Ford 7.3 engine users?
Looking to start a discussion with Ford 7.3 gas owners and how they like the truck. My next truck will be pulling a 14-15K 5th wheel and will be a long bed crew cab. The 7.3 looks to be a really coo...
Forum Discussion
I've got a 2022 F-350 7.3 with the 4.30 rear end. Currently I'm pulling a 8k lb TT, but I bought the truck to handle a 14-15k 5'ver that I will probably have by spring.
With a 350 your gear options are 3.73, or 4.30 unless it has changed since 2022. I'd get the 4.30 just to be on the safeside, I always like to have some extra capacity. I know when I was looking, the concensus on the forums was that going from 3.55 to 4.30 was about 1mpg difference. So I'd think the 3.73 vs 4.30 would probably be .5mpg. I'd rather have the extra capacity. Realisically I think with the 10 speed, a hill you would pull in 5th with 3.73, you'd pull in 6th with the 4.30, and be turning similar RPMs, and the only place you'd notice would be starting on a steep hill. What I'm not smart enough to understand is if that changes stresses along the driveline.
It tows my TT much better than my old Chevy 6.0 gasser, and with the 10 speed when the grade changes a little, it can downshift a gear and its only about a 300-400rpm change so it doesnt go from lugging along to screaming. It seems to always be able to find the right gear.
The engine brake works well, but it does not as effective as an exhaust brake on a diesel.
I daily mine, and I'm probably 90% stop and go around town unless I'm pulling my camper, so my gas mileage is about 12mpg around town. I did test it on the interstate on a trip, and running 70 on the flats it got a little over 15mpg, and when I bumped it to 80, it dropped to like 14.5. I've seen reports of 16-17 mpg at 55-60.
I think as a daily, and pulling a 15k trailer on the weekends it is a better option than the diesel. It is perfectly capable of pulling that trailer at the speed limit just about anywhere. It's going to turn some rpms on big hills, but normally I'm towing at 2000rpm on the interstate at 70mph, and it will drop 2 gears on a hill and be a little under 3k rpms.
It is like $9k cheaper, gas is cheaper, but less mpg, so that is a wash, maintenance is cheaper. There is none of the diesel emissions **** that seems to be a problem with many diesels, especially if you do a lot of short drives like I do. It just makes more sense for my use, especially since I keep my trucks well past the factory warranty.
If I was towing 15k daily, or 18-20k regularly, I'd probably go diesel, but the 7.3 with the 10spd really fills a great niche for the 10-16k campers.
I will say the transmission does act a little goofy at low speed stop and gos like in parking lots and neighborhoods. It quickly shifts from 1st to 3rd, then its has to go back to 1st sometimes. Its not bad, it just upshifts thinking you will continue to accelerate, but when you don't it gets confused. The shift points towing are great and I have know complaints. There is a shifting update that is supposed to be better, but I haven't had it done yet.
I would buy it again, and plan on keeping this one for 15 years unless my needs change.
With a 350 your gear options are 3.73, or 4.30 unless it has changed since 2022. I'd get the 4.30 just to be on the safeside, I always like to have some extra capacity. I know when I was looking, the concensus on the forums was that going from 3.55 to 4.30 was about 1mpg difference. So I'd think the 3.73 vs 4.30 would probably be .5mpg. I'd rather have the extra capacity. Realisically I think with the 10 speed, a hill you would pull in 5th with 3.73, you'd pull in 6th with the 4.30, and be turning similar RPMs, and the only place you'd notice would be starting on a steep hill. What I'm not smart enough to understand is if that changes stresses along the driveline.
It tows my TT much better than my old Chevy 6.0 gasser, and with the 10 speed when the grade changes a little, it can downshift a gear and its only about a 300-400rpm change so it doesnt go from lugging along to screaming. It seems to always be able to find the right gear.
The engine brake works well, but it does not as effective as an exhaust brake on a diesel.
I daily mine, and I'm probably 90% stop and go around town unless I'm pulling my camper, so my gas mileage is about 12mpg around town. I did test it on the interstate on a trip, and running 70 on the flats it got a little over 15mpg, and when I bumped it to 80, it dropped to like 14.5. I've seen reports of 16-17 mpg at 55-60.
I think as a daily, and pulling a 15k trailer on the weekends it is a better option than the diesel. It is perfectly capable of pulling that trailer at the speed limit just about anywhere. It's going to turn some rpms on big hills, but normally I'm towing at 2000rpm on the interstate at 70mph, and it will drop 2 gears on a hill and be a little under 3k rpms.
It is like $9k cheaper, gas is cheaper, but less mpg, so that is a wash, maintenance is cheaper. There is none of the diesel emissions **** that seems to be a problem with many diesels, especially if you do a lot of short drives like I do. It just makes more sense for my use, especially since I keep my trucks well past the factory warranty.
If I was towing 15k daily, or 18-20k regularly, I'd probably go diesel, but the 7.3 with the 10spd really fills a great niche for the 10-16k campers.
I will say the transmission does act a little goofy at low speed stop and gos like in parking lots and neighborhoods. It quickly shifts from 1st to 3rd, then its has to go back to 1st sometimes. Its not bad, it just upshifts thinking you will continue to accelerate, but when you don't it gets confused. The shift points towing are great and I have know complaints. There is a shifting update that is supposed to be better, but I haven't had it done yet.
I would buy it again, and plan on keeping this one for 15 years unless my needs change.
