I am a new member, and a proud first time owner of a 02' f150 SC,2wd,4.6auto,3.55.I have a question for some experienced 4.6 owners.I have been camping for years and own a 23ft.trailer with a loaded weight of 4500lbs.I towed this camper for 2 yrs.,with a Jeep Cherokee 4.0 six cylinder.I have retired it now that I bought my new truck.The truck is rated to tow 6900lbs,so I am well within my weight limits. The truck does well with the camper. On steep grades the truck runs in the 3500 rpm range.I am a member of several camping websites,and everyone seems to think the small 4.6"as they put it",will never hold up to this task,and all seem to think this motor is good for nothing more then going to the grocery store on saturdays with your wife.I would like to hear some input,to make sure I didn't make a mistake on my vehicle purchase.We really love the truck.
Thanks in advance.

 

If the RV websites you refer to are the same as some of the ones
I follow there is a mentality that a truck is an F350 or larger and F150's should only pull popup's. I am not of that persuasion but do believe in being within the registered weights which you are.
A big truck is great if you RV full time and this is a retirement toy or you need the truck anyway for a business reason. But may like myself use the truck as a daily driver and tow on weekends or vacations only. I don't need a powerstroke diesel when only 10% of my driving is towing.

We had a 4.6L and it did just fine with a 23 foot. The only problem I had was some pinging at time which the 5.4 I have now has never done. I had no compliant's at all. We now have a 31' trailer and went to the 5.4L.

The fellow who bought my other truck with the 4.6L wanted to tow something around 20'. He has had it for 3 years now and has added a leaf to the rear suspension and has rebuilt the rearend in it as the bearings where shot. He has not had any motor problems but has also complianed of the pinging. I am not sure how many miles he has on it but has to be over 100K. He is overall happy with it.

 

Hi C81 Welcome!

Did you make a mistake, really dosent matter does it?

Its yours for better or worse...sound familiar

I've towed w/99 4.6L..but not same as yours. Approx: 11500# GCWR. that really slowed me down on those long 6/7% grades. Flat roads..sometimes o/d..sometimes 3rd gear. But i finally did mods..which helped some. Thats just me.

Mostly 2nd gear on those grades...but also been in 1st gear
but that was 7K+ alt.

So...if your ok w/power/performance etc..if not...then just keep reading this bd. for hp/tq/a.t. mods...rear axle ratios etc.

Yes..w/4.6L your certainly not overpowered thats for sure..but engine should be ok. If your a/t is the 4R70W..it maybe a light duty? Suggestion...post on tranny bd for Mark Kolvasky..he will tell you. Any changes between 99/02?

The 4R70W on my 99 was light duty...i lost 2 trannys in 37000mi..only about 8K towing...that dosent mean you'll have same problem..just beaware...remembering out trucks/loads different. a/t could be weak linK?

Remember...dont get paranoid reading stuff here!

Good luck....OT

btw...4.6L will do more than take you/yours to store!

 

I had a 4.6 for two years and it pulled my boat fin. My neighbor had a 97 F-150 auto with 4.6 and towed form NY to NJ every week in excess of 8000# and never had a problem with his truck and put over 130,000 miles on it in three years. He ran the **** out of that truck and it just kept on going. It should be noted he had installed air bags and load displasing sway bars to help pull alittle better. The only problem he had was two alternators blew up and he attritributes that to the high RMP's on some of the hills he pulled up. Your Truck should serve you very well and for many miles. Hope this helps.

 

I tow a 6500 lb 5th wheel with my 97 F-150 and I have the 4.6. No problems at all. When I do pull up hills I keep it at 3500 RPM's, regardless of gear or speed. It does fine.

 

Hey Cond81,
I have a '98 F-150 XLT Supercab w/4.6L & I tow a 6x12 construction trailor, fully loaded, five days a week & I have had no problems thusfar. I would like to up-grade on the rear suspension, though. It seems to squat a little more than I like.
I don't know what tranny I have, but it seems to pull just fine on uphill.
Don't let those other campers get to you, you've got plenty of truck for the job!!

Happy Camping

 

The 4.6 does well for towing it will get the job done

 

I just towed for the second time ever with my 4.6 super cab today. It did okay for a 16' lowboy with a 86 Dodge Ramcharger on it. It was a little squirelly at times, but the power was there. It never felt underpowered, just felt like a truck towing 5-6 thousand pounds behind it. I was quite impressed with the brake controller harness that came as part of the towing pkg. A nice surprise! Keep your tranny and engine maintenance up, and you should have no trouble,,,98

 

my granparents gave me their 1965 14ft travel trailer that weighs about 3000 loaded. it sat in its spot net to the garage since july 1985. tires were flat and sunk into the dirt. and it was in too small of a spot to change the tires so i hitched it up and pulled it out. my 2003 f150 sc 4.6 auto 3.55 posi yanket it out like it was on new tires. but it was a good thing i had posi. as the back tires of the truck were in soft dirt. fixed the trailer up towed it home. on the way home the only way i knew it was there was on lage bumps. and that would be the same for any truck. once i get the brake controller in it will be even better.

 

I got a Hoppy I'll send you for $30 shipped. I only needed it once anyway? Plugs right in and works on F-150's with the class three towing pkg. Big grey plug by your right knee under the dash. I got ripped off to the tune of $100 for it, but oh well, live and learn.,,,,98