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F150 Motor size

Barony

Asked by Barony,

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Barony Community Regular

Barony

Posted
Posted

Looking at upgrading from my Dakota to a F150 and have a question about motor size. I see the 2005s have either a 4.6 or a 5.4 generally, and am wondering if the 4.6 is undersized for this truck. I own a 16 ft. Lund, but other than that, don't do a lot of pulling.

Any advice is appreciated.

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Musky_Madness Proficient

Musky_Madness

Posted
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I would beg to differ. I have a 97 F150 with the 4.6L and this thing has plenty of power to pull a 16' boat. Between the 4.6L and the 5.4L there was only a 10 hp difference that I know of. The torgue wasn't that different either, but that was on the 97's. We even pull our 27' camper behind it no problem. So if you had to, 4.6L would do the job for ya.

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Scott K Grand Master

Scott K

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here is the info I have on the 2 engines,

4.6 hp = 215 at 4450rpm - torque = 290 at 3250rpm

5.4 hp = 260 at 4500rpm - torque = 350 at 2500rpm

seems like a big difference to me!

I should note these are 2000/2001 model yr

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MN Mike Mentor

MN Mike

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I've had a 4.6, it will handle pulling your Lund with no problem but if I was faced with a decision between the 4.6 and the 5.4 and there wasn't much $$$ difference, I would go bigger.

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upnorth Grand Master

upnorth

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I have the 4.6 in a 2005 and tow a 17 crestliner and I can hardly tell it is back there. My son has a 17 foot lund Tyee and he a 4.6 in a 2004 and he has no complaints. My truck is rated to tow close to 8000 pounds and I think the 5.4 is rate to a bit over 9000 pounds. If you are towing something really big then the 5.4 would come in handy especially if there are some large steep hills.

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kslipsinker Proficient

kslipsinker

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I just got back from a Canada trip. We pulled a 20' Skeeter walleye boat with a 225 four stoke. THe 5.4 did a great job. My buddy said he had a 4.6 in his previous truck and was very happy he upgraded to the 5.4 on this rig.

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Northlander Grand Master

Northlander

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I have a 97 F-150 with the 4.6 and it was fine for my 14' boat but now that I have a 17' I wish I had the 5.4. I pulled my boat with my father in laws 5.4 and its a big difference. Mileage was actually better pulling the boat with his 5.4 than it was with my 4.6. My 4.6 really works hard going up inclines and hills. I drive in Duluth a lot and thats all there is is hills.

I will be going 5.4 next truck.

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slotlimit Proficient

slotlimit

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17 foot sylvan and a 2004 F150 5.4. Can't pull my boat in overdrive. Shifts down on most hills and all hills if pulling against the wind. Same with my buddies 5.3 chevy. Now when my dad uses his F250 PowerStroke you can't tell it's back there.

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Dances with Walleye Community Regular

Dances with Walleye

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My F-150 is a 5.4... I did a lot of test driving around of different trucks... In some cases dealers or private seller let me take the vehicle for half a day and pull my boat with it...

And I can tell you, the difference between the 5.4 and 4.6, while not that much when you're just driving around... Is a big difference all the times when you want it.

Hills... Passing while towing... Or taking a box load of wood on a camping trip with the boat behind you... The 4.6, while it can "Get the job done" doesn't have the balls to make you happy.

If you have the 4.6 and you're coming out of Crosby on your way to Remer... And a little Old gramma is slow poking in front of you... YOU WILL be crawling to Remer at 30 MPH...

Gas mileage is difference is very small...

****

And if you're looking for a Bit of a Silver lining... My F-150 5.4L, Still gets better gas mileage than my Buddy's 4.7L Dakota!

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Farley Veteran

Farley

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If you find a heck of a deal on a 4.6, go with it, otherwise go with the 5.4, either will work to pull a boat of any size, I have a 03 with the 5.4, used to own a ranger, the gas milage between an F150 and a ranger(4.0L) isnt that much different ( a couple MPG) so I would guess it's the same between a 4.6 and a 5.4. Maybee a little worse like some have said since it will have to work a little harder to get up those steep hills and such.

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backlash 1 Proficient

backlash 1

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Anytime you're driving in hilly country you're not going to be able to use OD, especially with cruise on. But, when on flat or moderate inclines, the 5.4 handles it very nicely in OD. In borderline situations I drive with cruise off and if it starts pulling harder, just drop out of OD until thing level out.

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