150 with the 5.4L

Just curious... if anyone here has a F150 Crew Cab with the 5.4L motor.

Any idea how much they will tow (I mean really tow without breakin?) and if ya have one, how do ya like it???

I've got an 01 Dodge Ram with the 5.9L and she's at 100,000 miles,,, I'm thinkin of gettin a Ford.

Experiences and comments or suggestions and tips welcome.

[Skools Out]

not your boat my uncle has one with the 5.4 and it won't pull nor stop my 250 Sea Ray. Buy Diesel you won't be sorry the fuel mileage will pay for it's self plus less maintance on a diesel, oil changes every 6K to 8K miles. They last for at least 4 to 5 hundred thousand miles. I have a older 1994 6.5 Turbo Diesel Chevy Tahoe with over 200,000 miles and it gets 20 mpg still towing either my V20 or my SR250 and that's at 70 mph.

[reelapeelin]

Dave, I gotta '01 F150 Crew w/a 5.4...tows my V20 GREAT, but Skool's got a good point...maybe not your boat and rotors on mine stay warped from towing...trailer even has discs...Ford did a skimpy job on the rotors...

That said, tows mine like a locomotive...to Fla. and back(11 hrs ea way) nary a whimper... ;D...

What's your trailer's gross weight...my V20's only 4600 lbs...imagine your's considerably more... ;)...my bro-in-law tows his 22' Grady w/a V10 F250 Crew...does a NICE job... ;)...

[chumbucket]

MJ has a '99 (I think) F150 with the 5.4L Not lacking for power at all. As stated above, he's had many problems with brakes. I know it has a common exhaust manifold problem, something's going on in the rear end too. Possibly axle seals? Oh, ball joints bad too. He's been thinking of unloading it and going back to GM.
My last truck was a Dodge Ram with the 5.9L. I'll never buy another one. It was a very good truck for the first 6-7 years, then the troubles began. Brakes, transmission (don't get me started on Dodge transmissions), front end probs. Then after it passed 100K, the mileage dropped considerably. When I got rid of it last year, I was getting 10-12 MPG!!!!!!!!! Not with my commute and the price of gas thank you. >:(

I currently have the Dodge with the 5.9L 1500 SLT Laramie with the tow package (Class IV) Quad Cab, it's a 2001.

I've towed the last 3 boats with it to include my Wellcraft. I did tow the Wellcraft from NC to SW Fla to the panhandle and then back.

The Dodge did it, but she's just gettin old.
Agreed on the tranny... Dodge tranny's aint worth a spit.

I have 98,000 miles on her,,, I mean, she did get'r dun....

Now, what I'm lookin at, is the crew (4 full door) Ford F150 with the 5.4L. Thing is... you can get the truck set up to tow a 9,000 lb load if you have the "right" equipment installed. I.e. the 3.73 rearend, class IV hitch, and I'm gonna assume suspension/brakes/tranny cooler and larger radiator with the tow package.

See that's what get's my curiosity.

My current rig is:

boat dry 4,100 lbs
Yama 250 560 lbs
Fuel 150 gallons - 1,200 lbs
8 gallons water - 60 lbs -/+
4 batteries - 200 lbs
then factor in the trailer at probably 1,200 lbs estimate
as it's an aluminum dual axle.

That puts me at 7,320 lbs GVWR for the whole kit and caboodle.

Ford's standard Class III is rated at 7,030 for the F150 rig'd that way in the class III set up. I realize that I'd be over the limit without that 15% safety margin.

But.... if I got'r set up with all the proper equipment for that class IV tow rating (i.e. load level to meet that 9,800 lb GVWR)... ya think it'd do it???

I've heard mixed things, but usually when it gets down to nuts and bolts, I hear the 3.73 gearin in the class IV set up can do it over the standard 3.55 gear. I already know a 4.10 would be a dog

Sad to say..... Yes I have looked at diesel.... sorry to say,, just do not have the funds to stretch that far for a $40,000 truck (I have to buy new to stay on my gameplan). Indeed, I've drooled all over the F250 with the 6.0L :P

Opinions on my thinkin??

I know the Ford is stronger than the Dodge mechanically. So I managed to get the Dodge to 100K miles, then I guess I did good or just got lucky.
I know the Dodge 5.9L is a strong motor at 345 hp
Just wonderin if that Ford 5.4L with the 3 valves per is actually an advantage....

I'll admit, when I'm pullin the boat,,, I'm in no hurry to get anywhere if'n ya know what I mean,, so I dont stop/jerk/clink my way at high speed to get to the pond. We take her slow and easy and usually get it up 5 mph past the posted limit and keep it there.

I'm just curious on that 9,000 lb properly rig'd thing for that F150.... ya know a dealer will pitch the sales advertisin stuff... It's hard to get "facts" from them as I'm willin to bet they dont tow like the boat/RV crowd does on a monthly basis......

All thoughts welcome....

Oh, my trailer does have disk brakes, and that F150 has 4 wheel disk ABS. I'm thinkin if anything, it will stop the load better than the Dodge as it's got front disk with rear drum ABS on the rear drum only and it hasnt pushed me thru an intersection yet......

one last thing... I'm looking at 2005 trucks.

I've ruled out the chevy
I've heard the Hemi is a killer on fuel
Dont like the Jap stuff (nor trust it as a full size truck)
And I'm out of the diesel market $$ wise
And have to buy new

he he... I think I painted myself into a corner...... :)

[chumbucket]

Sounds like you have indeed painted yourself into a corner. Wouldn't you be better off going for the F250? Not necessarily with diesel (though that is very nice), but even with the gas option you're not only going to get greater towing capacity, but also upgraded suspension, BRAKES, everything. I would think that by the time you spec out the F150 to do what you want it to, it's going to be a lot more $$$.

Spec'd out (went down there yesterday lookin)
I can get it set up with 9K tow, plain jane (which is what I want), XLT pwr group and a radio and a/c

MSPR $32,200
Ford Family price of $27,000
Rebate of $3,000
$1,120 off with the TOW and GO
and putting my trade with it (the Dodge)
They'll give me $7,800 for the Dodge and I dont owe but $6,000 for it

my bottom line came out to $23,503 with tax, tags, etc.. out the door price with my trade on a new 05 Crew.

It's a max'd out F150 tow wise, still has the XLT interior, just not the fancy leather, heaters, moon roof... etc.. you get the idea. All cloth inside and plain jane outside as well.

I told them I wasnt goin to trade and go with Ford financin... then I sprung my trade on them and I have my own financin (sister's a loan manager in Fla....) after they put down that price on paper!!! Guy was pissed

[reelapeelin]

Yeah, I USED to be in the car business and you sound like our WORST nightmare...for a dealer who's really tryin' to work w/you and make the deal go down(they DO exist), they'll figure the lowest margin they can stand based on the ENTIRE deal...don't be shocked when the numbers change...

Well,, he wrote it in and that's my bottom line.
What do you think?

I’m thinking the truck if advertised properly and if the tow ratings “are” what they are….
Then this might be a good deal.

Like I said, they weren’t happy I sprung my own financing and trade after they quoted me
Their lowest cash price… but they’ll work it and the #’s will stay the same.
Trucks on the lot right now too, so it’s avail and I would walk away if anything changed either truck/option wise
Or #’s wise…

I just got this feelin that the Ford will out do the Dodge.

Thought I'd get yer all's opinion.... did some research on RV and the F150 owners sites, seem's like as long as I dont top off fuel and stay under 7K lbs.. should be a good hauler.

By the way,, it's a 2 wheel drive and the tow capacity is a little higher than a 4x4.. that's how their gettin the rating for it.

Man, I'm thinkin I can pull the trigger on it and be in a bit better shape than where I'm at right now with the soon to be worn out Dodge....

Dont know,,,, I'm hearin that truck with those options can do it, I got them on the price where I like it.... hard to decide whether or not to pull the trigger on it......