I'm torn I really like the chevy 6.0 motor, and the body etc, but I will want a 4x4. I like ujoint setup but only for fords. I like the ford van but the v10 is hard to come by. I tow a car trailer and a camper at different times. Towing is important to me but not daily. I did a 6k mile road trip in April pulling a camper and was glad I had the right vehicle. Insight and opinions please
Towing with the ford 5.4 v8 any reviews?
- Thread starter draaronr
- Start date
thedjjack
Dream it build it
why not the diesel? why not rent a few vans with the different motors and take them for a drive?
I have the 5.4 in my work pickup F150 (it is a 2006 I think)... it sounds like it is turning 7,000rpm in second gear to pull the work 20foot 90hp rigid hull inflatable up the highway....
I have the 5.4 in my work pickup F150 (it is a 2006 I think)... it sounds like it is turning 7,000rpm in second gear to pull the work 20foot 90hp rigid hull inflatable up the highway....
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Had a 7.3 too loud to hear back passengers comfortably. Everything else was aces. 6.0 is fine I just know I'll have to toss 4k to bullet proof it. Gas is much cheaper at the pump for a second vehicle. My gut says 5.4 Is too small. But looking for experience. I know the Chevy will pull but I know I want a 4x4 eventually
Good point. I should check that. I only want to hit the beach and drive in bad weather from time to time. I wonder how it would tow?
jjohnny350
Adventurer
I have a 99 with the 5.4, I have had it for 7 years and I would for sure do the v10 or diesel if you plan to tow at all. I have towed light loads, around 5000 pounds. It does ok, but if i towed often I would go bigger. maybe with a good tune and a few performance upgrades it might do better. If I didnt tow at all and didnt load it down I think the 5.4 would be fine. But towing or loading this up it struggles. On a trip last summer, 6 people, 6 mountain bikes and a lot of gear it struggled to stay at highway speeds easily. Which made for worse than usual mileage which is to be expected being fully loaded, but if I'm going to get horrible mileage then at least I could have something that will move, not struggle. I plan on selling my van in the next few years and will get the v10 or the diesel for sure.
I have had a similar dilemma, I prefer the engine and trans form the chevys, for transmissions feel a bit sloppy to me, but for four wheel drive stuff i do believe the ford is better, so its a trade off. You can get a chevy 4x4, or like another said the awd version, that might be a good option too.
I have had a similar dilemma, I prefer the engine and trans form the chevys, for transmissions feel a bit sloppy to me, but for four wheel drive stuff i do believe the ford is better, so its a trade off. You can get a chevy 4x4, or like another said the awd version, that might be a good option too.
okay that's kinda what I thought. I will have to see if I can get any input from the awd guys on the chevy's or hunt out a v10
SDDiver5
Expedition Leader
I've had a 1997 5.4 F150, a V10 Excursion and I am currently in my "economical" truck, a 1998 4.6L F150.
4.6L is great for towing anything lighter than a pair of jet skis. I tow my Skis to the bay weekly and its perfect.
5.4L is great for towing a TT, u haul, 18-20 foot boat, etc but after towing my 12 foot enclosed trailer and towing a few cars (road towing and trailer towing) I noticed that the 5.4L got pretty tired at around 150k on the odo and it started to struggle up mouintain passes, etc
The Excursion with the V10 is great. If MPG and $$$ at the pump is/are no big deal for you, then, I suggest the V10. There are some nice upgrades you can do for the engine and it sure is a work horse. The Excursion is my dads tow rig and I believe it has 4:56 gears. It gets about 9-10mpg but can tow our (heavy) 23ft Mastercraft X-30 on the freeway at 60-70 mph with no trouble at all.
Next time around I believe I/we will get a diesel. Never had one before so I can't compare it to the gas engines but I know that a diesel can tow and do work without breaking a sweat.
4.6L is great for towing anything lighter than a pair of jet skis. I tow my Skis to the bay weekly and its perfect.
5.4L is great for towing a TT, u haul, 18-20 foot boat, etc but after towing my 12 foot enclosed trailer and towing a few cars (road towing and trailer towing) I noticed that the 5.4L got pretty tired at around 150k on the odo and it started to struggle up mouintain passes, etc
The Excursion with the V10 is great. If MPG and $$$ at the pump is/are no big deal for you, then, I suggest the V10. There are some nice upgrades you can do for the engine and it sure is a work horse. The Excursion is my dads tow rig and I believe it has 4:56 gears. It gets about 9-10mpg but can tow our (heavy) 23ft Mastercraft X-30 on the freeway at 60-70 mph with no trouble at all.
Next time around I believe I/we will get a diesel. Never had one before so I can't compare it to the gas engines but I know that a diesel can tow and do work without breaking a sweat.
Mountainhound
Explorer
Go bigger I had the 5.4 in a 01 f150 and when I went to a f350 in 04 there was no way I was going with the 5.4 in that.
I had a 7.3. It was too loud for talking and I know the 6.0 is quieter. I had one in an excursion and it towed great. So was leaning to the v10 it's quiet and runs on cheap gas