*Truck and Towing thread........ask your questions here.*

[Flametamr]

Okay friends. Today I located a 2001 Ford F250 Extended cab with the 7.3 Lt Diesel. Has 157,00 miles and comes ready to tow. It has the hitch rails already and air bags. Additionally it has an add on transmission cooler and a programmer on the dash. Looks good and has a clean car fax. The price is reasonable. Any thoughts ? What kind of mileage can I expect ?

 

[Teamubr]

Wow. Sounds like my old truck... Except I had 189,000 on mine when I traded it in 2008.

If by mileage, you mean mpg. My 7.3 had 4 in MBRP exhaust from turbo down, a 5 position chip with the top setting 150+HP, and some other mods for durability. It made "today" level power (400+/800+).

My truck was a crew cab, short bed, 2WD. Running at the 100HP boost setting, I got 16-17mpg not towing. I have a heavy foot and run 75-80 on the highway.

Towing my old 8000 lb 5er, I got 11 towing around 75. My new truck with the same 5er got 9.5-10. Taller, wider and heavier truck.

I loved my 02. Unfortunately it got electrical gremlins and DW didn't trust it after it stranded us twice. The last time on the side of I-75 heading to Daytona.

The 7.3 was a workhorse and many are still going with 2-300k on them.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

Had 2003 model crew cab 7.3 & loved it. It was 2WD with chip. Not sure on its exact horsepower, truck got 16-17 mpg not towing and 12 mpg pulling travel trailer. Had about 150,000 when I traded.

Loved it, good engine.

 

[PaHunter]

 

[peg110]

Hey now! I have a Ford and it does quite well! I can tow at least a trailer with a golf cart (well if you leave the batteries out!)

 

[tiggerdad]

View attachment 157718

It was inevitable that it would have to begin. Always gotta happen, but...

 

[sirenia88]

Tiggerdad,

It's Ok. PA hunter needs a duelie diesel to tow an ultra trailer. Claims he needs one for the "future" upgrade in trailers. LOL

 

[jbrostek]

I started with a 1 ton SRW, but 15k trailer while towed ok really worked the truck. Much happier with the dually and its gearing. One day Chris may upgrade to a trailer like mine.....

 

[Barney Fife]

Flametamr. Fellow firefighter here as well (Raleigh).


Not knowing your budget makes this a tough call. If your budget dictates you want to stay around that year model, it sounds like a good deal. I had a 2001 7.3 and then got a 2005 6.0. Disneyworld was a huge reason I bought the 6.0. Like Teamubr, my 7.3 stranded me twice with bad cam sensors. The second time happened in July, 2005. We had our first ever Fort reservations for the following January and I'd had enough. So got the 7.3 fixed and went right to the dealership and bought a brand new 6.0. Selling the 2001 7.3 wasn't too hard.

Most people don't like the 6.0. Mine was great. Had it four years and 51,000 miles. It did perfect and hauled our TT to the Fort twice with no problems at all. But many others haven't had the same experience. Ironic that my 6.0 was flawless and my 7.3 stranded me twice. I've had all four Ford diesels (7.3, 6.0, 6.4 and 6.7). The 7.3 was the least dependable but that's an oddity.

A great thing about the 7.3. Maintain it well and keep it looking good. When you're ready to sell, it should be easy. Many, many people still want that engine.

One last note. You'll really like the power. But don't drive a newer one until you're ready to buy. Its ridiculous how much more power they achieve with each new engine.

 

[jbrostek]

I have to agree, going from a 7.3, 6spd manual (even with a kill chip), to a 6.0 was a big jump in power but I still ran the 6.0 on a towing tune. The 6.7 I don't even consider it needing a tune, its full of power and even after 3k miles since I picked it up in January, 2k of that towing the RV already I have yet to put DEF into it. Though it is now reading under 1/2 tank so its close to time to drop a 2.5 gallon bottle into the tank.

 

[Barney Fife]

With heavy towing, I usually go 4500-5000 miles before DEF.

 

[jbrostek]

I have not filled it yet and not gotten to any mileage countdown, it just says less then half full. My buddies towing company and a couple other 6.7 guys say wait a while as half full will only take 2 of the 2.5 gallon jug.

 

[Flametamr]

Okay so to update everyone. I decided to keep my truck for now and fix it up rather than buy an older one that may also have problems and go into real debt without a job. My current truck has an ongoing issues with vibrations. The brakes shudder when applied at highway speeds and it vibrates as it changes gears. So I dropped $450 to replace my front rotors and resurface the rear ones. After that I hooked up my small utility trailer to tow my bike down to Daytona and the front end felt like I had a loose wheel. Turns out the shop did not torgue the front hub nut. So I got that fixed and the wobble stopped but it still does the same thing. Shudders and vibrates when braking. The brake shop blamed it on my drive shaft. Of course I have the wonderful Ford one piece type you can't service. So I paid $700 to have a new one built and when I picked it up today the owner tells me to check it out that it still has a 60-70 mph vibration. Sure enough it does. So now I'm out real money and still have issues. Did I mention just for fun I have a spark plug coil going bad and the plugs have never been changed. It has 120,000 miles and everyone tells me one or two plugs are probably going to break off. Which is why I have this lawsuit letter from Ford. So I have new coil packs ordered and will probably let the dealer change the plugs. But I will still have the dang vibration. I need another job so I can buy the newer Eco-boost V-6 I want. Hopefully I will get the job I interviewed for last week. It's a firefighter position with a much smaller department in my area. The pay is less but my pension will make up the difference and the work load will be better.

 

[PaHunter]

I started with a 1 ton SRW, but 15k trailer while towed ok really worked the truck. Much happier with the dually and its gearing. One day Chris may upgrade to a trailer like mine.....

Hope to one day, looks like an upgrade will have to wait until my life gets organized again. But would love a bigger trailer.

 

[PaHunter]

Okay so to update everyone. I decided to keep my truck for now and fix it up rather than buy an older one that may also have problems and go into real debt without a job. My current truck has an ongoing issues with vibrations. The brakes shudder when applied at highway speeds and it vibrates as it changes gears. So I dropped $450 to replace my front rotors and resurface the rear ones. After that I hooked up my small utility trailer to tow my bike down to Daytona and the front end felt like I had a loose wheel. Turns out the shop did not torgue the front hub nut. So I got that fixed and the wobble stopped but it still does the same thing. Shudders and vibrates when braking. The brake shop blamed it on my drive shaft. Of course I have the wonderful Ford one piece type you can't service. So I paid $700 to have a new one built and when I picked it up today the owner tells me to check it out that it still has a 60-70 mph vibration. Sure enough it does. So now I'm out real money and still have issues. Did I mention just for fun I have a spark plug coil going bad and the plugs have never been changed. It has 120,000 miles and everyone tells me one or two plugs are probably going to break off. Which is why I have this lawsuit letter from Ford. So I have new coil packs ordered and will probably let the dealer change the plugs. But I will still have the dang vibration. I need another job so I can buy the newer Eco-boost V-6 I want. Hopefully I will get the job I interviewed for last week. It's a firefighter position with a much smaller department in my area. The pay is less but my pension will make up the difference and the work load will be better.

Well best of luck to you with the job interview and will keep you in the prayers.

 

[Flametamr]

Hope to one day, looks like an upgrade will have to wait until my life gets organized again. But would love a bigger trailer.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Barney Fife]

.... Hopefully I will get the job I interviewed for last week. It's a firefighter position with a much smaller department in my area. The pay is less but my pension will make up the difference and the work load will be better.

Best of luck to you. Hope it goes well.

I retire in 10.5 years. After that, I don't plan to pick up anything bigger than a garden hose. Biggest fire I'll fight is a campfire.

 

[Flametamr]

Barney Fife if my pension was better I promise you I would never work again and certainly not as a near entry level firefighter. I did 27 years between police and fire. Not counting my volunteer years and my time in the Army. This guy is tired and worn down. The only job I planned at this point in my life was driving a Monorail. That will have to wait if it ever happens.

 

[dmaxphil]

Okay so to update everyone. I decided to keep my truck for now and fix it up rather than buy an older one that may also have problems and go into real debt without a job. My current truck has an ongoing issues with vibrations. The brakes shudder when applied at highway speeds and it vibrates as it changes gears. So I dropped $450 to replace my front rotors and resurface the rear ones. After that I hooked up my small utility trailer to tow my bike down to Daytona and the front end felt like I had a loose wheel. Turns out the shop did not torgue the front hub nut. So I got that fixed and the wobble stopped but it still does the same thing. Shudders and vibrates when braking. The brake shop blamed it on my drive shaft. Of course I have the wonderful Ford one piece type you can't service. So I paid $700 to have a new one built and when I picked it up today the owner tells me to check it out that it still has a 60-70 mph vibration. Sure enough it does. So now I'm out real money and still have issues. Did I mention just for fun I have a spark plug coil going bad and the plugs have never been changed. It has 120,000 miles and everyone tells me one or two plugs are probably going to break off. Which is why I have this lawsuit letter from Ford. So I have new coil packs ordered and will probably let the dealer change the plugs. But I will still have the dang vibration. I need another job so I can buy the newer Eco-boost V-6 I want. Hopefully I will get the job I interviewed for last week. It's a firefighter position with a much smaller department in my area. The pay is less but my pension will make up the difference and the work load will be better.

Just wanted to say, good luck!

 

[Flametamr]

Thanks Everyone. Things will workout and it will be okay. I feel confident I will get a job offer soon and besides I will be rolling into the Fort in two weeks so life ain't too bad. There's nothing 9 days at the Fort won't cure.