I’m not trying to make a statement or say that the newer trucks are better, but I had a pretty good comparison today. My 21’ Ragen TH is probably around 7k lbs empty and tows like a rock. With my HO Ram Cummins I’m not going to say I can’t even feel it, but I never feel I’m lacking power and actually have to back off on the throttle a lot. Today, I used my buddy’s 01 Ford 250 with stock 7.3 Powerstroke to tow the trailer from Van Nuys up I-5 over the Grapevine to Frazier Park. It towed well and was stable but I had my foot in it most of the way and 47 mph up the Grapevine was all I could get. With 250 Hp this engine was pretty impressive back in 01. With my Ram I can accelerate up the hill and could probably crest at 70 mph. And the exhaust brake is amazing. The older trucks have the advantage of simplicity and reliability, but the new trucks are towing machines. I know you can mod the 7.3 and probably get more power but the new ones tow sooo effortlessly. Again, I’m not saying one is better or worse, just different.

I noticed the exact same thing when I bought my truck after having my Ford 6.0L. With mine being a stick it took some time to learn the sweet pulling power bands but once I did I was a happy camper!My current truck actually pulls our current high profile 36' triple slide 16k fiver easier than the 6.0L pulled our mid profile single slide 12k fiver. And you're right, the exhaust brake is awesome! :B

I plan on buying in 2020, so I'm counting on newer being better!

I have a decently modified 7.3 with Banks stinger plus, Ford AIS intake, Riffraf turbo impeller, PHP Hydra 16 position shift on the fly tune, etc.In this case it tows great. It’s still a 2000. It’s outdated. It’s a 4 speed. It’s paid off. It’s not under warranty. There are no emissions to worry about. It’s a mixed bag. I would love a new truck but if you have something that is paid off and still kicks azz you have to go with your heart and pocket book and decide if upgrading is right for you. I also have a heavily modified 99 Tahoe. Put lots of money,parts and all my own labor into it. It’s a beast. Just bought a 2013 Tahoe LTZ and I can see why a new truck is so attractive.

FireGuard wrote:My 21’ Ragen TH is probably around 7k lbs empty and tows like a rock. With my HO Ram Cummins I’m not going to say I can’t even feel it, but I never feel I’m lacking power...Today, I used my buddy’s 01 Ford 250 with stock 7.3 Powerstroke to tow the trailer .....most of the way 47 mph up the Grapevine was all I could get. With 250 Hp this engine was pretty impressive back in 01. With my Ram I can accelerate up the hill....Again, I’m not saying one is better or worse, just different.The power increases in modern diesels is fantastic. That '01 Ford was making 250HP, 505 ft-lbs torque when it was new. Your Ram makes 385HP and 900 ft-lbs torque.The Ram is making 54% more horsepower than the 7.3 Powerstroke and 78% more torque. Yes there are emissions systems to deal with in the RAM but those power increases make all the difference in the world. As you found the Powerstroke is perfectly capable of doing the job, but the power of the RAM plus 2 extra gears in the transmission translates into a lot more power to the ground.You're also right about the integrated exhaust brake in the RAM. I towed the Rockies last year pulling my 16K 5er and that brake was AMAZING on the declines. In a day gone by exhaust brakes were only aftermarket options. Now they are OEM installed because they recognized how vital they can be for towing. So yeah, the newer trucks are better than a 17 year old Powerstroke.....but that doesn't make the PowerStroke bad. It just means that newer technology equates to more power and improved options.KJ

At least the '01 is paid for. That is financial performance.

Appreciation of new new Diesel power. | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2018
Edd505 wrote:
BB_TX wrote:
Had a 2007 F350 with the 6.0 that I thought towed my 35' high profile 5er really well. Until I traded it for a 2012 F350 with the 6.7. Amazing difference in those two. And the 2018 6.7 has even more power.

And I have had no problems with either in spite of all the new emissions stuff on them.

I went from the 7.3 to a 6.0 and went wow what a difference! Now you say the 6.7 is even better, honey we need to go to the dealer.

True, just make sure the 6.7 has a CP3 pushing it's fuel!
Edd505
Explorer
Mar 14, 2018
BB_TX wrote:
Had a 2007 F350 with the 6.0 that I thought towed my 35' high profile 5er really well. Until I traded it for a 2012 F350 with the 6.7. Amazing difference in those two. And the 2018 6.7 has even more power.

And I have had no problems with either in spite of all the new emissions stuff on them.

I went from the 7.3 to a 6.0 and went wow what a difference! Now you say the 6.7 is even better, honey we need to go to the dealer.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2018
marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
FireGuard wrote:
marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Still makes 400/800 on the hot tune."

Claim or fact? You ever had it on a Dyno?

Claim.

Stock is 250hp/500ft lbs

Added Banks Stinger Plus system, (includes exhaust system with quick spool turbo housing, big head wastegate, tune chip, etc) Fact —- 80 hp 147 ft lbs according to Banks.

Then added Ford AIS high flow intake and blue fuel pressure spring (claim 10hp/20ft lbs) Riffraff billet impeller ( claim/fact 20hp/40ft lbs), PHP Hydra 16 position tune (claim/fact 140hp/280 ft lbs)

Just adding stock 250 + 140+20+10 since the Banks tune chip module removed

So yes it’s a claim and yes it’s fast. I do lift for the 1-2 shift as I want to keep the stock trans from exploding. I only tow with the 80 hp tow tune.
And of course that’s all at the crank.

I think you’re being very optimistic by adding several individual mods and think you will get the advertised increased power of each one for a unrealistic total output.
I’ve never heard of a stock Ford transmission holding up to 400/800. At least not for very long.

That's why I asked. I did the banks PowerPack on my 98 12V Cummins at the 100K mark. It did add power but NOT what they CLAIM. I did run the hell out of it as it was fun and toasted the trans. I was planning on doing a DDT built trans anyway. It was so cooked it barely made it up on the trailer to take in for the rebuild!

Yeah the stupid Banks chip does not control the trans, they add another stand alone module called transcommand. It was either junk or not working when I got the truck because it was the worst shifting sloppy trans I’ve felt in a long time.
It would have blown up a long time ago had I not ditched the Banks stinger chip and went with the PHP Hydra which totally changed the trans for the better.

My 98 was a 12 valve with no computer controlling the engine or transmission. Old school!
marcsbigfoot20b
Explorer
Mar 14, 2018
Cummins12V98 wrote:
FireGuard wrote:
marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Still makes 400/800 on the hot tune."

Claim or fact? You ever had it on a Dyno?

Claim.

Stock is 250hp/500ft lbs

Added Banks Stinger Plus system, (includes exhaust system with quick spool turbo housing, big head wastegate, tune chip, etc) Fact —- 80 hp 147 ft lbs according to Banks.

Then added Ford AIS high flow intake and blue fuel pressure spring (claim 10hp/20ft lbs) Riffraff billet impeller ( claim/fact 20hp/40ft lbs), PHP Hydra 16 position tune (claim/fact 140hp/280 ft lbs)

Just adding stock 250 + 140+20+10 since the Banks tune chip module removed

So yes it’s a claim and yes it’s fast. I do lift for the 1-2 shift as I want to keep the stock trans from exploding. I only tow with the 80 hp tow tune.
And of course that’s all at the crank.

I think you’re being very optimistic by adding several individual mods and think you will get the advertised increased power of each one for a unrealistic total output.
I’ve never heard of a stock Ford transmission holding up to 400/800. At least not for very long.

That's why I asked. I did the banks PowerPack on my 98 12V Cummins at the 100K mark. It did add power but NOT what they CLAIM. I did run the hell out of it as it was fun and toasted the trans. I was planning on doing a DDT built trans anyway. It was so cooked it barely made it up on the trailer to take in for the rebuild!

Yeah the stupid Banks chip does not control the trans, they add another stand alone module called transcommand. It was either junk or not working when I got the truck because it was the worst shifting sloppy trans I’ve felt in a long time.
It would have blown up a long time ago had I not ditched the Banks stinger chip and went with the PHP Hydra which totally changed the trans for the better.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2018
FireGuard wrote:
marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Still makes 400/800 on the hot tune."

Claim or fact? You ever had it on a Dyno?

Claim.

Stock is 250hp/500ft lbs

Added Banks Stinger Plus system, (includes exhaust system with quick spool turbo housing, big head wastegate, tune chip, etc) Fact —- 80 hp 147 ft lbs according to Banks.

Then added Ford AIS high flow intake and blue fuel pressure spring (claim 10hp/20ft lbs) Riffraff billet impeller ( claim/fact 20hp/40ft lbs), PHP Hydra 16 position tune (claim/fact 140hp/280 ft lbs)

Just adding stock 250 + 140+20+10 since the Banks tune chip module removed

So yes it’s a claim and yes it’s fast. I do lift for the 1-2 shift as I want to keep the stock trans from exploding. I only tow with the 80 hp tow tune.
And of course that’s all at the crank.

I think you’re being very optimistic by adding several individual mods and think you will get the advertised increased power of each one for a unrealistic total output.
I’ve never heard of a stock Ford transmission holding up to 400/800. At least not for very long.

That's why I asked. I did the banks PowerPack on my 98 12V Cummins at the 100K mark. It did add power but NOT what they CLAIM. I did run the hell out of it as it was fun and toasted the trans. I was planning on doing a DDT built trans anyway. It was so cooked it barely made it up on the trailer to take in for the rebuild!
Bedlam
Moderator
Mar 13, 2018
I'm hoping that the next inevitable round of emission restrictions will bring in the diesel electric road vehicle. A narrow band tuned diesel providing electrical power to energy banks and electric motors could result in reduced emissions with better performance and range than what is currently on the market. The pieces are already mature for plug in hybrids and this would take it one step further where the engine is no longer providing direct motive power.
ShinerBock
Explorer
Mar 13, 2018
mkirsch wrote:
I see this over and over in the thread, "Very few have problems," or similar statements.

That's "very few" not NONE or even almost none. Some people don't want to take the chance of being one of those "very few."

Besides if you're going by that measure, the 6.0L Powerstroke was a great engine. Very few had problems. More than some other engines yes but by comparison to the number of units on the road, "very few."

Need I mention the Bosch CP4? How many tens of thousands of those are still out there waiting for a drop of water to sneak past the water separator?

What happens when the next round of emissions regulations get put in place? New technology will need to be created and the end user gets to be the beta tester.

There isn't anymore diesel emission regulations scheduled in the near future. What is scheduled is tougher fuel mileage requirements. Direct injected gas engines on the other hand might be getting particulate filters on them in the near future due to how much PM they emit. They are the new "dirty engine".
mkirsch
Nomad II
Mar 13, 2018
I see this over and over in the thread, "Very few have problems," or similar statements.

That's "very few" not NONE or even almost none. Some people don't want to take the chance of being one of those "very few."

Besides if you're going by that measure, the 6.0L Powerstroke was a great engine. Very few had problems. More than some other engines yes but by comparison to the number of units on the road, "very few."

Need I mention the Bosch CP4? How many tens of thousands of those are still out there waiting for a drop of water to sneak past the water separator?

What happens when the next round of emissions regulations get put in place? New technology will need to be created and the end user gets to be the beta tester.
marcsbigfoot20b
Explorer
Mar 13, 2018
FireGuard wrote:
marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Still makes 400/800 on the hot tune."

Claim or fact? You ever had it on a Dyno?

Claim.

Stock is 250hp/500ft lbs

Added Banks Stinger Plus system, (includes exhaust system with quick spool turbo housing, big head wastegate, tune chip, etc) Fact —- 80 hp 147 ft lbs according to Banks.

Then added Ford AIS high flow intake and blue fuel pressure spring (claim 10hp/20ft lbs) Riffraff billet impeller ( claim/fact 20hp/40ft lbs), PHP Hydra 16 position tune (claim/fact 140hp/280 ft lbs)

Just adding stock 250 + 140+20+10 since the Banks tune chip module removed

So yes it’s a claim and yes it’s fast. I do lift for the 1-2 shift as I want to keep the stock trans from exploding. I only tow with the 80 hp tow tune.
And of course that’s all at the crank.

I think you’re being very optimistic by adding several individual mods and think you will get the advertised increased power of each one for a unrealistic total output.
I’ve never heard of a stock Ford transmission holding up to 400/800. At least not for very long.

Without a dyno I have no idea the exact number! Anyone know where I can dyno a dually diesel in Phoenix?

If you take multiple bolt ons that each have a proven dyno numbers for each part and add 4 or 5 on the same engine, then you will most likely exceed the sum as they compliment each other.

Case in point......just a cam that makes +70 hp by itself, an intake that makes 20 by itself and headers that make 30 by themselves. With tuning you may make more than the sum of 120hp if all are installed together, maybe 140hp.
marcsbigfoot20b
Explorer
Mar 13, 2018
That would probably be what, 330-340 rwhp on a dyno with a long bed dually?

Forum Discussion

Appreciation of new new Diesel power.

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated!

Looking to buy small TT, suggestions appreciated.

Diesel fuel

Colorado Diesel

Diesel Trucks