TV upgrade / experienced opinions please...

Bayoubass wrote:
So, I'm thinking in the mountains out west ( and I have driven out there many times, just not pulling a 'house') the 4.6 is going to really have a tough time or am I wrong? I would hate to head west and have to turn around because of lack of power. Maybe I'm just nervous that I will 'break down' out there. Keep in mind that I love my Larait and would like to keep it, but not sure it has the backbone for mountains. I value your opinions, so fill me in and thanks again.
Jerem0621- hearing the engine turn up those rpm's scares me some- should it? By the way, what kind of grades will I face in the Rockies , mainly Passes, 7-9%?

You wont run out of power and have to turn around. The 4.6 wont win any races, but it will pull you up any hills you will encounter. A friend of ours tows a hybrid (probably 3500 lbs or so) w/ a 4.6 and he goes wherever in Utah he wants. Just not that fast!

That said, you'll find lots of improvements to the F150 line (or its competitors) since 2003. Six spd transmissions are terrific, they have tow/haul modes that help out a lot. Engines have a lot more power and are probably at least as efficient. Better chassis, all of that. So you won't go wrong buying a newer one. But you can probably get by with your '03 as long as it is in good repair and you like driving it!

As far as grades go, it depends on the type of roads. Interstates wont have anything above 6% overall; they may have short stretches that hit 7%, but that is about it. State roads and highways can be a lot steeper -- we have some here in Utah that get up to 10 or 11% according to my Garmin. That grade plus elevation (they are most all above 8000 ft) makes for slow going, but the roads have lots of curves and bends, so you couldn't go fast anyway.