First time poster.........long time looker and learner. I am seriously considering installing a supercharger on my F150 to improve towing. Is this a good option for improving towing or should I consider a gear change? I really don't like all the downshifting that goes on while towing my bass boat on long trips.
Any recommendations and direction would be appreciated.

 

Welcome. If it were me, i would try gears and a tuning device that will allow you to recalibrate for the gears. What is the gear ratio, and engine now?

 

I don't think I'd be adding a Supercharger to improve towing. It'll probly cost you a tranny. Having more power, then working the truck hard towing.

 

The gear ratio is 3.73. I have a 5.4 King Ranch with the 20" wheels and tires, front end leveling kit & superspring in the rear.

 

You could go to 4.10 and it would probly help alot.

 

yea those 20 ant helping ya i had a 18 ft fiberglass fishing boat(now have a 18 ft alum. witch i dont kno its back there) it was pretty heavy def noticed more power with the blower i have roush by the way the stock tune kinda sucks for towing but the power was there gears and tune are your best bet if money is an issue but you wont regret getting blown!

 

Money isn't an issue. I just want to be sure I'm doing the right thing before I commit to getting blown. I hope more folks will reply that tow heavy loads with their superchargers. I want to get this right the first time if possible. Thanks for the replies so for guys! Keep um coming.............

 

my vote is for gears.

my truck is a turbocharged v6 and makes more power than my dads 97 5.4l im sure...

but i would NEVER try towing his big *** fishing boat with it. i just dont think u should go for boost for towing....

for a quick truck yeah get boost! but for towing.... eh.. i dont know

i know my opinion sux *** but ive been drinking.

 

the roush and whipple kits are fairly popular supercharger kits for the 3 valve 5.4's.

as of right now there is only one turbo on the market for your truck and that's the STS kit.

if you're towing regularly a shift kit is recomended anyway. If you add a tubro or supercharger 8-10psi is about all you'll want to run on your stock internals.

I personally prefer a turbo for towing since it's load sensitive and you can get electornic adjustable wastegates fo ron the fly boost control depending on your load and terrain.

 

On the highway at 2500 rpm you will not be using much boost. When you stab the throttle for mor power the tranny will downshift. down shifting will increase the torque If you lightly push the pedal you will not dramatically increase the boost. Even if you stayed in the same gear your rpm will only increase by a few hundred when the torque converter unlocks and this will not increase boost. Once the load is up and moving you do not need the power of a blower. When you get into hills or are passing you will need power. The most cost effective way to increase power is to re-gear. If chosen correctly they will put the engine at its most efficient rpm when pulling. I would recommend getting gears for towing. Switching from 3.73:1 to 4.10:1 will not make much of a difference. I would look for 4.30:1 FWIW I tow with my truck. Cruising on the highway I am not in boost. When I nail the accelerator I go into boost.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Just a towing tune would help, since I added the blower I tow my boat and my dads race truck and I'm never in the boost unless its a very steep grade but the pull out in traffic power is great with a blown truck

 

I tow a 7000+lb boat with my truck and it tows great. I have the Roushcharger and 4:30 gears but I am also running 22"wheels. I would swap to 4:30 or 4:56 gears depending on your weight and a custom tune. If that still isnt good enough for you then get a supercharger.


current boat that I haul.

 

Thanks for all the great replies! It sounds like I need to start looking for someone to install some 4:30 gears for starters. Should I go to Ford for the gear change so they can adjust my PCM for the higher ratio or go aftermarket?

 

get a custom tune done via aftermarket tuner with a performance tune and a towing tune they can correct the gear ratio too.

 

Nice truck and boat.