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.

[Route66Rambler]

We have a 2005 F350 with the 6.0 and short bed SRW. Yeah it came with the problems after 130k miles. Got it Bulletproofed and it's been great so far. Does it have the power of the new expensive fancy dually trucks, no but it's paid for and it works for us. We know it's limitations and don't go to the mountains or steep grades. We have a B&W Companion slider. Never needed the slide function and it still turns tight. Know your truck and it's capabilities and limitations and go have fun. Maybe in a few more years when there are more used trucks on the market we might upgrade.

[jsb5717]

OP hasn't been back since his first post.

[77cruiser]

Went & bought a GM.

[Saber]

Hi everybody, had some medical stuff and got side tracked, all is well now.
We did buy the trailer, a 340 RLQ, we love it but can’t tow it anywhere yet. Still chasing trucks. Had a shop check my old ,96’chevy dually, bad frame, northeast rust. The F 350 SRW 5.4 is not going to do the job. Had one of my tractors on the back and it struggled with it maybe 7000 lbs.
Another question, does anyone ever replaced the engine of a f 350? Or built up the engine for higher HP. Seems like such a waste to get rid of a truck with 40,000 miles that’s paid for and in great shape. The plan is to tow from upstate NY to FL, so no real mountains .
Thanks again for all the inputs, Tom

[RMcNeal]

If it is just the one time tow to FL, you might just look into renting a truck. If you will make that trip regularly, then a newer larger truck would make more sense.

[Saber]

I’m afraid that a new truck is the real answer, Chevy advertises a 2500 that tow’s 18,000 lbs. with a fifth wheel. The only thing is there isn’t much difference in price vs. the 3500 SRW. , guess I’ll wait until Nov. to see what is happening .

[jsb5717]

What trailer do you have...year and model? Chances are good that you shouldn't even be thinking about a 2500. Go straight to a 3500...minimum.

When considering a truck don't worry about tow capacity. The critical number is the truck's Payload Capacity. They can all tow the trailer. But not all can safely carry the pin weight of the trailer. You'll have to look at the numbers of the loaded pin weight of the trailer, plus hitch, gear, and people to come to the total weight that your truck will need to carry. Then find a truck that can safely carry that weight.

You're on the Montana Forum so I'm assuming that's what you have. Most Montanas are heavy enough that a 1 ton truck should be the starting point.

[LeftOverParts]

A quick search shows the dry pin weight for a (2008) 340 RLQ to be 2350 lbs. Depends how you load it and what you carry but if you take 20% of the GVWR, you'll be at 16,350 lbs x .20 = 3270 lbs. F350/3500 as mentioned above.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by Saber

....Chevy advertises a 2500 that tow’s 18,000 lbs. with a fifth wheel....

As already noted don't get a 250/2500 series truck. Sure, a diesel will pull it fine, but the 3/4 tons can't handle the pin weight of the Montana...then add everything else and you'll be way over the rating.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Saber

I’m afraid that a new truck is the real answer, Chevy advertises a 2500 that tow’s 18,000 lbs. with a fifth wheel. The only thing is there isn’t much difference in price vs. the 3500 SRW. , guess I’ll wait until Nov. to see what is happening .

It will pull 18K fine but pin weight is what you're looking at for a 5er that size. Hell these new trucks will pull a house off it's foundation.