Looking to step up from 1/2 ton

[Klitch]

I thought I'd come across you guys for some input on these 2000+ trucks. I've done some research and have some first hand experience with a 2000 f250 7.3.

The reason im lookin to upgrade is because my 97 F150 "Stitches", I love her dearly, is a slight hassle for me. 500hp gas truck, lifted with 35" tires just isn't agreeing with the 8.8 axle, the super cab is just a touch small with a child seat in the back. I have seriously considered $4000 to upgrade the suspension to a SAS dana 60 front and sterling rear with leaf front. i still would have the issue of the frame is not quite stout enough for the real heavy hauling.

Recently a kid i work with offered $14k for the truck, so i began looking at the easy way out. I found a 05 F250, crew cab, XL 5.4L for $7950 and wow that caught my eye. some research showed me the 6.0 was a scary disaster waiting to happen, the trucks have a death wobble and all kinds of cool crap im not interested in. im not keen on the v10 because of mileage, not concerned with the torque on that one, the 5.4 i know well and can easily put a lightning blower on its nose and pull that throttle all day.

my dads 2000 7.3 cant pull the loads my little 5.4 does, and the 5.4 wont back down the speedo either, i can drop into 3rd and pull with any load ive had behind me up the hills i've driven. so needless to say im not impressed here.


Can you guys give me more things to consider about the SD trucks? budget will be a major factor.

[southern7.3]

Your dads 7.3 can't pull the loads your 5.4 does? My buddy had a 5.4 and I could tow whatever I wanted and his truck hooked together backwards

Ive never heard of a 6.0 death wobble, maybe in an older dodge

The 6.0 is a fine motor if maintained right. Heck along with a few mods they are good to go

You cant go wrong with a powerstroke. Whatever truck you decide on get an OASIS report done and check for the obvious.

[chvyrkr]

I'd shoot myself in the foot before I considered serious towing/hauling with a gasser. The old 460 did quite well at that, but at considerable fuel cost. Think I got about 7 with a two horse trailer with my old 460 powered truck.

The 7.3 is very easy to wake up for towing with minor mods. I have no issues pickin whatever speed I want to pull 10k up 6% grades.

[Klitch]

well the thing is you mentioned your friend had a 5.4, but that motor really comes alive with boost and ported heads. the 7.3 i think has 4.10's stock and he bought it from the lot with 35" tires.

as far as the 6.0 and the death wobble, i gathered it was just that generation of the truck, 05+ from what i've read in general was hit or miss on that issue. I always heard of lots of 6.0's popping under warranty, still another "heard" issue. the price is still pretty high for the 6.0 trucks too.

i'm not big on diesels maintenance myself, i wont know what to look for.

i didnt see chev81's post. thats another consideration i took in between the 5.4 and 7.3 i have on hand. mine gets 11 no matter what, needs tuned again properly. the 7.3 at best hits 14. out of spokane is a 5.5% grade i believe and the 5.4 can seriously put a hurtin on the 7.3 typical load was around 7k. my goal load is 3k# payload with around 6k# behind the truck. i will give the 7.3 credit on stopping power lol

[chvyrkr]

So, you're gonna SC a 5.4 for towing?

[Klitch]

Not sure yet, i have time to decide. I'm honestly just impressed the SC'd 5.4 does so well, im not ruling anything out yet but the v-10 is honestly at the bottom of the list. 7.3 and 6.0 are a toss up between each other but have to be able to out perform what i've become accustomed to if your understand what i mean?

what would i be looking at between the 6.0 and 7.3 to make sure i'm confident on any hill?
i guess i should consider trans options too, they start using 6sp manuals and 5sp autos around 05?

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by Klitch

mine gets 11 no matter what, needs tuned again properly. the 7.3 at best hits 14. out of spokane is a 5.5% grade i believe and the 5.4 can seriously put a hurtin on the 7.3 typical load was around 7k. my goal load is 3k# payload with around 6k# behind the truck. i will give the 7.3 credit on stopping power lol

Not sure if you mean 14 while towing or 14 unloaded down a hill with a tail wind, but I get 11 towing an 8k lb fifth wheel on a 4k mile trip. Think it grossed around 17k cause I had an extra 100 gallons of diesel, tools, toolbox, etc.
Doing 70 I get about 15.6. That's with about a 9k lb truck and 4.10 rear end. So 14 is NOT the max at all. I haven't even tuned this thing either.

[Klitch]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

Not sure if you mean 14 while towing or 14 unloaded down a hill with a tail wind, but I get 11 towing an 8k lb fifth wheel on a 4k mile trip. Think it grossed around 17k cause I had an extra 100 gallons of diesel, tools, toolbox, etc.
Doing 70 I get about 15.6. That's with about a 9k lb truck and 4.10 rear end. So 14 is NOT the max at all. I haven't even tuned this thing either.

sorry, i'll clarify. 14 at best meaning empty or pulling an empty car trailer flat bed. sounds like my dads 7.3 is purely over taxed by the tires now, but wasn't much better with the 35's. sounds like people hitting 18 or higher empty are stretching the truth some then?

[jesilvas]

No they're probably pretty close. Like I said, I got a heavy heavy truck. Some of these on here are lighter, and with some larger tires, but not huge. Some have better high pressure oil systems, fuel systems, injectors, and most are tuned. So 18 isn't out of the question.

[Klitch]

cool mpgs sound good. again i'd like to ask about reliability concerns with the 6.0 since i've heard rumor of lots of fatal problems and no first hand experience or knowledge of the issues ive heard about. I keep seeing 2004+ trucks, crew cab 4x4 with a 6.0 listed for 13-16k range. seems considerably lower than some others.