I am trying to decide on which of these trucks to buy. I have heard from other bass anglers that the Ford 4.6 is "anemic" and won't pull a boat well. However, I have been very happy with my Ford Ranger and want to stick with Ford if possible. I tow a boat that weighs about 2,500 lbs. I need this truck to last a long time. Any help is appreciated.

Mike

 

Stay with ford get the 5.4 if you worried about towing but the 4.6 should be able to handel it. But I don't know for sure as I haven't towed anything yet with my truck.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

It will handle it no problem! Ive towed 5000lbs before and not a problem. CHevy engines suck for towing because one, Ford has more torque, even the 4.6 has more torque than the 4.8, and the torque is at 4000rpm! Too high!

 

Chevy engines SUCK? now there's an uninformed, emotional reply if I ever heard one.

MSAL, If you would rather stay with Ford, and you do need to do a lot of towing, for the sake of your engine go with the 5.4. It's torque curve will make getting that load to move from a stop no big chore, However, If what you want is gas economy and passing power, The Chev. 5.3 would be a little better choice.

I would choose between the 5.4 Ford and the 5.3 Chev depending on your needs.

Nothing wrong with either choice.

 

I tow a 20' Welcraft Nova with my 4.6 The boat trailer ang gear weigh about 4000 lbs.The 5.4 would tow better, but I only tow a few miles, and only a few times a year.
For you towing 2,500 lbs the 4.6 would be ok. If you can afford the 5.4 go for it.
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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, and Blue captains chairs.
Bassani cat back, superchip, WMS Velocity Tube http://sites.netscape.net/dhco/pic

 

My brother loads up his 4.6L F150 with family and camping gear and hitches up his 5000lb+ boat almost every weekend in the summer. He told me he is amazed at how well it pulls. One thing is for sure, you don't have to buy a Chevy to get the job done.

 

MSAL,

The 4.6L will tow 2500 pounds with no problem. It will down shift more frequently and want to rev but that's OK. Go for it.

 

I towed 6500 lbs. 600 miles @ 65mph with no problems. I got 12.7 mpg doing it too. I say who needs the 5.4?

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seacrow a.k.a. Jason
Sarasota/Bradenton Florida '99 XLT S/C 4.6Romeo, Auto, 3.55 LS, Oxford White, Dark Graphite int., Tow Package, Orlando appearance package (Body color honeycomb grill, mirrors, and Lariat wheels) ARE Hard tonneau cover, Ventvisors and bug guard all painted to match. Back Country black nerfs

www.geocities.com/seacrow_too/seacrow_too.html

98 Explorer XLT SOHC 4.0 V-6, moonroof, 3in1 Stereo, leather

71 GMC 350 4bbl. automatic, PS, uplevel trim

89 Dodge Van, fancy steering wheel cover, radio doesn't work
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!

 

I tow a 17 foot tracker aluminum bass boat with my 97 4.6 ext.cab F-150 4+4 3:55 L/S rearend with no struggle at all. i dont even know its back there! it weighs about 2.000 lbs. with gear and etc. i tow my brothers boat sometimes? he has a 18 foot SKEETER bass boat with a 150 F.I MERC outboard with gas, gear and the whole nine yards! it weighs around 4.000 lbs. and it tows it also with ease! except in the real hilly areas! when i tow his it will slow it down a little. if you ever plan on getting a bigger/heavier boat then i would probaly go with the 5.4 you will always have the truck and engine to handle it! but if you plan on staying with the same size/weight of boat in the future that you have now? 2500 lbs. then the 4.6 is more than capable of pulling a boat that weight with (no problem) even in hilly areas i think the 4.6 is in no way anemic! and i am very impressed with the power that it puts out from such a small engine in a BIG TRUCK you did not say if you were getting a 2 w/d or a 4 w/d if you are getting a 2 wheeler then you need not worry at all cause it even tows better than the 4 w/d cause it weighs a lot less! just be sure you get a 3:55 L/S rearend . my friend has a 97 F-150 4.6 eng. stepside ext cab 2 W/D 3:55 L/S rear and he tows a 18 foot champion bass boat it weighs about 3600 lbs and he says it tows it like a dream! even in hilly areas. and he has towed his boat all over the eastern U.S on vacations with no problems! he is very pleased with it! and it has been a very dependable truck.

 

msal,
As anti-Chevy as I am, I would say that it really doesn't make a difference which engine you choose. The reason I say this is because the Chevy generates its torque at a higher RPM than does the Ford, but the 4.6 will be reving in the 3,000-4,000 range whenever you encounter a climb anyway! My rig weighed in at 2500 lbs. and I was going across the pass to Eastern WA. many weekends a year. I eventually conceded to the fact that my 4.6 liked to run in 2nd gear doing 50 MPH when climbing the pass. It did have all the acceleration in the world at the high RPM's though. One thing that I should mention here is that I have 3.55's with 285/75/16's and I know that has an impact. Go with the Ford if you are a Ford man, you will have to run high RPM's for your torque with either truck!!

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'97 F150 4.6,XLT 4X4, Gibson cat-back, Helwig overloads, 285X75X16 Wild Country's, Air Filter mod, Smittybilt Nerfs, Uniden CB, and when the rust starts, Rhinoliner


[This message has been edited by basshunter (edited 12-22-1999).]

 

thanks alot for the good responses. I am leaning toward the Ford, but need to convince my wife who likes the roomier Chevy.

After your responses, I am confident the 4.6 will do fine for my boat. Thanks alot.

 

hotratz,

Thanks for the compliment {yeah right}!
I think they stink for towing, and another, they werent made for trucks. THey originate from the Corvette LS1, and were built for CARS.

 

I have towed 3000 lbs with my 4.6/3.08 combo and I could barely tell that it was there, until I had to stop of course.

Bsshunter, if you're reving near 4000 rpms with that load I would think that somthing is either wrong with your truck, or you've underestimated the weight of your trailer.

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99 2wd S/C s/b XLT 4.6 Triton auto. w/3.08
BONE STOCK...for now

 

I regularly tow my Champ 181SX (Fish & Ski) with the Expedition. Even weighing more than an F150 and being a 4x4, it has NO problems pulling the boat. The 4.6L is a good engine, but be sure to get at least 3.55 gears.

Neal

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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, Optima "T-Bone" wheels, and Clarion In-dash CD player. Just added Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars!!

1993 4x2 F150 Reg. Cab LWB- 5.0L, cat-back dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, Superchip, fresh paint, and Line-X bedliner.

2000"other"
http://members.visualcities.com/NoMo

 

A 4.2L V6 will more than handle that trailer weight.

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99 F150 XLT Supercab Towing Package 5.4L Auto Two Tone Med Toreador Red/ Silver Power windows, locks, mirrors, driver's seat. Cruise, tilt wheel Alloys, Michelins, ARE topper Superchip / 2000 Chevy Silverado Ext cab 5.3, auto, Tow package, tilt, cruise, power windows,locks,side mirrors, alloy wheels.