ford V10 vs 5.4L V8

Thank you all. while I have no intention of towing I can already tell from my wife's list that she's going to fill this little thing up quick. It's so small we refer to it as the motor HUT! Sounds like the V10 will prevent me from being disappointed later. It's tough to gauge the difference in price since the 5.4 is a 2014 and the V10 is a 2013. I can buy the 2014 for less.

Hi,

Somehow the people asking questions seem to expect the people answering the questions to know as much about the product they are looking at as the person asking the question.

So how heavy is the RV?

Do you plan on driving in a lot of mountains, or just back and forth near the home or places like Florida?

Do you plan on towing a car? Probably not required with such a short vehicle, you can park it in most parking lots.

The 5.4L makes upwards of 300 HP, not that much less than the V10 engine. They in fact share the same piston size, and stroke length, only change is number of cylinders.

If the change to 5.4L means changing to the lighter weight capacity E-350 chassis, I would not make that change, even if it saves $5,000. I would want to keep the E-450 chassis, and get the smaller engine if you don't plan on using it in the mountain or towing much. Yes you can still tow fine with the 5.4L, just not as much. I think the difference is you can tow up to 18,000 GCVWR with the 5.4 and 22,000 with the 6.8L engine. So 4,000 more with the larger engine.

So if the motorhome is say 11,000 pounds, then the lower capacity chassis might work (E-350) but if heavier, then the 14,050 pound E-450 chassis is desired, in case you want to carry extra weight sometime. The E-450 chassis is less likely to "Wallow" around, as it will have stiffer springs, and keep upright better.

Fred.

IMHO, please go with the V-10. I have been more than pleased with the 2 motorhomes I have owned with the V-10. Yes, it does use probably more than it's share of fuel, but it will do anything you want it to do. I have learned that you cannot have fuel economy and the RV lifestyle. V-10.

rvit wrote:
While I thought I had already bought a Pleasure way Pursuit with a Ford V10, it turns out I have the luxury of choosing the same 22'model with a 5.4L V8, still Ford I think. Any opinions with regard to such a small rig? Do I need the bigger engine? Will I save gas with the smaller one? Brand new to RVing.

Seeing how the 5.4 will have to work harder, Their wont be a significant difference between the two. the V10 would have a better Power/MPG ratio :W compared to the V8.
Good Luck!

Have you been on the yahoo PW forum? Maybe you would get more answers there when we had a PW I followed that forum. Do you ever plan to tow anything?
If not the V8 should do you, how much difference in cost? Dick

A 22 footer is a lot of weight for a 5.4, and it will not do good at all in the mountains. Cant imagine towing a trailer or toad behind it either. Go for the 6.8 V-10, Its Ford's work horse gas engine and its very reliable. For proof its used in a lot of Fords commercial vehicles, and in most Gas A-class RV's. Expect to see around 8-11 mpg.
Good luck!

If you are going to tow get the V10.

If it's also choice between a E350 chassis and an E450 chassis go with the E450 chassis (wider stance and higher cargo capacity).