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Be interesting to see dyno graphs of the 5.0 versus 5.4. I'd imagine the 5.4 has more hp/tq in the 1500-2500 rpm range, 5.0 has more hp/tq 2500 rpm and up. But i've never looked at a dyno graph to see. I had a 98 Ram with the 360. It had more torque in the lower rpm range than the 5.0 I have now. But the 5.0 has more power beyond the real low rpm range.

OP, if the 5.4 is at 4k rpm pulling your trailer, I'm guessing the 5.0 will be at that rpm range as well, and making more power at 4k rpm. But I could be wrong. But heck, if you have two trucks you like now, keep them bad boys. I generally try to keep mine to 200k miles.

RickyCRX

If you pull that much weight, you need to get the Ecoboost or a diesel... End of story. If you're pulling hills at 4,000+rpm, that's absolutely ridiculous if you don't think that's a "high RPM." I recently took my ~6500lb 20' enclosed car trailer up into the mountains in NW New Mexico and SW Colorado into elevations as high as 8500ft. NOWHERE did my truck exceed 2500-2800 RPM on the steepest of hills (and never had to drop more than 2 gears, to 4th, from 6th), and for the most part I kept it around 1800-2200rpm. I never dropped more than 5mph below any posted speed limit, and for the most part was 5-10mph above any posted speed limits.

The only "mod" I have done to my truck is a $600 Livernois tuner with the 91 octane tow tune, and I run premium fuel (which is about the same price as diesel).

This truck is the diesel for somebody that doesn't truly need a diesel (which is about where you are, with your 8k trailer).

For additional information, I have a 157" WB 2011 Ecoboost FX2 SCrew with Max Tow (3.73 gears and towing mirrors) Package.

chadhargis

I'm more likely to trust the dyno and performance data over how something "feels".

Here's a comparison of the 0-60 and quarter mile times between the 5.4L and 5.0 taken from zeroto60times.com

5.4L:
2007 Ford F-150 FX4 4x4 SuperCrew 0-60 mph 8.7 Quarter mile 16.5

5.0L:
2011 Ford F-150 XLT Super Crew 4x4 (5.0L V8) 0-60 mph 6.6 Quarter Mile 14.9

Well...I don't know, but I'll take the 5.0L. My 2013 Screw with the 5.0 will break the tires loose when I get on it until the traction control takes over. It's an absolute bullet.

Now...that 5.7L Hemi Ram is quite a beast:

2013 Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab (5.7L V-8) 0-60 mph 6.0 Quarter Mile 14.8

justfun13

Wow. I have owned a 2002 5.4 with many upgrades, and my 2011 5.0 kicks butt compared to it and its stock. The 5.4 struggled just pulling my travel trailer that weighs only 4800 lbs. The 5.0 did great without a sweat and into a headwind filled with water.

I now have purchased a 5th wheel that weighs 8000 lbs. and the 5.0 pulls it great. She does pretty good even on upgrades. I have passed F250's pulling smaller trailers on upgrades and it's great to see there reactions. You really must have gotten a dog for your test drive.

I have added an cold air intake and a MBRP dual exhaust system since I started pulling this bigger trailer, which has helped even more. The exhaust is a little annoying while going up steep upgrades, but sounds pretty mean when not pulling, just like a Boss.

Sorry, but I'd have a 5.0 over the 5.4 any day!

Limitless2011

Interesting. I've driven the 5.0 in an fx4 and was impressed. And my ecoboost has get up and go at any rpm. For someone to say the 04 5.4 is better than the coyote, your high on glue bud. The 5.4 is the worst motor ever in a truck. Last place by far.

Stealth FX4

[QUOTE=User-One;2895094]I too drove '13 xlt with 400km's and a ecoboost. The steering is WAY too light and feels vague and numb, the six speed shifts horribly and I actually prefer my 4with overdrive, and the brakes have bad modulation and on hill starts they feel completely dead like the truck isn't even on.

I don't know why people on here are saying that the ecoboost is a rocket because it's not. I felt the boost at 80km/h and that's about it. I only see the benefit of it if you are towing heavy loads, then it may perform well. [QUOTE]


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Tell that to the guy that wanted to fight me the other night because I beat his 300Z no less than five times on a private road. I told him this, "How does it feel to get beat by a big 4x4 that weighs almost 6,000 lbs". Its all in how you break it in. , and yes it is a rocket. The thing will peel the tires loose doing 20 mph. Maybe I just got a hot motor.

BTW, the steering is Electric assist, not you old Hydraulic version. and yes it will have a lighter feel.

cobrar97

Interesting reading. Here's another 0.02...we'll almost have $1.00 in this thread.

I own the following:
2000 with 4.6L (Lariet extended cab with long-bed)
2009 with 5.4L (Platinum)
2013 with 5.0L (XL work truck)
2013 with EcoBoost (Platinum)

The 4.6L V8 doesn't even deserve mention. It drives down the road, and that's about all you can expect from it. It's old and slow.

The 5.4L has decent low-end pulling power, but certainly isn't "fast". It builds torque/speed when you stretch it out though.

The 5.0L (as being discussed here) doesn't have a lot down load like the 5.4L, but seems to be the better performer above at the upper end. So for the feel of power when pulling, the 5.0 is a little shy. For driving as a normal "car", I like the 5.0 better.

The Ecoboost is better in every way. Has a slight turbo lag below 1800 RPM, but traction control would take over anyhow. From 2000k up, it's actually fast; AND it's fun to drive compared to the others. I put a Livernois tune into the truck and picked up 95hp and 110tq. It was fast stock, and now it's the rocket that sound people claim about the EB.

Considering the all, I'd go with the EB every time. The 5.0 would be my second choice unless I towed ALL the time, then probably the 5.4. I would have a 4.6 for anything, and I'm glad Ford scrapped it. I've not driven the larger V8, but I sure would like to try it.

So that's my experience. I'm die-hard Ford, so I'd drive an F-150 with bike-pedals before I'd drive a Chevy.

FX4Lif

I don't know about all of you but my fx4 ecoboost can tow over 10k and has absolutely NO prob tow 8500 pounds in the hills of Pennsylvania. The truck has more than enough horsepower and torque. I can easily see them focusing more on the ecoboost than the v8. The only bad thing about my truck is it doesn't get they fuel milage like ford said!

theoldwizard1

I worked in Ford Powertrain Engineering shortly before both of these engine came out. For those of you who wonder why this engine is in a truck at all, I'll tell you the story as I heard/remember it mixed with some bit from the 'net. My memory is rusty so don't take this as "gospel truth".

The 6.2L was put on the back burner twice during its design cycle, for various reasons. When it got the final go ahead (and changed its name from Hurricane to Boss) the plan was to make 2 different sizes. The smaller one would go in the Mustang and the F150, the larger in the Super Duty.

When the engines hit the dyno and serious calibration work was started, it was quickly discovered that these were not real fuel sippers. The 6.2L beat the old 6.8L V10 on power and fuel economy (the latter was not difficult) but the smaller version got worse fuel economy than the 5.4L.

A small group of gear heads knew that the company was in a bind and made a quick proposal to management about updating the 4.6L using "tricks" that street racers had come up with during the life of the Modular Engine. Management gave the the green light with the provision that most of the existing tooling from the 4.6L had to reused (which is why bore spacing is the same).

Enormous amounts of computer simulations were run optimizing intake manifold and port designs. The marketing boys understood that nostalgia sells, especially in muscle cars, so the request was made to make it a Five Liter, and they succeeded. All of this was done in record time.

F150 basically got a different intake manifold and cams to produce more torque, lower down.
So you are correct, the new 5.0L was never aimed at the truck market. It is highly unlikely that Ford will make any significant modification to the 5.0L to improve low end torque.

I suspect that Ford has not gotten too many complaints like yours for a couple of reasons. 1) The base 3.7L V6 and the EcoBoost 3.5L V6 combined are outselling the 5.0L. 2) The "average" F150 owner does NOT carry a load or tow a trailer. If they did, they would have and F250/350

Ford has announce that the will be a new 8 or 9 speed transmission coming out in the next few years. Expect the total ratio spread to be wider and the steps between to be smaller. These 2 combined will help a lot.

In the mean time, get the 3.73 rear axle.

TuxBlackEB

Obviously, you've never actually been on the street in an Ecoboost F-150. Either that, or you must have mistaken the 3.7L V6 for an Ecoboost.