Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Tow Vehicles: Towing with a Powerstroke 7.3L (expectation/realistic)

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Topic: Towing with a Powerstroke 7.3L (expectation/realistic)

Posted By: M.R.E. on 05/30/16 01:20pm

I have a '02 Ford 250 camper pkg, 6.0 trans cooler , Walker BTM , big truck muffler, DP tuner with 60 hp tow and exhaust brake and DIY NAPA air filter . I tow 12,000 lb plus from Michigan to Florida through the mountains . Pulls very strong and I get 11.1 to 11.9 mpg. Best diesel Ford made .

toolmaker

Posted By: M.R.E. on 05/30/16 01:25pm

Also the exhaust brake works excellent .

Posted By: George H on 05/30/16 03:19pm

Have 01 F350 DRW, 4X4,4:10 gears, Supercab, Superchip programmer on "tow safe", K&N replacement filter, Walker BTM and Synthetic trans fluid.
Tow 13k and have had this combo in 13 states including multiple runs across the Rockies.
Not a speed demon, maybe 45 at pass summit and average 11mpg,

George, Juanita and Mandie (boss Shar-Pei)
01 F350, PSD, DRW
05 Carri-Lite 32RS3

Posted By: VoodooMedicineMan on 05/30/16 03:31pm

When I had a 7.3 the best improvement I had was to eliminate the pinched down pipe from the turbo and replace it with a round pipe. They have to breathe.

Bill and Joey the dog

Posted By: cummins2014 on 05/30/16 03:36pm

Kamyo91 wrote:

^^hotpepperkid
Do you have cold air and modified exhaust?

As said I did have those things, apparently you are trying to get some validation to try and tow something that your truck is not rated for. hotpepperkid must have one of those magic 7.3's you sometimes get to read about.

I know lots of guys that tow or have towed with a 7.3, they DON'T have the POWER or rating to tow 12K. I know I did it for awhile .

You going to do whatever you want to do, or you can keep asking the same questions, and you are to keep getting the same answers ,some will rave about how great they are, and then there are guys like me that are going to give you a HONEST answer.

Towed 16 YEARS with one, and some of the answers you are getting ,they are blowing smoke [emoticon]

Posted By: shepstone on 05/30/16 03:55pm

Had a 7.3 in an E350 sold it & got a Savanna with a 6.0 gas and then the F250 with 6.2. Towed lots of construction trailers and equipment all of it loaded up like crazy with the 7.3. it will tow ok but don't expect a lot of speed uphill.

2017 F350 Ruby Red Super Cab Dually 6.7 3.55 gears. B&W Companion 25K. BackRack. Gatorback mud guards. AUX65FCBRG aux tank. 2021 GD 380fl
2010 GMC Savanna 3500 extended 6.0

Posted By: FishOnOne on 05/30/16 04:08pm

M.R.E. wrote:

Actually Navistar made the 7.3 PSD. Having said that these are great engines.

'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"

Posted By: Kamyo91 on 05/30/16 04:14pm

Cummins2014

1) I'm not trying to validate anything
2) I didn't see your detailed post, infact there are a bunch of post on first page that just showed up in the last 40 min.

As far as F250 F350. the 2000 SRW F250 F350 is the same - springs, rear end, drive train, brakes oh wait one thing is different the LEGAL issue of what they say your payload is a piece of paper and how much you register it for with the state. Heck I pulled 6k TT with a Dodge Durango R/T for 6 years, overloaded maybe.

What I'm was looking for is honest real world answers of engine/drivetrain HP/Torque with modest upgrades. you did answer that just didn't see it till now for some reason or another.

I haven't made a decision, I'm doing research.

Posted By: bfast54 on 05/30/16 04:21pm

cummins2014 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Install a PacBrake and you a are good to go!

Seriously, you towed much with the 7.3 F250 with 12K hooked up . You can install all the PacBrakes in the world, won't change anything but a bit better on the downgrades, but first you have to get to the top to go down the other side.

Good advice on the PacBrake, but totally bad advice on the good to go. There is nothing good to go towing 12K with a 7.3 .

Respectfully I disagree with the the ending of your post----
I have a 7.3 turbo diesel 2000 with a 6-speed manual tranny4:10 rear gears. and got a long box dual wheels.

My other fifth wheel with no problems--- I just recently upgraded to a bigger fifth wheel I'm right at 22000 pounds total loaded--- when I hit about 23 --2400 RPM Diablo kicks in and we go--- and we go and we go.

We have a pretty good-sized Hill in our town and in the right lane Towing I can pass cars going up the hill so if you don't have power you haven't done it right

It has some pretty massive brakes on it but I am planning on switching to disc brakes On the fifth wheel that is

2000 Ford SuperDuty F-350 Powerstroke,Dually.C.C.,.The Tow Monster
2005 Open Road 357RLDS
Prodigy Brake Controller">
Honda EU3000is Generator
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B&W/Companion
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Posted By: rhagfo on 05/30/16 05:55pm

cummins2014 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Install a PacBrake and you a are good to go!

Look at my Signature! I tow an easy 11,000# with a Cummins 5.9 with a 50 hp, 150 lb. ft. chip, I also live in the PNW and pull hills at posted speeds with a 3.55 rear gear!

Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

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