I am looking for opinions of the F-150 w/ the 4.6L as a tow vehicle. If you have this setup, please let me know what you think about this engine? Is it underpowered to pull a 3500 - 4000 lb boat?

I have a 2003 f150 supercrew with a 4.6l without the tow package. It performs ok for what i tow, 17 ft aluminum flatbottom fisher w 60hp merc. I work for ford and if i had the option i would of opted for the 5.4 with tow package. The 4.6 will tow a good sized bass boat, but a 5.4 will do alot better job. I am going to buy a newer 20ft bass boat this year and i am already not looking forward to towing it. Some people are gonna reply and say it'll do it just fine, but since i work on them everyday, do yourself a favor and find a 5.4 with the tow package.

wes

The previous owner of my boat (Approx 3500lbs) started off with a F150 with a 4.6L and wore out that rig with only a few trips to Galveston/Houston area (don't forget that you will be brining a bunch of gear). He had it for 2 months, and then the Ford dealer let him apply the F150, towards the purchase of an F250.

I have Expedition with a 5.4Trition V8 (maybe WSRIANE can explain Trition ). I think my truck is in need of a tune-up (97K miles on it), but it still towes my boat perfectly, but the FUEL mileage stinks (around 10.1 MPG) and not too much better when not towing the boat.
I towed the boat from Dallas to Tampa a few years ago and that was when I calculated my fuel usage. It is a 4x4, and that certainly doesn't help my mileage, but it is great on pulling the boat out of the water on ice cold steep slippery boat ramps (don't even spin the tires).

If you were only going to tow for short distances without any hills, then you might be happy with 4.6L (at least you might get better fuel economy) when not towing. But I know people that are happy with their EXPY 5.4L that tow their boats without 4x4.

I have both the 4.6 and 5.4. The 5.4 is in a 4x4 supecrew and if this is what you want than definitely opt for the 5.4. However, if you are getting a 2wd SC then then 4.6 should work fine. I tow a 18' Ranger 375V which is pretty heavy for its size. The main difference I notice is when passing on 2 lane roads. The 5.4 has no problems at all. Due to the fact that boat ramps are often slick Limited Slip is important. I have it on both trucks and rarely spin. Also, rear end ratio if important for towing make sure it is at least 3.5.

Turn the overdrive off while towing and buy transmission cooler. I have a F150 with the 4.6 in it tows my 22 ft CC okay but that is here in good old flat Texas. Wouldn't want to take it up many steep hills.

I had an F150 witht the 4.6 and now have a supercrew with the 5.4. Both trucks had dactory towing package. Towing the same boat with both trucks , the only thing I have noticed is the 5.4 is better. My RPM's (at 70mph)don't go as high and my fuel consumption is a little lower on long trips. (Dallas to Louisiana)

I have a 2000 Expedition with the 4.6, no tow package, but I did have an aftermarket trans cooler installed. It tows my 18ft Ranger just fine, but if I had any bigger boat I would recommend the 5.4. Actually, the next time around if I decide to keep a V-8 at all, I think I would opt for the Dodge Hemi. I towed the Ranger back from Colorado where I bought the boat, with my Son's 2004 1/2 Dodge PU with the Hemi and that hoss did not even know the boat was back there. The downside of course is the gas mileage.

Bought a 24' Ranger Bay CC in July, I had trouble getting it out of slick ramps with the F-150 small V-8. I recently bought another F-150 with the 5.4 and 4WD, problem solved!

as long as your not going up n the mountians or trying to run 100mph u will be fine with the 4.6

Naut Yet, I posted earlier about the same thing, I traded for the 5.4 with 4WD. The small engine was OK down the flat open highway but slick steep boat ramps were giving me a problem. I'm pulling a 24' CC Ranger Bay, no problem with the new truck.

I have an Expedition with the 5.4 and have since added an aftermarket tranny cooler, Flowmaster cat-back exhaust, and a superchip! Pulls my TR20 like a dream!!! If you want to keep the 4.6, you may try to get a superchip for it, you can adjust shift points and it gives you more HP.....good luck!

Rick

I have an extended cab 4.6L with manual transmission pulling a 19ft Kenner center console. It pulls the boat fine around Austin and on the interstate at 65 mph. I only wish the truck had some stiffer springs. On sorry roads, the boat bounces a little too much.

My f150 with the 4.6 and automatic pulls my CC just fine...or am I just too easy on it? My favorite boat ramp is only 5 miles from home. Save some money, go with the 4.6, your not gonna pull your boat every day, are you? My rig weighs in at about 3500 lbs.