i guess im wanting to know the pros and cons. i had a 98 ext 4x4 with the 4.6 and an 03 crew cab 4x4 with the 5.4 and loved the 5.4. it seemed like there was no comp. im back in the market for a crew cab and im looking to spend around 8000 so the truck will more than likely have some miles on it. should the 4.6 be a deal breaker? ill occasionally pull a car trailer with it but want it to pull and not struggle. your opinions please.

 

if you are doing any pulling its always better to have the 5.4.

 

I have always had the 5.4 and this weekend decided to trade my 08 XLT and was going to think about the 4.6 with the new tranny and higher mileage (1mpg). And then I kept thinking, ok, you travel to Lake Champlain, George, and many others always towing a 20' loaded bassboat with at least 1 other person and their gear, up mountains, and then all the way back to VA, through the mountains there and another 750 miles home to NJ many times each year. There were no further thoughts, I got the 5.4. I mean for 1 MPG in theory, I would rather make it easier on the truck and make it last longer and easier with the 5.4. Hope this helps.

 

I tow my boat at least twice a month about 30 miles to the launch ramp. My setup is an 01 5.4 3:55.I am very satisfied with how it tows.The boat weights about 5500 lbs. One time I had to borrow my moms truck same setup but with the 4.6. It was terrible. I wanted to stop halfway home and wait for my truck to free up. The difference was huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I vote for 5.4.

 

if the truck has all the other options you want (including gears) then don't let the motor size be the deal breaker. you can always swap a 5.4 in later on...

 

i ended up talking them down to around 4000 for this truck and its super clean. i does have the 4.6 but that gets me out of my ranger and into and f 150 and ill continue looking for a clean 5.4 and with what ill have in this truck i should be able to at least break even and get me into a 5.4 later on down the road. i agree with the 5.4 by a long shot just wanted to hear something good about the 4.6 lol. got a good deal though so i can deal with it for now.

 

I have a 4.6 in mine.....I wish I had the 5.4

 

The 5.4 to me is needed just to get these heavy truck's moving.

 

Bingo!

 

Wish i had found this forum a week ago. I just bought a 2010 F150 SuperCrew 4X4. I pick up my new truck in a week. I had heard good things about the 4.6. I will use the truck mostly to haul my dirt bikes. Two in the truck and 2 on a trailer.

Randy

 

lol, ive had both and the 4.6 is a good motor. no need to worry about that,but if your hauling 5.4 is the way to go with out a doubt. i got a heck of a deal on mine so i took the 4.6 but my next will be a 5.4 110%!!

 

Well i have a 5.4 and love it while towing, last year my dad's Mercedes ML320 SUV's harmonic balancer took a crap and had to have it towed to San Antonio (280 miles away). Decided to take his 01 SuperCrew with the 4.6 with 32000 miles on it. Rented a uhaul and put it up there on the trailer and the truck didnt do to bad at all towing that SUV. Was cruising down I-10 at 65 and 70 with OD off and it did acceptable. I would recommend a 5.4 though if you are planning on towing alot. Only bad thing was we got about 7.5 mpg. Coming back dad drove his suv and i drove the truck with the empty uhaul and it got 17mpg on the way back cruising at 75 and 80.

 

if your just wanting to drive the truck and not haul much more than your lunch, 4.6l . if you plan on working it buy as much engine as you can . 02