working backwards--starting out with this truck

One ton Dually, even an older one should be able to handle a fiver up to around 35 feet easily. You wont win any races when towing, but it should be no problem. Just dont expect to handle the likes of a Teton or Mobile Suites and you should be fine. Start looking at maybe a Cedar Creek, Montana or even an Arctic Fox with a place for a washer. You will probably find that in the 30 foot range they will be practically non existant. But moving up to 35 feet you should find lots of good choices.

The only weak link in that truck is the 4R100 automatic tranny and lack of exhaust brake. It should handle most of the up to 34-36 footers that weigh in at around 14-15000 pounds without a problem. You will just have to watch going down long grades. I am sure that like my Dodge 47RE, there are people that can bullet proof the 4R100 and set it up to handle an exhaust brake. Posters will be along shortly with info on that.

Some would die for a 50K mile 7.3!!! Which is thought to be by many as the best diesel Ford's ever had in it's stable!

I would opt for the MaxBrake controller. http://www.maxbrake.com/ This controller costs more than most others, but is money well spent.

Chris

ah, good info, thanks so much!
i plan to add air bags when we get our new rig, and i already have the brake controller as we haul a 27' gooseneck horse trailer with the truck.

and if we do move to a bigger truck i assume i can get a great trade on this truck, there are fans of this engine all over the place.
here's one i like, lol...
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3780578532.html

Clicky http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3780578532.html

Talk about slow on hills!!!!

I would keep the truck you have, and not install the air bags until you find out for sure that they are required for the pin weight you end up with. For a 14K trailer, pin weight should be around 2800 lbs and not a problem for a stock dually. Ford may have build diesels after the 7.3 with more power, but they have yet to build a better one! The best bet on a newer diesel pickup with an auto tranny would be the a late 2006 and 2007 Classic(old body style) GM with the 6 speed Allison and the LBZ diesel.

You may have to travel out of the outer reaches of the NE to find a good used 5th wheel!!!

Chris

That truck you have will give you many options. What will limit you is not the pin weight but the (GCVW) gross combined vehicle weight. Until the tow wars started, most trucks were limited to 20,000# GCVW. If you look through the charts (Google 2001 Ford tow ratings) you get to a point that even as you add things like, diesel, duals and 4:10 rears the GCVW remains the same. The newer trucks don't appear to have that many upgrades but all of a sudden the GCVW rating is now several thousand pounds higher.

Your owners manual will list your GCVW rating and the door sticker will list your axle ratings. Weigh you truck full of fuel and people (ready to go)subtract from GCVW (probably 20,000#) and that's how much trailer you can tow according to Ford. Trailers will list empty weights. Mine is 10,500# dry weight and a 14,300? GVR, but its around 12,000# full of our stuff. I scaled out around 19,900# with the rig in my signature.

Some will tell you that as long as you are good on your axle weights you are good to go. The trailers salesman will probably tell you, you can tow anything on his lot. Just use some common sense and have some fun. If you find the trailer you like and don't like the way it pulls then I'd worry about upgrading the truck.

Good luck in you search.

You have one of the most sought out trucks out there for low maintenance and reliability. Plenty of capacity for a FW meeting your needs if it is just you and DH. Good example below which your truck can handle with no modifications at all.

Ceder Creek 30RL

Since I have a stock 275HP 02 F350 PSD with 50K on it you know my answer. Fortunately mine has the 6spd manual tranny as the 4R100 is the weak link so it needs to be bullet proofed.. You do not need to add and exhaust brake as the EBPV valve in the turbo of the 7.3 can be tricked into being a surprisingly good exhaust brake, but you also have to trick the torque into staying locked up regardless of which exhaust brake you have. I often gross over 26K with a equipment trailer where I can adjust the pin weight. More than enough truck to pull a 36' 5er and if you mount a good size generator on the back bumper you will not even need to add air springs to your 350. 5ers do not need 20% tongue weight... they do that so they can put cheaper axles/tires under them. Find a rig with 7K axles and big 16" tires and load it heavy on the rear and be happy.:B

Suse,

As a long time 7.3 owner a few thoughts, a BTS tranny with a 6.0 cooler, Ford AIS Extreme air intake, and a DP tuner with Tow Tunes and exhaust brake, spare CPS sensor and a wrench in the glove box and you would have a bullet proof mule of a truck for your needs and any 35-36 fiver. I now have a 2011 which I am very happy with but miss my old buddy 7.3, wish I could justify both of them. Have fun.

hmknightnc wrote:
You have one of the most sought out trucks out there for low maintenance and reliability. Plenty of capacity for a FW meeting your needs if it is just you and DH. Good example below which your truck can handle with no modifications at all.

Ceder Creek 30RL

sort of a neat layout IMHO. one thing that concerns me, they don't say what the roof material is. that probably means that it is EPDM.
bumpy

You've got enough truck. Rather than thinking new year wise, think transmission upgrade, maybe a tuner, and exhaust brake, and end up with a truck that will do what you want for a whole lot less money out the door. Also install gauges for the trans temp, and exhaust gas temps, boost is nice for troubleshooting, but not necessary. EGT a must I believe.
Jim