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Seriously considering a new tow rig....input?


Craig0320

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Break it right the first time. Fix it better the next time.
I have a 2014 f150 2wd 5.0 at work. Pulls our 18ft car hauler trailer way better than the 06 4.6.
 


JOLENE_THE_RANGER

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i have a bit of personal input here.
I just took my ranger out to pismo beach for some dune fun. it was a 400 mile round trip. towed it with my good friends 2015 f150 (5.0L) lifted on 35" tires (stock gearing and engine and trans) . my ranger is 5300 lbs and we towed it on a very heavy equipment trailer. id say its around 2500-3000 lbs. we also had a dirt bike, and camping gear for 2 people for the weekend. the truck towed it amazingly up hills with ease. the temps never got hot and we drove with the ac on almost the entire time. trans temp never went above 203 either. it was a great ride up

also, when i tow my ranger myself i tow it with my 2003 silverado 1500 with 33" tires and a 5.3L under the hood. 183,000 miles. same trailer and same results. tows it amazingly but is a bit slower than that new f150 is up the hills.
i really love these chevys (99-06) they have minimal computer junk under the hood and are just solid trucks. if you got a 1500 HD with a 6.0 and 4L80e combo you'd be absolutely set with weight to spare for a long long time.
 

adsm08

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Craig0320

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My credo
Break it right the first time. Fix it better the next time.

adsm08

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Last edited:

Craig0320

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My credo
Break it right the first time. Fix it better the next time.

wildbill23c

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My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
Why not a 4 cylinder ranger? Great fuel economy, very compact engines and easy to work on. It'll tow that house just fine it may just take you a week to get it up to highway speeds and about the same length of time to stop...no worries though they have Takata airbags in them to warn you when you run over a Prius ;).
 

rusty ol ranger

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I already got a 2.9 ranger i dont need a 4 popper one to tow :p

Either way, obviously ive never actually worked on an EB/5.0/6.2, but just from popping the hood the 5.0/6.2 looked decently easy to work on.

I think ill hold out for a V10, but how crappy were the 3V 5.4s and what year did they get inserted into the superduty?
 

fastpakr

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I don't know, my inclination is to trust the guy that worked on them up close and personal. Given the choice, I'd go the 3.5 route.
 

Will

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Regular cab 2wd, 8' bed with standard 3.3v6, 290hp, 5,000 towing. $28,000 is not too bad. If you could find such a basic truck.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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I think ill hold out for a V10, but how crappy were the 3V 5.4s and what year did they get inserted into the superduty?
2005. Plugs break on removal and cam phaser issues... don't hear about phasers as much in a SD though now that I think of it.

I don't know, my inclination is to trust the guy that worked on them up close and personal. Given the choice, I'd go the 3.5 route.
My brother works on them, he drives a '14 F-150 with the 3.5 and a 2011 Mustang GT with the 5.0. He likes both.

FIL works on them too (different dealer), he likes his '13 5.0 F-150.

3.5EB vs 5.0... IMO both are good engines.

Mod motors are freaking huge, I don't think they will ever really be easy to work on in an OEM engine bay.

Your '97 isn't running right, find a pullout 5.0 and a 5.4 ZF and wake it up. :icon_idea:
 

rusty ol ranger

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A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
2005. Plugs break on removal and cam phaser issues... don't hear about phasers as much in a SD though now that I think of it.



My brother works on them, he drives a '14 F-150 with the 3.5 and a 2011 Mustang GT with the 5.0. He likes both.

FIL works on them too (different dealer), he likes his '13 5.0 F-150.

3.5EB vs 5.0... IMO both are good engines.

Mod motors are freaking huge, I don't think they will ever really be easy to work on in an OEM engine bay.

Your '97 isn't running right, find a pullout 5.0 and a 5.4 ZF and wake it up. :icon_idea:
I guess maybe ill keep my mind open to an EB if yall have such a high opinion on them.

....and no a 5.0 would not wake up a truck where a 460 once lived...lol.

Im really likein this thing...

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=483214918&zip=49247&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=49247&startYear=2010&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&maxPrice=20000&incremental=all&engineCodes=8CLDR&firstRecord=0&endYear=2019&modelCodeList=F150PICKUP&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=50&driveGroup=AWD4WD&startYear=2010&numRecords=25&maxPrice=20000&firstRecord=0&endYear=2019&modelCodeList=F150PICKUP&makeCodeList=FORD&searchRadius=50&makeCode1=FORD&modelCode1=F150PICKUP
 

Craig0320

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My credo
Break it right the first time. Fix it better the next time.
I really like that truck on autotrader. Vinyl floor and cloth seats are a prefect combo imo. I like it is base with not to many options. It is just going to do what a truck needs to do.
 

Dirtman

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It's up there.
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It's down there.
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Round.
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I poop in the furnace.
For 20 grand you think they could slap on some decent non rusty wheels...
 

Craig0320

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My credo
Break it right the first time. Fix it better the next time.
I would offer then 17k
 

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