VA13FX4

I'm hoping to get some input from people that regularly tow with their 5.0…

I have a 13 F150 crew cab FX4 with the 5.0 and 3:55 gears. Has the basic tow package but not max tow. Towing limit is 7700 lbs.

About a year ago I bought a travel trailer that he loaded weighs just under 6500 pounds. I'm well aware of the horsepower and torque bands and realize that the 5.0 loves to rev high since it's hitting max torque around 4000 RPM. I have zero concerns on flat ground or even small hills, but I am worried that routine towing up steep grades where it requires my transmission to drop to third or even second to keep a safe speed going I am eventually going to grenade my transmission or bottom end of the engine.

I live a little ways outside of San Francisco and we Drive to Tahoe and Yosemite a few times a year which is basically all uphill. The truck has zero issue 75% of the trip but when I start getting towards the end of the trip and the hills start getting steep and they last for a significant amount of time I start getting very paranoid! Even anticipating hills and getting my speed up there are times where I am down to 35 miles an hour in a 60 mile an hour zone because I don't want to keep running in second gear at 4500 RPM for too long.

So after that long intro… My question is am I just being paranoid?? Or am I looking at affecting the longjevity of my drivetrain by towing like this?

this was my first ever brand-new vehicle and it was exactly what I wanted and I still love the truck. But when I purchased it I had no intention of towing. I just hit 30,000 miles on the truck is in great shape, but I wonder if now's the time to trade in before I mess something up.


and please don't turn this into a "you need an eco-boost" thread LOL! I just want some insight from 5.0 owners that have more miles of towing with this engine under their belt.

Lee308

Good post, tag for more info.
I'm thinking lower gears will make a world of difference.
I have 3.31's, I'm jealous of your 3.55's.
I have considered dropping to 15" wheels, but the cost is about the same as gear change. However, I don't trust anyone to change my gearing. (first world problems)

antony1103

Short answer, you are fine. If you keep your temperatures in check and tow within the truck's specifications and your own capabilities, you'll have a reliable towing rig. My only suggestion: I'm not sure if the standard tow package comes with a transmission fluid cooler. If not, that will be a great investment if you do a lot of towing.

Long answer: the 5.0 loves to rev. As you know, it makes its peak torque pretty high in the RPMs. That's the nature of a naturally aspirated V8, and Ford has done a great job at getting the most out of only 5 liters. To get the torque they do without forced induction, they had to bump up the compression to 10.5:1 (roughly, i think). Thats fairly high for an engine that runs off 87 octane, but from what I can tell, the ECU does a great job at monitoring fuel octane levels and monitoring engine knock. I've noticed the ECU cutting spark timing when a knock event was detected, then slowly adding it back once I lean off the throttle. All the while, it does this way before I could ever hear any knock if I wasn't using any software.

The 5.0 also has a fairly square bore-stroke ratio. From what I read, 5 liters is pretty close to a sort of "magical" displacement (for a V8) that engine designers like to build around. It leaves them with bore/stroke dimensions that minimize frictional loads and vibration while maximizing the fuel/air intake characteristics. All good things when under high loads like towing. Ford also added a bunch of features like cylinder block webbing, piston oil cooling jets, and variable intake/exhaust cam timing just to name a few. These engines have a lot of technology associated with them and hold up pretty well against the ecoboost. While your best bet would have been to get an ecoboost for frequent towing due to the insane low end torque, you are in no way limiting yourself with the 5.0 based on what you are towing, you just have to adjust your driving habits accordingly and understand your capabilities.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about the trannys as I do the engines. From what I hear, the 6R80s are rock solid and can handle well beyond the truck's sticker rating. The mustang crowd is pushing 600+ HP through the stock tranny and stock engine internals with no problem.

Having a 2013 5.0 myself with nearly 90k miles. I am perfectly content. Mine is mostly a DD with occasional towing near 7k lbs. While it keeps me wanting more as I start towing heavier loads, I don't regret going the 5.0 route at all. Get a good tune and keep your fluids fresh and you should have many reliable years.

Ryan_2020

I have spend about 8500 miles towing (out of 87k miles) about 4000lbs with my 5.0 (including a trip from Canada to Tahoe) and have had zero issues

1) trans cooler is likely a must for you to keep temps down (as noted in post above that I didn't see)
2) keep temps down
3) keep up on the fluid changes (you will most likely not fall into 'normal driving' by Ford's standards)
4) have fun

Blown F-150

There honestly is no reason to be concerned. Both the tranny and engine are just fine to rev.

You have an FX4, so you have the bigger rad and a tranny cooler (outside of the one that is part of the rad).

Just keep an eye on temps with either a bluetooth dongle and the torque pro app or get yourself a multi-function gauge or tuner to monitor.

Regardless of motor, I always recommend running premium while towing.

VA13FX4

Thanks for all the input! I guess I just need to get the Dr to prescribe me something so I don't stress so much when the RPMs are hanging out in the 4K range for extended periods.

Andy13186

If you are erect for over 4 hours while over 4k RPM , definitely call a doctor

RLXXI

4k rpm for the 5.0 is just breathing normally.
.

M0RRIS

If you're worried about it, look at re-gearing. You might be better off with a 3.55 or 3.73 gear set.

marshallr

I don't know why, but a lot of people are concerned about modern 6 speed transmissions running in lower gears. For perspective consider this. It wasn't all that long ago that trucks had 3 or at most 4 speed transmissions. It was normal procedure to drop down to 3rd or 2nd gear to get up inclines and have engines turning high rpm's. Guys with trucks have been doing this for as long as trucks have been pulling loads over mountain passes.

5th and 6th gears in our trucks are both overdrive. Going to 4th gear in our trucks is about the same as 4th gear in an old school 4 speed. Today's 5th and 6th gears are only there to get better fuel mileage during those times when power isn't needed. Going below 4th gear is perfectly normal when power is needed.

I think you'd do less damage to your engine to let it downshift rather than try to lug up hills in a gear that is too high.