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...

[4x4ord]

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.

[Samsonsworld]

Heard the same argument when I had my ecoboost. Towed all through New Mexico and southern Colorado and never had an issue.

Is the argument that the 7.3l isn't adequate or simply mine's bigger than yours? Because I find the whole thing pretty asinine.

[Lantley]

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

In the flat lands of Texas that is a reasonable thought.
If I were in Texas I may not be an exhaust brake fan either.
However the entire country is not flat. There are places where an exhaust brake is a must have and places where it is nice to have.
Fortunately we all have options and choices.

[Samsonsworld]

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

[JRscooby]

AND THE GODS HAVE SPOKEN!
Yes, exhaust brakes are now standard on diesel. And it is a very good thing, because without one a diesel hasn't got the ****** of a gas engine half it's size.
But without comparison gas engine, with the standard close throttle, restrict air flowing in does not work as well as restricting the air coming out.

[Me_Again]

Lantley wrote:
"Where is it compared? When have you used a gas engine, with same displacement, on same hill with same load?"

It's kind of a mute point. The exhaust brake has become a standard feature on HD diesels. A feature that works well and is a real difference maker.
A feature that HD gassers simply don't have. There is no comparison to be made.
We don't need to get into load, displacement or any other factor.

The gasser does not have an exhaust brake. Ultimately no exhaust break is a deal breaker and a major shortcoming of a gas engine

What he ^^^^^ said!

[Lantley]

"Where is it compared? When have you used a gas engine, with same displacement, on same hill with same load?"

It's kind of a mute point. The exhaust brake has become a standard feature on HD diesels. A feature that works well and is a real difference maker.
A feature that HD gassers simply don't have. There is no comparison to be made.
We don't need to get into load, displacement or any other factor.

The gasser does not have an exhaust brake. Ultimately no exhaust break is a deal breaker and a major shortcoming of a gas engine

[FishOnOne]

Me Again wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

The BANKS exhaust brake I put on the 2001.5 worked great for the 12K+ load I towed with that truck for 14 years

There is no doubt exhaust brakes work. If you do turn it off, then back on while going down a hill. And nobody that has ever compared can say diesel, with no exhaust brake, or it not functioning, will claim gas engine does not slow more.
What nobody wants to compare is normally functioning gas engine to like sized and loaded diesel with exhaust brake.

The Cummins for some unknown reason pretty much freewheel without the exhaust brake on, where as the V8 Duramax and Powerstroke provide a degree of grade braking.

My Powerstroke with the 6 speed freewheels a lot when coasting. I actually feel no resistance when coasting.

[JRscooby]

Grit dog wrote:


Except that’s what is actually being compared.


I can roll down a 6% with a 6ton trailer behind the ole 4th Gen and basically never touch the brakes unless I want to call up a downshift, but I’m usually in manual anyways, and a new 10 speed gasser pulling my boat of about half the weight is on the hooks multiple times.
It’s not even an apples to apples comparison as the exhaust brake will win 10 times out of 9.

Where is it compared? When have you used a gas engine, with same displacement, on same hill with same load?

[Me_Again]

JRscooby wrote:

The BANKS exhaust brake I put on the 2001.5 worked great for the 12K+ load I towed with that truck for 14 years

There is no doubt exhaust brakes work. If you do turn it off, then back on while going down a hill. And nobody that has ever compared can say diesel, with no exhaust brake, or it not functioning, will claim gas engine does not slow more.
What nobody wants to compare is normally functioning gas engine to like sized and loaded diesel with exhaust brake.

The Cummins for some unknown reason pretty much freewheel without the exhaust brake on, where as the V8 Duramax and Powerstroke provide a degree of grade braking.

[Grit_dog]

JRscooby wrote:

The BANKS exhaust brake I put on the 2001.5 worked great for the 12K+ load I towed with that truck for 14 years

There is no doubt exhaust brakes work. If you do turn it off, then back on while going down a hill. And nobody that has ever compared can say diesel, with no exhaust brake, or it not functioning, will claim gas engine does not slow more.
What nobody wants to compare is normally functioning gas engine to like sized and loaded diesel with exhaust brake.

Except that’s what is actually being compared.
Of course diesels without exhaust brakes, James, retarders have squat for compression braking. It’s just a function of their design. And since all the Hd pickup diesels have had VVTs for well over a decade, it’s now just a standard feature.
Comparing a light duty class 2-3 or even class 4-5 diesel with a functional exhaust brake (Cummins at least, I’ve pulled with a LML Duramax and it was meh, better than nothing, never towed with a 6.7 Powerstroke of any flavor) is no contest.
I can roll down a 6% with a 6ton trailer behind the ole 4th Gen and basically never touch the brakes unless I want to call up a downshift, but I’m usually in manual anyways, and a new 10 speed gasser pulling my boat of about half the weight is on the hooks multiple times.
It’s not even an apples to apples comparison as the exhaust brake will win 10 times out of 9.

[JRscooby]

The BANKS exhaust brake I put on the 2001.5 worked great for the 12K+ load I towed with that truck for 14 years

There is no doubt exhaust brakes work. If you do turn it off, then back on while going down a hill. And nobody that has ever compared can say diesel, with no exhaust brake, or it not functioning, will claim gas engine does not slow more.
What nobody wants to compare is normally functioning gas engine to like sized and loaded diesel with exhaust brake.

[FishOnOne]

Here's a pretty good tow with a 7.3 and 3.73 gears.

Link

[Me_Again]

JRscooby wrote:

With some jurisdictions outlawing "Jake brakes", IE the use of velves to get compression braking, exhaust valves do a similar effect. With out the noise issue.

I had a couple of mid '70s Macks, 1 had factory installed jake, the other had add on exhaust brake. Driving and maintaining them, I can say for sure they don't really have similar effect. Jake far and away better.
In the HD market, for likely 25 years a compression brake has become pretty standard. And while the laws about compression brakes are on the books most engines make about the same noise pulling hard as slowing. Inside cab noise standards might of caused a redesign. And most operators understanding the engine is designed to work best with mufflers also reduces that problem.

On this site, any time somebody asks about using spark plug engine to move their RV, 1 of the next 3 replies will be YOU WILL BE IN THE TRUCK LANE ALL THE TIME! In a day's drive, the time spent going up or down a steep enough to really slow you will not reduce average speed by much. Either most can't do the math, or the fact somebody passes them is a insult to manhood.
With all the issues with diesel emission systems, and cost to repair, not sure I would want to go that way.

I owned a 1993 RAM diesel, a 2001.5 RAM diesel, and a 2015 RAM diesel, and loved all three for vary reasons. The 2015 with Aisin transmission was a great towing machine at 24,500 combined weight. The BANKS exhaust brake I put on the 2001.5 worked great for the 12K+ load I towed with that truck for 14 years.

[JRscooby]

With some jurisdictions outlawing "Jake brakes", IE the use of velves to get compression braking, exhaust valves do a similar effect. With out the noise issue.

I had a couple of mid '70s Macks, 1 had factory installed jake, the other had add on exhaust brake. Driving and maintaining them, I can say for sure they don't really have similar effect. Jake far and away better.
In the HD market, for likely 25 years a compression brake has become pretty standard. And while the laws about compression brakes are on the books most engines make about the same noise pulling hard as slowing. Inside cab noise standards might of caused a redesign. And most operators understanding the engine is designed to work best with mufflers also reduces that problem.

On this site, any time somebody asks about using spark plug engine to move their RV, 1 of the next 3 replies will be YOU WILL BE IN THE TRUCK LANE ALL THE TIME! In a day's drive, the time spent going up or down a steep enough to really slow you will not reduce average speed by much. Either most can't do the math, or the fact somebody passes them is a insult to manhood.
With all the issues with diesel emission systems, and cost to repair, not sure I would want to go that way.