Towing with a 5.4

[Saber]

I have a 5.4 F350 SRW 2005 truck. I’m new to Fifth wheeling and wondering if anybody has been towing with similar vehicles. Also I have a 6’9” box. What hitch would be the best: pullrite slider or an Anderson type. Thanks in advance,Tom

[mlh]

I did once. I towed a 27 foot fiver to Wyoming from Virginia. Believe me it was a white knuckle experience. I watched patiently as every thing on the road passed me and went out of sight. I think it had 235 HP and 300 torque. We went over I80 Wy at 8000 feet. You loose 3.5 % of your power per thousand feet so we were down about 25 percent. With a naturally aspirated engine there is no way to get around that. Our camper only weighed 7200 pounds. It can only imagine what it would be like with a 12000 pound camper and have no desire to find out.
Lynwood

Welcome to MOC.

[twindman]

I have a short bed and use a slider, but I don't think you need one with a long bed. And the newer Montanas (5-7 years?) have a curved front and will almost go 90 degrees before hitting the truck.
As to power, I don't know about Fords, but I assume you have a gasser??? If so, I would definitely say no to a midsize or larger Montana. I had a 2004 Silverado duramax and pulled a smaller Montana that weighed around 12000 lb I think and it worked pretty well. And I do most of my traveling in tall mountains, etc.

[432bartman]

I'd say you need more truck, unless it's a very short tow, no hills, and not often. As for the Anderson, I used that hitch and have nothing negativbe to say about it. I've since went to the Reese Gooseneck.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by 432bartman

....I'd say you need more truck....

Agree, that 5.4L will be way over matched...and a terrible driving experience.

[jsb5717]

Interesting that they would put that motor in an F350. The F150, sure, but the F350? I agree that you will hate the driving experience pulling anything but a light trailer. Pulling any Montana will have that motor constantly screaming to try to manage highway speeds and steep climbs will be slow and miserable.

Good luck in your search. You said you are new to 5th wheeling. Does that mean you've already bought the trailer?

[77cruiser]

Probably have lots on marks on the hood from flying plugs.

[mlh]

Originally Posted by 77cruiser

Probably have lots on marks on the hood from flying plugs.

They do have a bad reputation for blowing plugs out. I had a 5.4 no problem with it. A friend has one with the 5.4 with 560,000 miles on it, never rebuilt with all the plugs in it and my V10 which is a 5.4 with 2 extra cylinders has all the original plugs so it really isn’t that much problem.
Don’t let the plugs stop you. Let the fact it isn’t up to the job stop you.
Lynwood

[RichR]

I cannot find a f-350 with that engine in it- where did it come from. All i see is 6.8,or 7.3 in gas.

[LeftOverParts]

There are several excellent threads on hitches. Here’s one:

https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=89298

Basic considerations include whether or not you will need your bed often. If yes, you might want a hitch that’s easy to remove. Some come apart in 3, 50 lb pcs or even easier, just a goose ball and chain anchors.

Re the truck, my daily is a 04 2500 Dodge Ram with 5.7. It’s not apples apples with the Ford but we used to pull a 8000 lb travel trailer and it struggled on hills. I remember having to keep it to 35 mph on larger hills to keep the engine from high revs. Can’t imagine pulling a FW with a few hundred lbs of torque and no engine brakes. You get 900-1000 lbs torque with a diesel plus engine brakes which makes a big difference in towing.