how does the 5.4 rank with other trucks in its class in towing, power etc?

 

oh geez.. here we go.. Most will say the 5.4 is under powered. I believe the chassis is best in class and ford under rates it's towing capacity. Either way, A half ton now days is like a 3/4 ton in the 1980's. I love my truck and it has plenty of power for me.

 

I'd say that is a fair assessment. It feels underpowered to me as well, but I like everything else about the truck. I have 3.73 gears and wish it was at least 4.30 or 4.56 instead.

 

i have an 02 w/ 3:55 and wish it had 3:73s just needs som x tra oomph for passing on the highway

 

how does it do compared to the titan in the towing category?

 

On paper, they're all within a couple hundred pounds of each other.

In actual life, my 5.4 has towed just fine. Most I've ever pulled was maybe 5-6000 lbs though.

 

I dont know how it rates compared to others but i know mine pulls 8000# just fine

 

I've never towed with a Titan so I can't fairly compare...However, I was disappointed with the towing ability of my F150, that is why I was wanting lower gears. It has the 5.4, 3.73 gears, tow package, Troyer Xcal2 and AF1. I live at 5700 feet elevation and usually only go higher from there towing in the Rockies roughly 5k pounds. I was not impressed. I felt like my old Dodge 1500 with 5.2 and 3.55 gears towed just as well if not slightly better. But I still like my truck overall, since I only tow a few times a year I'll deal with it.

 

I have no problems with my 3V 5.4 towing 8500#. Edge programmer, and Flowmaster helped out tremendously in the towing category. Much better than the older 2V 5.4's. The frame is outstanding, and the interior is, hands down, the best in the industry. Could it use more power?..... SURE. Does it need it, Not really. It gets squirrely in the rain now, I couldn't imagine more power with the same weight. Alot has to do with knowing how to drive the truck also.

 

- Ieyiyiii.

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I like the older Ford PS 7.3L best , awesome motor/ 4R100 is okay, could be a little beefier -

The 5.4L doesn't compare to that one. If your souley talking gas motors and 1/2 tons. A half ton with a 5.4L pulls comfortably. The older 5fours with the E4OD/4R100's are sweet- If you add a little help to the rear springs and gear up to 4.10's - That's the perfect set-up.

 

Seems like a lot of people that live and tow at lower elevations and or flat to rolling hills don't have an issue using their 5.4's to tow?? I'd be interested to hear from others that live and tow in the Rockies. I'm not at all interested in selling the truck, it's mine for keeps. But I see gear change in my future. It just seems like it is just off it's power band. Granted my Screw 4x4 is a heavy pig too.

 

I towed about 6k over a 6500 foot pass a couple months ago.. it was in second, but I kept the speed control on and it held 60 mph. The transmission temp never got above 200 deg. The coolant and head temp didn't go over 210
I can't remember the grade though. It was on hiway 12 from helena to missoula.

 

I don't think any other truck can match Ford's towing capability, but HP is a big challenge for Ford to compete with the others. But it seems to me that the others cannot produce more power than the Ford's 5.4 unless they have an engine that is above 5.7L.

 

I am at 8000' in the foothills outside Denver. My 2001 5.4 4x4 supercrew has the 3.55 gears. I shut off the overdrive and it does just OK but I am not expecting 3/4-1ton diesel performance. I am only towing around 5,000lbs so for the min. amount of towing that I do, I am satisfied. Besides towing, the performance at altitude is great.

I have thought about going with a lower gear but the 3.55s work great with the overdrive off.