TV upgrade / experienced opinions please...

If you're not planning on upgrading your trailer, I would stick to a half ton truck; any of the big three will be plenty for that kind of load. Keep in mind that a 2014 model is light years ahead of your 2003; all will have significantly more power, stiffer frames, better suspensions, brakes, etc, etc.

Congratulations on looking to retire in a few months and I can't thing of a better destination than Yellowstone and the other beautiful areas in that country (Glacier, Waterton, Banff, Jasper).

I drove a 4.6L for years and went to the above destinations which include some pretty good grades at elevation, but I was only pulling a small pop-up. With that load the truck did fine, however I was not a big fan of how the 4.6L delivered power to the wheels. Yes, it had to make RPMs to make power (which is okay) but on my '99 for some part of the range I actually felt like there were spots where I would increase RPMs and would lose some torque (the torque curve on that '99 4.6 was not really consistent). That just meant leaning into the pedal harder to get past the 'flat spot' in the power curve. While I do not have experience towing a larger trailer with the 4.6L I think it would be working pretty hard.

The routes I traveled in the Rockies were typically not especially steep, but they were long and at higher elevations. One in particular I recall was on the way to Jasper from Banff. That grade is over 8%.

Jasper Web Site

The EcoBoost has a distinct advantage over most gas engines when operating at elevations due to the turbos. The F150 with the Max Tow package should tow your rig well. I have not made it back to the Rockies with mine, but hope to get out there again in a few years. You may wish to send a private message to SkipnChar who has towed into the Rockies with his EcoBoost several times.

Good luck to you,
Stu

I had a similar TV and TT, 1997 XLT, 4.6L, 3.55 towing a 5000# Sportsman. I changed the gear to 3.73 and that made a big difference.

With that said, I never towed through the Rockies and doubt it would have done well. I understand your concerns.

If you decide to get into an EB realize they are not all the same. The more bells and whistles it has the less payload you will have. Some are as low as 1200#-1400#. Look for a Max Tow with 1800# payload or better or go up to the HD. The HD is not cheap or easy to find but it is the most capable 1/2 ton on the market.

On flat land , at 60 mph I'm turning right at 2400 rpm's with CC off. When going over a bridge with ,I'm guessing a 3-6% grade , of course I feel the drop in power. 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%?

Yep.. What Jeremiah says is right on... If you don't like pulling the higher rpms, that's your problem.. Not the trucks... :)

I too had a 97 F150 with the 5.4 and it towed my #5000 TT just fine... It just liked to rev going up the grades.. 3500 rpms in 2nd gear was the norm to go 55 mph up a 5-6% grade.

I did just pick up a new 13 Ecoboost and have towed the same #5000 TT twice with it over the same grades as the 97 and the 13 does it in 4th gear, pulling around 2500 rpms and I'm going a real easy 60 mph... Press the pedal a tad more and it's up to around 2800 rpms, but I'm going over 65 mph... Up a 5% grade! :) I don't really need to do that, so 60 is fine and I just cruise up the hill with no problem.. :)

So, a little 3.5l V6 is putting out over 360hp and 420lb of torque where that old 5.4 was only 230hp and 330lb of torque..

I'm loving the 13 Ecoboost and yes, I'm making truck payments again, but I'm still grinning every time I drive it... :) :)

Mitch

jerem0621 wrote:


So help us out.. is it the RPM that is scaring you or something else?

Thanks!

Jeremiah

That's a good point. A gas engine needs RPM to get in the power band. 4,000+ of rpm. If that is your issue it is a non-issue. To get away from that you will need diesel power. As Jeremiah said a bigger gas engine ( in the sizes we are talking about) is still going to need rpm.

Need some more information.

The 4.6 is more than up to the job of towing a 5000 ish lb trailer. What makes you feel like its struggling? Is it the RPM? Speed?

Basically, we need to know what your expectations are when towing so that we can help make a recommendation. Believe it or not the biggest obstical you have when pulling a trailer is punching a hole in the air for the trailer to go through. 19 ft or 34 ft the hole punched in the air is the same.

If RPM's are what make you uncomfortable then you want an Ecoboost or a turbo diesel. It is really that simple.

I had a 97 F150 with a 5.4 V8.... I pulled 7000 lb travel trailer and it was a comfortable relaxing pull every time. The truck revved to make power but I expected that and was fully comfortable.

I upgraded the TV to a V10 Dually... not because the F150 was not capable but because we wanted to haul a golf cart in the bed. The V10 turned the same RPM as the 5.4 over the same highways.

I tell that experience to let you know just upgrading to a bigger motor will not make the RPM go away.

So help us out.. is it the RPM that is scaring you or something else?

Thanks!

Jeremiah

For that trailer if got a 3/4 ton (pick your brand and gas is fine) that was tow equipped you'd be towing stress free. Won't stress the truck or you at all. A lot of heavy tow equipped 1/2 tons would also do the job but since that is what you have and aren't happy upgrade to 3/4. Don't need anything bigger than that.