Towing Limits of 7.3 Powerstroke

adamis wrote:
As my wife and I look at making the transition from a Truck Camper to a 5th wheel, the question about the suitability of our truck for the job comes into question. Someday a new truck with all the bells and whistles (and the quietness) might be on the table but not immediately.

My current truck is an early 1999 F350 Dually Quad Cab Long Bed 2WD. I've pulled my fully loaded 5k lb Truck Camper plus ~3k lb cargo trailer without any issues. I bought the truck off a guy who used it to haul his drag race car around in a 32ft goose neck trailer. I think he liked to work on the truck almost as much as the race car. Lots of "extras" all over the place. On a recent 3000 mile road trip I had a fuel injector go bad so I took the opportunity to dump about $8k into the engine, to include bigger injectors, bigger turbo, new up pipes, new HPOP and Hydra Tuner. The tranny has the 6.0 oil cooler mod and a Banks Torque Converter and Shift computer installed. Stock the truck made ~20lbs of boost, I'm now pushing 30lbs+ and haven't really tested the limits yet (nor do I plan to). My mechanic (who used to drag race 7.3s) guesstimated the HP to be in the realm of ~400 to 450hp. I am not going to dyno it but seat of the pants dyno I don't doubt it is far off from his guestimate.

Getting back to the towing part... I know the towing limit of my truck is right around the 13k lb range. I'm looking in trailers that are in the 12k to 13k range (and expect about another 1k lb in weight once packed. Pin weight for trailers in this range looks to be in the 2500lb range which is half of what my camper weighs when loaded so I think I'm not concerned about that.

My question really isn't about whether I will have the power to tow it (or the legality of it) but rather the handling / braking aspect. I already have a brake controller but might update it to something more modern. I'm thinking about specing the trailer with disc brakes to give more stopping power.

Does anyone else have experience towing heavy trailers with the 7.3 and if so, do you have an recommendations on what to do or not to do as far as mods and upgrades?

Towed a 15,500 GVWR fifth wheel for about 6 years, probably just over 13K loaded, with no where near the upgrades you have with the early 99 7.3 350 SRW, I bought it new., it did a fair job , not enough power in the mountains. does not sound like you will have that problem if you can keep the ETG's down .

The big issue for me besides the lack of power on steep grades ,was no exhaust brake. That would be something to invest in if you haven't already ,and tow much in the mountains . Disc brakes on a fifth wheel is night ,and day different then the drum brakes . My present fifth wheel has disc brakes , and along with a great exhaust brake these newer Ram cummins have ,no concerns in the mountains power wise ,and being able to stop easily .

I did a few things to my 7.3 ,4" turbo back, 6.0 tranny cooler ,along with the 6.0 intercooler . AIS intake , DP tuner . No upgrade on injectors ,or turbo. My biggest problem was the ETG's. If I would of went to a bigger intercooler to keep the ETG's 1200 or below it had more to give, but I just lived with that 30-35 mph on steep grades in second gear, and just watched my pyrometer . But having it for nearly 16 years it was time for a new one .

Being you have a dually ,I can't see where there will be any handling problem , my 350 SRW did fine in that regard. I think you are set for what you want to do.