Tow Vehicle Improvements
I'm a little concerned about pulling our travel trailer out west and being able to pull up steep grades. I have a 2010 F-150 5.4L and was considering making a couple of power improvements like a cold ...
Forum Discussion
So longs as you have the factory tow package and load lightly your 5.4L will do just fine. Even if you have the 3:55 rear end it should be fine since you have the 6 speed tranny. As long as the trans is not hunting there is no reason not to use O/D. An excellent improvement would be to add a Scan Gauge. This will give you transmission fluid temperature as well as host of other valuable gauge options not to mention that you can squeeze an extra 8 to 10% mileage improvement just by paying attention to the Scan Gauge.
You really should have E rated LT tires for a trailer that large, the improvement over "P"'s will be amazing. I have never been a fan of OEM shocks and a nice set of after market upgrades, especially when combined with a new set of LT's will make a huge difference. Get the rig to the CAT scale as you are probably at or over your trucks GVWR but by loading light you should be able to keep the numbers down.
Don't hesitate to stick your foot into that 5.4L. It makes makes max torque at around 3600 rpm and max HP happens at 4400. You can run the 5.4 all day at 4,000 and other than burning a lot of fuel you won't hurt a thing. On long steep downhill grades, 6%, I just shift down into second (I have the 4 speed O/D trans), and this holds me at 55 to 60 mph at about 3600 rpm and I never have to touch the brakes. On lesser grades I just lockout O/D and this holds me in third, again with little or no time on the brake pedal.
The 5.4L is a great engine that powered many an F-250, most folks underestimate its ample capabilities. :C
You really should have E rated LT tires for a trailer that large, the improvement over "P"'s will be amazing. I have never been a fan of OEM shocks and a nice set of after market upgrades, especially when combined with a new set of LT's will make a huge difference. Get the rig to the CAT scale as you are probably at or over your trucks GVWR but by loading light you should be able to keep the numbers down.
Don't hesitate to stick your foot into that 5.4L. It makes makes max torque at around 3600 rpm and max HP happens at 4400. You can run the 5.4 all day at 4,000 and other than burning a lot of fuel you won't hurt a thing. On long steep downhill grades, 6%, I just shift down into second (I have the 4 speed O/D trans), and this holds me at 55 to 60 mph at about 3600 rpm and I never have to touch the brakes. On lesser grades I just lockout O/D and this holds me in third, again with little or no time on the brake pedal.
The 5.4L is a great engine that powered many an F-250, most folks underestimate its ample capabilities. :C
