Thanks redfishtd

 

I am looking at a 2010 4.6L, 3.55 gear ratio, with air lift air spring, 135k miles. On pictures, the front is lower than the rear at least couple inches by eyes judgement. I have no knowledge on air lift. Is this somethings need to be concerned?
Thanks in advance.

 

The 4.6 is absolutely inadequate for the task...don't even remotely try it. When my 5.4 was in the shop for some body repair, I borrowed one of my brother's trucks, it had the 4.6. The boat I had at that time was a 21', big block powered Baja..weighed 5,150 including trailer. His truck struggled to pull it, to say the least. Transmission smelled like a NASCAR track after the first 100 miles. I am pretty sure I ruined that truck pulling my boat 300 miles each way.

 

umm... oh mine. my head start to spin
Thanks bajaman
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guys,
Let me make sure I got it right. Are all 5.4L are headache or only those 5.4L from 2004-2008 are?
Thanks again.

 

5.4 3v 04-10 can all have their issues. 04-07 being the worst. I don’t care if anyone says the 4.6 is under powered, it’s way more reliable and can pull a boat here and there.

pre 2004 are 2v 5.4 and have much less issues as they don’t use cam phasers, etc. but, they also have less power.

id try to find a low mile 2v 4.6 from 04-10. Everyone is going to have a different opinion. That is mine.

I drove an 05 4.6 way back when I had my 2008 4.2 V6 f150, it felt fast haha. Though, my current 2.7 EcoBoost is more powerful than a 3v 5.4 but gets 25 mpg so it might not if I were to try it now. It’s all objective.

 

yeah, I have a 08 4.6 and it is great. Tow a 20ft I/o boat occasionally and it has done fine (granted I don’t tow it often, nor up and down mountains). The war I refer to it is that if you aren’t wanting to race or pull houses around, the 4.6 2v will likely suit you fine. It’s a great engine.

07 and 08 have more power than pre-07. Not sure what year, but the 4.6 2v eventually went away at some point (there was also 4.6 3v).

 

It's complicated. There are a lot of factors to consider. But I can verify that the 4.6 is nowhere near capable of 6000-7000 lbs even though it may be rated for it. In fact, well over 1/2 of the F150's on the road made prior to 2011 won't handle 6000-7000 lbs.

If you keep the trailer weight down around 5000 lbs or less finding a truck that will tow it is a little easier. From 6000-8000 lbs you have to really choose carefully, and there are very few options on the used market. The guys who buy trucks capable of towing that much tend to keep them. Once you get to 8000 lbs it is time to start thinking about a 3/4-ton truck and 7000 lbs is knocking on the door of a 3/4 ton. Especially with older trucks. Many of the older versions with the 4.6 are only rated for 2000 lbs.

In the last 10 years or so all manufacturers have upped their game and are producing some 1/2 ton trucks that are rated to tow more than many older 3/4 tons.

 

Sorry that I posted the incorrect info on my boat weight. I originally found that the boat dry weight was 4,600lbs but recently had someone corrected me, and also did some more search, the boat dry weight should be 2,500lbs (22' boston whaler revenge)

2,500lbs + 500lbs twin engines + 500lbs 77 gallons fuel + 100lbs gears = 3,600lbs.
I don't know what is the weight on the trailer, so just say 1,000lbs? 3,600lbs + 1,000lbs = 4,600lbs
Base on the 2008 V8 4.6L towing specs: trailer weight max is from 6,200lbs - 6,500lbs

Whole family in the truck, let say 800lbs + 200lbs food and clothing and whatever to make it even 1,000lbs
2008 V8 4.6L specs: Payload is around 1,600lbs

I think I should be ok? unless I am missing something. Please chime in if I do.
Thanks again.

 

You're missing the tongue weight of the trailer for your payload calculation.

 

Yeah the trailer tongue weight is going to be in the 500 lbs range which puts the payload at 1500. Put whatever goods you can in the boat and do what you can to lighten up the load. I have an Aistream with a 540 lb tongue weight and with that the two of us and whatever is in the bed of the truck we never even get past 800 lbs out of my 1776 lb payload.