I’m planning to get back to truck camping by fall and spend a lot of time seeing the country. Life is short and I’m not getting any younger. I’ve had many trucks and campers and have been a loyal Dodge/Ram Cummins fan. However, with the cost and complexity of the new diesels I’m considering a gas engine. I like simple, basic and reliable and the new Ford 7.3 seems to be that engine. With old school cam in block design, it’s about as basic as they come. The power numbers seem pretty impressive (430 hp/475 to) and it makes over 400 ft/lb of torque below 2000 rpm. The 10 speed transmission will make it even better. It adds about $1700 to the standard gas package so about $8k less than the diesel. It’s also a lighter and smaller engine due to the design which will help payload. They are starting to show up at the dealers but it’s a new design so really no long term reviews yet. I would likely get the DRW and would prefer 4:30 gears but may have to order as 3:73 seem to be common. I’m thinking the only negative is the fuel mileage but the new diesels aren’t getting what they used to and gas is much cheaper as well as the $8k savings of buying a diesel. Also, no $10-15k out of pocket cost to replace the fuel system when the pump fails and contaminates the entire system. I was really disappointed to see Ram switch to the CP4 fuel pump for 2019. This may be a great TC hauler.

If you do one thing, test drive the 4.30 gears and the 3.73 gears before ordering. I test drove 3.55 and 4.10 gears in an F350 V10 gasser many years ago. The 3.55 gears made that truck a slug. I got out pulled by a 4 cyl Camry on I-65 in downtown Birmingham. The 4.10 geared truck was a rocket.Good luck,bradw

FireGuard wrote:I’m planning to get back to truck camping by fall and spend a lot of time seeing the country. Life is short and I’m not getting any younger. I’ve had many trucks and campers and have been a loyal Dodge/Ram Cummins fan. However, with the cost and complexity of the new diesels I’m considering a gas engine. I like simple, basic and reliable and the new Ford 7.3 seems to be that engine. With old school cam in block design, it’s about as basic as they come. The power numbers seem pretty impressive (430 hp/475 to) and it makes over 400 ft/lb of torque below 2000 rpm. The 10 speed transmission will make it even better. It adds about $1700 to the standard gas package so about $8k less than the diesel. It’s also a lighter and smaller engine due to the design which will help payload. They are starting to show up at the dealers but it’s a new design so really no long term reviews yet. I would likely get the DRW and would prefer 4:30 gears but may have to order as 3:73 seem to be common. I’m thinking the only negative is the fuel mileage but the new diesels aren’t getting what they used to and gas is much cheaper as well as the $8k savings of buying a diesel. Also, no $10-15k out of pocket cost to replace the fuel system when the pump fails and contaminates the entire system. I was really disappointed to see Ram switch to the CP4 fuel pump for 2019. This may be a great TC hauler.Out of curiosity, doesn't the 6.4 Hemi with 410/429 tq meet your needs? you could still stick with Ram. They'll run a little cheaper too.

I think it could be a great combination but I would give any new engine a couple of years of evolution before buying.

Good point Brad. The 6.4 Hemi should be a good combo with the 8 speed trans as a big complaint with the 6 speed was the gear splits. There are some posts of the Hemi having issues with cam wearing and valve train failure as well as requiring expensive oil. Also think it may require premium gas. I like the 7.3 for its simple and hopefully Bullet proof reliability. I also like the look of the new Ford trucks. The good thing is that I have about 8 months to decide. Planning a 3-4 week trip in October. I also get to research campers again. ?? Will be looking at a 9-10’ slide out. IE Lance 995/975 or AF 990/992.

I also have been interested in the new 7.3 gas Ford F350. I own a 2011 f250 with the 6.2 gasser with a 6 speed tranny. I think the 10 speed tranny with more power would be good in the mountains.

New Ford 7.3 Gas | Good Sam Community

noteven
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2021
specta wrote:
noteven wrote:
Kayteg1 - who built your truck camper with a c of g that removes weight from the steer axle and why would they do that do you think?

My camper loaded for camping removes 100 lbs off the steer axle.

Thanks specta - I've owned 5 slide in campers and non was built with the c of g behind the rear axle -

But come to think of it "Camper Special" trucks used to be built on a longer wheelbase than a std 8ft box truck so I bet some campers from those days would be aft c of g on a modern pickup.

Learn something ever day :)
noteven
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2021
specta wrote:
noteven wrote:
Kayteg1 - who built your truck camper with a c of g that removes weight from the steer axle and why would they do that do you think?

My camper loaded for camping removes 100 lbs off the steer axle.

Thanks specta - I've owned 5 various campers and all were c of g ahead of the rear axle on 2006 and 2012 trucks.

I always want tow capability with my camper so I look for c of g as far ahead as possible.

Learn something every day. :)
specta
Explorer
Feb 13, 2021
noteven wrote:

Thanks specta - I've owned 5 various campers and all were c of g ahead of the rear axle on 2006 and 2012 trucks.

I always want tow capability with my camper so I look for c of g as far ahead as possible.

Learn something every day. :)

I'm guessing that this is the camper special you are referring to.
Ford built these F-350 Super Camper Specials from 1973-1979.

They also made the camper that is sitting on it and they were HEAVY. If I remember correctly the camper was actually built by Four Seasons, the same company that made the factory Ford shells.

When Ford moved the rear axle further back they had to relocate the spare tire. I worked with a guy named Steve Kersey at a Ford dealer back in 2008 and he worked for FoMoCo back in 1970-73 and he was the one who designed that spare carrier.

Ford gave Steve $7000 and a brand new 1972 Ford LTD for coming up with the design.

I owned a 1972 F-250 camper special and other than the tail pipe being extended to get the exhaust away from the camper I don't remember what other features were included.

I also owned a 1979 Ford F-260 that was a camper special. It came with front and rear sway bars and it was pre-wired for a camper.
noteven
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2021
yep that is the camper special. We have a trailer made out of the back end of one of those with a welding skid in it. It has a tool box where that spare tire carrier is.

The metal gauge is not of the tin foil type :)
burningman
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2021
noteven wrote:

3 tons - take a look at a company in Florida called Custom Automatic Conversions they specialize in Allison to Cummins engine work.

Fewer and fewer people are making that mistake.
Swapping in an Allison is a $10,000++ proposition and it’s not worth it.
A properly built 47RE Dodge trans is actually stronger.
The bad reputation is all from people throwing power and weight at stock ones.

Consider this: a whole lot of Chevy race trucks running Duramax engines have Dodge 47REs swapped into them!!

Spend $5000-$7000 on building the Dodge trans instead.
noteven
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2021
burningman wrote:
noteven wrote:

3 tons - take a look at a company in Florida called Custom Automatic Conversions they specialize in Allison to Cummins engine work.

Fewer and fewer people are making that mistake.
Swapping in an Allison is a $10,000++ proposition and it’s not worth it.
A properly built 47RE Dodge trans is actually stronger.
The bad reputation is all from people throwing power and weight at stock ones.

Consider this: a whole lot of Chevy race trucks running Duramax engines have Dodge 47REs swapped into them!!

Spend $5000-$7000 on building the Dodge trans instead.

Ya the Dodge auto can be super built.

When I priced an Allison swap I’m going from a manual 6 spd to the Allison and the Allison was going to have Allison reman warranty good at Allison dealers and be programmed for tow haul more like a medium duty truck. I had a buy lined up for my manual stuff so my net money was going to be around $6 or $7k. Not a race setup.

Anyways I left it manual it’s semi retired to ranch work now and my camper truck is a Ford that has a 6 spd tow haul trans that works how I want it to.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Feb 14, 2021
burningman wrote:
noteven wrote:

3 tons - take a look at a company in Florida called Custom Automatic Conversions they specialize in Allison to Cummins engine work.

Fewer and fewer people are making that mistake.
Swapping in an Allison is a $10,000++ proposition and it’s not worth it.
A properly built 47RE Dodge trans is actually stronger.
The bad reputation is all from people throwing power and weight at stock ones.

Consider this: a whole lot of Chevy race trucks running Duramax engines have Dodge 47REs swapped into them!!

Spend $5000-$7000 on building the Dodge trans instead.

But it’s only a good racing trans and grocery getter.
4 speeds behind a Cummins is like a power glide behind a half ton truck. Both s Uck for towing.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Feb 14, 2021
And only people with more dollars than sense would do an Alli swap into a Dodge.
Have to be a special kind of brand loyal to just not go get a duramax if that’s what you wanted.

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