rjstractor wrote:
ppine wrote:
I bought a 2002 Ford diesel new in 2002. I have towed all sorts of things with it. In the mountains, anything over around 7,500 pounds is a PITA. You have stop all the time to cool off the engine temp and the brakes.
Even in 2002, trouble towing 7500 pounds with a diesel sounds like either mechanical problems or poor driver technique. But a modern diesel from any of the big 3 is light-years ahead of your truck in terms of towing power and brakes. Towing 12K is pretty effortless, and 20K+ is safe and doable (as long as no published limits are exceeded, of course ;)) with an experienced driver who knows how to use the truck's features.
I wouldnt go so far as to say effortless with a stock 7.3, especially in the mountains. Lest we forget that the trucks that started the diesel wars had only a little more than half the power of new rigs.
Personally I think my 07 Dodge is pretty milquetoast in the towing department when the trailers get big and the hills do too........with stock tuning and 4 speed transmissions.
With a moderate tune, it's running the same numbers as the new trucks and a little more is just the push of a button away.
THAT makes it effortless.
