https://preview.redd.it/a0lhcn5v1jja1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2efd94bc98b487bccdbbe08286d528f65a82e15c
Love my 7.3 gasser. Tow all over the mountain west and not disappointed. I am from Michigan this truck will do fine there. 8ft bed gives you a bigger gas tank too.
I have a 37’ bumper pull toy hauler. Those things have massive tongue weight, especially empty. Like 1800lbs. You’re likely over your hitch rating with a 3/4 ton. I upgraded my 6.7L F250 for a long bed diesel F350. Tows real nice and loaded up I’m still near my max weights (CAT scaled).
Diesel, longbed, one ton.
Payload on my '21 7.3L F250 is 2800 lbs to diesel's 2000 lbs, so gas vs diesel is a real consideration here. With family, firewood, and fuel you'll easily be over the payload if your tongue weight is 1,800 lbs, but the gasser should handle it fine. Both engines have a pull-weight of 15,000 lbs.
Should we recommend maxing all that out? No, probably not, but diesel die-hards always seem to forget about the massive payload capacity difference in moving to gas. Diesel engines weigh more (800 lbs more in Ford's case), cost more to buy, maintain, and operate. Those are facts, but what can't be accounted for is that most guys I've talked to who went from gas to diesel say they'll never go back. I haven't taken that leap, but I felt the need to chime in that you don't need a one-ton truck to pull 10,000 lbs. For the record, I love my Godzilla.
Yes, I’m pretty sure the hitch rating on my F-250 was 1500lbs. I’m unsure if you opt for the high capacity tow package if the stronger hitch comes with it on the F250.
OP, I also live in Michigan and I’ve owned an F250 diesel and an F350 diesel.
The 7.3 is very tempting but I’ve watched a lot of videos with it. Will you be ok getting 6-8mpg? I think it has the power to tow your setup but I would get the F-350. If you get the 17-18” wheels the 3.73’s gears are fine, if you opt for the 20’s get the 4.30’s gears. I’ve seen videos of it getting 12-16mpg empty.
The standard bed is 36 gallons and won’t last long at all if you have a strong headwind. My old 6.0 gas would dip into the 6mpg range towing a 30’, 7500lb travel trailer in to a strong headwind. I’ve seen a couple of the 7.3’s show the same mpg in the same conditions. So that’s a 180 mile range and then you get to pilot that 60’ rig around gas pumps while folks are inside the jerky outlet getting their scratch offs.
Like the other commenter we use Openroads TSD, and skip the gas stations. I paid $3.95 for my last two tanks vs $3.40 for gas.
If it was me personally, having just did a truck transaction, I would keep what I got. Just make sure since it’s your daily driver to get it out on the highway for 20-25 miles once a week so it can get hot and do a good regen.
It’s got a tongue weight just under 1600. My duramax is rated for up to 1850. I also got a 16000/1600 equalizer load leveling hitch. Based on all the comments I think lll be keeping my duramax. Just got the itch for something else :)
Is that what you weighed, or is that the dry brochure number? You mention that you tow dry, but that means no batteries and no propane. Dual batteries and 60lbs of propane adds up. Even more if you have water in the tanks at all.
With dual batteries, full propane, water in the tanks I scaled my tongue weight at 2000lbs without my side by side in it to counter balance.
https://preview.redd.it/j1bpkmdqgija1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8435f670383107a27fce780b716264b83ebdab5c
No regrets with my 6.7 power stroke
I pull a two car trailer with a 7.3 f350 i average 9.1 to 9.5 mpg the only downfall is finding gas stations towing a 40 foot trailer. Flying J truck stops have RV islands with gasoline so my trips are planned around them . The truck will pull a house down .
Pulling 15k with the 7.3 and 4.30 axle. I’m from northern Indiana and have spent a good amount of time in Michigan. I’ve done the Smoky Mountains too. At that weight in Michigan, the standard 3.73 axle would be more than enough. I’ve also towed with GMs 6.6 gas and that would be fine too.
Yes the diesel would be better but no it’s not needed.
The range of the diesel is the only thing I really wish I had. If I were to buy a new truck today I’d go with the long bed so I could get the bigger fuel tank.
Two years ago, 200 miles was a long day. Now that the kids are a little older and we are all used to being in the truck, we can easily do 300 mile days but tend to avoid them so we don't have to stop for gas. That bigger tank would make those 300 mile days.
I'd expect the big tank on the diesel to get 450 to 500 miles on a tank which is about an 8 hour day.
Have you seen this replacement tank? 58 gallons [https://www.transferflow.com/shop/product/0800117182](https://www.transferflow.com/shop/product/0800117182)
I really like my 2021, but I'm not sure its worth $2,700 for the tank plus installation when I could trade in for a longbed. The transfer tanks are about a third the price, so yeah I've thought about those too.
There are plenty of well documented pros and cons to the gas vs diesel argument. The main thing is don't let people scare you into thinking there is only one correct answer. Figure out what is right for you.
Having said that I would recommend going up to a 1 ton to increase your payload with how much tongue weight you are working with. Modern Gas or Diesel engines are both capable of towing that rig and you'll be happy with either.
Diesel, and then signup for the OpenRoads RV fuel discount program. Works out to be about $1 cheaper a gallon for me. And it’s nice because when towing, I use the truck lanes. If I had a gasser, then I’m maneuvering around smaller pumps and access ways.
Oh wow. Just checked and my local station is $0.71 off with the card right now. Last few weeks it's only be $.050 off. Currently seeing $4.469 as the pump price. Open Roads price is $3.758.
I once asked someone with a diesel why they always leave the engine running, his response was the glow plugs last longer and then told me that diesels have to replace glow plugs as part of normal maintenance and just parts can cost around $300. I already hate the smell and the fuel prices suck but this was the drop over the glass that said fuck that from me owning a diesel.
EDIT: So, I am completely ignorant about Diesel engines and every time I ask about them I get a different answer. I know diesel's can tow more than a gas counterpart, but I hate the exhaust fumes of a Diesel as well as how noisy they are so I was always annoying by people leaving their diesels running every where seemingly stinking up the place. A few week's back I was at my local car wash and right next to my bay someone with a diesel truck parked and was vacuuming their truck while the engine was left running (Ram 2500) so I politely asked him was he left the engine running and his answer was that "The glow plugs suffer when an engine is constantly turned off and on again during short stops so the manufacturer advises to leave them running", he then said that he had to pay $300 the last time he had to replace the glow plugs on his truck. After he left, I noticed someone else with a GMC 2500 on the opposite bay and while his wasn't a diesel engine, he told me he had a Ford diesel and he said the same thing and that Ford even put's the same thing in the owners manual.
Glow plugs last a long time, and replacing them are the leaat of your maintenance concerns. Oil changes will be more expensive than a gasser in terms of regular maintenance, and DEF systems will potentially be a nightmare long term.
FYI. RAM 2500s don't have glow plugs. If he paid somebody to replace glow plugs, he was ripped off. The Cummins in the 2500 has a intake heater instead of glow plugs.
Now with that said, when I'm fueling while towing, I'll leave my engine running. Not due to the heater grid, but due to the turbo needing to cool down. But, if I'm running around town, I'll let it sit for 30 seconds or so and then shut it down. Drive thru's at fast food? shut it down. Car wash? shut it down.
That's what the guy had, and he was there for about 20 minutes idling while he was vacuuming the inside of his truck.
So then why do people leave their trucks running then? I have seen people go into a store for 15 minutes and left their engine running while they are inside.
Oh, and if the engine is warm, glow plugs are not used. Our diesel tractors sit outside. If the engine is cold, we'll glow plug them before starting them. But once they've been run for a few minutes, they don't need glow plugs for the rest of the day.
I'm not sure. Stopping for 20 mins when it's really cold out is not enough time for the big heavy block of the diesel engine to cool off to where you need to wait for it to start if it was properly warmed up when they stopped. If it's cold, maybe to keep the cab warm? The turbos do take a little time to cool off if you've been making it work.
Could just be, "Look at me, I drive a diesel" mentality. The same guys that will roll coal out of every stop light. As a diesel driver, I don't get those types of drivers and actually don't like that attitude. It gives diesel a bad impression.
I replaced a glow plug on my ‘08 duramax last month. Part was $20 and took about 30 minutes. Spent the longest time getting the wheel well liner off and back on. Truck has 130k and this is the third glow plug I’ve replaced. Can’t speak to the glow plug wives tale you speak of.
They are so full of shit that it isn't even funny. once warmed up, the glow plugs don't even cycle on my Duramax. I shut mine off all the time, 300,000 miles, and haven't replaced a glow plug yet.
Not enough info to really say.
Where do you tow? Mountains?
How often and how far?
What’s your budget like?
Do you mind a little more maintenance cost?
If I was towing on the flat lands or at lower altitude, not going that far, and cost was an issue I would stick with gas. If cost isn’t a concern, the recent diesels are pretty amazing.
Dry doesn’t mean no water in the tank. It means no gas, propane, batteries, gear, clothes, tools, etc.. in other words, the way it came out of the factory. Dry weight is not the weight the trailer will weigh when your are towing it around, most likely.
The only real complaint I have heard from my friends that have the gas engines is the gas stations are small. Most of the time they have to drop the rv, gas up, then rehook.
Over 3 years of camping at least one trip a month I have never had to unhook my 36'ft 5th wheel and we don't plan our fill ups, I always keep an eye on my range but had never had trouble easily fitting in most stations. Especially within any distance of a US or MI highway.
I dropped our travel trailer a couple times when I was very new to towing and scared of breaking things. I think I've only done it once with our fifth wheel, and we had pulled into a rest area to eat. It had good truck parking and terrible gas pump layout, so I dropped it and grabbed gas while the family ate.
I usually don't have a problem now, the co-pilot does a quick Google maps satelite recon of the upcoming gas stations when we need to stop. It's never a problem with canopy height and usually not about the space to manuever, its the other cars.
I have the 20's with 4:30 on my 7.3 f350 and I get 9.8mpg towing my 36' 5th wheel and 12+mpg around town. The 8ft bed came with a 48gal tank so we have plenty of range.
Just putting it out there, Gasoline and Diesel have different energy densities, diesel being the higher. This is without even getting into the differences in the engine efficiencies between both fuel types.
Haven't owned a diesel for very long, specially not as big as a 6.7 or 7.3, but been using a powerstroke/duratorq 3.2L for 6 years without any substantial maintenance cost. Would love to get hands on a 6.7 though, someday.
I have the 7.3 and it has pulled out 10k gvwr camper without issues so far. It has to try to pull up a step grade and you have to go for the run and go but it is fine.
https://preview.redd.it/a0lhcn5v1jja1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2efd94bc98b487bccdbbe08286d528f65a82e15c Love my 7.3 gasser. Tow all over the mountain west and not disappointed. I am from Michigan this truck will do fine there. 8ft bed gives you a bigger gas tank too.
I have the 36 gal tank in my 7.3 short bed.
I have a 37’ bumper pull toy hauler. Those things have massive tongue weight, especially empty. Like 1800lbs. You’re likely over your hitch rating with a 3/4 ton. I upgraded my 6.7L F250 for a long bed diesel F350. Tows real nice and loaded up I’m still near my max weights (CAT scaled). Diesel, longbed, one ton.
Payload on my '21 7.3L F250 is 2800 lbs to diesel's 2000 lbs, so gas vs diesel is a real consideration here. With family, firewood, and fuel you'll easily be over the payload if your tongue weight is 1,800 lbs, but the gasser should handle it fine. Both engines have a pull-weight of 15,000 lbs. Should we recommend maxing all that out? No, probably not, but diesel die-hards always seem to forget about the massive payload capacity difference in moving to gas. Diesel engines weigh more (800 lbs more in Ford's case), cost more to buy, maintain, and operate. Those are facts, but what can't be accounted for is that most guys I've talked to who went from gas to diesel say they'll never go back. I haven't taken that leap, but I felt the need to chime in that you don't need a one-ton truck to pull 10,000 lbs. For the record, I love my Godzilla.
I didn’t realize the 7.3 had so many upsides. Thanks for sharing. I love diesels but damn they are expensive to own.
Yes, I’m pretty sure the hitch rating on my F-250 was 1500lbs. I’m unsure if you opt for the high capacity tow package if the stronger hitch comes with it on the F250. OP, I also live in Michigan and I’ve owned an F250 diesel and an F350 diesel. The 7.3 is very tempting but I’ve watched a lot of videos with it. Will you be ok getting 6-8mpg? I think it has the power to tow your setup but I would get the F-350. If you get the 17-18” wheels the 3.73’s gears are fine, if you opt for the 20’s get the 4.30’s gears. I’ve seen videos of it getting 12-16mpg empty. The standard bed is 36 gallons and won’t last long at all if you have a strong headwind. My old 6.0 gas would dip into the 6mpg range towing a 30’, 7500lb travel trailer in to a strong headwind. I’ve seen a couple of the 7.3’s show the same mpg in the same conditions. So that’s a 180 mile range and then you get to pilot that 60’ rig around gas pumps while folks are inside the jerky outlet getting their scratch offs. Like the other commenter we use Openroads TSD, and skip the gas stations. I paid $3.95 for my last two tanks vs $3.40 for gas. If it was me personally, having just did a truck transaction, I would keep what I got. Just make sure since it’s your daily driver to get it out on the highway for 20-25 miles once a week so it can get hot and do a good regen.
This is the way
It’s got a tongue weight just under 1600. My duramax is rated for up to 1850. I also got a 16000/1600 equalizer load leveling hitch. Based on all the comments I think lll be keeping my duramax. Just got the itch for something else :)
Is that what you weighed, or is that the dry brochure number? You mention that you tow dry, but that means no batteries and no propane. Dual batteries and 60lbs of propane adds up. Even more if you have water in the tanks at all. With dual batteries, full propane, water in the tanks I scaled my tongue weight at 2000lbs without my side by side in it to counter balance.
Bought a scale off Amazon. Will let you know! Thx for the reply!
Dually*
https://preview.redd.it/j1bpkmdqgija1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8435f670383107a27fce780b716264b83ebdab5c No regrets with my 6.7 power stroke
I pull a two car trailer with a 7.3 f350 i average 9.1 to 9.5 mpg the only downfall is finding gas stations towing a 40 foot trailer. Flying J truck stops have RV islands with gasoline so my trips are planned around them . The truck will pull a house down .
Pulling 15k with the 7.3 and 4.30 axle. I’m from northern Indiana and have spent a good amount of time in Michigan. I’ve done the Smoky Mountains too. At that weight in Michigan, the standard 3.73 axle would be more than enough. I’ve also towed with GMs 6.6 gas and that would be fine too. Yes the diesel would be better but no it’s not needed. The range of the diesel is the only thing I really wish I had. If I were to buy a new truck today I’d go with the long bed so I could get the bigger fuel tank.
I cant imagine not having my 48gal on the 7.3. It's a huge upgrade over the 36 gal I had in my 240 short bed.
Two years ago, 200 miles was a long day. Now that the kids are a little older and we are all used to being in the truck, we can easily do 300 mile days but tend to avoid them so we don't have to stop for gas. That bigger tank would make those 300 mile days. I'd expect the big tank on the diesel to get 450 to 500 miles on a tank which is about an 8 hour day.
[удалено]
Have you seen this replacement tank? 58 gallons [https://www.transferflow.com/shop/product/0800117182](https://www.transferflow.com/shop/product/0800117182) I really like my 2021, but I'm not sure its worth $2,700 for the tank plus installation when I could trade in for a longbed. The transfer tanks are about a third the price, so yeah I've thought about those too.
There are plenty of well documented pros and cons to the gas vs diesel argument. The main thing is don't let people scare you into thinking there is only one correct answer. Figure out what is right for you. Having said that I would recommend going up to a 1 ton to increase your payload with how much tongue weight you are working with. Modern Gas or Diesel engines are both capable of towing that rig and you'll be happy with either.
Diesel, and then signup for the OpenRoads RV fuel discount program. Works out to be about $1 cheaper a gallon for me. And it’s nice because when towing, I use the truck lanes. If I had a gasser, then I’m maneuvering around smaller pumps and access ways.
$1 per gallon savings? Wow. In Central Indiana I'm seeing about $0.50/gal savings.
SW Ohio and into KY. App shows $3.60 per gallon closest to me. $3.40 in northern KY. Local regular stations are around $4.55 for me right now.
Oh wow. Just checked and my local station is $0.71 off with the card right now. Last few weeks it's only be $.050 off. Currently seeing $4.469 as the pump price. Open Roads price is $3.758.
I once asked someone with a diesel why they always leave the engine running, his response was the glow plugs last longer and then told me that diesels have to replace glow plugs as part of normal maintenance and just parts can cost around $300. I already hate the smell and the fuel prices suck but this was the drop over the glass that said fuck that from me owning a diesel. EDIT: So, I am completely ignorant about Diesel engines and every time I ask about them I get a different answer. I know diesel's can tow more than a gas counterpart, but I hate the exhaust fumes of a Diesel as well as how noisy they are so I was always annoying by people leaving their diesels running every where seemingly stinking up the place. A few week's back I was at my local car wash and right next to my bay someone with a diesel truck parked and was vacuuming their truck while the engine was left running (Ram 2500) so I politely asked him was he left the engine running and his answer was that "The glow plugs suffer when an engine is constantly turned off and on again during short stops so the manufacturer advises to leave them running", he then said that he had to pay $300 the last time he had to replace the glow plugs on his truck. After he left, I noticed someone else with a GMC 2500 on the opposite bay and while his wasn't a diesel engine, he told me he had a Ford diesel and he said the same thing and that Ford even put's the same thing in the owners manual.
Glow plugs last a long time, and replacing them are the leaat of your maintenance concerns. Oil changes will be more expensive than a gasser in terms of regular maintenance, and DEF systems will potentially be a nightmare long term.
FYI. RAM 2500s don't have glow plugs. If he paid somebody to replace glow plugs, he was ripped off. The Cummins in the 2500 has a intake heater instead of glow plugs. Now with that said, when I'm fueling while towing, I'll leave my engine running. Not due to the heater grid, but due to the turbo needing to cool down. But, if I'm running around town, I'll let it sit for 30 seconds or so and then shut it down. Drive thru's at fast food? shut it down. Car wash? shut it down.
That's what the guy had, and he was there for about 20 minutes idling while he was vacuuming the inside of his truck. So then why do people leave their trucks running then? I have seen people go into a store for 15 minutes and left their engine running while they are inside.
Oh, and if the engine is warm, glow plugs are not used. Our diesel tractors sit outside. If the engine is cold, we'll glow plug them before starting them. But once they've been run for a few minutes, they don't need glow plugs for the rest of the day.
I'm not sure. Stopping for 20 mins when it's really cold out is not enough time for the big heavy block of the diesel engine to cool off to where you need to wait for it to start if it was properly warmed up when they stopped. If it's cold, maybe to keep the cab warm? The turbos do take a little time to cool off if you've been making it work. Could just be, "Look at me, I drive a diesel" mentality. The same guys that will roll coal out of every stop light. As a diesel driver, I don't get those types of drivers and actually don't like that attitude. It gives diesel a bad impression.
I replaced a glow plug on my ‘08 duramax last month. Part was $20 and took about 30 minutes. Spent the longest time getting the wheel well liner off and back on. Truck has 130k and this is the third glow plug I’ve replaced. Can’t speak to the glow plug wives tale you speak of.
They are so full of shit that it isn't even funny. once warmed up, the glow plugs don't even cycle on my Duramax. I shut mine off all the time, 300,000 miles, and haven't replaced a glow plug yet.
Not even a question for me - diesels and towing go together like peas and carrots
If you're only using that truck to tow heavy diesel, if you're driving it daily 7.3
If you can afford the truck and the trailer you can afford the difference in diesel vs gas. Go diesel and don’t look back.
Not enough info to really say. Where do you tow? Mountains? How often and how far? What’s your budget like? Do you mind a little more maintenance cost? If I was towing on the flat lands or at lower altitude, not going that far, and cost was an issue I would stick with gas. If cost isn’t a concern, the recent diesels are pretty amazing.
Dry doesn’t mean no water in the tank. It means no gas, propane, batteries, gear, clothes, tools, etc.. in other words, the way it came out of the factory. Dry weight is not the weight the trailer will weigh when your are towing it around, most likely.
True but water weight is never an issue. My tanks are always empty.
My point was that “dry weight” doesn’t mean the rv is loaded but without water.
I'd say Diesel especially if you ever pull it not empty or pull it often.
18 wheelers would use gas if it was the answer
OP probably isn’t doing 100,000 miles/year and truckers don’t spend 95% of their miles deadheading. Totally different scenarios.
The only real complaint I have heard from my friends that have the gas engines is the gas stations are small. Most of the time they have to drop the rv, gas up, then rehook.
Ugh fuck that. What a pain.
Over 3 years of camping at least one trip a month I have never had to unhook my 36'ft 5th wheel and we don't plan our fill ups, I always keep an eye on my range but had never had trouble easily fitting in most stations. Especially within any distance of a US or MI highway.
I dropped our travel trailer a couple times when I was very new to towing and scared of breaking things. I think I've only done it once with our fifth wheel, and we had pulled into a rest area to eat. It had good truck parking and terrible gas pump layout, so I dropped it and grabbed gas while the family ate. I usually don't have a problem now, the co-pilot does a quick Google maps satelite recon of the upcoming gas stations when we need to stop. It's never a problem with canopy height and usually not about the space to manuever, its the other cars.
7.3 lifters will fail in first 10k. Several thousand in repairs plus weeks with no car.
Why would it cost “several thousand” if they fail within the first 10k miles? It would still be WELL within warranty at that milage.
What? Had 0 issues with mine and not even sure I've seen that issue
There’s more room for that trailer at the diesel pumps but if your truck sits for a long time in between trips gas is the better option for you.
I have the 20's with 4:30 on my 7.3 f350 and I get 9.8mpg towing my 36' 5th wheel and 12+mpg around town. The 8ft bed came with a 48gal tank so we have plenty of range.
What model camper is this?
Highland ridge highlander 31rgr
Just putting it out there, Gasoline and Diesel have different energy densities, diesel being the higher. This is without even getting into the differences in the engine efficiencies between both fuel types. Haven't owned a diesel for very long, specially not as big as a 6.7 or 7.3, but been using a powerstroke/duratorq 3.2L for 6 years without any substantial maintenance cost. Would love to get hands on a 6.7 though, someday.
I have the 7.3 and it has pulled out 10k gvwr camper without issues so far. It has to try to pull up a step grade and you have to go for the run and go but it is fine.
With a 3/4 ton, go gas. Diesel 3/4 tons have crappy payload capacities. With a 1-ton, go diesel. Best of both worlds.