jerem0621 wrote:
Totally agree with you. The 7.3 is a highly capable motor. The bad thing about the "new" diesel and gas HD motors is that they have so much power people have lost the sense of vehicles working hard.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
^^^^^^This comment is spot-on!
I can attest to the capabilities of the 7.3, but you'll have to take it with a grain of salt since mine is highly modified. I used to tow the 5er in my sig line, which loaded comes up to about 10,500 - 11,000 lbs. I now tow with the Ram in my sig line, and its a night and day difference, but that's another story.
In a bone stock configuration, I don't know how tolerable the 7.3 PSD would be for that load, but I'm speculating it would be just fine. If you're willing to put some extra $$$ into the truck to increase its capability, then I'd proceed with the purchase of the RV you're looking at. Buy it, pull it, and see how it goes for you. Its hard to make an assessment on the vehicle in its current state without knowing its exact condition (motor, trans, suspension, etc.). But if you're not willing to invest a little more in the truck, then you should probably reconsider.
With my 289K mile OBS 7.3L PSD, E4OD trans, and 4.10 rear end, I'd hook up to that 5er and pull it across the country. But I also have a injectors, gauges, 4" exhaust, tymar intake, 6 pos chip, upgraded turbo wheel, bellowed up-pipes, trans cooler, 6.0 fan, enhanced vacuum pump, 203 deg t-stat...........
Now, it'll be done loudly and with ominous amounts of black smoke, but it'll run. I lock in cruise control at 65 MPH in OD. In the hills and mountains, I'll turn the OD off and run at 55 MPH because of the EGT's. And I've not often paid attention to MPG's.
I don't have an exhaust brake, in fact I gutted the EBPV so that's no longer an option.
