Advice on tow vehicle

I just sold my 2002 7.3 and purchased the truck in signature. Mine had over 300,000 miles on it and still looked and ran like it did when new. I did have to replace quite a few items while I owned it. New trans at about 250,000, rear end at about 175,000, all Moog front suspension and steering components. Never had a single problem with the engine but I changed the oil every 6-7000 miles and had it checked over every other year by a good diesel mechanic.

I ran a tuner with the towing program, and had full gauges on the pillar along with a ScanGauge on the dash front. My next mod, if I had kept the truck, would have been to put in a larger exhaust. With the tuner, I had to be careful with the exhaust temps and the larger exhaust would have helped with that.
I also had a DeCelerator exhaust brake but cannot recommend that to anyone. See my post here for information on that wrong turn!

The truck pulled our trailer very well but I had the hots for a new truck so the old reliable 7.3 had to go. Did not have any trouble at all getting rid of it. That is probably the best, most reliable engine Ford built. I absolutely love my new Ram with the Cummins however.
Barney

Buy this one. http://www.doityourselfrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/roadster-3.jpg

You’ll do better asking on Ford diesel forums.
That ‘99-‘03 7.3 is a great truck.

Thanks for all the advice guys!! I went ahead and bought the 2003 F-350 7.3. I’m really ignorant when it comes to this. What mods are needed to start towards her full potential?

On the contrary, with just a few easy mods, diesels of that era and even a decade earlier will make as much torque as the new ones.
An ‘03 Powerstroke is like frozen pizza.
Pretty blah out of the box but it gets a lot better if you just add a little fresh cheese, pepperoni and spices on top.

For the short moves, even a V10 would be fine with a good deep gear set on the rear axle, like a 4.30 or even a 4.56. You don't have to set any speed records if you're only moving it once a month. Just get there in one piece.

The V10 has the advantage of being much better suited to long periods of sitting around, where the diesel is going to fare much better if you work it regularly.

Keep in mind that in 2003, diesels and large-displacement gas engines of the time were about equal in power output. Diesels did not put out 1000 ft-lbs of torque for another 10+ years.

It all boils down to what's available, though. If this 2003 is a good truck and priced right it will do the job, but if you're buying this truck just for the sake of buying a truck, you probably can do better if you keep looking.

I’m with Grit Dog on this. That F350 is plenty of truck for the job, but before taking off on a long trip with that much weight you’d be wise to get the transmission built, and I DON’T mean rebuilt stock, I mean “built” to high performance standards.
A few tweaks to the motor would help too. You don’t need to get crazy about it but a little more power would make it nicer. It’s there for the taking with a few minor mods.
That’s an excellent truck to work with.
But - expecting a high mileage older rig to do a reliable job towing heavy without going through it first is risky, doesn’t matter what brand.

You could move it around the park with the most anemic 3/4 ton made, but the X country trip is another thing.
Assuming you’re the better part of 20,000lbs, that’s a miserable (but doable) trip with an old diesel unless it’s tuned and built trans etc. it’s not even worth thinking about a gasser for the big trip.
I think you’re on the right track. Find the right old economical diesel and when you’re done with it, it won’t have lost any value really.
Depends what your overal goal is. After a year and x country are you done? Trailer parked or sold or what’s the deal?
I’m all for getting by with the minimum but the minimum here in an old truck is one that’s built, not stock, IMO.

Yes, an 03 Ford DRW will do the job, I pull a 16k goosneck quite often and have hauled a 4,400lb truck camper all over the country with a 93 Dodge 1 ton cummins, you may not be able to tow at 70mph but it will tow it fine.

That 350 will pull just about anything you want it to pull. However, like others have said, if you are only moving it a couple of times a year, it will likely be more cost effective to hire someone to move it for you. Do the cost comparison and then decide.