How does the 4.6 F 150 tow??

I was curious if anyone know how the 4.6 f 150 pulls and how much diff mpg is from the 5.4? I have an 86 supra and am looking for a new tow rig. My budget is like 15k. I am looking at the 5.4 triton f-150 and the silverado 5.3 v8. Any input on other truck is welcome as well. Thanks all

Is that a V-6?

NM the V-6 is 4.2

(Message edited by wakebrdjay on August 28, 2008)

Get the 5.4. I've owned both and the 5.4 seemed to tow alot better. Better low end. As far as fuel, I noticed nearly the same mileage. And you won't pay much more for the 5.4

The 4.6 will do it, it did it for years for me. 5.4 is a better option if you know your pulling.

The Chevy 5.3 will out pull the 5.4 Ford.

I have a 2007 Z71 and it pulls my 04 GG awsome.

I sold my 2003 5.4 Triton, it pulled my boat fine but not as well as the Chevy. I like the Ford allot better. The ford in my opinion is allot nicer. Just my .2

I owned a 04 5.4, my buddy has an 04 4.6....night and day performance difference. However, your Supra is exactly a heavyweight, so I think the 4.6 would be fine. The 5.4 pulls better, however.

I had the opposite experience as Chris. My 5.3 Silverado was a pig towing. Went to a 5.4 Ford which was definitely a step up. Test drove the 4.6 which would work, but if you're towing any sort of distance, I'd go with the bigger motor, fuel economy and price are about the same. I eventually moved to a powerstroke as I tow a lot more than a boat.

^^^^

Check that, I meant to say your "Supra ISN'T exactly a heavyweight....

I have a 4.6 and its a pig, I got it to try for better gas mileage than the 5.4 and everyone who has a 5.4 says they get 15ish and I never get above 12, and I drive her pretty gingerly. I would also look for one that came with a tow package, mine didn't and the gearing blows for towing. If I could do it over again I would def. get the 5.4.

That being said I have towed a 5000lb 4x4 over the sierras on a trailer with it a few times and it got the job done, but alot of time spent at 28mph in second gear can't be good for the tranny...

My sister in-law has a 2003 F150 with the 5.4 Triton. She tows a 3800 lb camper trailer with it. It tows fine, but doesn't do anything very quickly. Mountain passes are slow goin & it shifts down a lot. Even taking off from a light it seems to be lugging a lot of weight.

So when she gets in my 05 Avalanche with the 5.3 in it, towing a 4500 lb boat & trailer, the first thing she notices is the interior. Her 3 door F150 is pretty simple & doesn't have too many features, ie; arm rests, cup holders, easy access to the back, etc. And she says it seems to pull easier & faster than hers.

I've got an '05 F-150 with the 5.4 and it'll pull anything you put behind it. The important thing is to get the tow package to get the right gearing. I don't care what size the engine, without the right gearing they'll all be pigs. As for Bill's sister in-law, the 5.4 Triton's in the old body style did not have the torque the new ones have. I'd buy another one in heart beat. Except I do hear Ford's new truck due out this fall may have up to 390hp....interesting, I know I don't need it, but I do know I want it.

I've got a 5.4 and tow quite a bit (sell boats for a living) Every one I've talked to says the milage is about the same but the towing is better with the 5.4 vs. the 4.6 Hold out till you find someone looking to get a better milage vehicle and you should be able to pick one up for a deal.

"The Chevy 5.3 will out pull the 5.4 Ford"


Sorry dude, but I have to disagree 100%, I have had both and towed literally thousands of miles with each and the Chevy really struggled with highway towing, it shifts in and out of fourth gear over and over. I would definitely suggest the Ford and as far as the 4.6, it would probably be ok, but I'd spring for the 5.4.

"The Chevy 5.3 will out pull the 5.4 Ford"

I highly AGREE. I had an 04 F150, with the 5.4, and a 03 Suburban 5.3. HUGE difference. Unloaded, the chevy felt like a rocket, and the Ford an absolute slug. I got about 15 in town with the Suburban, and 17-18 on the highway, about 11 in town with the Ford. I dont know much about the 4.6, but I would not recomend the 5.4 for towing, at least mine was an absolute dog.

FWIW, I got rid of that truck for how poorly it towed.

I own a 05 F-150 with the 5.4 and it tows great. I drive a rough 10 mile long dirt road every weekend and it handeles the washboard road better than any truck I've ever been in.

If you have the 5.4 with the 3:73 LS rear end you'll easily out tow a chevy 5.3. Hell I had a 6.0 GMC and my Ford F150's out tow it too.

If you go with a 4.6 and the 3:73's you'll tow well but for the minimal difference in fuel economy go with the 5.4

Craig - Funny, I had an F-150 and a Suburban too. I am assuming that my F-150 must have been geared more properly than our Suburban.

I have the 4.6 Supercrew 4x4 geared 3.73, and it tows fine. It takes a little longer to get up to speed than my 5.7 Z71 did. The gas mileage is much better though. Also I drive it more without something in tow than with, so I will take that extra gas mileage savings and put it toward boat gas!

Both the suburban, and the f150 had the exact same rear end gears, and exact same tires. My wife and I had a little impromptu race one night, had it been on a track, the f150 would have lost by about half track, it was that much different.

"Hell I had a 6.0 GMC, and my Ford f150's out tow it to"

I dont know what to say, other then my buddies 4.8 ltr chevy truck felt more powerful then the 5.4's Ive been in. And I was a Ford guy.

im lovin my 08 stx with the 4.6. its not the same as my f350 but what ever its fine. and its so easy to park!!!!

Since you are considering GM or Chevy, the '03-'04 Yukon Denali SUV's & trucks are selling all day long for less than 15k. They have the GM 6.0 liter and for the $, you will not find a better towing rig. The GM 6.0 SMOKES the GM 5.3, the 5.3 will be a little more fuel efficient, but the towing is night and day (we tested the 5.3 and 5.7 tahoes/yukons before we bought our denali. We bought ours in '03 and LOVE it, pulls our Supra 21v (yeah, not exactly a heavyweight) up 6% grade summit just fine, not that it matters, but we pass numerous 5.3's, 5.7's and fords (non-diesel) up that summit every weekend. yeah, my gas bill kinda sucks, but oh well. We have a cold-air intake and dual exhaust on it and that also helps. For less than 15k, that's what I would put my $ on. My $.02, hope that helps

I used my buddies 6.0 2500 hd to tow to Dale Hollow last year and it towed like a dream. I avereaged about 10 to 11 mpgs the whole way done and its all hills once I get out of ohio. The lake I go to is very close to me but with my own rig I will venture farther out plus I have an old nova I will be pulling (someday when its done) too.

Aisa,
Whats your 6.0 avergae mpg not towing?
thanks for all the inout guys. I have some testing to do.

we get about 14-15 mpg not towing in town, about 18-19 not towing highway. I think the intake and exhaust probably helps those #'s, may be a little less stock.

The GM 6.0 will outpull any of the motors listed, and still get ok gas mileage. I pulled a 26 ft deep v fishing boat with my buddies 6.0 GMC 2500. I got around 9-10 mpg on the trip and that was on 35" tires (with other engine mods). I drive an 08 chevy with the 5.3, and its not nearly as good at towing as the Ford with a 5.4. Which I've also pulled with and they seem to have a wider power band in my opinion, Which was nice for easily passing slow moving drivers. If you're just looking for a half ton truck, I would go with the Ford with a 5.4. I have no experience with the GM 1/2 tons with the 6.0, but I've heard that fuel economy is poor to begin with just with normal driving, but I could be wrong. Just my 2 cents

(Message edited by bac on August 29, 2008)

Found On the Roadside Dead.....
sorry had to do it, just my favorite from when i was a kid

Snippy,
best thing to do is demo both vehicles. Everyone will have there own opinion. I know that when pulling my 04 GG supra, my chevy pulls it allot better than my ford did. This might sound weird, i like my ford better though. For to me was allot more comfortable to ride in than my chevy. Ford did the job....

Craig A. you're right Chev's do feel more powerful but that's until you hitch something up to em. The 6.0 I had was in the Denali (a vehicle I loved) but it simply did not tow as well flat out. Gearing is hugely important here that is why a 6.0 HD is going to to well. They likely have a 4:10 in that thing.

I agree, its when something is hooked up that matters. But, in my experience, I owned the 5.4 3v for two years, it towed like crap. We still have our suburban, which would out tow it BIG Time. I ended up trading the ford in on a duramax. My family has always owned fords, but between my 5.4, and also a friends, being absolute dogs, and my dads experience with his diesel 6.0, I decided to give a GM product a shot.

Im not speaking in absolutes, if somebody has a 5.4, and it tows good for them, awesome. Mine did not.