Is my '01 F-250 PSD up to the challenge ??

[mikgala]

Hellooo All !!
Try to make it short & sweet. In 2001,I bought a new TS 35' fiver and my Super Duty F-250 w the 7.3 engine. Sold the house, put it all in storage, and did a 42 state, 30,000 mile trip from South Florida to Anchorage, Alaska via British Columbia and back for ONE YEAR !! Mind you, I never towed a thing in my life, but I had read a ton of these posts.. THANK YOU, so I was prepared for this, Well, sort of ??

Got LUCKY on the weights, (cause I REALLY did not know enough ??), BUT... my truck is rated at 20,000# GCWR and a CAT scale in Arizona put us, TV and trailer at 19,500#. (Wife and I, full fuel, dry tanks & toolbox ) Yeah, I know...Arizona ?

F&R TV axle weights were within GAWR specs, yet I was OVER on truck GVWR, by 1,100 #'s ( I still can't figure that one out ??) Trip came off without a hitch or major delay. Oil, fuel, filters, per schedule.
On way back, we stopped at factory to fix a bunch of defects/flaws.
While looking for a new home, a retired couple bought the NEWER trailer for $7K less than I paid. I figured it didn't owe me a thing.

Now..I'm recently retired and longing for the Open Road again !! Would like to do a six month on / six month off routine.
Still got this truck with 120,000 miles on it!! Near-mint condition and only thing replaced was water pump(under warranty @ 85K) and service brakes replaced at 100K miles !! Get about 17 mpg around town and 20-24 Hwy, stock, no chip. EVERYONE tells me to never let this truck go b/c of the 7.3 engine sooo...long story short,

Looking for a NEW or 1 yr old 10,000# ,32 ft TS fiver and wondering IF anyone can advise me of what I can have checked on my truck to be sure it'll handle towing again ?? She hasn't towed anything since that original trip 13 years ago, but I have maintained her fairly well. I figured a 10K trailer should have a 2K pin wt so that should be better than last one for TV GVWR.

Sorry for the looong post, but needed to give as much info as possible !! Thanks a BIG BUNCH !!

Michael

[Lessmore]

The 7.3 is a great motor. It's an International engine.

One of my neighbours had an F 350 , DRW, standard transmission, 4WD, 7.3 V8, utility service truck.

He retired, when it had 440,000 kms (260,000 + miles approx.) on it. The truck ran like a Swiss watch. Often pulled large electrical utility trailers. No big issues.

[brooks379]

Before I sold my 02 F350 7.3 I put Rotella T-6 full syn. oil in it and it would start up in -0 temps and purr like a kitten. No bucking and rattling until the oil got thinned out,just start up unplugged and purr ! The 99 thru mid 03 7.3 are one of, if not the best truck/engine ever built. I sold mine because of getting rusty but that 7.3 was the most dependable motor I have ever owned. I have a 6.7 now and it is a monster. Will it stand up to the longevity of the 7.3 ? ....time will tell.

[Bamaman11]

I bought a new Grand Design fifth wheel--bunkhouse model. It's a 12K/2K dry weight trailer, and my F250 does fine. The shortcoming of any 3/4 ton or single rear wheel pickup is Pin Weight.

Grand Design is really hot on the retail market, and I attribute much of their Reflection model's success because they can all be towed with a 3/4 ton truck. I suggest you look at that brand and model specifically.

[MM49]

Sorry, but time to sell it. 13 years on a weak truck to start with is too much. Get a new truck. They are so much better in every way.
MM49

[jfritz_drfritz]

At 210000 miles my injectors are starting to get weak. Switching to Mobil delvac 0-40 made a terrific difference in cold weather starting - the rest of the time -plain old Dino 15-40 rotella works just fine

[jbres]

A new serpentine belt is about a $20 or so part. If that's the original belt from 2001, I would just change it to save any potential for a headache. Just my personal opinion.
I always keep the old one in my truck and a spare also.

[mikgala]

Sorry for the delay guys...been out and about with stuff to be done.
To reply to all the courteous replies... THANK YOU
guess I forgot to mention that I had Air-Ride air bags INSTALLED ON REAR SUSPENSION in '01 as well. Helped take pin weight of trailer better.

I have flushed out tranny and coolant fluid twice in 118K.
Rear end once at about 75k. Always had a K&N air filter installed.
Doing brakes and power steering fluid flush now. Have always used
FC 18 to prevent cavitation in coolant every 15K.

Good idea to p/u a new CPS for glovebox.

Original service brakes lasted to 100K (even after towing those Rocky Mountain passes (Wolf Creek Pass) and 8% grades up and down. and they were changed at that time. Had front wheel bearings inspected and repacked and they looked like new !! Rotors needed very little resurfacing and were solid.

Forgot that I had to replace a bad injector at 110K, due to a BAD tank of diesel...was full of algae!! And wound up replacing a fuel pump that was starting to starve the engine.

Anyone recommend switching to full synthetic oil on these engines ?? Told it would extend mileage and help with lubricity cause of the low sulphur in todays diesel ??
Ford "stealer" tells me their oil is a synthetic blend ??

Belts, hoses, all look good amazingly although would probably buy extra hoses to carry.. just in case.

My serpentine belt still looks crack free & told does not require replacement, even after 118K ??? What is the lifetime of those belts especially in South Florida heat ??

Thanks AGAIN for all the great suggestions !!!

Michael

[tvman44]

I would change fluids and go. I have the 2002 with 7.3L & 85,000 miles and tow a 32' 5er and love it. 🙂

[jbres]

I would do a full service including changing all fluids, changing belts, and all filters and not worry. My work has a 1999 7.3 with 190,000 miles on it and has had next to nothing go wrong with it.
GREAT truck. Service it, and keep it!

[rhagfo]

mikgala wrote:
Hellooo All !!
.........

Got LUCKY on the weights, (cause I REALLY did not know enough ??), BUT... my truck is rated at 20,000# GCWR and a CAT scale in Arizona put us, TV and trailer at 19,500#. (Wife and I, full fuel, dry tanks & toolbox ) Yeah, I know...Arizona ?

F&R TV axle weights were within GAWR specs, yet I was OVER on truck GVWR, by 1,100 #'s ( I still can't figure that one out ??) Trip came off without a hitch or major delay. Oil, fuel, filters, per schedule.
On way back, we stopped at factory to fix a bunch of defects/flaws.
While looking for a new home, a retired couple bought the NEWER trailer for $7K less than I paid. I figured it didn't owe me a thing.

.........

Michael

You have a great towing truck, it is a keeper.
The issue you have with the weight is similar to mine, you are caught in the early 2000 250/2500 GVWR dilemma! your axle ratings are likely 5,200 front and 6,000 to 6,100 rear so 11,200#+ of axle ratings and likely a 8,800# GVWR.
The 32' 10,000# will get you closer to the GVWR, but you will likely still be over. You didn't mention using air bags, likely you didn't need as still within rear axle rating.
I tow an 32' 5er with a dry weight of 9,820, and a GVWR of 12,360# towed at about 11,000# just like you before over GVWR, but well under axle ratings.

Your TV GVWR is likely in the range of 78% of the total axle ratings, new trucks run in the 90% range.

It is your call, but I do just fine running over the GVWR, but within axle and tire ratings.

[Bamaman11]

My F250 7.3 was purchased 9/2002, and I've got 118K miles. I'm finally getting around to setting it up to tow my new fifth wheel trailer. The suspension, shocks and brakes are @ 100% condition--important. I put a D-P Tuner chip with 60 hp tow mode and 80 hp econo mode. Then came gauges, AirRide suspension, fifth wheel hitch and a TruCool auxiliary transmission cooler. That's about all I can do for a reasonable investment.

I would suggest you find a quality diesel mechanic and have the engine checked out on the Ford engine scanner. I did this and found out my Fuel Injection Pressure Module was bad--after two new NAPA/Standard modules. A bad module can make the engine quit suddenly--or start rev'ing up and down (acting crazy.)

After all, you don't want any surprises when you hit the road again.

[FishOnOne]

Since the truck is in mint condition I'm assuming you kept up with the maintenance (fluids, filters etc).

However it's probably time for a new set of quality shocks. Also check to ensure the oil cooler isn't leaking either as these are prone to leak with age.

If these trucks are taken care of they can easily go 500k miles.

Good luck...

[fireman41]

Don't forget ball joints and ty rod ends

[jfritz_drfritz]

Change all the fluids
Have the brake calipers serviced
Consider new rotor and pads
4x4 if it hasn't been done in the past few years I would change the front axle boots to prevent a vacuum leak
Check universal joints
Spare cam position sensor?
I would have a spare glow plug relay
Check tightness on your turbo bolts bot on the pedestal and back of the turbo
Prob is ok but you might want to check your high pressure oil pump pressure to see if still ok
New rubber and change the spare if you still have the original
Maybe check or replace the trailer wiring harness on the back of the truck they get pretty ratty after 13 years
Shocks?
Wipers?
New bulbs for your headlights
Replace the fuel filter

That should take care of most of it
I would not put a new transmission unless it is misbehaving