Cool. Yeah, these trucks, even the 4.6l and 5.4l are geared way too low.

 

just my two cents. I have an 05 V6 2wd that has plenty of power. I tow my 19 foot proline with ease. I have also towed my buddies flats boat and you couldnt even feel it was there. This is all from the bumper hitch.

 

Try that in the hills...

I hauled a UHaul (the smallest one,under 1klbs.) from Louisiana to Southern California with a 4.6, and it did all right until I started hitting any kind of elevation change. After that it couldn't find a gear that it liked at all. I'd hate to have to do that again with a V6.

that was on the stock tune,

 

the power mine makes is only really good for the truck itsself, not to be towing anything with it.

i think towing with a turbo is bad bad bad...

unless its like a diesel f250 kinda thing

 

Mine tows just fine. I don't think I'd want to do it with an automatic though.

Park, I think I know the exact point you are talking about - the Ocotillo grade on I-8 coming out of the Imperial Valley - with no load, mine pulls it fine at 65 mph in 4th, without flooring it. It will not hold overdrive. I'm guessing that if I were towing, it would pull it around 50 in 3rd.

 

If you have the money, get the V8. The little numbers may not look like a lot, but it makes a difference. I had to settle for a V6 because it's all the bank would allow. It's a dog, I get 15mpg, with an extremely light foot. (Granted, I have 33" tires, but even rolling stock, I was getting 16 at best.) I drive 80% highway.

 

I had a '98 4.2L regular cab flareside with the stick. I loved that truck. It had great power with the stick. It was fairly quick unloaded. It towed my friends 17' fishing boat without a problem from a ball on the bumper. It also consistently got 18-22 mpg. Great truck, great motor. Only trouble I ever had was with the transmission. I fixed it and sold it. I still see it running around town every now and then.

 

^ had issues in my 04 heritage with the tranny also.
Blew up the torque converter somehow. Never really tried to race with that truck, just a to b and it was shifting odd. Took it in said the torque converter blew up, almost literally and sent shrapnel through other parts. Odd.

 

I love mine.

Towing anything big feels like a loaded diaper from a stop, but with the 5-speed manual, it is easily compensated. Also like the extra gas

 

I like the 4.2l V6 mated to the 5 speed with 4.10s. The 1st is like a granny gear... but the gearing evens out to still maintain a reasonable 5th (O/D) still if you do the math.

I hauled closed to 3,000# the other day in the bed, without a problem. It was like nothing to the truck... the only difference was the stopping power... and the sway in the rear end.

But because I've been hauling so much stuff lately, my tires are balding quick, because they are passenger tires, and not load range "E" tires for work vehicles. I guess the tread composite is different... but when these Hankooks bald out to the point it won't pass inspection, I'll get something else... probably some GYs or something... I do like Winston Winners... but I don't think they offer them in "E" rated tires.

 

I've only been driving for a year and the only towing I've ever done with my truck is a few flatbed loaded with dirt every now and then. In about 20 days my folks and I are going to drive 300+ miles to Lakeland, Fla for the Sun 'N Fun fly-in. I will be driving and not only will this be my first time driving with a 3,500 lb camper on the rear-end, this will be the first time my truck has pulled it since I started putting stuff in it. (Last vacation had the stock air filter, topper on the back, old Bosch spark plugs and the old engine before it hydrolocked. Basically the worst combo ever for pulling.) Now I've added a brake system (cab controlled harness) CAI, new plugs, new clutch & pressure plate (6 weeks ago) and the engine from a year ago, she's ready to go!

 

towing a camper with a V6? your truck is gonna have FUN doing that. lucky you live on the gulf, no hills to worry about gettin up...

 

3500 pounds with a V-6 stick is a piece of cake.

 

especially, with 227 bhp/266 lbs-torque. Sorry.. Had too.

I cant wait till I get to hook the 16ft' trailer with 4 atv's to the truck. Still haven't got to see how well the tow tune is.

 

I tow a 1200lbs tent trailer on a bumper ball. In the back I carry 2 quads standing up. All the gas and gear we need for a 4 day dune trip. It pulls good on the flat parts. But when it gets to the hills it hurting to keep 55 mph. Just drive it with in its limits and the ole v6 will get you there and home. Ben