[Modded00EX]

I have an 08 F150 CC 4x4 3.55 gear and it is rated to tow up to 8200lbs (9200lbs if I put 3.73's in it). I've not towed any huge loads with it yet but a bed full of firewood and a 20ft boat were no issue at all for it. It was a short trip so I didn't get any good mileage figures. Empty I get 15 in town and 17-18 on the highway.

I can imagine the 250 being a bit more sluggish than mine though the overall weight of a regular cab 250 compared to my CC 6.5ft bed 150 probably is similar, but it would get the job done with the right gearing.

I think a lot of the stigma against the 5.4 being a decent base motor for the SD is their fear of revving the motor while towing. The 460 was indeed a workhorse, but its peak torque was at a relatively low 2400rpm so you didn't have to rev it to get the job done. The 5.4 3v on the other hand makes peak torque at 3750rpm. This scares a lot of guys used to towing with 460's or diesels, but the 5.4 will chug along just fine like that.

 

[ltwnfdc14]

I think both the V8 and the V10 are decent motors but Ford could do better in the power department. Ive had two V10s and have plowed/driven a variety of different model year V8s and they all seem pretty dependable. In my area one common issue is the exhaust manifold studs breaking/ rusting, etc causing many exhaust leaks. One of my V10s had this problem and it was expensive..Esp frustrating when I tried to keep my motor as salt free and clean. Power is ok and compared to the older gas motors they are much better. However when you have diesels making double the torque it doesnt seem like you could ever make a V8 of V10 powerful enough to compare. Hopefully the 6.2 will be a decent motor.

 

[sbrennan007]

I've had Diesel's since '00 and several of the 5.4L SuperCab's. I plow with them and tow a 10,000# 30' boat.

The 5.4L won't tow like a Diesel, but short of that, I have had absolutely no troubles with towing or plowing with a 5.4L.

Its a great, dependable engine, costs almost $8000 less than a Diesel, so unless you are towing to the max on a daily basis, the 5.4L will do the job just fine for you.

 

[Brian Edmondson]

I have an 08 F 250 with the 5.4 and it fill the bill for me just find. Unless you tow or haul heavy every day greater than 8k the 5.4 will do fine. i get about 15 to 16 on the road unloaded at 55 to 60 mph. I don't think it is a bad choice.:ford:

 

[jtdiesel65]

I just traded out my 2001 7.3 for a 2009 5.4. My towing amounts to towing an occasional dump trailer loaded up with gravel or wood, perhaps a uhaul, and a bunch of light stuff like a woodsplitter. I use the truck more for plowing and payload than anything else.

I think unless you are towing some serious stuff on a regular basis, the 5.4 is fine.

So far, it looks like I'm getting about the same mileage with the 5.4 that I got with the 7.3...which would be around 14. We'll see if it still works out in a few months. I have to admit, I'm still getting used to driving this gasser truck.

For me, there just is no way to justify the diesel. At $8000 more for the motor, near same mileage, and the higher cost of diesel, there is just no way to make it work...nevermind maintenence cost. I'm in the northeast too, where the truck won't last long enough to get the mileage out of the diesel.

 

[Little General]

I have an 08 4x4 F250 crew cab with the 5.4 and 3.73 gears. I have 60,000 miles and its never been in the shop. After years of 7.3 and 6.0 trucks , I don't know how to act not waiting on a truck in the shop. I like the truck but if I could do it again I would get the 4.10 gears. It will tow a 8000# bobcat, but not very fast, real slow off the line, fair after you get going. I have towed maybe 250 miles out of 60,000, so it made since to get a gaser. If you ever plan on bigger tires or a lift kit, get the v10. My average mpg is 14.9, I can get 16 on the highway and while towing, the gas hand goes down as the tach goes up.

 

[dzzz]

If you live on the flatlands, it should be fine. Hills and mountains could be frustrating.

 

[Smokewagun]

So, I am considering moving to a 2010 F-150 Supercrew, but because payload (tongue weight) pushes me toward the F-150's limit, I am considering an F-250 gasser. V-10's are non-existent around here, but 5.4L's aren't. I guess that could be a sign, but... for towing a 5,000 pound travel trailer 10X a year about 500 miles maximum each trip, I think a 5.4L could be okay. It would be mostly a daily driver... about 1,000 miles a week. At this point, I have an F-150 on order (no obligation), so I am wondering if I should think about the Superduty, and if I should consider ordering one with a V-10 instead... like NOW! What'chall think?

 

[Pappy19]

If I was ordering, I would surely order an F-250 with the V-10 over an F-150 with the 5.4. No comparison as far as towing. You will loose some mileage, but you would have a real truck with the F-250 and the V-10 will be worth more in the future. I got the standard 4.10 with LS and the TS automatic. Great combo, and worth the wait to order one.

 

[Smokewagun]

Well, I whole-heartedly agree if I was ordering, but I have been thinking about cashing in on some of the current incentives. Here in N. Illinois, there aren't any loaded-up V-10 Lariat Crew Cabs to speak of. There seem to be a good selection of 5.4L's. I have had 5.4L's in F-150's before, but not a Superduty - always diesels in them. I don't really care to wait for the 6.2L gasser because incentives will be squat, and the engine will not have must test time in the real world.

 

[johnny87]

I think a lot of the stigma against the 5.4 being a decent base motor for the SD is their fear of revving the motor while towing. The 460 was indeed a workhorse, but its peak torque was at a relatively low 2400rpm so you didn't have to rev it to get the job done. The 5.4 3v on the other hand makes peak torque at 3750rpm. This scares a lot of guys used to towing with 460's or diesels, but the 5.4 will chug along just fine like that.

That is exactly it. The RPM range drives the perception undoubtably. I bought an '07 F350 to get the diesel thinking that one day once the truck was paid for I would get a larger boat (I have a 21' bowrider ~5K lbs) and this truck seems like a waste for that. Towing through the Adirondacks is nice though.

I have not had a single issue with my engine yet however reading the daily drama on this and other boards over the 6.0L has had me considering the risk of owning this thing out of warranty more than once. If I traded it would be an F150 CC. I was going to hold out to see if Ford ever decides to drop a smaller diesel into an F150. There are LOTS of 6.0L trucks on the road so trying to put that into proper perspective is not easy.

 

[cadreau87]

i have a 2010 F350 with the 5.4L with the 6spd, standard cab, long box. I have no complaints with it at all. Compared to my old 2000 5.4, Its got all the power in the world. The only thing that i have towed worth mentioning was a bobcat and two buckets on a trailer for a friend, trailer and all it was maybe 9k. Althought its no diesel it held its own up in the Black hills of South Dakota. Over all i couldnt be happier with the truck. But like i said i dont tow alot and totally agree that this engine should not me offered in a 1 ton pickup. 315 hp and 365ftlbs lol its kind of a joke considering most 1/2 tons are even in the 400hp range nowadays.

 

[rcollins]

let me know what you think of the 5.4 in the a super cab 4x4 f250 don;t pull big loads but need a 3/4 t0n

I love mine. I am not a fan of Ford diesels. Got 53000 miles on my 2010 with not 1 problem. As you stated you do not tow heavy, so the 5.4 fits the bill perfectly. The 5.4 engine will last a long time if you take care of it, thats my 2 cents.

 

[jabe41]

what about the 6.2??

I have been in a diesel for years and am about ready for a change. What about the 6.2 gasser??

 

[Indywoods]

I own an 6.0 diesel, my buddy has the same truck with the 5.4 gasser. His truck wont pull what mine does but it does ok for lesser loads. The kicker for me is that he has put nothing in his truck except wear items and is at 209K miles. So far I've put a rebuilt tranny, and $5K in the engine at 150k miles. When you add the extra cost of the motor and diesel fuel, makes my truck look like a pretty crappy investment. Love the power but this thing is bleeding my dry.