I am looking into purchasing a used F-150---2001 or 2002 to haul some firewood (we heat our home with a burnburning stove.) I would pull a small trailer on occasion---and it's payload would be normally less than a ton. I would be doing this maybe twice a month for six months and the distance would be 60 miles (round trip.) Other than that, the truck would be used for me going to and from work and light stuff.

One salesman told me to avoid the 4.6 as it has had transmission problems and wouldn't tow as well. I know the 4.6 gets better milage---but should I look to the 5.4 or will the 4.6 do the job?

 

I would think that a 4.6 would be fine, if that's all you want to do with it .
as far as the tranny problems, I'm not sure about that, I've heard more people having problems w/5.4's but maybe thats because they use them harder. and even then it's not too often.

 

I would also add that I have never owned a truck before; You all have towed with both---do I need the 5.4 or will the 4.6 do what I am asking of it?

 

Get the 5.4 and make sure it has the 4R100 Tranny and you will be fine. 4.6 is good for light stuff but lacks torque when towing up hills. My 5.4 Expy towned an Explorer from Jacksonville NC to KNoxville TN, going about 80-85 the whole way, UP hills too, Save for the big curves in mountains. Friend has a 4.6 and his was falling back pulling a lighter Mustang FOX body. Explorer outweighed Mustang by about 1200lbs. We were both using U-haul trailers. SO I was towing about 5400lbs to his 4200lbs. I also got better MPG at 10.2. Its 510 miles. One way. I get about 17 nomally on the Highway. 14 in the city. He gets about 1 mpg more then me and has less power. Sorry for the long post. Trying to help.

 

The newer F150's never came with a 4R100 to my knowledge, it only came w/the 4R70W and the 4R75E in the 04 and later models, the older ones had an E4OD.
and also lets keep in mind here that he's not going to do a lot of towing and it's not going to be that heavy either, less than a ton he was saying. the 4.6 should perform just fine for him and still give him decent milage.
I'm not saying "don't get a 5.4" by any means, I mean I own one for crying out loud, but I'm just saying that for what you want to do the 4.6 should be fine.

 

I have the 4.6 and pull a 19' boat (about 2600 lbs, I think) and a camper (about 1400 lbs) about 15 - 20 times a year with no problem. Been doing this for about 3 years or so. No complaints . . .

 

Hi.

More than adequate, especially if you add a tuner Check this out.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...00&postcount=7

BTW - BS on the tranny comment. Most have/had the same 4R70W, except the heavy-duty ( 7700#) and the Lightnings, I think.

Cheers
Grog

 

I've owned (and towed with) both and never had a transmission problem with either motor. If all you're doing is occasional light towing, the 4.6 will be fine. There's about a 2 MPG real world difference in mileage between the motors. Some folks will tell you that you absolutely must have the 5.4 to tow. My only advice is to try to find a truck that has the factory Class III Trailer Package with proper (at least 3.55) rear end and you'll be fine with the smaller motor.

 

You should go with the 5.4L, if you ever plan to do any performance mods, and you went with the 4.6l, you will wish you got the 5.4!

 

Good point, I didnt know that about F150's. I know that the Expy came with 4R100 99 and up. Either way good luck with the purchase.

 

The fact that the same transmission backed up both the 4.6 and 5.4 from '97-'03 kind of throws a wet towel on your saleman's claim of transmission problems with the 4.6 now doesn't it? (Unless some 4.6 owners were abusing their trucks.) Imagine that - as salesman feeding a customer incorrect information! I'm astounded! I need some quiet time to digest this one.

 

There are plenty of F150s with 4R100s. If you have the 5.4L and tow package, you most likely have it. Mine has a 4R100 for instance.

I cant speak for the '04-up F150s though, but I imagine its pretty much the same there.

 

Actually the 4R100 came in only a few f150's. Of course all of the 7700's and the lightnings had them. The majority of f150's got the 4R70 regardless of packages. If you have a standard f150 and it has a 100 in it, you are a lucky one.

 

Thanks for the correction Johngs

My '06 has the towing package ( rad, cooler, Class IV hitch, 7 pin harness, who knows what else?), and it is still a 4R75E.

I have the '06 brochure right here in front of me, and the 'Heavy Duty Payload Package' gets all that plus 4.10 in a 10.25" diff, 7-lug steel wheels but no mention of a different tranny. Hmmm...

Cheers
Grog

 

i have a 2k2 f150 with the 4.6L. i tow a boat ( around 3200lbs ) and it hauls it just fine, this uphill thing isn't true, at least with me its not i push the overdrive off button and it climbs the hill fine. i have the 3.55 rear end with a posi, maybe that makes the diff? anyway i hear the 5.4 likes the fuel and from what i can see its true lol, the 4.6 doesn't guzzle the gas (least mine doesn't) and has quite a bit of getup and go. also i haven't had any transmission probs.