My wife and I decided to buy a 29 foot 5th wheel travel trailer, and my 1/2 ton truck is not up to the job. There is no queston that I am going to buy a Super Duty to replace the truck, but I just can't decide on what model. I need a crew cab and I think I can get buy with two wheel drive though I currently have a 4x4 and love it. I think I want to stay with an automatic, and the biggest issue, of course, is the engine. Is the 5.4 too small for cross-country towing? The V10 is a gas hog but I understand it it not much worse than the 5.4 V8...I really don't want a diesel...
Finally, would 4.10 gears be better than the 3.73 with a V10? Do I need to go to 4.30s or is that overkill. Other than towing, it will be a daily driver and I live about 25 miles from work. I know these are a lot of questions at one time, but I really value teh help I have gotten in the past from this forum....thanks in advance

 

If it were me, I think a V10 with the 3.73's would be just fine for pulling that trailer. If you were pulling a heavy load everyday, then you'd want the 4.10's, but since it's just a holiday trailer, the 3.73's would be an excellent compromise for everyday driving and the occasional tug, you don't want to give up any potential advantage in mpg. And from my experience with the V10 in a one ton van, you should expect to get around 13-15mpg realistically on the highway, maybe even a little more, and probably about 12mpg with the trailer. I had a 99F250 LD with the 5.4 and 3.73's and it got better mpg pulling my 24' travel trailer than my current 2002 F150 Screw gets with the 3.55's, but, the Screw gets about 4mpg better empty than the 250, so it's always a compromise with what you want to use it for mostly. And I also think the V10 is a decent motor, but they do have the same issues as the other modulars that you have to watch for.

 

I concur with Canuck PB - V10 and 3.73s will work excellent for your desired task; however, I've been playing on Ford's website building a SD, and if you go w/ a limited slip rear end, then it automatically bumps you up to 4.10s.

 

Davidzog, buy the v-10 you will love it. 36fan is correct, the 05 V-10's come with 4:10 gears standard. I have an 03 winnebago class c motorhome with the V-10 that weighs 13500 pounds empty. I pull an 18 foot enclosed car trailer full of racing karts and tools...4500 lbs loaded with it. Pulling 18000 lbs at 70 mph it will get 8-8.5 mpg running the generator and has plenty of power. I have gotten as high as 11-11.5 running w/o trailer at 70+. This is probably the best of all the Mod motors, I've had three and they were all trouble free. The 05's even got a 50hp bump with the new heads. Sorry for the long post

 

i would personally go with the 4.10 and limited slip. the cost to order it or already have it on the truck is way less than if you had it installed later and it has a factory warranty. if you decide to upgrade your trailer later or feel that with your current trailer the truck is too sluggish, then you are looking at spending much more money down the road to change out your gears. me, i have the 6.0l so its not a concern but i did have a 5.4l f150 before and would never think about going back to that motor. the v10 is probably a great choice for you but get the 4.10 and limited slip now so you dont have to do it later.