OK what's the deal here?

Everyone is posting this and that about pulling this out of mud, racing this car and winning, carrying 4 elephants in the bed, using their truck to hold up a collapsing bridge, etc...

I know we're putting new covers on the TPS reports, but did I miss the memo???????

I have a 05 Lariat with the 5.4. I routinely get dusted by the two Rams & 4.7 Dakota on my street & just about every car I ever try to race, etc... Is there something wrong with my truck??? People are writing about towing with ease. My truck couldn't pull a 3500lb trailer without shifting out of OD on a level road. It also heated up to the max normal line on the temp gauge doing so. This truck is rated to tow 8700lbs. Is something wrong with my truck???? When you push the gas pedal, it feels like the truck is in sand. Is something wrong with my truck??? I took it to a dealer and they said there's nothing wrong with it and they would not do anything to it. I'm actually so concerned that I'm thinking of scheduling dyno runs to see if this thing actually is making the advertised hp. 300hp at the crank - 25% for drive train loss should = 225hp at the rear wheels.

Before anyone thinks I'm only trying to bash Ford, I'm not. I truely think something is wrong with this vehicle. I can honestly say that with the exception of performance, I like this truck and I'm glad I bought it.

Before anybody questions my ability to drive, save it. I used to be co-owner of a drag racing team, I've run several cars on the Nurburgring in Germany, I used to autocross on a regular basis and I ride motorcycles. I know how to drive.

KC-10 FE out...

 

has to be an issue, id take it in and have them check it out......

 

I did. That's why I started this thread.

The dealer said nothing was wrong and they would not work on it until something was wrong. I called another dealer and they said pretty much nothing other than "the 05 has worse throttle resonse than the 04".

KC-10 FE out...

 

05 has updated throttle responce, better than 04 and most 04's got a reflash for it.... i read somewhere about someone having their gearing messed up and it caused alot of problems. apparently in factory they installed it all backwards. i wouldnt know what else to tell you about why your truck feels the way it does. Tell them to hook up a trailer and try it out. If that doesnt get them to work on it have another dealer mess with it. That should prove somethings wrong. You always have to show them or they just are to lazy to do anything about it

 

Hey KC,

Something ain't right. I tow a 21' Ranger Bass boat all over creation and have never budged the temp gauge - even at 100 degrees with the A/C cranked.

I've towed this 4000# rig from MD to FL several times and can literally go hundreds of miles without shifting out of O/D with the cruise set at 75. And this was before my Superchip 1714 tune.

I also wouldn't bet a box of doughnuts on a drag race. It does pull harder with the 93 octane tune, but it's still yet to impress me in the acceration category. It will pull a big smokey holeshot. The power is there, but the beast is too heavy.

I have yet to try the elephant thing.

Bottom Line: Your engine temp should not rise significantly during moderate towing.

 

Why don't you take the wife's car and go to another dealer and test drive another 05 Lariat. Then you will know for sure if there is something wrong with the power of your truck.

 

KC

I haven't towed anything with mine yet, so I can't speak for that, it does sound like something is off though. As fas as the power goes, I agree with you. Granted I know these trucks are heavy, but I'm sorry, for an advertised 300HP, it sure is slow. I usually dont't even think about racing someone at a light, because I figure I'll just get my A$# handed to me. I do have a 1714 and it made a nice difference, but it was not what I expected from reading everyone's comments on this site. But, I don't think there is anything wrong with my truck either, I just think some of us expected something more HP and excell wise.

 

Clem's right, my temp gauge never moved towing a 5k+ Avion tt to the N. Georgia mountains last July when it was probably 95+ degrees with the windows frosting up! Definitely there is something that is not right with that truck. I'd suggest maybe taking it to another dealership and see if they will do something about it. Who knows, it can't hurt. Good luck!

 

How many miles do you have on it? Some engines, even though they’re modular, are tighter than others and need extra miles to break in before they achieve max-performance.

 

the only thing will add to this is Don't Pull In O/D it is not good for your trans, yes it will do it but it is very hard and will cause premature failure.

Mac.

 

Its got 6500 miles on it. I think I will try driving another one, that sounds like a good idea to me. I know a dealer I never went too when I ordered this one. Monday I'm making my appointments for dyno runs. As far as towing in OD, every Ford dealer I talked to said it was ok up to 5000lbs. Every Chevy, Nissan & Dodge dealer said the same. I guess over 5000lbs requires the anti sway or weight distributing hitch or something like that. Over 5000, Ford dealers said to get it up to cruising speed and then put it into OD, just don't start out in it.

I have two witnesses to the lack of towing, my father and my brother-in-Law. Both commented on the lack of fortitude. The 3 of us ran the same trailer on 4 differrent trucks the same day. We ran a 12x8x6 enclosed single axle trailer that was weighed at a salvage yard at 3485lbs. It was a normal day with light wind, about 75 degrees. The trailer belongs to my father so we used his house as a starting point and ran the same circuit on all 4 vehicles, all were at normal temp before hooking up.

The results:

1. 91 Chevy 2b tb 350, 195hp, 2wd, 3.42 axle, 186000 miles -- Some effort required to get moving, but once under way, never skipped a beat never shifted out of OD until climbing a hill, temp never raised. In the 14 years this truck has been in the family, the temp has NEVER gone over 190. MPG dropped by 2

2. 98 Chevy Vortec 350, 255hp, 2wd, 3.42 axle, 170000 miles -- We never knew the trailer was back there until we hit the brakes. MPG drop by 1

3. 04 F250 5.4 260hp, 4wd, 3.73 axle, 12000 miles -- Total gutless pig. Didn't shift into OD unless going down hill. I blame this on the over 6000lb weight of the vehicle. Lets not talk about mileage in a 6500lb F250 OK? I wouldn't recommend this vehicle to anyone unless you are a contractor who doesn't tow anything.

4. 05 F150 5.4 300hp, 2wd, 300 hp, 3.5ls axle 4000 miles -- You know the deal here. Mileage dropped by almost 6mpg

We had the highest expectations for my truck and it returned the biggest dissapointment. We set up this little test because my Brother in law wants a new truck. After driving mine, he said he's getting a Titan. That's his business, I think they have a face only someone's prison b$tch could love. Please don't turn this into a F150 V Titan thread.

I guess it's back to the dealers to see if I can figure this out??????

KC-10 FEout...

 

I think you should test drive another truck also. Sounds like a good idea. I have an 04 F150 and I tow a single axle 12' enclosed trailer with built in cabinets and tool boxes and my motorcycle. So its probably the same weight as the one you pulled or a little more. I have never had any problem pulling it. Never overheated or came out of overdrive unless pulling a decent grade. one question though, do you have the "tow package" on your truck? Didnt see if you had it or not.

 

Yep its got the tow package that comes with:
upgraded alternator
trans cooler
heavy duty battery
"Built Ford Tuff" receiver rated to 10K
trailer wiring
etc...

KC-10 FE out...

 

Did you get the heavy duty radiator? There are mixups at the factory sometimes, better look into that.

 

Trailer Tow Package $350.00

- Class IV Trailer Hitch Receiver
- 7-Pin Wiring Harness
- Heavy Duty 72 Amp Battery
- Upgraded Radiator and Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler (Requires 4.6L V8 or 5.4L 3V V8 Engine; Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler only w/4.2L V6 A/T)
- Optional Reverse Sensing System

Thats what I got minus the gay a$$ reverse radar...

KC-10 FE out...