Ford 7.3 engine users?

[spoon059]

Looking to start a discussion with Ford 7.3 gas owners and how they like the truck. My next truck will be pulling a 14-15K 5th wheel and will be a long bed crew cab. The 7.3 looks to be a really cool engine.

I'm interested in real world experience from owners who have towed with this engine. Is there a benefit with the 4.30 rear end and the 10 speed? Do I LOSE anything with the 4.30?

How does the engine braking do going downhill? I currently have a 6.7 CTD with the exhaust brake and I can descend long grades and lose speed without hitting my brakes. That gives me great comfort for the times I'll be in the mountains. I know that engine braking won't be nearly as strong, but Fast Lane Truck says it's decent.

Long bed CC comes with a 48 gallon tank in the diesel, does it come with a 48 gallon in the gas as well?

Anyone have the built in 2K generator feature yet? I'm hoping that Ford puts the 7K generator option in the near future... that would be really good for boondocking situations.

Is there a chance that Ford offers cylinder displacement for better economy unloaded? I'm not sure if Ford does that or not.

Anything else related to the 7.3 as a tow vehicle and a regular driver...

[cummins2014]

FishOnOne wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .

There's no comparison of the 7.3 Gas with a throttle body, and transmission grade braking compared to a 7.3PSD that has absolutely no grade braking functions.

Bottom line...I'll take a 7.3 Gas over a 7.3PSD anyday for all towing applications.

I will take a 6.7 Cummins over both of them for all tow applications .

So what are your impressions on driving a 7.3 gas truck?

I driven two different 2022 350 Superduty Laraits 6.7 Powerstrokes 10 speeds, one a friends ,and one my sons . Impression ,okay . As far as ride ,and handling I prefer my 2014 Ram 6.7 Cummins Laramie Megacab . I drove my friends Larait around 90 miles , up Parleys ,and Daniels Canyons here in Utah , both good grades , ran well . Not towing so very hard to compare there ,but obviously a 2022 6.7 Powerstroke is going to pull those canyons very well towing . My 2014 will pull those same canyons the speed limit 65 on both towing , so as far as towing the new Powerstroke has no advantage over the 2014 Ram I have, and the "TOWING I DO " .

To answer your question ,first I have no impressions about the 7.3 gas truck , but I am sure it would give me the same impression as any other 350 Superduty ,I prefer the handing ,and comfort of a Ram truck . There is one thing I like about a ford truck compared to the Ram ,and that is the mirrors , sure not enough to switch back . I have driven the new 2022 Ram 3500 Laramie my other son has , those new Fords IMO have nothing over on the Ram truck .

[FishOnOne]

cummins2014 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .

There's no comparison of the 7.3 Gas with a throttle body, and transmission grade braking compared to a 7.3PSD that has absolutely no grade braking functions.

Bottom line...I'll take a 7.3 Gas over a 7.3PSD anyday for all towing applications.

I will take a 6.7 Cummins over both of them for all tow applications .

So what are your impressions on driving a 7.3 gas truck?

[cummins2014]

FishOnOne wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .

There's no comparison of the 7.3 Gas with a throttle body, and transmission grade braking compared to a 7.3PSD that has absolutely no grade braking functions.

Bottom line...I'll take a 7.3 Gas over a 7.3PSD anyday for all towing applications.

I will take a 6.7 Cummins over both of them for all tow applications .

[cummins2014]

JRscooby wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .

I have no doubt 7.3 gasser will hold back much more than 7.3 diesel with no engine brake. My question is will the Powerstroke, with exhaust brake added, slow any better than the 7.3 gasser.

I have no idea . I entertained the thought of EB ,injectors etc. on my old 7.3 diesel , but decided to just go with a new truck . I drove that old Powerstroke for nearly 16 years , great truck ,just didn't get it done towing a heavy fifth wheel .

[JRscooby]

Lantley wrote:
All the comparisons are the 7.3 gasser vs. anything but a modern diesel with an exhaust brake.
Compare a 7.3 gasser to the same year diesel that is the relevant equation.
All the other comparisons are antiquated.

Yes, this is the comparison I want to make. Yes, I out hear about how great exhaust brake works. Side by each, diesel with and without, easy to show that it works. And they can write ads, every body on the net swears need diesel because of exhaust brake.
But can you show me where a modern 7 Liter diesel is compared to 7 Liter gas, like gears and loads, holding back on a hill? How about 5 liter? 3 liter?

I highly suspect a lot of this, because manufactures have not shown such a test, is pushed to make people spend the extra for the diesel

[4x4ord]

The bottom line might be that where a Cummins comfortably holds a 15000 lb trailer back at 55 mph the Godzilla might hold that same trailer back in low gear revved to 6000 rpm going 30 mph. Beyond about an 8% grade you’d probably have to use some brake applications or shift the transfer case to low range and go slower than 30 mph with a gasser.

[rhagfo]

Lantley wrote:
All the comparisons are the 7.3 gasser vs. anything but a modern diesel with an exhaust brake.
Compare a 7.3 gasser to the same year diesel that is the relevant equation.
All the other comparisons are antiquated.

Yea I know you walked to school in 3 feet of snow in your day.
…and you don't need four wheel drive. 2 wheel drive and sand bags got you through the blizzard.

well if 2016 isn't new enough, our 2016 with EB on FULL, and trans in Tow Haul, pulling about 13,500# going down a steep hill 7%+ it will slow well below starting speed. It will actually down shift and keep slowing!
Now history, our 2001 Ram 2500 CTD with NV4500 (5 speed manual) with a PacBrake EB, I could reduce speed as much as not more being pushed by the same trailer. Street driving I could almost bring it to a stop without touching the brakes.

[4x4ord]

cummins2014 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .

The ability to rev to 6000 rpm; work against a closed throttle plate; and the torque multiplication of the 4.615:1 low gear ratio all work together to give the Godzilla a massive advantage over a 7.3 diesel when it comes to holding a trailer back on a long steep grade.

[4x4ord]

^^^There is absolutely no disputing the fact that the modern HD diesels can hold back much better than a 7.3 gasser on a hill. But the 7.3 has adequate engine braking for lighter trailers. A person wanting a gasser to pull his 15k fiver shouldn't fear he's going to wear out his brakes towing in the mountains without an exhaust brake.

[Lantley]

All the comparisons are the 7.3 gasser vs. anything but a modern diesel with an exhaust brake.
Compare a 7.3 gasser to the same year diesel that is the relevant equation.
All the other comparisons are antiquated.

Yea I know you walked to school in 3 feet of snow in your day.
…and you don't need four wheel drive. 2 wheel drive and sand bags got you through the blizzard.

[Michelle_S]

The addition of the Exhaust Brake was a major factor for me upgrading from my 2005 Duramax to a 2011 Duramax. In approx 30K miles the 2005 need new brake pads, while the 2011 was still on the EOM pads when traded with 115K on the clock.

[goducks10]

Samsonsworld wrote:
Of all the reasons I select a tow engine, exhaust brakes aren't even on the list.

It's 50% of why I did. Come down a 10% curvy grade for 5-8 miles towing heavy with a gasser and you might wish for one. Depends on where you tow I suppose. But they do help on the flat. My Ram 3500 CTD EB is pretty strong and even on the flats when hitting the brakes the EB kicks in and I get even more braking. Getting the Rv moving is not a problem with most all tow rigs, stopping or maintaining speed downhill for long stretches is where the EB shines.
If you've never had one then you'll never get it.

[FishOnOne]

cummins2014 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .

There's no comparison of the 7.3 Gas with a throttle body, and transmission grade braking compared to a 7.3PSD that has absolutely no grade braking functions.

Bottom line...I'll take a 7.3 Gas over a 7.3PSD anyday for all towing applications.

[JRscooby]

cummins2014 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .

I have no doubt 7.3 gasser will hold back much more than 7.3 diesel with no engine brake. My question is will the Powerstroke, with exhaust brake added, slow any better than the 7.3 gasser.

[cummins2014]

4x4ord wrote:
There isn’t a hill I’ve been on that I would be afraid to descend pulling a 16000 lb rv with the 7.3 gasser. Low gear and 6000 rpm is a lot of engine braking.

You are a brave lad !!! Can't argue the fact of what a 7.3 gasser will ,or will not do , but I towed a fairly heavy fifth wheel many years with a 7.3 Powerstroke , no EB . Had a few white knuckle experiences coming of some of the hills in Utah, Idaho ,and Montana . Yes learned pretty quickly on how to come down some of those long grades . One example is the one coming from Ennis,MT to Virginia City , MT. It has the runaway ramp if needed .