towing capacity of a F150 w/5.4L Triton V8

[KopperBuck]

I was pulling a fiber glass 19' bass boat with a 4banger Tacoma - it can be done! It blows though. Just bought a 3 horse slant gooseneck, diesel is the only way to go. Get about close to 13mpg with it loaded. 20 unloaded. Chevy Duramax 2500 HD. I like the idea of it sticking around for a while, sure gas is cheaper, but I'll take a diesel rig anyday for longevity purposes.

[andersonjk4]

I have a 2007 F-150 Crew cab with the 5.4 in it.  It is rated to pull 9200 lbs.  I have pulled a trailer with close to 10,000 lbs of river rock with it without problem.  I just had to take it slow.  Making sure the trailer has good functioning brakes will make a huge difference on how much you will want to pull.  I have also pulled a 1979 20 foot camp trailer loaded down with elk hunting gear down the Lewiston grade and then up the Cloverland grade into the Blues ( and then back down and back up) without any problems at all. But I agree with Hyde above: The half ton will not pull like a 3/4 ton will, but it depends on how often you will be towing.  If you will be driving the truck mainly on its own (without something behind it) then I would go with the 1/2 ton, but if you are getting the pickup just to tow with then I'd go with a 3/4 ton.     

[whacker1]

I pull a 6000 lb 22 four winns with surge brakes with my F150.  Definitely not the ideal situation, but I don't tow it that often. 

Diesel isn't practical for me as a daily driver and I have committed to replace my F150 with another F150 when the time comes.  If you start getting in the 7000-9000 range on your 22 foot boat that you are looking at, make sure you have electric trailer brakes. 

I towed my boat from Spokane to Lake Shasta and back.  Again it would have been easier with a Diesel, but not necessary. 

[xd2005]

For reference, my 2011 F-150 SuperCab (5.0L V8, 3.55 ratio, 4x4, tow package) is rated for (I think) 7,200 towing.

[KopperBuck]

It's not the rating that makes a good tow rig or not. Like I said, I was pulling my boat with a 4cyl. There's fuel eff, tranny wear, brakes, etc. If you're not pulling it often or far, stick with your rig. If you're going to increase distance, over passes, and higher frequency - upgrade. For what you're doing, it sounds like you might be better off with you current situation if you're not wanting to pull the trigger on a bigger rig.

[jackelope]

Different truck I know but a fair comparison.
I had a 21.5' Bluewater Cuddy...heavy boat...pulling it with my 2002 half ton Silverado. It did fine on the west side until I hit the pass. If I drove it like I should, big hills like Snoqualmie or Stevens pass were brutal. 40mph if I didn't push it. I could push it and pull that hill at 55-60 but I felt like I was watching my motor come apart. Big RPM's and lots of transmission upshifting and downshifting. BOOO.... My truck has a 7500# tow rating and is rated at 295hp. I have cold air intake and exhaust which probably only gives me a little more power. I would expect the same results out of any 1/2 ton truck. My buddy tows a 25' boat to and from his moorage with a Grand Cherokee. He only does it 2 times a year. Bottom line is that it depends on what you expect. MAke sure the truck you buy has factory tow so you get the heavier duty cooling stuff. Don't "settle" for installing a hitch after the fact because the truck probably won't have the heavy duty cooling and whatever else comes with a factory installed tow package. Add-on trans coolers are lame IMO and are an additonal potential for leakage so don't settle for "making" a truck with a tow package.

[whacker1]

Different truck I know but a fair comparison.
I had a 21.5' Bluewater Cuddy...heavy boat...pulling it with my 2002 half ton Silverado. It did fine on the west side until I hit the pass. If I drove it like I should, big hills like Snoqualmie or Stevens pass were brutal. 40mph if I didn't push it. I could push it and pull that hill at 55-60 but I felt like I was watching my motor come apart. Big RPM's and lots of transmission upshifting and downshifting. BOOO.... My truck has a 7500# tow rating and is rated at 295hp. I have cold air intake and exhaust which probably only gives me a little more power. I would expect the same results out of any 1/2 ton truck. My buddy tows a 25' boat to and from his moorage with a Grand Cherokee. He only does it 2 times a year. Bottom line is that it depends on what you expect. MAke sure the truck you buy has factory tow so you get the heavier duty cooling stuff. Don't "settle" for installing a hitch after the fact because the truck probably won't have the heavy duty cooling and whatever else comes with a factory installed tow package. Add-on trans coolers are lame IMO and are an additonal potential for leakage so don't settle for "making" a truck with a tow package.

echo Jack's comments on the Tow package.  The 2009 F150 and later added a 6 speed automatic transmission that is similar in concept to the Alison transmission that includes a true tow haul mode that changes shift points, use of overdrive, down shifting when braking, and manual shift function.  The towing package includes a larger transmission cooler, electronic trailer brake controller, hitch, larger discs on the braking system, and the trailer wiring harness. 

I know Chevy and Dodge have done similar things for their half ton, but I don't know when it started or to what extent.  I have been tracking the F150's changes. 

I still say you will be happier with the Diesel and 3/4 ton, but it isn't necessary.  IF you have friends that have both 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons, go for a ride with them when they are towing somethihng. 

[Mongo Hunter]

Tundra Rock Warrior, can tow 10,300lbs and comes with BFG all terrains. It will Git-R-Done!

[jackelope]

GM trucks have had tow/haul for +/- 10 years.

[CP]

Whatever you get make sure it has a tow package!

I have a 4.6L F150 4x4 with the tow package and it does fine with my 17’ boat.  I did tow a 21’ Fourwinds with it for awhile and it OK expect when I took it over Stevens pass.  I burnt the transmission fluid on that trip; no damage other than I had to replace the fluid.

[Bean Counter]

the truck would mainly be used for commuting back and forth to work, between covington and renton, and then on the weekends to pull the boat to/from covington and point D.  don't plan on pulling it all over the place.
And I must be missing something on the diesel issue, cuz I don't understand the recommendation to go with diesel.  Isn't diesel fuel like @.30/gal more expensive than regular gas?  What?  Is the gas mileage on a diesel that much better than a regular gas engine? I used to have a F250, with the 460 in it, and that thing would pull like a mother, but it couldn't pass a gas station.  It only got between 5-8mpg depending on if I was pulling the 35' fifthwheel trailer I used to pull.  I can't imagine what a big turbo diesel would be like; specially using it for commuting mainly.
And yes, I do not have the boat yet.  can't get the boat till I have something to pull it with.  don't think my saturn vue with the 3.5L 6-banger would pull much of anything.  In any case, the boat will probably be more in the 20'-22' range.  thanks for the input so far guys.

You may not notice a difference between diesel and gas in your daily commute, but you sure will in pulling that boat. Diesel will put your boat, trailer, even house like it doesn't even care.

[magnanimous_j]

If it is the 3 valve 5.4, then the Max towing is 9000. That is for a 2wd regular cab with Tow Package and Tow Command.

With 4wd and crew cab, it knocks the rating down to around 8000, which would be the max recommended for long distance towing.

/used to sell em

[jeepasaurusrex]

I commute daily in my F-350 dually with a 7.3L Powerstroke. I average about 18mpg. On the highway I get anywhere from 22-24mpg. Last year I averaged 14mpg while towing the travel trailer over the North Cascades.

[demontang]

Ive pulled with a 5.4 2v expedition and it did great with around a 7000lb trailer. Ive pulled my 24ft trailer with my 5.0 (300hp) bronco, 07 6.0 f350 and a 79 f350 460. I will say the only thing the diesel had was milage over the 460 I think the 460 would walk it to tell you the truth. the bronco and the diesel got the same milage but the diesel would walk the 5.0. The diesel was getting 10-12mpg towing and 18-19 highway not towing.

The tow rating of the new f150 is 6000-11300lbs, if your looking at a new one the 6.2 or 3.5 ecoboost are the highest rated. The f150 a few years old have the same range of tow rating's you can look at ford web site and get the specific rating for the truck your looking at.

[Buckmark]

I commute daily in my F-350 dually with a 7.3L Powerstroke. I average about 18mpg. On the highway I get anywhere from 22-24mpg. Last year I averaged 14mpg while towing the travel trailer over the North Cascades.

You could walk to work..... , you use a gallon a week.