I have been hypnotized by the differing opinions on "can I tow this or not" so I will ask my own question - I have a 2004 with 3.55 rear end and the 4.6 and want to pull a 23 ft Shamrock with a dry weight of 4,600 lbs - truck sticker says 6,200 and 11,500 max weight. My wife and I love the truck and want to get all the camper we can get without causing damage to the tv - good idea or keep the pop-up?
Thanks in advance

 

It'll do it, but it will be slow. Expect 2nd gear a lot. Personally I would look for something a little lighter. If you love the truck and have your heart set on the trailer, look at a set of 4.10 gears

 

I had a 1989 24ft Nomad that was 6100 pounds loaded. I had to pay close attention to what we took on trips with us cause all the little extra stuff adds up in weight fast. My truck was 1997 with 4.6L and 3.55 gears. She pulled the weight fine, now I was not going to get there very fast but I always got to the camp ground in one piece. Hills or mtns will really slow you down a lot. When you do hit long hills dont be afraid to get the RPM's up as that is where the engine makes it's power. Be sure to stay on top of all fluid changes. Also a programmer like the edge or gryphon would be good for extra power but more so for the ability to monitor trans temps, oil temps and many more things.
Overall you can tow that as long as you take it easy and pay close attention to how much you pack.

 

Appreciate the replies - how much do you think the upgrade to the 4.10 gears cost and how does it effect the truck when not towing?

 

OK - here is my solution to towing 4600 with my 4.6 3.55 truck. Edge programmer - new 4.1 rear end and transmission cooler - should this get me closer to where I need to be as long as I pack smart - seems cheaper than getting a new truck and the wife gets the camper she wants. Any thoughts?

 

What size tires do you have? 2wd or 4wd?

The plan sounds reasonable, but if you have 33"+ tires, 4.56 is a better gear choice.

2WD gears run about $500 installed. 4wd, $1500.

 

standard 265-70-17 inch tires but I have no clue about rear ends or the effects of getting the larger size - all I know is what i have learned from you guys through the forum so any help would be appreciated.

 

That's a 32" tire, 4.10 or 4.30 (only 2wd) would be good.

 

Changed my wifes mind - now I think we are leaning to the Freedom express 230bh at around 4000 dry - 600 lb difference but the trailer is 25 ft with a tongue weight of only 405 lbs - seems a better set up.

 

The other day I towed an enclosed 18' trailer with my 2004 2wd with a 4.6L, 3.55s and 265/70r17 tires. It did fine, but the one thing I would recommend that nobody else has brought up would be adding to the rear springs. You could add a leaf to the rear, or go with something like the monroe load-leveling rear shocks, (they are a coil-over-shock design). This will keep your truck level and under control.

 

I wouldn't tow over 5000# with a 4.6 and 3.55's - the 4.6 just doesn't have the low end torque. I'd put 4.10's in it if it's also your daily driver - if you only use it for towing, get 4.56's.

 

New member... I'm close to buying a new 2010 F150 2wd. Not sure on Super or Super Crew cab. But my question is... I'd like to two a travel trailer weighing no more than 5000 loaded. The trips would be mostly less than 250 miles from here in FL, but on occasion a trip to the mtns, i.e. Smokies, say once a year or so. No more than 6 trips per year. When not towing.. I'd like to get the best mpg... do you think the 4.6 would cut it (3.55) or should I stop fooling myself and get the 5.4 and live with the poor-er milage. Any help would be appreciated!

 

mark... I don't think there is all that much diff in the mpg's of the 4.6 to the 5.4 in real world driving.... Maybe on the sticker on the window when you buy the thing, but that's not what THAT vehicle is going to get.... That's the mpg Fords TEST vehicle got in the best, utmost conditions that NO ONE can really ever achieve when they had to 'certify' the truck!

When I bought my truck, I had no intentions of towing a TT... I just wanted a TRUCK! On the lot were 2 F150s.... One with a 4.6 and the other with a 5.4... The 4.6 had better wheels and tires and lower miles on it and was around the same price as the 5.4 with crappy wheels and tires and higher miles.... I went with the 5.4 equipped one because it just "felt" right to do so.... My first impression was looking at the rear end and noting that the 5.4 had a "bigger" one.... I didn't find this site until AFTER I bought the truck, so I wasn't influenced by others opinions at that time...

I'm so glad I got the 5.4 over the 4.6 for so many reasons, I can't even describe them.... Even if I'm getting 2 mpg lower then a 4.6, I don't care, because when I'm towing my #5000 TT that I got 2 years after buying the truck, I'm so glad I have that extra low end power that it takes to tow a #5000 brick down the road...

Mitch

 

The 2010's with the 4.6 3v tow very well - they tow as well as the 5.4's used to. The 4.6 2v is not a particularly good tower and needs help with gears.

 

I have a 2004 4.6 with 3.55 gears im running 285 65 18 tires the other day i pulled a dump trailer with 4800 lbs of corn on a 180 mile trip with no problems my gvw was 12800lbs. i dont think u will have any problems with the 4.6