Hi everyone,
I am new to big American truck and towing and have a basic 101 question. Hope everyone don't mind.
The question is if F-150 v8 4.6L is reliable to tow a boat, 6,000lb-7,000lbs? or should it be 5.4L?
Thanks in advance.

 

The 5.4 can be hit or miss. Mostly miss. The engine comes with a long list of issues that can be a headache. The 4.6 is definitely the more solid engine of the two.

Figure out the boat and trailers combined tongue weight. Find a 4.6 truck you like and get the payload. See if the tongue weight, passengers, gear, etc fit with in the payload number. If it checks out, if just once and a while and not super long trips, I’d imagine the 4.6 can tow the load without much issue. It would struggle on hills and you wouldn’t be passing anyone on the way, but I think it could do the job.

For instance, a quick search on the web shows a 2008 F150 with the 4.6 can tow between 6000-7000# and has a payload range of around 1500. The rear end in the truck matters. One with e 3.73 would be best.

 

Thanks 2008__XL,
On the rear end (gear ratio?), does it imprint on the differential or somewhere that I can check?
Thanks again.

 

You should be able to look up gear ratio from the axle code on the sticker that should be on the drivers side door jam. Google search the axle code, and it should come up easily.

 

Thanks Spike0180

 

I believe either a regular cab or SuperCab with a 4.6 might tip 7,000# for tow rating. A SuperCrew definitely won’t. At least my ‘08 with a 4.6 didn’t, because the 18” wheels dropped the max rating to 6,400# (it had the tow package with the trans cooler and whatnot) versus the 17” wheels that added 500# back to the rating.

I’m not a 3V 5.4 guy, per se, but it would be much better for this task.

 

start narrowing my search, contacted couple (thanks Spike for the door jam sticker) and all of them with 4.6L is 3.55 gear ratio. I start to wonder if there is such 4.6L and 3.73 gear ratio? Am I asking for non-existing setup, or rare? Does anyone know?

 

If you have the owners manual it should tell the towing capacity. 3.73 rear end is best. You should be okay though as long as your cargo isn't maxed out

 

You don’t absolutely need 3.73. 3.55 with do. The 3.73 would have just been better for towing. I’m not sure if it was pared with the 4.6 often.

 

my 07 4x4 with the 5.4 3v has a 3.73 axle ratio. I know because I've replaced it, and have a spare one sitting in my back yard now. If anyone in the SE Michigan area needs one, reach out to me. So they exist, I'm not sure how rare they are though.