10 YO truck might not be that much smoother and may need suspension and front end work to make it "right". The "bigger" v8 in 2002 was the 5.4L. I had one in my 2010 F150 before it was wrecked, and it towed ok. It was not a powerhouse or particularly economical but it got the job done. The 5.4 is a very reliable engine should present few problems if it was maintained. The biggest issue was the spark plugs getting stuck in the heads. Not sure what year it was remedied so you might want to check it out. Transmission in that year was only a 4 speed so keep that in mind also.
Here are some specifications