Ok, I know this isn't even an F150. It's a 2006 F250 XLT with a 5.4 and 3:55 rear end. The trailer is 30', empty weight 6320. Loaded with cabinets, 10,000-11,000. The truck has 158,000 miles.

The reason I'm posting here is to make a point about all those worried about whether their 5.0 or EcoBoost will pull what they need to pull. This does a pretty fair job. It will top a big turnpike hill loaded at 70 or so still accelerating. Right off the line on a steep hill, it could stand to have either 3:73, or the 6 speed, but it gets the job done.

 

Yes you can and yes you can safely are two different things. Not to mention legally being over your weight ratings. Short trip, maybe...frequently...well good luck.

 

That's a F250. Should be within the weight ratings.

 

Just look at the way most people drive now a days. People also say the motor in my Taurus is underpowered. Morons. Trucks were pulling trailers like that with barley 200hp likely less backs in the 80's and 90s.

 

I remember the scene from the movie "Mr. Majestic" (Charles Bronson movie where they really abused a stock Ford truck doing jumps and never hurt it) where a 1950 Plymouth was pulling a large trailer loaded with watermelons. The rear looked to be bottomed out.

 

The real question is, why would anyone buy a Super Duty with the 5.4? The V10 or diesel engines were so much better.

 

Well, I'd take a 5.4 in a super duty over the 6.0 powerstroke anyday. Had to deal with that nightmare on a month long full US trip a year and a half ago. Even had new head studs, egr cooler and oil cooler. Still had a billion issues.

 

My point specifically was that the 5.0 or Ecoboost either one are some of the most capable motors ever. And the F150s of today are superior for towing 10,000 pounds for that matter to 20 years ago F250s. The brakes are as big or bigger even.

As for the cabinet shop delivery truck, we switched from a diesel Isuzu with a 20' box. It had the 6 cylinders 481 ci turbodesiel. We had an Isuzu 18' 4cylinder turbodesiel before that. We were ready to get away from the hassle of diesel. They have their place, but it's not making deliveries once or twice a week, mostly within a 30 mile range.

Diesel isn't as readily available at every station, particularly in good quality. It's typically more expensive. If you go late model, you have blue DEF to deal with. You have two batteries to upkeep, and they don't tend to last well when going sometimes a week or two between starts. Oil changes are more expensive, fuel filters a big issue on diesels.
Furthermore, in the price and year range we were shooting for, the 6.0 was the prevalent diesel in a Ford. I have no doubt that the average lifespan of a 5.4 without catastrophic failure is greater than a 6.0 diesel.

I was overruled on the V10 subject. The thought prevailed that it would drink more gas.

 

The Isuzus were only good for 60-65 mph. On the occasional long drive, that got old.

 

Not when towing that kind of load - it would be no worse and possibly better than a 5.4.

 

That was my contention also. However, I'm the shop manager. The owner gets final say, and his feeling was that with the ability to unhook the trailer, the truck would get used more than the box trucks were, and part of that use would be doing smaller errands without the trailer. The 5.4 would do better in that scenario. He also just traded his Tacoma for an Audi suv, so he needs to have a truck available.

So far, it looks like it's going to get 8 or better towing. The last fill up was 11.12 mpg, with nearly half of the miles towing. When he went to Texas to get the trailer, he got 8 towing it back. I have since changed the air filter, which was pretty dirty.

It is a 4x4. It came down to this one, or a 2001 or 2002 V10 with a regular bed. The V10 was 14,000 higher mileage, 4 or 5 years older, didn't have as good tires, and didn't have a gooseneck hitch. It was higher end, and had probably been worked much less though. By the time we got it ready to tow, it would have cost about the same.

This truck even has an engine oil cooler built in above the oil filter. Unfortunately, it has a very mild leak from the cooler.

 

I sure am glad I had a good 6.0. My Dad now has it and we have had zero of the "6.0" problems. 275,000km on it now.

 

As I understand it, the V10 doesn't have the troublesome VCT.

 

That is correct. The 3v V10 has straight cams. However, they do have the 2 piece spark plugs through mid-08.