TV upgrade / experienced opinions please...

[Bayoubass]

I'm looking for opinions, want to upgrade TV in a a few months when I retire so if I want to go back to the Rockies I won't have issues with towing . My present TV is a 2003, Ford Lariat 4.6l ,3.55, tow package, WD hitch/ sway bar,67,000 on the clock and I love the truck except towing my keystone 19' hideout ( 4100 lbs. dry) is an issue somewhat. Have made 3 short trips ( less than 200 miles round trip, on flat land) and planning a longer trip down the gulf side of Florida as I speak. But I want to go back to Yellowstone , Montana , Utah , Colorado where my heart is since the 70's! Don't think the 150 will make it easy and I don't want the stress at my age. So, without overkill, what TV would u suggest? After researching this, and my situation- maybe 7-10 trips a year when retired, truck will be my everyday vehicle , think diesel is overkill since my camper is small and will not get a bigger camper .Eco boost seems like the logical way to go but I want to hear from experienced campers to see what u think. I like Ford but know that the market is competive . Thanks for your input ..... Kenny

[MitchF150]

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

[hmknightnc]

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.

[jerem0621]

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

[hmknightnc]

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.