Ford F250 -- 5.4 vs. V-10

[drk351]

Trying to decide on a newer F250 to tow either a small 5th wheel or a 32ft. tow behind camper. Not sure if the 5.4 engine has enough power, or if I should go with the V-10. I di NOT want a diesel. Also not sure what kind of fuel mileage to expect with either motor. Any information you can give me is greatly appreciated.

[lbrjet]

Recently returned from 10 days in the NC mountains. Truck did everything I asked of it pulling my 8200lb trailer. Did I get passed going up a 10% grade in 2nd gear at 45mph one day? Yes. Did I care? No.

[zogg]

I had owned both the 5.4 and two v10s over the years...the 5.4 was really pathetic in terms of towing mileage and performance. The v10s got as good or better mpg, and the power was amazing. My 05 six speed manual v10 got 16 mpg unloaded on the hiway....the automatic I owned before got about 13-14.

I recently bought a newer truck....I looked at everything and narrowed it down to a v10 and a GMC 6.0 gas motor. I thought the GMC would give better unloaded mpg.....it is crap. I have yet to see 14 hiway.

We had a 5000 pound trailer and I got 9-11 towing. We bought a new 7500 pound trailer and now I get 7 towing and the constant shifting is a real pain...

Story short, I am looking for a v10 again!!

[Hannibal]

We're 211 miles into our latest trip with our 5.4L F250 towing our 8500~lb mid profile 5th wheel. "I" am happy with it. I set cruise on 65mph and let it run. 4200 rpm on the uphills isn't a problem for me or the 5.4. I get 14 mpg very light city, 17 highway and 8.5~mpg towing.

[bmanning]

How's this for honesty?

If I could do it over again I'd hold out for a V10.

Changed the gearing from 3.73 to 4.30 & it unquestionably woke the 5.4L up, but the fact is heavy duty pickups are, well, heavy, and I think the extra power & torque of the 6.8L is a big plus.

The 5.4L is a terrific motor, tough, but it displaces 5.4L and that in-and-of-itself limits it.

[dodge_guy]

The 5.4 will be underpowered and will get the same mileage towing as the V-10!

Get the V-10.

[tkarvelis]

I hate my V-10.... JK

Love it. I drove from Pittsburgh to Hershey getting around 10 mpg. Drive back was about 8 mpg

I was towing a 11k 5th wheel

I get 12-13 mpg on the highway unloaded.

I have the crew cab short bed.

[bmanning]

Crdodd wrote:
I love this topic. This is like an old movie that comes on tv once in a while. You know everything everyone is going to say, but you have to look at it anyway.

LOL

This post would be applicable in about 35-40% of threads!

[carringb]

The V8 can do it. The V10 will do it MUCH better.

On the few occasions I towed my weekend warrior with my dad's van (11,000 bone dry) the 5.4L actually managed to keep up on the hills just fine. But launching from a stop was WAY slower, and no would could I pass cars on 2-lane roads like with the V10. And.... at that weight the 5.4L actually used about 20% more fuel than the V10 because it had to stay in 3rd and would frequently drop into 2nd.

[APT]

Th V10 gets the same FE as the 5.4L in the Superduty under the same conditions. It does not have to work nearly as hard. You get significantly more torque. Very few V10 owners complain about lack of power.

[jerem0621]

My V10 F350 dually gets 7.5 mpg towing my 6500 lbs loaded travel trailer. I imagine that it would get the same no matter what weight TT or fiver is behind it. I personally believe aerodynamics play a bigger part on the MPG of the V10 than trailer weight.

Empty... 9-11.5.mpg... depending on the time of the year... depending on how I drive it.

I had a 97 F150 I towed the same trailer with. I think that was about max for my F150. Did ok, fairly comfy, but spent a lot of time at 3500 plus rpm's.

The V10 is a towing beast...

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Crdodd]

I love this topic. This is like an old movie that comes on tv once in a while. You know everything everyone is going to say, but you have to look at it anyway.

[kamp_k]

I've owned two 5.4's and two V10's. There's no question that if you're looking at a 32' trailer, it's going to have some weight to it, and you will be much happier with the V10. Loved my 5.4 F150, but wouldn't have wanted to tow more than 7k with it.

[Desert_Captain]

I love my 5.4 but no way would it be enough for that much trailer in a 3/4 ton truck. The V-10 6.8 is just a bigger version that generates its torque and HP the same way.... RPM (two extra cylinders help a bit as well). Having said that I would love to have a 3/4 ton with a 5.4 as long as all I was towing was my 5K# 22' TT. :C

[Vulcaneer]

fla-gypsy wrote:
A late model V-10 will easily handle that. The 5.4 would struggle with that much trailer and frontal area. My 09 6.8L coupled with the 5 sp auto and 4.10 rear is a towing machine. I get 12 mpg around town and about 9.x mpg towing 10k TT.

My 06 30 Valve 5 speed, 4:10 got same around town. And 7.5 Avg. towing 13,000 on the highway. Highway empty was 13 MPG. If they made the V10 in 2012 F350, I would have another for towing my 14,250 GVWR trailer. Before I sold the V10, I towed this trailer. It towed the 14,250 trailer as easily as the 13,000 pound trailer. No difference in mileage.