i own a 2000 f150 with 5.4 and i dont know i just was thinking, can the 97-03's tow as much as the new 04+ can or did they change things and improve them on the newer ones? im just curious been thinking this for awhile now and finally decided to post it. sorry if this has been brought up before. thanks

 

Do you have a 2v or 3v 5.4L. Really your biggest difference. Of course what tires/rim package you have (according to the books) makes a difference on max tow ratings. There's really a lot at stake as far as towing goes. Noone really pays attention to it, but 99% of f150 owners never hit it. That's why people buy 250 and 350's. With that in mind, as a rule of thumb on each major ovehaul a company does of its trucks results in higher tow ratings. It's a big "swingin" fest between the big guys.

If you know your numbers, and 05 supercrew with 5.4L:
MAX TOWING LIMIT, PROPERLY EQUIPPED: 8500 lbs.
MAX PAYLOAD LIMIT: 1710 lbs.
MAX GCWR: 14000 lbs.

*17 in wheels


Anyone else got some info, throw it in. I believe you can look up the specs somewhere on this website, or try fordf150.net. They have some spec sheets at their website.

 

i thought the 07 was 10500 and the 08 is gonna be 11000?

my 97 is rated at 8500

 

o thanks guys. i was just thinking about this, no particular reasons or anything just curious. yea im pretty sure i have the 2v thought only the newer 5.4's had the 3v. i have the 17" wheels and towing package. i dont really do any heavy duty towing or anything hence why i have the f150 and not a 250 or 350 haha. just curious how mine compared to a 04+

 

I am looking at a Ford F-150 add in "Four Wheeler" magazine that says can tow 11,000lbs when properly equipped and 9,200lbs as pictured ('08 Supercrew Lariat). Though I don't know what the specs are for "properly equipped".

 

The 04+ F-150 has a stronger frame (fully boxed), and a 3v 5.4L. Most of them also have the 3.73 gears as opposed to our 3.55.

So, yes, the 04+ is stronger.

 

"properly equipped" is basically the heavy duty f150 with the 7 lug wheels, 10.25 rear end, 2wd, 5.4 3v, regular cab long box. that combo tows the most and has the highest payload.

 

I'll say structual ability and stopping power is better in the 04+ but my 97 5.4 would hands down out pull my 01 and my 07. In a drag race forgetttaboutit the 97 with 200,000 + made them both look sick, Although with rear drums it didn't like to stop a heavy very good.

 

The 04+ models are a superior genetic breed of F-150.....From the Fully boxed frame to the 5.4 3v to build quality overall quietness of the cab & superior ride.........

 

however, let's not forget that any power differences between the two trucks are basically negated by the fact that the new 3v weighs more than the 2v.

 

As far as cab quiteness, I read that for the 2003 model Ford implimented 75 different NVH (noise,vibration & harshness) upgrades from '97-02 models. I had a 2002 that I bought new, and it had it's share of Jiggly,Wiggly noisy plastic pieces, I have a 2003 Supercrew and it is far superior than the 2002 I had. Night and Day really, but the same basic structure. I guess maybe they were impimenting some of the upcoming 2004 Model foams and noise dampening processes prior to the 2004's on the 2003's. A shot of noise supressing foam here and there,where it had not been on the '97-'02's and maybe a different plastic compound and materials and a little more isolation and it worked. I'd like to see a list of those 75 things. All in all the question is why would they do 75 "new" things to a model that was on it's way out? I say some of the '04 noise suppresion processes were sampled on the '03's.

 

The 97-2003 (10th generation) trucks did not have the fully boxed frame and they had rather low horse power versions of the 2V engines. One thing they are is reliable. You still see a plethera of '97-'98 supercabs still on the road. I had zero mechanical issues with my '97 when I got rid of it in 2005. So much for those so called first model year issues (quirks or problems). They can tow about 75% of what the 11th gen trucks can. The springs in these trucks are getting old, so they are going to sag a bit under load. The 10th gen was one tough truck that is still more capable than much of the current competition

The 2004+ trucks are a total new breed. They are more powerful and handle better. The ride is better and the cab is much quieter. Unlike the new Tundra, there's no need to upgrade the leaf springs if you want to actually haul anything in the bed. Of course, only the regular cab the heavy duty tow package is capable of towing 11,000 pounds. Most models are in the 8300 to 9500 pound range.

 

so basically the 04+ out perform mine in about eveything. haha maybe its time to start looking for a new one!

 

I found this to be true as well. I traded my 01 SCab in for an 07 SuperCrew almost a year ago. Both had the 5.4L V8's. I tow a TT with a GVWR of 6,600#, which sits around 5,500 loaded for camping. I can say that the 07 tows it much better. The 3V versus 2V certainly makes a difference. did the 01 do the job....yup. But the 07 is a tow beast compared to it. Very pleased with all of the improvements over the 01.

 

It is interesting that people think the 3V is worth so much. The 5.4L trucks actually peak torque at a higher engine speed than the 2V and carry around about 33 pounds more weight for simialr cab/box configs. While there is lower weight/hp (40hp bump), there is higher weight/ft-lb (only up 15) and at higher engine speeds.

The new trucks have a better frame, thus most of the extra weight of the truck and seemingly better tow ratings. That helps for towing safety. However, the payload remains about the same for most trucks, about 1600 pounds as it has been since at least 1997. GVWR is what will limit most 1/2 ton trucks before GCWR or "tow rating".