F250 or F350 with 5.4 Liter....any benefit?

[5arnolds]

I currently pull my featherweight TT with an F150 5.4 Liter. I am interested in knowing what benefit a 250 or 350 with the same engine would give me pulling the same TT. I have to assume I would have same get-up-and-go as my current TV (or less since it's a heavier truck).

Does this switch gain me enough to make it worth the switch?

[JPBeck]

I can only tell you what happened when I went down from a 2002 F350 (Black Smoker) to a 2009 F150 -- nothing. I get the exact same gas mileage towing the exact same trailer (5500lbs loaded including water). As far as I can tell it's not the weight it's the air resistance when you're towing something "light".

As far as I know they don't make F250's with 5.4L's in them these days. The payload (more stuff in the back) and the wheel base (more comfortable ride) would be the benefits (IMHO). Some guys will say that a 5.4 in a F250 would be under powered. I don't know about that though.

[JJ Spectre]

If you are happy with the performance of the 5.4L now, then I think that the only consideration is payload. I'm currently pulling with a half ton with the 5.7L, and am within the payload limits when we are hauling but it is close. The engine itself tows really well. For what I am hauling, I have plenty of cruising and merging power. I haven't done any real hilly routes with it yet, but don't expect significant issues. The 5.7L is also offered in the Ram 2500 and I might look at them when it is time to replace my truck since our family is growing again which will equal more payload.

[cekkk]

The 250 comes with a 6.2, or the diesel. But a 5.4 would not be unreasonable for light loads in a 250, and it's a good engine. We've had three of them and are close to getting the fourth, but in an Expedition or Navigator. These are now rated at 310hp, while our current one is 270, I think. DW hauls around 4000 pulling our toys behind me when we travel to Arizona. She gets about 13 mpg, but there isn't the wind drag that she'd have with a TT.

The 350 wouldn't seem to make sense with a smaller engine since it's designed for heavier loads to begin with.

[troutslayer]

I think it depends on the weight being placed on and in the truck not necessarily how much is being towed. The HD trucks will have heavier frames, brakes, tranny, etc. so they can CARRY a heavier load. It's really about safety more than anything else.

[Crabman]

Similar threads merged into one.


Consider this comparison I made regarding my Chevy 1500/2500`s. Although the engines and brand are different, the comparison may be helpful.....


http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...al-differences

[wakamicamper]

I went from a 1997 Ford Aerostar to the 2001 Ford F150 Supercrew with the 4.6 V8 towing a GVWR 3500 tent trailer. Mileage for the 3.0 engine in the Aerostar was 14 city and 21 highway, 16 towing.
Overall mileage with the Aerostar was 15.5 mpg. I kept records for both trucks on spreadsheets for my own use. I have a lead foot so mileage changed drastically when I took it easy. The F150 for the same trailer was 16 -17 towing and 22 highway and 13- 15 city. Overall mileage with the F150 was 15.3 mpg.

Moving up from the F150 to the F250 is quite a jump in truck size. The F150 weighs about 5300 lbs. and the F250 depending on what engine goes in can weigh up to 8000 lbs. The gas engine with a crew cab come in around 6900 lbs. while the diesel could be over 8000 lbs. on a crew cab. The Ford site has a Towing Guide http://www.ford.com/towingguides/ that would explain what each truck can do. The F250 will tow a much larger travel trailer and/or a 5th wheel. If you are planning on getting a new travel trailer or a 5th wheel then the F250 would be better. There is a site online called Changing Gears that has trailer and 5th wheel calculators http://changingears.com/index.shtml that has a lot of info on what you are considering. I used this site when I bought my present diesel truck, and then matched it to the 5th wheel I wanted for towing. And as others have told you, towing is conditional on you style, weather conditions, how you maintain your truck and trailer.

Good luck.