F-150 for tow rig?

[JasonXJ]

Question-
Anyone have a 5.4 F150 they use as a tow rig? Suggestions? Comments? Looking at buying one this weekend, 2005 F150 FX4, 4x4, super nice truck with a super nice deal.. I'm not looking at towing often, but if/when I want to tow, how does it perform? Towing- 16' trailer, with my XJ or tractor, etc.. Nothing heavier than the XJ or tractor.

[joey-nac]

I pull my Heep around with a Tahoe with a 5.3 in it. Its not ideal but it gets from point A to point B.

[Elven]

Question-
Anyone have a 5.4 F150 they use as a tow rig? Suggestions? Comments? Looking at buying one this weekend, 2005 F150 FX4, 4x4, super nice truck with a super nice deal.. I'm not looking at towing often, but if/when I want to tow, how does it perform? Towing- 16' trailer, with my XJ or tractor, etc.. Nothing heavier than the XJ or tractor.

I use a 2003 f 150 supercrew 4x4 to tow with if I can't borrow my father in laws f 250 Only trailer I have is a 22' full tilt and it hauls my Toyzuki or my TJ just fine brakes are a huge help and hills aka the trace at TB are a bit rough but not horrible (OD off 4x4 high 45 to 50 up hill there starting at 65 to 70 going down, I don't try to floor it though). Gas milage is not the greatest. For occasional towing I would say go for it if your getting a deal and its a nice truck to dd also. I think it does pretty good interstate though.

[MoneyPit]

I used to have a Chevy Silverado 1500. It did the job, but I did find that I worked it a little harder than I normally like to. Your fuel mileage will go way down, and depending on how much towing you do, you may want to look into servicing your tranny and differential(s) more often. I sold my Chevy last March and bought a 1 ton Dodge diesel. Love the diesel, don't think I will ever go back to gas in a truck! You may pay a little more up front, but longevity is worth it. If you get a diesel, you will also have another way of throwing away money!!!:eek: I've got quite a few mods on my Dodge and it is a blast to drive.....maybe that is why my jeep is still in the garage sitting on jack stands!:rolleyes:

[YJason]

For occasional towing the F150 will get the job done as long as you don't push any harder than you have too it will hold up. IMO you need to make sure you have working trailer brakes, you will be pulling more than the truck weighs.

I'm with moneypit, I have a diesel tow rig and I wont have anything less.

[bigblacktj]

You should just me in on this deal because I need a new truck. I already got a tow rig just need another f-150.


But I have pulled my rig to tellico(7 1/2 hours), summer town(3) and many other places with my f-150 with 4.6L. The mountains where tuff on it but still held its own.

[Terry]

I use a 2003 f 150 supercrew 4x4 to tow with if I can't borrow my father in laws f 250 Only trailer I have is a 22' full tilt and it hauls my Toyzuki or my TJ just fine brakes are a huge help and hills aka the trace at TB are a bit rough but not horrible (OD off 4x4 high 45 to 50 up hill there starting at 65 to 70 going down, I don't try to floor it though). Gas milage is not the greatest. For occasional towing I would say go for it if your getting a deal and its a nice truck to dd also. I think it does pretty good interstate though.
I agree with everything in this post. My friend also has the 5.4 triton in a Supercrew, and I have towed with it several times. It is no diesel, but it does the job just as well as my 5.9 Dodge Ram. So if it's something you'll DD more then you'll tow, it will be fine. That being said, if your buying it just for towing, I'd buy a diesel anything. They definitely tow better. Just remember that since diesel fuel is so much more expensive than gas now, the MPG savings will mostly be offset by the price of fuel:( , and the higher maintenance costs.

[RubiGal04]

We love our F150 and we use it just like what it sounds like you'll use this one for. Ours is a 2004 F150 with the 5.4 and is 4x4. It's a daily driver and we haul our Rubicon on a flat bed trailer about a half dozen times a year and it does fine. We've done all the math with our dealership to be sure the truck is "rated" to pull our load and everything is way under the max we can pull. We also have trailer brakes and the unit installed in our truck, which I'd recommend to you if the truck doesn't already have it.

It does seem to make a huge difference on where the Jeep is on the trailer, so we've experimented and finally have our spot marked on the trailer where it is in prime hauling position. So step back and look when it's loaded and be sure everything is level and pay attention while hauling until you find the right spot.

We hit the "haul mode" button on the turn signal while hauling, which prevents it from shifting in and out of overdrive. The dealership recommended this, especially when hauling in the hills of Kentucky etc.. They said letting it go in and out of overdrive will burn up the transmission FAST.

So get the truck, it will pull your trailer/Jeep just fine. We have had ours since 2004, bought it new and always go in every 3,000 for service and do everything the owner's manual says at every interval and have not had a lick of trouble. I always tell them after we've used it for a trip and they check it over good and everything continues to work as it should.

Good luck and let us know when you get it !

[chris]

well if it is a 5.4 3valve it is a hunk of junk they rattle the timing chain tensioners loosing up and causing it to rattle or them locking up and causing the timing chains to stop and breaking in half and the valves slapping the pistons, they are bad bout doing that , if you get one that has been taken care of they are ok but they have to have the oil changed when they need it or after awhile the tensioners will gunk up and fail

[gmbtj]

I love my 2004 F-150 5.4L. It does a great job at hauling everything I have attached to it, including a 20 ft dovetail trailer with a 1994 Chevy that broke down on a job site of ours in Ft. Campbell. :D

Plus the interiors in the 04 up are just damn nice. Very comfortable going done the road, EXTREMELY QUIET, with very little road noise seeping through. Steering is alot more tight w/ more control the 03-down and the suspension on it is almost perfect, it is very smooth over bumps but still doesnt load down alot when your hauling of material in the bed/towing.

I like it alot, but I like the chevy's and dodge's too. There is a reason the BIG 3 are still around, THEY ARE ALL GOOD!!!! I just happened to get the best deal on a ford because my step-dad's company built the Pennyrile Ford dealership and so he knows the owner, and we were able to talk him down quite a bit. Started at 23,400 with 31K miles on it, then on sale for 21,000 but when haggeled them down to between 16-17,000.

[bigblacktj]

Wow need to get you to buy me a new truck then.

[gmbtj]

An easy trick is getting them to want you to buy a truck from them.
THEM - We will give you a good price on this truck right here
YOU - Okay, what?
THEM - 19,000
YOU - Thats too much
THEM - Thats as low as I can go
YOU - Well the dealership across the street has the same year truck with lower miles and leather seats, and are offering it for 17000, which is still to much. I'll go as high as 16000 for yours because it only has cloths seats
THEM - Let me talk to my boss and see what I can do.
etc.
All you gotta do is try to make them think you are wanting that truck, but are going to leave and get it somewhere else because they are asking too much. That starts getting their attention. We did that scenario with my sister's 98 Explorer and got em down from 8,500 to 5,700 w/ tax and everything. They make a KILLING with alost everyone of their sales, so dont let them reap all the benefits. They have a lot of room with their asking prices, they just dont want you to know that.

[belltom]

I am thinking I need to go with a 1 ton, perhaps dually and definately a deisel. I am looking into the future, and about 2 years down the road I want to be able to pull a goose-neck trailer with 2 Jeeps on it on the highway without straining it to get up long hills on the highway. Thoughts?

[dleii]

Just my $.02...I have asked this question before myself. I would say get the biggest engine you can to pull your rig, maybe even diesel. See, my wifes Lexus RX300 would pull my jeep, but the question is HOW MANY TIMES? You need to decide how often you are going to TOW with it...ie 6 times per year. If this is the case, dont worry too much about it. But, if you are going to be towing A LOT you will see you need to move up a bit in TOW RIG. It's all about wear and tear. F150's arent designed to tow 4500# all the time. Yes they will tow it, but it will wear over time. No offense to any F150 owners, but you know that a bug diesel DUALLY will tow better. The question is DO YOU NEED ALL THAT?. Personally I tow with a 2002 Yukon Denali 6.0L with trailer brakes. But there again, I might tow 6 to 8 times per year. All the while, whatever you have, make sure to keep it properly maintained.

My tow rig...BELOW.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x78/dleii/jeeponatrailer.jpg

[minesweaper]

Kinda off the beaten path but what kinda gas milage do you get in that yukon there Donnie? I have thought of getting one cause my wife and i like em (though i am by no means a Chevy guy) and i know it can tow a jeep. kinda 2 birds one stone deal. but i was just wondering what kinda milage i would get when im not towing.

Also i agree, no need for a huge desiel if you only tow a couple times a year like i would be doing. but if i start to tow more than that i will just get a desiel when the time comes. granted that wont be for a few years.

[dleii]

About 14.5 city and 18 Hwy. But I have a lead foot

[minesweaper]

not bad for a 6.0.

[Marine]

well if it is a 5.4 3valve it is a hunk of junk they rattle the timing chain tensioners loosing up and causing it to rattle or them locking up and causing the timing chains to stop and breaking in half and the valves slapping the pistons, they are bad bout doing that , if you get one that has been taken care of they are ok but they have to have the oil changed when they need it or after awhile the tensioners will gunk up and fail


That is my experience with ALL fords.. :D

ok, now everyone flame me...I will not own a ford. I will own the following (Nissan, Toyota, Dodge, maybe chevy)..for a tow rig I don't think you can beat the dodge turbo!! I would have bought one if I could have paid the extra $5-6K for the disel.

The best pickup doesn't exist, but if i could build one it would have the following:

Cummins Turbo disel (dodge), Allison tranny (chevy) and Ford interior! :D

[minesweaper]

Flame me too then cause i am a ford guy. Again you are right, there is no perfect truck. they are all good, or they would not have made it this far. but i have been brain washed to love Fords. I think everyone has there make once you choose it is hard for others to sway your believe.
I think I would get the one I could get the best deal on, however, i would try for the ford. Maybe not a 4.6 or 5.4, not a fan of the Mod motor. But the Powerstroke is a nicely proven vehicle. And who could say no to the 460 or 5.0, both great motors.
i would buy a Toyota but not sure on the Nissian. I am not that familiar with them, espically to say they are good or bad. I typical dont like Chevy but I am looking into a Tahoe. And Dodge does nothing for me. My experiance is they are shorter lived, other may disagree, but they do have a nice big cab, not as comfy as a Ford but much bigger. and comfy interiors are not what i look for in a truck.
But all in all, I cant complain with Ford too much, the mod motors are not the best but also not the worst. My family have had Fords since the 60's and have put 150k to 225k on all but my truck and Im sure it will make it that far easily. The most being on our F250 with a gas hog of a 460 in it. I would would say 190k miles were pulling a loaded trailer with any thing from quads and trucks to gluelam timber loaded all the way down. its a 84 and has only had a water pump and normal maintaince done. It has been a great truck
ok im done just one brain washed ford fans point of view.

[pirate_over50]

I've got a 99 F150 with the 5.4. Also have trailer brakes, sway bars and load level hitch. When the gang from the Jamboree goes somewhere, we are ususally running around 75 to 80. Sometimes a little faster, sometimes a little slower. My does great. Rides good. Pulls good. It's got 164,000 miles on it and still runs great.