Towing With Ford 5.4 vs 4.6 ????

[duster]

Ok you ford guys, I have a Ranger Z20 and have pulled it now with two different 4X4 Crew cabs with 5.4s in them, both had 3.55 gears. Does well but on inclines seams to be a little doggy and fuel milage sucks pulling the boat. In short my wife does not want me taking our new truck on these long hauls anymore and am looking at a used Expedition with a 4.6 with 3.73 gears. I drove the truck with out my boat and was very impressed with the handlng and response not till after I drove it did I open the hood to see it was a 4.6? Any body able to help. I will be able to pull my boat next weekend with the Epedition but was wanting some heads up if I could. Thanks

06 Ranger Z20
225 HPDI

[CatFan]

I don't have experience with the Fords, but I have a Chevy 5.3 and I fish with a guy who has a Chevy 4.6. His handles a boat okay, but his gas mileage is about the same as mine, towing or not.

[wv21ss]

i pull mine a 21 foot stratos with a f-150 with the 4.6. it pulls ok but the gas milage is terrible. mine has 3.55 gears that may be better for you with the 3.73, but my experience with fords is all of their gas milages stink, and is compounded when towing. i would also consider that the expidition is probably heavier than your pick-up, i would think that would hinder your mpg also.

[Tom 1]

I f you are worried about gas mileage then sell the boat and truck and take up golf. The carts are electric.

[4dbass]

I pull my Triton TR21 with a 05 F150 5.4, 3.55 rear end. I've done some mods to the truck , Edge programmer, Flowmaster dual exhaust, and an Outlaw cold air intake. I get 16.5 mpg on the interstate (65mph) pulling my boat. No problem with the hills.

[Luke]

it will prob pull about the same and get close to the same mileage as the 5.4 the 3.73 gears will make up a lot with the lesser power 4.6 so you should be ok

[06Stratos201PXLDC]

better off using the new truck.. cheaper than cost and maint. on old one and no real savings in gas.. just one more thing to register and insure..

[billproxs]

ive leasted all the ford trucks?i got the first triton ford truck back in 1997?4.6 engine,3.55's.trans.,shifted much longer between gears changes and had no power on hills or inclines?got a 2000 5.4 with 3.55's and just burt more fuel,but shifting between gears was much quicker?got a 2003 5.4 with 3.55's no diff.got a 2004 5.4 with the 3 valves,and the varible camshafts,3.73's and every thing just plan got better.more power,responce,quick shifting,it pulled hills like they wernt even there?this truck was the fx4 4x4 supercab,17"tires.i now have a 2006 fx4 4x4 supercrew 5.4 3.73,18"tires with the tow package on all these trucks,the last truck gets 14/15 city and 15/18 highway pulling my 08 20x2 triton?thats running 65/80 mile per hour.so their both going to use the fuel?but for the proformance id stay with the 5.4 3.73's.i run 35psi air in my truck tires,and 50psi in my trailer.with these fuel costs your talking dimes?you ether have the cost or you dont?my dads pulling the same boat with a class c motor home,12 miles per gallon?lol.hope this helps.