Gas SD limits
 

So I am starting the process of getting a dedicated tow vehicle. My first thought, get what I know, and that is a 99 to early 2003 with the 7.3 Powerstroke. I know the engine and can rebuild it and the transmission if the need arises. The thing is they are not easy to find that are not in the 300K mile area, and those that are under 150K are either rust buckets or extremely expensive.

If I am going to spend $20-30K on a truck then I would rather it be a late model, and since the 6.0 and 6.4 diesels are garbage untrustworthy dieselbombs, and a 6.7 is $30K+, it would have to be a gas powered one. I am specifically looking at only a Dually, so what I am trying to determine is what would be a 5th wheel limit for the 6.2?

I don't care what the guides say as far as GCWR, I am more interested in knowing where the gas engine starts to struggle when pulling a trailer. 13K 15K? I do plan to climb mountains with it in the future too, and what can the expected life be on the engine?
Example of what I find https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

A hotshot hauler on another forum got 418k out if his first 6.2 using it commercially daily. His name is Flatbed Ed. He did a good job reporting the life of his truck.

I found 3 Duallies. Thats it. OTOH I found I can get an F450 diesel for less than 30K with the 6.7. I may just go that route if I cant find what I am looking for in the F350, just have to keep in mind that the state plates may be a hassle and if I can get RV plates instead.

the new 6.2 puts out 430 ft/lbs of torque. more than the compotitions gas engines. they really are a great workhorse. as far as engine life goes it's kind of early to tell. but 418k miles on one that 77ranger460 said should tell you something. what you said about the 6.0 powerstroke i disagree with. the early model 6.0's, yeah they were trash. the '05 - '07 6.0's were decent engines. many of the problems were somewhat fixed but not completely non existent, meaning less 6.0's were blowing head gaskets, etc... a 7.3 with 300k+ miles doesn't mean it don't have lot's of life left in it. everyone knows the 7.3 will last hundreds of thousands of miles if well maintained

The 2003 7.3L was produced for only a few weeks before Ford shut down the Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP) to get ready to begin production of the 2003 6.0L. So they are really hard to find. The latest 2002s are now 17 years old, so find one with less than 350k miles means the owner didn't drive it much.

So I would suggest you concentrate on trying to find a good 6.7L you an afford. Surf on TheDieselStop.com to join the Ford diesel nuts. Notice I've been a moderator on TheDieselStop since back in '99 when it was still named Ford-Diesel.com. I've not been an active moderator (nor active member) since I sold my 7.3L 10 years ago. But in the 7.3L forums you'll still find articles and posting I made back then. Esoecially on how to change coolant right, and how to change ATF in the 4R100 tranny.

The 4R100 is the weak spot in the drivetrain. On mine the torque converter begin acting up at 106,000 miles, so I drove to northwest Arkansas and had Bryan's Truck Shop (BTS) do his special overhaul, including a Precision Performance torque convertor.

The stock tune with 250 HP and 400 torque was not enough for my 9k 5er, so I added a DP-Tuner tune that resulted in 300 HP 500 torque. That was wonderful! No more downshifting for every little bump in the road.

Next was exhaust brake. The simple "electronic" exhaust brake that uses the exhaust back pressure valve to give some engine braking..

Perfect tow vehicle for a 9k trailer. Maybe even 10k. But more than that and it would be a dog on hills and passes..

With over 200,000 miles and over 10 years on that 1999.5 7.3L I sold it to a friend.

I haven't personally towed with the 6.2 in a dually, but Ford has been pretty honest in rating the SD in my experience with my 16 6.7. I would expect similar in the 6.2 ratings and they show up to 15k DRW 4x4 CC. The payload on that beast will be 6500 to 7k so hitting max GCWR will not be an issue. They rate mine at 23500 max trailer and I could see that, as I have been well north of 21k with no more trouble than towing 17k.

there's videos on youtube of 6.7's pulling 30k pounds with ease

Yes I know they can pull it, it's not the pull it's the tow, the control, the stop etc. I was just saying mine would easily hit its rated limit, and dont see why a 6.2 would not do the same. Ford has been pretty honest(read conservative) in the SD ratings I think.

I know the 6.0 has a bad rep, but it can also be rebuilt and beefed, so those will be a lot easier to find.

But really, if you're not towing a lot, and it won't be driven a lot, the gasser is the way to go. Diesels can't sit, they need to be driven. And a 6.2 F250 has tremendous capability for the money.

they sure do