Ford/Truck/Towing?

[niner49]

Hey Folks,

I need some honest opinions, not really looking to get into a Ford vs Chevey vs Dodge debate, or a Gas vs Diesel bash party! otherwise I would of did a search and found a ton of threads on that


I currently drive a 2001 Ford f-150 Crew cab 4x4 with a 4.6L Daily driver! and I love the truck! but...... I have a few toys I haul, a 22 foot party barge 4200 lbs. A four place open with 3 sleds 3500 lbs and a ski boat about the same weight! My truck pulls all of these just fine about 90% of the time!

Two times a year I pull a 22' trailer about 6500 lbs up the hill (very slowly) and it kills my truck! I really need to move up to the 5.4L (I use the truck for daily driving 80% of the time!)

heres my question...

I found a good deal on a 2003 (Same truck style as mine Round nose) with the 5.4 super clean! and I also found a 2004 5.4 same options, but with the new body style(square). Will these 2 trucks tow the same? did the new body style affect the frame or anything? which truck would pull better and still make a good daily driver?

In a nutshell was the change Ford made mainly cosmetic or are there changes I should be aware of?

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[REV414]

I had an '98 F-150 with the 5.4L in it, my dad now has an '06 F-150 with the 5.4L, not a whole lot of difference. The '06 does have a little more low end torque. As far as the suspension, I thought the new frame would make a lot of difference in how it handled with a trailer but it still handled like a half ton (hit a bump with a load and the whole rig starts bouncing). I now have a 250 with a diesel....

 

[niner49]

F-250 Diesel is the way I should go, just can't justify the initial cost or the diesel with the amount of towing I actually do!

I also do not plan on financing a truck so I want to stay in the $15,000 range so that pretty much voids the Diesel

 

[masneri]

i have driven an 03 with the 5.4 and its a decent truck and i have driven an 05 with the 5.4. I liked the 05 a lot better as far as how smooth it drives. Im not really a ford guy though.

 

[summitone]

Niners suck. OOPS, that slipped!


Where are you located niner? I buy my trucks from summitman. Here's a link to his website: http://prairieford.dealerconnection.com/

Looks like they have an '04 w/ decent miles for $17,200. Matt can do better than that, just an axeing price.

 

[f3600]

I think it will depend more on the trucks gearing. I had a 2001 Screw with the 5.4L and 3.55 gears and it sucked for towing anything (2 place snow, ATV, anything).

Currently have a 2004 Screw with the 5.4L and 3.73 gears and it is pulls that equipment just fine with OD and 74mph 2000rpm.

The 01 5.4 and the 04 5.4 had some horsepower/tq differences I believe.

 

[niner49]

Summit I am in Cali! hence the niner fan!

did some more research and there is a diff. between the 03 and 04! about 40 HP and some frame modifications. The 04 Ford F-150 was motortrnds truck of the year, if that means anything?

 

[Joe Mama]

Look ito a 2000 f250 with a 7.3 diesel, should be in your price range and pull great

 

[slabm7]

I have a 01 Supercrew with the 5.4 and it tows OK, my brother has an 04 with the 5.4 and it tows alot better. The only major difference between the 2 engines is that the 01-03 has a 2 valve set up and the 04 + has a 3 valve set up allowing more air through the engine creating more horsepower and torque.

The 5.4 is a great engine for its size, alot of torque and can tow alot.

 

[Fosgate]

Before you buy either one of them maybe test drive one that is similar. I drive a couple identical trucks and some just can't get out of their own way let alone pull something. Learned that shopping for an 01-02 Super Crew. 1st one we drove we just thought it was lazy and that they were all like that. Drove another one with the same gear ratio etc and had way more power. There was something definatly wrong with the first truck. Main difference is with the newer ones are the body style and it's quiter in the cabin. The only thing I don't like about the old style is that they almos all start to develop a crack that starts a few inches up from the base of the rear window slot on the drivers and passenger side.

 

[Gone Sleddin]

had an 03 and loved it. would tow a 2-place 75 in od without much problem. however, if choosing between the 2, i would lean toward the 04. the new motor seems to have a torquier feel, is quieter in the cab, rides smoother, and felt like a heavier, more stable truck when towing. also got better mileage than my 03.

 

[R J]

In regards to the original post.

I would make sure you get the 5.4L 3 valve engine. I don't know what year those hit the floor but at least get that. Also get the 3.73 axle set up with 16-18" tires at most. That will give you a ok tow vehicle. Anything less in the axle department or bigger tires will kill this truck in towing performance. Meaning not staying in overdrive and so on.

I had a 04 F-350 PSD, loved it, sold it as the deal was right and bought a F-150 crew cab 6.5 box, 35.7 gallon tank and tow mirrors, and tow package with the 5.4, 3:73LS axle and 18" tires. A week or so ago hauled a open trailer with 4 mountain sleds up to the Yooper at speed. I was shocked at how it did. It stayed in overdrive on the interstate most of the time, it didn't hunt and peck at all, of course it wasn't like the diesel but it sure was better then I had expected. Even the other 3 guys in the truck all commented on how it did. This all with only 1100 miles total on the truck. It got 11 mpg so of course it wasn't great but my diesel with that same load at the same speed was only in the mid 12's to maybe 13 on a special day.

If I were you I would get the newer body style, it has higher capacity ratings, handles better the my 02 F-150 did and has a much nicer interior, plus it don't look so dated, a bit more rugged to boot, but nothing near what the SD is.

 

[Jeff C]

I picked up a 03' Expedition with the 5.4 and finally did some towing with it.

I towed a four place open aluminum from Minneapolis to Island PArk and back.

Got about 9.5mpg and it pulled in overdrive just fine @+-75

It would not hold on a long hill but I did not expect it to either. I was moderately impressed........

 

[Fosgate]

Wouldn't advise towing in OD unless you want to burning up the tranny.

 

[Kong]

Bought a Nissan Titan in 04. That was the year that ford and all were fighting over tow ratings and ford waited until Nissan announced their tow ratings. Ford then came out with 9600# tow rating and I think 1550# Payload. I was looking at both of them then.

So I am 99% sure that 04 is when the Ford F150 seriously increased tow ratings. Be sure you get the tow package if you want to take advantage of the F150 capability.

If you are truly only towing under 7000# it ought to work fine. I towed right at 9000# with adouble tow set up and heavy payload and it worked well.

Now the only caveat and the reason I just switched to a 2500HD... Make sure you know your payload. this is what is really hard on the 1/2 tons. It's pretty hard to tow heavy in the 8000+ range without overloading the payload. By the time you use the bed, count tongue weight, and put people in the truck.. it's pretty easy to get overloaded.

Good luck

 

[JDKZRT]

If you're just pulling the big trailer twice a year (sounds like dunking and removing your toon) why not just borrow a buddy's diesel and give him a case of beer for the trouble. Way cheaper in the long run.

 

[niner49]

Thanks

Thanks for the responses guys! pretty much set my mind I need the 04 or newer!

JDKRTT; only problem is my buddies with Diesels are usually with me

Actually I am upgrading because it will only cost about $2500 more! to move from a 01 F-150 to a 04 F-150 once I sell my truck.

For the amount of towing I do, I still can't justify a Diesel but I definetly need to move to the 5.4 from the 4.6.

I am looking at a pretty good deal right now on a fleet truck that has been driven by a buddy since it was new.

 

[Jeff C]

Wouldn't advise towing in OD unless you want to burning up the tranny.

If the tranny constantly keeps downshifting, you are absolutely correct...........

If the tranny stays in OD it does no harm to the transmission. It is the constant downshifting under heavy load that will stress the fluids and overall system.

 

[R J]

Wouldn't advise towing in OD unless you want to burning up the tranny.

That is as B as in B as S as in S.

Towing in overdrive is just fine as long as it's not hunting for a gear and your trany temps aren't out of hand. Been doing it for years in every vehicle I have owned. If it's constantly hunting or in and out of OD, then I take it out of overdrive until it's either flatter, less windy or whatever was causing it.

 

[R J]

If you're just pulling the big trailer twice a year (sounds like dunking and removing your toon) why not just borrow a buddy's diesel and give him a case of beer for the trouble. Way cheaper in the long run.

Cheaper to borrow but no way is it cheaper to put fuel in it at over $.60/gallon. That is a lot of MPG's that a gasser can give up to equal those expenses.