Ford 7.3 owners towing 12,000 lb 5th

My 2000 7.3 does just fine towing my 11,000 5er. Im not the first guy up the hill but Im not the last either. It has a Banks chip so I can generate almost double the stock boost and I have blown off one of the upper turbo hoses a couple of times and a couple weeks ago with 200,000 miles I blew one of the lower ones so I changed both lower hoses and clamps

blt2ski wrote:
The OP should be asking not if he needs a BIGGER truck. But a newer truck with more HP. That motor would move and does move a 12K trailer. The question becomes, does it do it per the owners perception of what is fine vs to slow or equal. I have move 12K many times with an IDI 7.3 with a whopping 175 hp and 335 lb ft of torque. But I have 7 forward gears. I also do not go very fast on some hills, ie due to lack of HP. BUT, said truck having a 12K empty wt, over 22K lbs of axels under it, oh it is an mdt, the chassis handles the trailer fine.....pwer wise, glad I only do local short hauls. LONG trips would not be fun!

Marty

I tow everything at 65 MPH max...both in the new Ram and the older PSD. No problems doing in most cases, and I've found that speed to be just fine. With the 7.3L, that's being done in OD with cruise control (E4OD, 4:10 rear end). But in the hills, with the 7.3L, I have to discontinue use of cruise control and run the throttle myself, ranging between 55 and 65. If the EGT's grow to high, I lock out the OD. To me, this is acceptable, but others might not find it very tolerabe.

The OP should be asking not if he needs a BIGGER truck. But a newer truck with more HP. That motor would move and does move a 12K trailer. The question becomes, does it do it per the owners perception of what is fine vs to slow or equal. I have move 12K many times with an IDI 7.3 with a whopping 175 hp and 335 lb ft of torque. But I have 7 forward gears. I also do not go very fast on some hills, ie due to lack of HP. BUT, said truck having a 12K empty wt, over 22K lbs of axels under it, oh it is an mdt, the chassis handles the trailer fine.....pwer wise, glad I only do local short hauls. LONG trips would not be fun!

Marty

I've had my F250 since new and now have over 234,000 miles. Just bought a new fiver and have no concerns or issues pulling my 34 foot fiver or my previous 36 footer. It's been a great truck and it's even better not to have a huge truck payment.

My 7.3L completely stock does just fine with our 10,500 lb 5er. :)

My 5er is around 11,000 GVWR, though we dont go to the max. Our TV is in the sig line, but before that, we towed it with our 1996 F350 7.3 PSD. It's tuned and has a whole bunch of other aftermarket mods. That truck pulled it just fine, but you have to be cautious with the EGT's. We still have the truck and I'd hop in a pull it cross country...but the ride is not good and the noise level is, well, excessive.

rhagfo wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

M.R.E. wrote:
I now have a Columbus 340RK, loaded about 12,400, pulls great. With the Cougar I averaged 11.9 mph towing from MI to FL. I had no problems in the Mountains.I have only 104,000 on it.Excellent condition, I'll probably keep it.

Have you been across a set of scales with the old Cougar or more importantly with this Columbus?

You have a 2002 F250
At least it has the camper pkg and trans cooler.....and an exhaust brake

2002 F20...GVWR 8800#
With the camper pkg (like F350 GVWR 9900#)
Max tow rating is 13K but payload is low.......1440#/F250 2700/F350

You will be over GVWR (regardless of which figure you use F250 or F350)
RAWR...should be right at rating.

That 5vr is max for your truck.

7.3L is a good strong motor

All us early 250/2500 Camper Package owners are well aware of the "Limitations" of our TV, we have told them (The TV) they can't carry that much, but they just don't listen! :S
I am very happy with the way my 2500 handles our 11,000#+ 5er, another 1,000# would not make much difference.
While the OP is over the rated GVWR, he is still likely under tire and axle ratings.
The OP's Profile has a tuner listed, and an Exhaust Brake, but no air bags, likely not needed.

Camper pkg. makes it a F350 w/o the badge and stickered GVWR
Suggestion to go across scales is for OPs Information

Old-Biscuit wrote:

M.R.E. wrote:
I now have a Columbus 340RK, loaded about 12,400, pulls great. With the Cougar I averaged 11.9 mph towing from MI to FL. I had no problems in the Mountains.I have only 104,000 on it.Excellent condition, I'll probably keep it.

Have you been across a set of scales with the old Cougar or more importantly with this Columbus?

You have a 2002 F250
At least it has the camper pkg and trans cooler.....and an exhaust brake

2002 F20...GVWR 8800#
With the camper pkg (like F350 GVWR 9900#)
Max tow rating is 13K but payload is low.......1440#/F250 2700/F350

You will be over GVWR (regardless of which figure you use F250 or F350)
RAWR...should be right at rating.

That 5vr is max for your truck.

7.3L is a good strong motor

All us early 250/2500 Camper Package owners are well aware of the "Limitations" of our TV, we have told them (The TV) they can't carry that much, but they just don't listen! :S
I am very happy with the way my 2500 handles our 11,000#+ 5er, another 1,000# would not make much difference.
While the OP is over the rated GVWR, he is still likely under tire and axle ratings.
The OP's Profile has a tuner listed, and an Exhaust Brake, but no air bags, likely not needed.

M.R.E. wrote:
I now have a Columbus 340RK, loaded about 12,400, pulls great. With the Cougar I averaged 11.9 mph towing from MI to FL. I had no problems in the Mountains.I have only 104,000 on it.Excellent condition, I'll probably keep it.

Keep on truckin for another 400k miles and then come back and ask the same question. :B

M.R.E. wrote:
I now have a Columbus 340RK, loaded about 12,400, pulls great. With the Cougar I averaged 11.9 mph towing from MI to FL. I had no problems in the Mountains.I have only 104,000 on it.Excellent condition, I'll probably keep it.

Have you been across a set of scales with the old Cougar or more importantly with this Columbus?

You have a 2002 F250
At least it has the camper pkg and trans cooler.....and an exhaust brake

2002 F20...GVWR 8800#
With the camper pkg (like F350 GVWR 9900#)
Max tow rating is 13K but payload is low.......1440#/F250 2700/F350

You will be over GVWR (regardless of which figure you use F250 or F350)
RAWR...should be right at rating.

That 5vr is max for your truck.

7.3L is a good strong motor