About the only thing you will gain is some stability from the longer wheelbase. The 5.4 has a little more grunt down low, but will not make a big difference. Payload will also be about the same so don't plan on putting a bunch of stuff in the bed while towing. You are really not getting much for your $4500 and will likely be disappointed.
The Taho should tow your new TT ok. First if you don't yet have a quality Weight Distribution with integrated Sway control like a Reese Dual Cam or Equal-i-zer brand system, you should get one. These are far superior to a standard weight distribution with friction bar. Second, whatever weight distributon you were using for your previous TT, it will have to be reset for the new TT. You might even have to buy heavier rated bars, i.e. you have 600lb bars and now need 800 or 1000lb bars for the new tongue weight.
A 25ft TT is not to big for a Taho, you would probably be better off spending your money on a few items to inmprove your towing experience and going camping, unless you really just want a Pickum-up Truck
2007 Expedition EL 4x4 Tow pkg
1981 Palomino Pony, the PopUp (Sold)
2006 Pioneer 180CK (No more PUcampin!)
Isn't the main problem with the 5.4 plugs is getting them out w/o breaking them. They did have some problems with them blowing out 10 yrs or so ago. But thats not the issue anymore. It's extraction and having to get a tool to get the rest of the plug out of the cyl head. Anyone call and see what a dealer charges for spark plug removal on an 05 5.4? $455.00 at the dealer in my town. 3 hrs labor. Also the back two plugs have a tendency to break and it's another $100.00 if that happens. Plugs are $19.16 each from dealer.
Magblue10 wrote: I have had 3 5.4s with zero issues. With that being said there has been issues w spark plugs in the past and it is something that a potential buyer should be aware of I do believe it went past 02 to maybe 04 or 05. The 5.4 is bulletproof as someone said and a very good tow vehicle. Just like anything used do your homework. Look at F150forum.com there is endless info on a great truck. Good luck
It was supposed to be fixed before the new improved 04 5.4 came out.
X2 it was a non issue as early as 03. Breaking a plug when getting it out is not unique to Ford or any other make in a modern engine since they stay in so long now. This is not 1970 when you pulled, gapped, and installed plugs every 5000 miles. The 5.4L plug interval was 80,000-100,000 miles depending on the model, year, and service condition.
orange_jordy wrote: Hey everyone, this isn't a rant, I'm just sharing. I bought my truck two years ago, it only has 97000 km, and has had no issues up till now. Two weeks ago I was driving home from work and my truck started making a terrible howling noise, which seemed to originate somewhere in the rear of the truck. I have a friend who is an auto mechanic and his family owns the garage he works at, so I brought it to him to check out. I bring it to them because I trust them, not because I expect a deal. He hopped in the truck with me to go for a ride and listen to the noise, and in less than a city block,he told me it would be a rebuild of the rear diff,and it would probably be expensive. I had planned to bring the truck in and have it checked out before camping season, so I told him to go through the entire truck and let me know what else needed attention.
Well it turns out the rear diff wasn't a total rebuild, but all the bearings needed to be replaced. Lots of labor, but not much for parts, about $900.00. Then the extra stuff: serpentine belt, front brake pads and rotors, transmission service, transfer case service, front diff fluid change, full synthetic oil change, and the dreaded spark plug change. Now the plugs may not have needed to be changed right now, but I figured since he had it, he may as well. They broke 4 of the 8 plugs, and with the extra charges for labor to extract the broken plugs, it was $880.00! All together the bill came to $2975.33. Ouch! Thank goodness we had a decent return from the tax man and were able to pay cash for the repairs.
Regardless of the cost, I now feel like the truck is safe and ready to go for the summer camping season, and its hard to put a price tag on that feeling.
Not your 'normal' looking plug...or at least to me, not normal...
Well I don't have a horse in this race, but it seems there are enough wild emotions by some to warrant a further investigation looking for facts, and since I have nothing better to do at work.........
Trail-Mate wrote: Go Tahoe unless you want an expensive repair bill to replace the plugs. Or fine an equivalent gas GM or Dodge or Ford with 2 valve 5.4. Hensley or Propride would cure the wheelbase issue. You may fine one of these used on Craigslist that may be cheaper then replacing what you have.
Since this is the statement that got all of this started, I deceided to look into this claim. It would seem the old, infamous spit spark plugs are only a part of the Ford 4.6/5.4/6.8 saga.
Many of these engines are experiencing problems at service time with spark plugs breaking off. The result is an expensive repair bill. Since Ford recommends replacement of the plugs at a time when the warranty has expired, the bill is on the owner of said vehicle.
You sure seem like you have an axe to grind to me. If you don't like Ford trucks thats fine, don't buy one. There are a lot of variables in why a spark plug breaks when removed including yahoos who do not know what they are doing. If you think this proves some widespread issue unique to Ford gas trucks you aren't convincing anyone here. I will repeat my original statement that the anti-Ford crowd is back it seems.
Lol, I own Ford stock through my retirement portfolio. Every Ford truck sold helps me get to a day when I no longer need to work just that much sooner. I also own GM stock through that same retirement mechanism, just not as much.
I stand to gain more by the sales of new Fords than I do new GMs.
What I have a problem with is people continually reporting their opinion, and calling it fact.
Reread every one of my posts, I never bashed Ford, it is the idea that some posters sharing information that could be a negative to the OP is somehow "anti-Ford" that what I focused on.
PLEASE, by all means point to where I am "anti-Ford".......... If I was "anti-Ford" I wouldn't be wasting my time in this thread, there are several other threads going in the TV forum that would make it so much easier than pooing on Ford in this one.
Go back and look at the thread that you started when you bought your current truck. If memory serves me correctly I gave you a congrats in that thread for buying your new truck.
Then ask yourself if ol Engineer had an axe to grind with Ford or people that buy them why would he do that?
To continue to point to a small problem in some trucks as a reason not buy a particular brand is curious. The blown spark plug problem was fixed 10 years ago. The broken plug when removing is more related to who is doing it and their skill level along with the length of time these things are in now as opposed to any long ignored design flaw. Any shade tree mechanic can bust a plug when they don't know what they're doing. Those are facts! I am glad you are being enriched by folks like myself who buy the Ford product as I have no issue with capitalism. But the incessant beat of a drum that is out of tune is unnecessary and irritating to those who have to listen to it. I made an excellent choice in my truck, thanks for noticing. I have owned three of these Ford modular motors over a 10 year span and never did a motor repair of any kind. They are essentially bulletproof if you do what Ford says to do for maintenance! That is also a fact. I don't bash other peoples choices (well, except the Tundra crowd every now and then just for fun) LOL!
The Ford diesel has not fared as well and I will be the first one to raise my hand and say it when it is true. The diesel motor currently offered appears to be much better although not completely trouble free of fuel system problems with some trucks. I have no issue with discussing problems that are pertinent to the situation. Spark plugs on Ford gas engines isn't a serious problem in any way shape or form. Even the blown plug issue was limited to a relatively few vehicles compared to the number produced.
The Ford 3 valve 5.4 has the spark plug problem that has made me ALOT of money over the past few years. They also have oil pump issues, on higher mileage trucks the oil pump can't keep up. This causes the variable cam timing to be off and strange noises to come from the engine.
'03 GMC 2500HD
'12 Jayco 25BHS
Rugrat: Peyton
Labs: Catfish, Katy, CJ
GO DAWGS!!!
and the 3 in 3 
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2008
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