Towing Limits of 7.3 Powerstroke

adamis wrote:
As my wife and I look at making the transition from a Truck Camper to a 5th wheel, the question about the suitability of our truck for the job comes into question. Someday a new truck with all the bells and whistles (and the quietness) might be on the table but not immediately.

My current truck is an early 1999 F350 Dually Quad Cab Long Bed 2WD. I've pulled my fully loaded 5k lb Truck Camper plus ~3k lb cargo trailer without any issues. I bought the truck off a guy who used it to haul his drag race car around in a 32ft goose neck trailer. I think he liked to work on the truck almost as much as the race car. Lots of "extras" all over the place. On a recent 3000 mile road trip I had a fuel injector go bad so I took the opportunity to dump about $8k into the engine, to include bigger injectors, bigger turbo, new up pipes, new HPOP and Hydra Tuner. The tranny has the 6.0 oil cooler mod and a Banks Torque Converter and Shift computer installed. Stock the truck made ~20lbs of boost, I'm now pushing 30lbs+ and haven't really tested the limits yet (nor do I plan to). My mechanic (who used to drag race 7.3s) guesstimated the HP to be in the realm of ~400 to 450hp. I am not going to dyno it but seat of the pants dyno I don't doubt it is far off from his guestimate.

Getting back to the towing part... I know the towing limit of my truck is right around the 13k lb range. I'm looking in trailers that are in the 12k to 13k range (and expect about another 1k lb in weight once packed. Pin weight for trailers in this range looks to be in the 2500lb range which is half of what my camper weighs when loaded so I think I'm not concerned about that.

My question really isn't about whether I will have the power to tow it (or the legality of it) but rather the handling / braking aspect. I already have a brake controller but might update it to something more modern. I'm thinking about specing the trailer with disc brakes to give more stopping power.

Does anyone else have experience towing heavy trailers with the 7.3 and if so, do you have an recommendations on what to do or not to do as far as mods and upgrades?

I had a early 99 7.3 that I had up around 450 hp and 935Ft-lbs. mine was a 3/4 tone, automatic, 2WD, shortbox super cab. when I bought my 5th wheel (39.5feet long and 14-16K lbs) I did a couple trips with it and it towed it just fine and got very good milage. The only reason I bought the 2014 was that with the 5th wheel on and no passengers I was already 300lbs over my max for the rear axel. If I would have had a 1 ton I would probaby still have it.

I never had any egt issues, just gear down out of overdrive and keep the reves up and slow down a little andit was fine. going up a grade 8-11 hill I was able to maintain 55 to 60 mph, and the pour man exhaust brake(EBP control valve control kid) was able to hold it pretty deicent going down a grade 6 hill.

I a seeing a lot of coments about drum brakes, My early 99 came with 4 wheel disk ABS all around , thought they all did...

having said that, even though I had the 7.3 hopped up so much my 2014 with 400/800 out towes it hands down in the low and midrange rpms and is a much more plesent truck due to the smoothness and quietness. The 6.7 is the first motor that I would consider better than the 7.3

Steve