Towing Question
 

Been gettin more serious on my boat shopping. Was wondering I have an 02 Ford F-250 extended cab short box 4X4 with the 5.4L. How big will that tow safely been looking in the 29-33 foot range. I know engine wise will be slugish on hills and what not. But was just wondering thanks for the input.

Up to 35 no problem

:food-smiley-007:

Should get interesting.

Thanks for the info, I thought a 33 would really be pushing it especially being gas and not a diesel

The 5.4 is seriously underpowered for towing. It's a good fleet truck.
HOWEVER, the truck's frame and braking system are fairly adequate.

I've got a friend towing a 12,000+ lbs. locally with one just as you describe. I don't recommend it, but it's handling it for now.

IMHO, I would not tow anything more than a single engine 28-30 foot boat with said truck.

Depending on who you ask on here you could be overloaded with a 13 Whaler or you could have enough pounds per square inch on the back tires to haul that 55' MTI Mega Cat that was recently for sale.

I'd just find out what you truck is rated for and stay within the legal limits of the truck.

Your truck is rated to tow 7100 with 3.73 gears 8600 with 4.10 gears

from what I can see the 02 f250 5.4l has around 8800lb towing capacity with big gears. Which would relegate you to something definitely under 30ft and probably closer to the 25-27ft mark. If you want something bigger it might be time to upgrade. Really the 5.4 in a 3/4 ton was ford putting a 1/2 ton motor in a bigger truck, you got the upgraded breaks and suspension but a dog engine. Actually most modern 1/2 tons have a better capability then that set up. Up to 35 ft I think would be an overstatement

I had a 02' Silverado 2500HD with 6.0 and 4.10 gears and I was maxing it out with my 31' Formula, but those are heavy boats too. Would it pull it yes, was I comfortable no. I upgrade to a Duramax and I have the option to go bigger boat wise:D

Depending on where your towing and how far your towing is going to be key, plus the type of boat, some are heavier then others, but I'd say 31-33 will be your safe limit on even terrain. Hills your safe bet would be below that. That's just me though.

Good luck, what are you looking at btw?

I do have the 4.10 gear so that helps. I've been mostly looking at 29 outlaws or the 28 donzi and powerquest. But I'm thinking I like the outlaws a little better. 90% of my towing would be St.Joe S.Haven area I live about 20 min to the St.Joe launch and maybe 30 min to S.Haven launch pretty much all flat. Would like to take a trip once a year to maybe LSC or PIB or even maybe LOTO. I think I'd I got into a 29ish with twins I wouldn't want to up grade for a few years vs a 25 single or something like that. Would like to have a 33 but think that would push the ole girl a little too much. I have trailer brakes and air bags on the truck, so I was hoping a 29 would be ok to tow

I have actually watched a gm 2500 haul the 55 mti down the street. they were only going 5 miles but it seemed to do fine.
I moved a 42' cat a few miles with a ford ranger once.

So im with the other guy, it depends on how far and why you are moving the boat. and there is a big difference in weight of different style and brand of boats,
Trailer design and setup has a lot to do with it also.

If I needed to move a 40' boat up to 20 miles I would move it with that truck. The tow rating is low on that truck because of engine size not being able to haul weight up a 8% grade in a mountain. so where you are hauling makes a big difference.

someone will get on here and say that if you are hauling 1 lb over the limit the truck tag has on it that it is dangerous and that they are mad that you might be hauling down the road next to them with there family and you will crash and kill them.

What I will say to that is I depends on the driver. Some people if it was a diesel dually hauling a jet ski I would not want to drive with my family on the same road as them. But there are other people that I would be fine driving next to going down the highway at 75 with them towing that 55 mti with your truck.

Had exact same truck but a 2000. Towed my 32 Fountain all over with zero problems. I'd loose speed on long hills but otherwise did just fine. Always towed with OD off to keep it from hunting and the RPMs up in the torque range.
A lot of opinions vary due to what THEY perceive as acceptable or not. I now have the same truck with the V10 and I don't see that much of an improvement over my 5.4

I have the same set up except in a F-150 and i'm pulling a Sunsation 288 i dont tow long distance execpt for usually once a summer to a poker run within a few hunderd miles, otherwise its 1 mile downt the road to the ramp. I can tell you with the 5.4 it will do it but once you hit the smallest incline it drops fast! Where i lauch the ramps are fairly steep and i have to drop all the way to low gear and put it into "4H" if the ramp is really steep. I think my 288 is 4400lbs and maybe 1500lbs for the trailer. If your like me and the truck is paid for you can make it work just use caution and make sure your trailer brakes work.

Yeah I think I saw the same guy in the dually pulling a jet ski. Oh yeah its paid off. That's kind of what I thought it would be slugish up hill but truck wise would be capable of a 29 if I just take it easy. I figured I'd have to use 4X4 on a steep ramp but I think I can work through that. Thanks again for all the input. US1 really can't see much difference between the 5.4 and V10??

There is some difference just not a huge one as I hoped. The v10 will tow at a lower rpm and in OD. I still loose speed going up long hills. Got better MPG with the 8. Both trucks 3:73
The difference between the 8 and the 10 is no where near the difference between the 10 and the desiel IMO

Your only going short distances? The 5.4 is a weak engine (I had one). But you could easily tow something like a 35 Fountain. I have dragged my 33 with a 1500 GMC and a 1500 Ram with zero issues. No brakes on trailer at the time. My buddy tows a 37 OL with a 1500. There was a Topgun transported recently from Miami to OH with a 1500. There is a guy I see every year that toes a 29 Outlaw with a Trailblazer.
Buy what you want but be safe and use your head.
Now some asshat will post you can't tow anything bigger than a runabout without a CDL and a Freightliner. Wait for it.......

. Yeah the difference between the 10 and diesel would be huge. I had a 99 crew cab F-250 with the 7.3 when I worked on the farm but when I got a different job I sold it and kept the gas. The gas pulls the horse trailer just fine didn't figure I need the diesel anymore till now........... Asshat that's really funny