7.3 Godzilla Tows 10,000 lbs. Across the Rockies! What Was the Fuel Economy Really Like?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ม.ค. 2023
- In this video I give detailed numbers about Ford's F-350 paired with the 7.3 Godzilla Gas Burner answer tow 6000 miles across the Rocky Mountains twice.
#superduty #f350 #blueridgefamilyoutdoors #godzilla #7.3godzilla #7.3gasburner #towing #camper #fordsuperduty #towingreview #F350towingreview
![[Watch Party] APL 2024 รอบ 8 ทีมสุดท้าย ไทยต้องแชมป์ !](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NctOkvaex-Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Well done !... I've Rv'd for~ 45+ years in all sorts of rigs. We ordered a 21' F350 7.3 Godzilla with 3.73 SRW. We tow a 30' tt weighing in at ~ 8200-8400#'s. We mostly travel around the Pacific N.W. up & down a fair number of hills. Last year at this time we did a 4k mile snow bird trip to AZ & back. We averaged 10.3 mpg. We had a couple of legs with big side winds and at times head winds. Got 6-6.5 on 2 of the short legs. As you stated, plenty of power and very good engine braking. I do keep it tow / haul mode but I do a lot of manual shifting going up or down hills. Usually running at about 2500 rpm or 3000-3400 going up the large or steep hills. Friend with a Duramax diesel was averaging ~ 1.5 mpg better. we run at ~60-62 mph. He also paid ~$9k more for the engine option + DEF + about $1 a gal more for fuel. He has more torque going up hills but I have no trouble keeping up. I'm very pleased with my choice.
The upfront cost of the diesel and more expensive fuel were the main factors that lead me to the 7.3. You do give up some torque when climbing. However, there is still plenty of power to get the job done! Thanks for watching!
My ram 3500 drw with 18,000lb grand design momentum I get 12mpg…1750 rpm 60mph
@@robertpayne1153 those are pretty good numbers for a rig that heavy.
I have a 2021 f250 with the 6.7 psd. 55,000 kms on the truck 45,000 of them towing and I’m averaging 15.8 L/100kms. Sucks how expensive diesel is though lol. Wait and see what diesel prices do over the next year to decide if I’m going to change in the future. Nice video
@@jonathan9649 thanks for watching!
I just bought a 2020 F250 STX 7.3 and tow a 5000lb travel trailer which has been a dream in the Colorado Rockies and averaged 11.2 mpg. I have seen my numbers down to 10.8 when driving over the mountains in Baja California with a head wind. And I would like a bigger camper but know the mpg is gonna drop but I rarely drive faster than 65 and usually keep it at 60 because I don’t need a ticket and not in a rush.
11.2 mpg isn't bad for 5000 lbs. I think a lot of the decreased mpg with my career is the fact that it's a fifth wheel and has significantly more drag due to the front cap being elevated behind the truck versus in line. You may be okay with a bigger travel trailer.
I live in Utah. I took possession of my Godzilla in October of 21. It was the first production run off the line for 22. Not only is it my tow vehicle, but it is my daily driver. I ordered the crew cab XLT with the 8’ bed and the 3.73 rear axle ratio. I love it! Over the life if the vehicle I am getting 15.7 mpg. While towing I get 10 mpg. I tow an 8k lb trailer with two atv’s on a rack in the bed. Would buy this truck again without hesitation.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I feel the same about purchasing the 7.3 again if faced with the choice. That 15.7 mpg lifetime is good.
We bought our 7.3, 10sp, 4.3 rear end, Tremor almost two years ago now with 28k miles on it. 90% of the time, it has a 38ft bumper pull at 11.3k gross RV behind it. Been to Chicago and west coast twice, western states all over. Lifetime MPG says 8.3mph. Flat highway, 10th gear about 10.5mpg. 1-5 percent grade in mountains, truck putting in 5-20% effort. Rarely on the brakes! Truck is capable all over the place, looks good, and comfy.
I'm pushing 25,000 miles on mine within a year. Half it's like has been pulling our fifth wheel. I agree with the capability. These engines are awesome! Thanks for the comment, and thanks for watching!
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoorsthank you fur this video.. will you be doing an update puller the 5'er?
How’s the brakes on the steep grades out west ( Colorado etc etc ) did you have any issues ? ? Works you recommend upgraded larger brakes & possibly banks exhaust system as well ? Thx again great info & video . 👍🚗⚾️
This is a great video with a ton of data points to consider. Great comparison and real life experience. Thank you.
Thanks for watching! I'm glad to be able to bring it to everyone and give them some real data points to consider.
Very detailed video! Those 7.3’s sure are in a class of their own.
I agree. I'm glad I made the choice.
Great info! We’ve been really happy towing with our new F350 with the 7.3. We’ve done several videos on the topic. Great truck! Your trip looks awesome.
Thanks for watching! I'll check-out videos out!
Great review, thank you!
Thanks for watching!
New subscriber - thanks for the video. I am enjoying your channel and hearing about your journeys. I like the southern drawl, kinda relaxes me to listen to as my grandpa's family is all from Georgia and I enjoy their accent.
Welcome to the channel! Appreciate the comment.
This is the best, most informative video on the 7.3L, 3.73, MPG. Thanks for sharing all that information. Very well done. Keep putting videos out.
Thanks! I have a few more video ideas I'm planning on using. Thanks for watching!
Dream beard and truck.. one day I'll have the truck. Thanks for posting
Thanks for the compliment. You won't regret the truck. As for the beard, throw the razor away and watch it grow!
Great Review Love the 7.3. One of the biggest things I notice is that traveling west to east, tail wind, is always better than east to west, head wind.
Totally agree! We may try the reverse route when we make the trip again.
Good video, very informative. First time I’ve ever heard about locking out the 2 higher gears
Thanks for the comment. It seems to help keep the torque converter locked more and rpms up a bit. I've heard of others who don't do this. I'm gonna try it the next time I pull to see for myself. Thanks for watching.
Works well. Do the same thing in my f150. Makes it easier on the transmission, plus the gassers like rpm
Agreed. That's why I do it.
Excellent video and thank you for sharing.
We have a 22 F350 with the 7.3 engine and 430 gears. So far here in North Carolina we’re averaging about 8 to 8 1/2 at 65 mph with a grand design reflection, 337RLS fifth wheel.
The weight is about 11,000 empty and max weight is 14,000 and we are somewhere in between currently.
So far the truck has about 5500 miles on it and he’s doing pretty doggone good. We are really impressed with how well it handles with and without the trailer. I should also mention that we put a goosebox MK3 in place of the standard pin box and the b&w goose ball hitch and pucks to hook up the trailer to the trucks 0EM fifth wheel prep package that came from the factory.
The truck unloaded gets about 14 1/2 miles per gallon at 70 to 75 mph per hour which is not too bad for having 430 gears
Thanks for the comment! These trucks are impressive for sure. I considered the 4.30 gears but opted for the 3.73 because we will never get a bigger camper than we have now. Sounds like your 4.30s perform well all around. I I definitely wouldn't want the 3.55's for my purposes.
Very good video with great information on the 7.3. It’s a great truck and I’m glad to hear it did good with the engine and trans braking. I’m used to diesel towing, but this gives us something to think about. Thanks for sharing.
It certainly does. Thanks for watching!
I agree.... until you get over the 8,000lb or so range trailer, then you just can't beat the power of the 6.7 Diesel.
@@randyphillips559 this is true. From my research, most any camper of 10K really benefits from the diesel. Plus it’s early to fuel up at truck stops. But it’s good to know the gasser is a good one so far.
Your welcome. Thanks for watching watching!
Love the new Godzilla 7.3L V8 ..runs sweet in a '22 F250 . 👍🏻
It's a workhorse for sure!
Great video thank you
Thanks for watching!
@blueridgefamilyoutdoors I'm thinking about buying a 2023 F350 with the 7.3 I really appreciate your video
Great info on 7.3 and your trip I have a 2020 f350 7.3 with the 3.73 gears and love it, we have pulled our 40ft 5th wheel 14,500lbs. loaded over 4000 miles and avg has been 7mpg overall, the truck has 36,000 miles on it now.
I've wondered what the mpg would be towing those weights. Not bad IMO.
Great video, this is exactly what we needed to see/know. I have a 22 F350 7.3 Godzilla with the 3.73 like you. I will be towing my 8,800 lb 30' travel trailer starting this summer. I was using my 08 F250 with the 6.4 powerstroke previously, so I felt the new gasser would do the job, but haven't experienced it yet. Funny you planned your family vaca around the daughter's softball tournament. We have been doing the same thing for years!
Softball has dictated most of our time off for years now. You might as well figure out how to make vacations around it. You will be pleased with the 7.3 gasser. I've seen videos where folks pulling a load like yours get close to 10 mpg. Thanks for watching!
Good honest review I'm very pleased with my F250 7.3 with 4:30 gears. I tow smaller weights than you, hay bales and tractors about 10,000 to 11,000 lbs so not enough to benefit from a diesel but more than I was comfortable with from my F150. Like you I tow in 8th gear but this is on back roads not highway. Will have to check out your other videos.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts! We live in Colorado so we know the roads well!
My favorite part of it is the Colorado State Line. Big dip to start things off with a bang and your teeth rattle for the first 30 minutes or so due to the rough roads. It is beautiful country though. We plan on going back.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors our roads are terrible!
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors come on back to our state! Book your camp sites as early as possible.
@@JAMESWUERTELE We will be back in the next year or two. We love the area!
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors me too 😁. Born and raised from Pueblo originally, now I live in Colorado Springs.
thanks for the information i have a 2020 f 350 with 7.3 and 373 gears, going to south Dakota in may from Pittsburgh pulling a 32 foot 5 wheel
Thanks for watching!
Good job laying out the numbers. I run 2004 Silverado 2500hd 8.1(496ci) allison 5 speed 4x4 crew cab long bed. Tow 35ft fifth wheel. Dry weight 10,200. Combined milage for my last trip 1400 miles was 7.5 mpg.. All calculated by hand as my truck doesn't have trip computer. Thanks BRFO
Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!
I ordered a 22 7.3L F-350 SRW with the 3.73 In December of 21. I took delivery at the end of August of 22, and have put 5K on it. Unfortunately I have only towed once with it because it was the end of the camping season, and looking for spring to start again so we can tow more with it. The truck is absolutely great. Around town I consistently get 13mpg. When on the highway I was getting 17. Towing the 1 time I was averaging the same as our F-150 with our 8K 30' TT at 10mpg.
You're gonna love it the more you tow with it. They are towing machines.
I just subscribed. I have the same truck but a 2021. I love the truck but just wish it had just a little larger tank. Yes the engine brake does work very well.
Agreed on the tank size. We usually refuel every 3 hours anyway so we can stretch our legs. But 34 gallons is a bit on the small side.
Thanks for the great video. Today I got a call from my Dodge Dealer about my 2010 Dodge 3500 dually 4x4 Cummins 6.7 with 126k miles on it that needs a new turbo and I expect a $6,000 bill. I’ve always been a Ford guy and loved my F250 v10. Today I have become a born again Ford Gasoline guy.
I've enjoyed mine since I've had it. Looking forward to many great miles of towing!
Excellent video! We have a 2021 Class A motor home with the 7.3 Godzilla gas motor and 6spd transmission. On our last trip we averaged 7.3 mpg, weighed about 22k lbs, tow a small car and clocked about 6900 mi. We went from south Mississippi to Montana, over to Philadelphia and then back to Mississippi. The engine brake worked really well in the mountains. It was loud but worked well.
Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching. Those are pretty good numbers for the 7.3!
Engine brake, huh?
My buddy has one, he pulls a toy hauler from Texas to Utah and Nevada, he had his tuned with HP tuners, which are licensed by Ford to change the computer programing, not a chip bypass, and he is now getting 10.3 MPG. When tuned for the work the truck is doing and the fuel you intend to run, tuning optimizes the engine for an efficient clean burn. Remember ALL vehicles are set to match California climate NOT the climate you are in or elevation. This makes tuning a must for your intended use and area. I had my 5.0 flex fuel tuned for my elevation, Corpus Christi, sea level and hot climate and my fuel mileage improved and so did my performance. Well worth the 300 dollars for the tune.
That's great info. Thanks for the comment. Did ge tune them himself?
Thank you for posting this video. I've made many trips from Kansas City to Moab with an F250 diesel, slide-in camper, towing a trailer and Jeep. I'm intimately familiar with both routes you took through Colorado. My overall mpg for this trip is 11 mpg. The difference in the cost of diesel compared to your experience with gasoline is nil. For myself, I cannot justify the added cost of the diesel engine when the performance of the Godzilla across the Rocky Mountains is acceptable. An yes, I always get better mileage in the mountains than the plains.
Thanks for watching and commenting. The Godzilla does well for sure. Pleasantly surprised me. No more diesels for me! We plan to go back to the Rockies often. Beautiful place to see.
There has been a few times I wish I would've ordered my truck and gotten the 3.73's instead buying the 3.55 that was on the lot, but so far it's done what I've needed it to do.
I did a bit of research and discovered that ordering an F350 automatically gave you the 3.73 gears and rear locker rather than having to option up to them from the F250. I'm pleased with mine so far.
This was a great video, i'm in the scope of looking for a larger truck with a gas engine. I currently have a 2020 DC Tundra and i'm towing a 27' TT and getting 6.5MPG. So this video was extremely helpful in making a decision. Thanks for making this video.
Tundra's are great trucks. However, there is no comparison to the capability of a super duty. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the well detailed trip mileage, the course taken, total package weight, wind, elevation and grades. This adds a lot to understanding the fuel mileage.
I have a F-350 SRW, Diesel, 4wd, crew cab The payload penalty of a Diesel, along with its substantially higher maintenance and repair costs lead me to consider trading it for the 7.3 gas engine.
You mentioned how mileage suffered due to the Kansas headwinds. This is one topic I've studied in detail on my truck. With a negligible load, on a flat grade, and no trailer, I have recorded the following MPG (below). The bottom line is winds and high cruising speeds are VERY significant fuel mileage detractors.
60 mph = 20.0 mpg (went over 900 miles on one tank of gas (48 gallon tank on the long bed trucks)
65 mph = 18.3 to 18.8 mpg
70 mph = just under 18 mpg
85 mph = 13.3 mpg (on Interstate 80, outside Salt Lake City, speed limit 80 mph)
11.0 mpg (Speed was 65 mph BUT there was a ~40 mph headwind. So, the wind load was comparable to ~100+ MPH
When I saw the mileage dropped to 11.0 mpg, I thought something was wrong. But as soon as my heading changed and I got out of the wind, the mileage returned to 18+ mpg.
These trucks are as aerodynamic as a large wall. Pulling a tall fifth wheel is even worse. I bet that if you slowed from the 70 mph you mentioned to 65 or even a leisurely 60 mph, your mpg would jump up quite noticeably
Thanks for the info. I agree that these trucks are not exactly aero dynamic. The fifth wheel definitely makes it worse. Since this video, I've tried driving at 65 like you suggested, based on advice from others too, and it did make a noticeable difference. Thanks for watching!
Ordered my 7.3 tremor the other day. Can’t wait.
You will be happy with your purchase!
I live outside of Denver and Drive to Texas often, sometimes Florida via Tennessee. I get great mpg in the diesel or the 5.0 coyote for most of the trip, until I get back to Kansas heading home….then it starts dropping quickly,I have had times that headwind was so bad when towing I had to pull over and fill up about every 200 miles. Thanks for the video, I have been considering trading the diesel in for the 7.3 Gaszilla
That Kansas head wind is no joke! Couple that with a slow steady climb and you have no chance at good fuel economy.
We tow a 30 foot Grand Design fifth wheel with a RAM 2500, 6.4 Hemi, 6 speed transmission and a 3.73 rear end and get similar numbers. Around here in Texas I get 8.5 but when when get to the mountains or open plains I would say we average about the same as y'all did.
Thanks for the comment! Now we have something to compare too. I know a few people who tow with a similar setup and see those numbers.
I love my 2022 F350 SRW FX4 7.3 Long Bed truck. That motor is truly well thought out design. I am VERY pleased with my purchase decision. I have enough money to buy my truck the way I want and I chose to go gas engine since I mostly use the truck as a daily driver not under load and I don’t haul 20,000 pounds ever.
That's exactly why I ordered this truck. I saved enough by opting for the 7.3 to add a few features I wanted and didn't pay for anything I didn't want. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Glad to find a great channel.
I have a much smaller setup.
2020 150/w 2.7. Outfit weights just under 9000.
I have been impressed with the ability of the truck. 14.9 MPG, plenty of power.
May try another 350 if the prices drop.
Appreciate the great video.
Thanks for the comment and for watching! Those Ecoboosts are impressive. I've owned 2 of the 3.5s. They always performed well.
I have the same F150 but my TT is around 7700. I tow with no issues but concerned with the mountains out west. lt alone Mt. Eagle in TN, have not tried that either
@@kenschernekau9805 I have been on just a few steep runs hills in Tennessee and North Carolina and had no issues at all.
I did not check the mileage but am certain it was a good bit less.
Most of my driving is interstate to South Georgia and Florida. By the way I meant the truck and trailer are just under 9000.
Appreciate your feedback and Godspeed to you.
@@dougblalock5175 Thank you for replying. My total is little more than yours, I am at 13,000 total with my TT around 7100. I have gone to NJ from GA as well as FL and the Gulf coast with no issues. I want to go out west and feel I need a F250 with the bigger engine. Thanks for your help.
@@kenschernekau9805 I think it would be vise to move at least to a 250. I too am considering moving up just to have a little more room and carrying capacity.
I have always loved camping but my wife had absolutely no interest whatsoever.
Then a few years after I retired, she started watching Traveling Robert on TH-cam and two weeks later we were on our first trip.
God really does answer prayers he just didn’t do it on my schedule.
Fantastic fuel milage for weight and size your rig!
I was happy with it. Thanks for watching!
I've driven a range of different vehicles in the rockies and mpg is always the best. I put it down to reduced drag in that thin air.
Makes sense. Never thought about it in that regard. Thanks for the comment!
Great video, will definitely consider your experiences with next purchase, was concerned buy a 10 speed, maybe best option.
Thanks for watching. The 10 speed transmission makes a big difference. I'm well pleased with it.
My next door neighbor this winter, bought a new to him huge 3 axle toy hauler, 14000 pounds. He got the gasser and it tows that trailer OK.
I've never pulled anything that heavy but have researched where people have with much success. Maybe I need to talk my wife into a bigger fifth wheel..
Thanks for the info. This gives me a good benchmark for improving my situation. I’ve made 3 similar trips out west from NE Arkansas heading to Montana but returning very similar route through Utah, Colorado etc. I’m much lighter though and using an F-150 5.0 liter towing around 6000 lbs averaging 10.5 to 11 mpg. My fuel economy is more important than time because I’m not on a schedule. However my truck has really struggled out west with those stinking headwinds and hills, sometimes causing me to downshift all the way to 2nd gear with rpm’s shooting up to 5500. I’m usually exhausted and ready to trade by the time I get there! Very much considering more power in the form of the Zilla 7.3 in a F-250. I think with my speeds and lighter towing I can get comparable mpg and no more second gear!
I can attest to the fact that the quality of the tow with a bigger truck makes for a much more enjoyable experience. My 2020 Tundra was much like your F150 in that it would do the job, but it was some work on my part to get there and much higher rpm's.
I towed thru there with same truck & 7,500lb trailer & struggled more than you even, Next yr towed with 2500 & 6.7 diesel, difference was beyond belief. Now same truck but 5th weighing approx 11,500lb loaded, still have more than twice the capability, even with 4K extra trailer, of the 5L gas. If I still had the 7,500lb trailer I think I'd have been happy with the new 7.3 Godzilla.
I think so too
We have a '22 F350 with the 7.3 and 4.30 axle, and we are towing a GD Reflection 311BHS which is a little bit bigger and heavier then yours (11k Dry/14k GVWR). We live in NH and have been around NH/S. ME/NY and out to KY with this setup. Cruising on the highway (cruise control for the most part) at 65MPH I can typically get a good solid 7.5 MPG hand calculated. If I go up to 70 MPH I'll drop to about 7 MPG. This past weekend we went to a campground about 75 miles from home and took "scenic" 2 lane state highways with the highest speed limit at 55MPH and got 8MPG on that tank. I typically do not lock out gears, although on our last trip out to NY I tried locking out 10th and the truck seems a little smoother in picking gears on the hills but not significantly better. I say that because you mention locking out 9th and 10th on your truck, and I'm thinking that is effecting your MPG's more then you think... you might just be able to break 8MPG with your setup if you let the truck use all it's gears.
Thanks for the comment. I just arrived at the beach, 600 miles from home. Based on others recommending what you just did, I tried 65 mph with only 10th gear locked out. Looks like I improved mpgs a bit by doing so. Thanks for watching!
I'm glad that Ford didn't try to build an HP/Torque monster and sacrifice reliability. I'm also looking at an F-350 with the 7.3. My current trailer is more than towable weight/payload for my F-150, but at Ball > Bumper of 31.5' that is a lot of trailer to put out for wind to react on. A larger vehicle, with eventual plans to step up to a 5th wheel, make this a good investment.
The F350 is a good move. Although my 32' Grand Desing Imagine TT was towable with my Tundra, it was a handful at times across the Rockies. It's not necessarily dangerous, but you're really have to pay attention when towing.
I also have the 2022 7.3L f250. I pull 10K trailer all the time. After playing with all the gas options on E88, 87,89,and 91…I have best results mpg on 89. Plus seen a big difference on fuel per mpg. I run average 60 mph and I get 9.2 mpg up and down interstate 95 which is pretty flat. Just by running 70 moves it down to 7.6 mpg. The only issue with these motors is the low oil pressure at idle. So people that sleep in their cars with it running at rest stops is where all the damage is done. They are known to destroy lifters with long idle times. Other than that, they are good engines.
Thanks for watching! I'm doing some testing right now to see which grade fuel performs best. Thanks for the info for comparison.
Good review of the motor and real world tow testing.I have a 2021 E450 class C motorhome that weighs 13,000# with water and fuel and tow behind another 7000# (Jeep on a trailer). I was stoked that it has the new 7.3L gasser Godzilla motor but was kinda bummed it still got the 6 speed tranny. I live in Utah and travel all over for vacations and as you experienced, it’s got some big hills to climb. After watching your vid, I’m kinda glad I it got the 6 speed but still wonder if I could get better with the 10 speed. The one thing I don’t know is my gear ratio(no vehicle build sheet when buying a motorhome) but I do run at 2000 rpm at 65 mph. I average 7.7 mpg and my best was 10.4 mpg and worst was with the heaviest head wind I ever experienced. I don’t worry about locking out any gears with the 6 speed but it usually only kicks down to 5th and rarely to 4th gear. I know one thing for sure, my next 3/4 truck will be with this motor, super pleased with it and it’s low end grunt as I won’t run it over 3500 rpms as it don’t need it going up those bill climbs. Just curious, what’s your fuel mileage as a drive empty around town truck.
I definitely going to utilize all gears the next time I tow. That habit comes from towing with my last truck, the Tundra mentioned, which had to be done. As far as mpg's empty, I see 14.6 or so. The response I got for this video has actually given me the idea for another where I will be outlining that very aspect of the truck. Thanks for the comment and for watching!
Good to hear from Motorhome owner 7.3 gas. Wish they put the 10spd in RV but sounds like yours is doing well. They gear the RV down as it's always working, 7.7 mpg towing is respectable compared to my older 6.8 V-10 struggling for 6.5 mpg towing 3k trailer, but it had the 4 spd trans. My current MH is an older 39' Gulfstream 8.3 Cummins 6spd Ally towing light 3500 lb trl but achieves 8.7-9.0 as it cruises 1700 rpm 62 mph. Next rv will will be light weight class A with 7.3 Godzilla.
My 22 f350 with 7.3 I get 1.5 mpg better by putting it in manual shifting and using the cruise. Mine likes to go from 8th to 6th in auto mode. 90% of the time I don't need to downshift past 7th. Thinking about a tuner to make it hold gears a little better. I sure do love my 7.3 tho.
I've toyed around with what you are talking about. Now that I know there is the possibility of that much of a mileage increase I'll give that a shot. Thanks!
BRFO thx for an informative video of your travels with the Godzilla Ford PU and camper. I have been following this engine since Ford 1st announced it as like your previous rig mine is 1t DRW D'Max and gets about 9-10 mpg with 40' 18k# tripple axle TH with total of 26k#. The cost of fuel and health issues have kept us off the road as in Komiefornia Gov Nauseum has current taxed diesel to $5:50gal . We're looking to relocate to AZ and might have to downsize to similar rig as you but still have MCs to haul so might end up with bumper pull and gasser PU for TV and flat floor plan for wife's knees. I'm not a Ford fan after owning a few in over 55 yrs of driving but am disappointed in GM's Chinese collusion and their lack of support to those of us who bought their pricey PUs with Bosch's time bomb CP4.2 HPFP. I might end up with a Blue Oval in my driveway yet unless Ram brings back a big hemi with low-end torque and a super charger with Aisin trans. Happy Camping and stay healthy. Ps subbed.
Thanks for watching! The 7.3 is definitely a viable option to your needs. I considered the 6.6 GM but wasn't crazy about the 6 speed outdated transmission coupled to it. Ram seems to be coming around with the 8 speed and 6.4 Hemi which seems to be a good option for the Mopar guys. I've always had good luck with Ford and like their looks. Hooefully, the longevity meets my expectations.
Very interesting. I'm considering ordering a SRW F250 7.3 3.73 gear to haul a slide-in camper. I very rarely tow so that's not as important to me as the payload, but based on your numbers I think could get 12+ mpg with just me and a light popup camper. Honestly, I'd rather get a F150 3.5 ecoboost for less money and better mileage, but it would have to be a base XL to get that payload I need and prefer the XLT. That said, the F250 XLT isn't too bad if you limit the options.
Payload is hard to come by in F150s unless you specifically build one to meet your needs. I'm glad I moved up to my Super Duty. Check out my video on daily driving fuel mileage to see how my truck does for everyday fuel mileage. Tha KS for watching.
Just did a trip out to Utah from Miramichi New Brunswick, Canada. 2022 XLT F350 6.7L crew cab short box single axel 3.55 rear end. Towing a 2012 Jayco 265RLS 5th wheel (most with water in the tank). Total trip was about 13 000 km computer said I averaged overall 17.1 L/100 KM (13.7 MPG).
Those are good numbers. How much did your rig weigh? I averaged around 11-12 ( based on truck computer) when I had my 2016 6.7 Powerstroke.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors Didn't have it on scales but dry weight is 7400 GVWR is 9950 lbs for the camper. Plus 50 gallons of water. Truck was loaded down with 180lb hitch 3200W generator 3 jerry cans. I usually tow at 100km/hr (62 MPH) and rarely exceed that.
My 2021 E350 cutaway van with the 7.3 Godzilla motor has the 4.56 gears 😱
What kind of mileage do you see with thioe gears?
@blueridgefamilyoutdoors 10.5 in the summer, when it's colder 11.4 - 13 2.
The van weights about 10,000 lbs.
A converted RV
Great, informative review! Thanks!
Curious as to what the truck gets without a load, in eco-mode on the highway?
Here is a link to a video I made with that information. th-cam.com/video/NkVMGEmx51k/w-d-xo.html&feature=share7
Thanks for watching!
Great review.... I'm in the market for a 22 platinum tremor 7.3... then supercharge it when the warranty runs out... Talk to many many Ford dealers here in Colorado with 6.7 powerstroke waiting for parts for 4 to 6 months🤯 no thanks
I would like to one day supercharge mine. I can't imagine the power it would have. I wonder about the transmission behind a supercharged 7.3, though. Would it hold up?
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors absolutely.... It's been done a bunch. Look up svt superchargers
Great video, much respect for the long trip you did and the Godzilla engine. We live about 5 hours south of you on the south side of Atlanta. We have a trip planned this August towing our Grand Design 2800BH with our 2022 Chevy 2500hd gasser to Naples, ME. I can't wait to do it and will be doing the hand calculation as you did for fuel mileage. Right now after just a few times towing our camper we get about 8 to 10 depending on hills of course. So I can't wait to see how our gasser does on an approx 3400 mile round trip up there. I know a totally different truck but still a HD gasser. Much respect and a great video. Subscribed!!
Thanks for the sub. Our last camper was the 2800 BH. We loved it, and it made the trip out west in 2021. I can't wait to go back and see more stuff!
Time for the transfer flow 58 gallon tank install
That's a thought. Most of the time, a tank (34 gallons) lasts me about 3.5 hours, depending on conditions. I like to refuel and stretch my legs for a few minutes.
Yep. When towing travel trailer cross country with 7.3l Godzilla getting average 7 mpg depending on wind/elevation change. It’s not great. For reference, I was towing the same travel trailer with a first gen ecoboost f150 on multiple cross country trips towing, and averaged 9.5 mpg. One time with a tailwind we covered a couple hundred miles getting 13 mpg. I was cracking up
Thise Ecoboosts are great for towing. Had a half ton had the payload I need I would still be in one. They are certainly more pocket book friendly regarding fuel!
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors yeah, I upgraded to f250 for payload as well. We were always riding the line, and I didn’t like it
I have 2022 7.3 with 4.30 rear axle it’s a monster didn’t buy for fuel mileage
True statement. Thanks for watching!
Watch you rollers and cam at 45,000 mi...seen alot of delaminating....garbage parts internally no matter your maintaining track record. Also we went to Moab and green river , utah.. loved it we drove from Cleveland to Moab 1600 mi each way and I have a 17 ft travel trailer about 3 tons and with a 1500 silverado we ran about 10 mpg in the rockies...
I hope it stays together. Moab is a unique place. We enjoyed our time there other than the 110° heat. Thanks for watching.
@Blue Ridge Family Outdoors thanks for posting..people doing these vids is what got me to travel with my family more..God bless and God speed
@A HILL Thanks for the support! Checkout our other videos, too. We've been to some interesting places. We enjoy bringing these to people.
Just traded in my 2017 f-250 with the 6.7 diesel for a 2023 f-250 with the godzilla in it with 373 gears hoping that i love it supposed to be in right around labor day we pull a 2023 335cg keystone outback outback about 10,000 lbs crossing my fingers i made the right decision,, thanks for the info
Glad I could give useful info. I think you will be satisfied. Thanks for watching!
Looking forward to my new used 21 model with 7.3 coming in. Sold my 17 model f350 dually to get this one. I was over daily driving a dually and paying high diesel prices. I have a 44ft toy hauler that's around 16,000 max loaded. Best I got with the dually was around 8.5-9mpg. I figure the 7.3 should be around 7.5-8mpg hopefully pulling it
It will interesting to see how the 7.3 does with that load. I feel it's capable. Just curious of the mpg. What gears will you be running?
@Blue Ridge Family Outdoors the one I found has 3.55 gears. Not ideal, but I'm not putting all the time. Maybe 5-6 times a year with the camper. The rest of the time is just an 18ft car hauler with rzr on it. Hoping with the 3.55 that I'll get better mpg highway driving.
@Chanz Smothers that should help. I think I'm going to run some daily driving mpg tests and do a video on it with the 3.73 gears to see what the real hand calculated numbers look like.
@HalfShell it'll be alright. Also that 16k was max loaded. That's full tank of water which is basically 1000lbs that I don't carry much so that right there gets me below the 15k rating. Hitch weight is 2800 with max loading. I'll put bags on if I need to for that. Otherwise, it'll be just fine.
Very similar fuel consumption with our 22 F350 crew cab long bed 4x4 4.30... Our trailer is about 9500 and like most TT's it's like pulling a parachute.
I've wondered how the 4.30 gears would perform regarding fuel mileage. Sounds like it isn't a huge difference.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors I'm sure there is some "measurable" difference at high speeds on the highway. There's bound to be some exact theoretical difference out there in the Googleverse
I have the exact same f250
I love mine!
Good video but you need to start using 9 and 10th gear when you can and your mpg will improve to the 8.5 to 10 range. I have the same truck as you 2021 year. I have 135k on it as of right. I pull a 32 ft gooseneck trailer and 80% of the miles are loaded as I use it as a hotshot truck. Average loaded trailer weight is 12 to 17k pounds. Trany oil was changed by me at 120 k and although dark there was very little on the magnet and I could see no metal flakes. Was very impressed by that. Anything above 6th gear is in the overdrive range. I do however turn tow haul off Going down hills and shift id down my self. Only time I'll limit how high it goes is if I'm hitting a big head wind or it the rockies and I'll down shift it myself in those cases as well. Good luck your going to enjoy the truck.
Thanks for watching and for the advice. I'll try that on my next trip!
@Blue Ridge Family Outdoors only other piece of advice i can give is carry a new plug wire with you. It may have been fixed by Ford by now but I went threw three new wires on the number 2 cylinder at 32k then 36k then 39k. Fourth wire on number 2 cylinder at 90k. I know of a few others that have had this same problem.Other then that , it's a great truck
@@justindohrn858 I'll definitely take that advice. Thanks again!
Great video, thank you very good information. Is this truck a long bed?
Thanks for watching! It's a standard bed.
this video was great. i own a 97 7.3 PSD and cannot stand how poorly it goes even with all my modifications-i regularly pull 10k across the rockies from one end of colorado to another. i also regularly use a 2020 tundra for the same purpose and surprisingly they perform about the same (big plus to the tundra! a modern half ton compared to an older 3/4!)
that being said, i was gonna buy a 6.2 ford. however, the 6.2 is pretty comparable power wise to the 5.7 iforce and i just haven’t been super impressed with it over the rockies. i plan on eventually getting a gooseneck race trailer and it struggled pulling i70 at 6.2mpg with ONE car, so i decided to hold off on buying a truck and wait til i can just buy a 7.3. this video confirmed my choices! not only was it comparing a tundra, but it also included my stomping grounds and the roads i regularly drive!
ps, tundra has 4.30s:)
just last week, i pulled a 5000lb truck on a 4600lb trailer with the tundra over i70 and i am not exaggerating, from silver plume to the start of vail pass right as it flattens out i was at 5800rpm. so about 13 miles, or close to 15 minutes straight. pulling hills or engine braking. with the exception of it went to 3rd gear while in the eisenhower tunnel lol
I've been there and done that with our bumper pull camper. The Tundra will do it, but the 6 speed transmission hurt it. Staying in 3rd is its only option, and rpms are high. Love my 10 speed in the super duty!
You won't be sorry for picking the 7.3 gas engine. It performs well in tough conditions and is cheap to maintain compared to a diesel. Thanks for the commet!
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors i hope so! well see how interest rates and prices go, and if i find i even need a truck or not next year. funny you talked about higher MPGs going over the pass, it’s always funny hearing road trippers discuss that.
the biggest use of energy are velocity and vertical displacement, but if your overall magnitude of velocity is constant, vertical displacement is the biggest contributor to energy usage. so if you start at 5,000’, climb to 11 and go to 6, you’ve netted a +1000’ elevation gain and therefore have more potential energy that you started with, which came from your fuel.
now imagine starting at sea level and climbing to denver, that’s +5000’ extra potential energy. since your rolling resistance, speed, and aerodynamics stay constant, height is the big one:) i can still get 20mpg going from grand junction to denver in my 7.3 either way lol
Thank you for this detailed information. I have a similar F-350 7.3 with the 4.3 gearing towing a travel trailer and am about to step up to a similar sized 5th wheel.
It looks like you have a short bed-can you tell me what hitch you are using with that 5th wheel and how you like it?
Yep! I'm using the Anderson Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch and love it! No chucking, solid connection, and I can easily remove it in a few minutes to have my entire bed for use with no rails in the way. The only negative is that you have to have a gooseneck ball installed in addition to the Anderson. So, it's not as cheap as going with a straight fifth wheel hitch, but well worth the additional cost if you can swing it.
Not bad for a gigantic v-8
I agree. Thanks for watching!
Just wondering if you F350 has the same settings as mine 15 F350 where you can change the mileage calculation. You can select either standard or towing. It might actually even be closer than the .2 miles/gallon. Also another thing to think of is how many miles were on your pickup before your cross country trip? You might actually get better mileage now because your pickup will have more miles and past the "break-in" period.
Thanks for watching! I'm not sure if there's a setting in mine to change the mileage calculation. I'll check into that. I had about 5,000 miles before the trip. I will definitely check mileage on the next trip to see if there is improvement. Thanks for the comments!
2021 coachman pursuit 35 ft gas 7.3 class a towing 2019 Colorado avg 68 /70 mph getting 7.5 avg mpg if i ran at 65/68 prob get 8.0/8.5 mpg.
Those are good numbers for a load that heavy.
well I love my 2021 7.3 f250 but when the power steering pump went out at 60,273 miles and has been in shop for 2 weeks and counting because can't get one
That stinks. Hopefully, it is back on the road soon. Thanks for the comment!
you can use 9 and 10 now days. the PCM will drop back when needed based on load and save you fuel when lower gears isnt needed. 7.3 makes 400lb-ft at only 1500 RPM
I've been using those upper gears the last few trips. It certainly makes a difference. Thanks for the comment!
If fuel cost is important, just slow down. I’m getting at least 10 mpg going west and as high as 11.8 mpg going east. F150, 5.0 liter, 10 speed, 3.55 axle, towing a 8,000 to 9,000 lb trailer from MN to AZ at 58 to 60 mph. I lock out 7-8-9-10, and run 6th gear on the flats at 2700 rpm, and 5th gear in the hills at around 3200 rpm. Non towing is 22 mpg highway.
That's pretty good mog's for towing that weight with a half ton. I've been towing around 65 and seeing higher mpg's as if late. Glad to see someone else lock-out gears. Seems a lot of people aren't familiar with doing that.
The big question is when you went over wolf creek pass did you sing the song? Lol
Haha. That song was a little before my time, and I've never heard it till I looked it up just now. Good song though!
I might have missed it (new to the channel) - why not go PowerStroke for all of the towing? Less complexity and acquisition cost of the 7.3?
I went with the 7.3 because the initial investment was $8,000 less for gas vs diesel, plus a cheaper cost of ownership. No fuel filters or DEF to purchase. Oil changes are cheaper, and although diesels get better mpg's for the majority of the time, it drops significantly during regens. If I had to pull heavy loads frequently, I would go diesel hands down. But for my needs, the 7.3 is more than sufficient. Thanks for watching.
Love this video, Thanks. You said this truck has a high payload, what's your GVWR? Are the upper gears locked out in Tow/Haul mode? I'm looking to get one of these.
My GVWR is 11,300. You lock the gears out on the shift lever +/- button. Hit the "-" button to take 10th gear out and so forth. Hit the "+" to put it back in. You can do that in any mode, although tow/haul is usually the only time I do that
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors Thanks
@@keithkrueger5352 yes sir!
My 7.3 is the same. I don’t lock it out I just let the tow haul mod do it’s job I live in salt lick , ky I tow my tractor and my cattle it’s a great truck. I really don’t care about fuel mileage to much were it’s always loaded. It seems to be the same even when I tow my gooseneck
Seems like a lot of times it stays in 8th gear even if the gears are not locked out. Rarely has it gone to 10th gear when I've towed this way, which is not a lot.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors same here it’s a good truck. I’ve got 200k change oil every 5k mobile one don’t burn a drop of oil
The only thing that concerns me about the 73 is that I've been hearing and scene and other videos it the Cam shaft lifters and the Cam shelves are delaminating after about 40 to 50000 miles.
I've heard. Seems like it was the 20' and 21's. Mine is a April 22 build. I hope it's past all the issues.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors me too.
Holly crap that is some crappy milage in my opinion. Our ram with the 6.7 Cummings under a 20,000 load gets on average 14 mpg. We run a hotshot company and put about 100,000 miles a year on our trucks. Out Cummings spend about 1/2 the time in the shop as our ford's
It's not great, but for the $10,000 ininitial investment to option up to a diesel, more $$$ for a delete and tune, DEF, Fuel Filters, and increased price if diesel vs gas, it's not half bad. For those who don't tow over 12-14k, the gas option is credible. You can buy several trips worth of gas for the increased cost of owning a diesel mentioned above. But to each their own. Thanks for the info for comparison, and thanks for the comment.
Excellent Video I just bought a 2022 Xlt f250 4wd crewcab traded in my 2013 f450 true cab chassis because the cp4 pump failed and I don't trust bosh and the worthlessness of the 6.7 love the 7.3 been watching it sence 2020 all I use the truck for is to tow my 26ft dune sport toyhauler witch fully loaded for dry camping is I'm thinking 13,500 but haven't scaled it will do soon,I dis tow it up our closest big hill getting out of town witch is called sunset point with 46 miles on truck 😊 Truck blew my mind probably shouldn't of pushed it as hard but I needed to see what it would do steepest parts 7° up 70mph ran 4th/5th with tons more power
Coming down hill other side dis better then my diesel in braking in tow/haul AMAZING love this 7.3 godzilla and yes I have the 3:55 gears and it ranged from 6.0-5.4 miles to gallon but here in AZ all good
Great videos I subscribed and following 👍👍👍
Thanks for watching and subscribing! 7° is a good test! And yes, the 7.3 is surprisingly powerful. I watched this motor for a few years like you before I pulled the trigger. I'm glad I did.
Hello, what year is your Dune Sport? We have one on order but curious how your quality has been. Thx
Great video. I live near I 70 just west of Denver and took the same truck out last week with my 11,000 5th wheel. One difference is I do have the 4.? rear end. I found even with manually shifting to 3rd gear going downhill the truck was wanting to still speed up past 55 mph. What gear were you down shifting to when going on the speed hills in the Rockies?
The transmission shifts down as it deems necessary. The more aggressive you brake the further, it downshifts, or so it seems. The engine brake alone won't keep you below 55 mph towing that weight, however, if you brake intermittently to knock 5 mph or so off your speed and let the brake work as it slowly picks up speed, you end up using the engine brake more than your truck brakes. That's how I utilized it and it worked well.
Thanks, at least now I know what to expect. @@blueridgefamilyoutdoors
Youvare welcome
I have 17 350 6.7 flat ground towing 10.2 mpg mountains or headwinds 7 to 9 mpg pulling 35 foot 5th wheel so tre savings on fuel alone is huge let alone the upcharge for diesle and def and maintenence sounds to me youve got it going on my trailer is 13000empty 14500 loaded. ill be looking at your ttuck in the future'
Those are my thoughts exacty! There are applications where a diesel is warranted. Just not for what I'm pulling and how I use my truck. This 7.3 is a great alternative to a diesel in my opinion.
We took delivery on our current 2017 f350 diesel back in late 17 and we've been pulling our 33 feet 10k travel trailer since we became fulltime rvr early 2018 and counting. The truck now has 118,000 miles with only basic maintenance i performed myself while camping (mostly boondocking in the desert or the mountains). We are now looking to upgrade to a 20k 43 feet 3 axle toy hauler so we sure glad we bought a diesel back then as it will not be as affordable to us if we were buying a new diesel truck today. Stay safe and happy trails!
When you mentioned engine braking, is that just downshifting? I know the diesel has an engine brake. I didn't think the gas has anything like it? Thanks for the information.
Yes. The gasser doesn't really have an engine brake as the diesel does. It just monitors you braking as you go downhill and downshift accordingly to help hold the load back. Fortunately, the 10.5:1 compression in the 445 cubic inches of displacement does a pretty good job of "engine braking." It met and somewhat exceeded my expectations.
I assume you ran 86/87 octane fuel for this run. I saw somewhere that ford says there is an actual benefit to higher octane when towing with the 7.3
That is correct. I've never tried the higher octane but might run a test to see how it does.
25 mph headwind means you were running with teh equivalent load of towing at 95 MPH if you were doing 70. yikes. glad to hear it didn't loose speed though!
Kansas wind is no joke!
I had no idea that The 7.3 had an engine brake! 😮
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Awesome video, and Why are you worried about towing in ninth or 10th overdrive’s?
I feel like in those gears, it allows the torque converter to slip more than in lower gears, which creates heat and inefficiency. I could be wrong, but that why I do it. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors yeah if they don’t lock up or it constantly shifts back and forth I totally understand that. Was really wondering if it had the power to hold it in 9 and 10th….?
Great video. We are FT with a 43ft 5th wheel. I loved the 7.3 , but no way was I towing FT with a Gas motor. We also went from FL to UTAH and I did the fuel mileage by hand. Our computer was almost spot on every time. It was off about .1 in the mountains. With the 6.7 we got 10.7 heading west and 11.5 coming east. Our 5th wheel is just shy of 18k lbs loaded. I attribute that mostly to headwinds going west. I drove 65 with cruise control 95% of the time. My only issue with the Gas engine is fueling up on the fly. Seems to me you would have to plan your stops. Also, I carry 60 gallons of fuel in the bed, so a total of 148 gallons. I am pretty sure carrying aux fuel with a gasser is pretty difficult. I will say the thing felt great when I drove it. Just some background..our first TT was towed with an EXcursion with the 6.8 v10. I loved that engine and I could tell the 7.3 was by far superior. I will be interested to see how it holds up in the long term.
Thanks for watching and for the comment. As much as I love the 7.3, I think you are right about full timing with a rig that heavy. The 7.3s do have limitations to some degree when you pull heavy loads all the time. I feel the 7.3 shines for applications like mine where I need to pull 10,000 lbs. across the Rockies a couple of times per year. Although the 7.3 is capable, its best suited to pull under 14,000 lbs from my reserach. Also, I was shocked at how close my truck computer was when towing. That isn't the case at all when empty. It's usually about 1.5 mpg or so off.
If when empty maybe you are stop and go, the computer calculates driving not idling. That could be the variable.
@@pamwooldridge2423 that's a great point. Could be the case.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A WALMART PARKING LOT THAT EMPTY. I NO LONGER CALCULATE FUEL MILEAGE MILES/GALLON. I USE THE CENTS/MILE. I DRIVE A 07 CHEVY 3500 4X4 DURAMAX DUALLY CREW CAB. AT THE CURRENT FUEL PRICE 4.09 IT COST ME ROUGHLY 35CENTS/MILE WHEN TOWING. MY LAST RIG WAS A 06 2500 GMC 6LITER GASSER. THAT WAS COSTING ABOUT 54CENTS/MILE. GRANTED, THAT WAS BEFORE GAS PRICE CAME DOWN A BIT BUT I'M QUITE PLEASED WITH MY CURRENT SETUP
It was early, and it was Kansas.. lol. I've never thought about cents per mile calculation. Good thought, though.
Don't feel bad 03f150 355rear 5.4 2v, 6% grade most of the way 8500lbs extra tall trailer... 5.8 mgp
Came here for the 7.3 gas review. Awesome 👌
I felt the same pain with my 2020 Tundra. I liked the truck. Not the fuel economy while pulling.
I have a 250 with the 3.73 gears
How is your fuel mileage?
7.3 Godzilla is notorious for lifter and cam failure, starting at 35,000 to 49,0000 miles. It seems the lamination eats of the lifters and cam. Watched it on YT
I'll keep an eye out for it. Fingers crossed, it won't happen.
Are you referencing FordBoss?
Getting a new F250 with 7.3. Did you have any trouble fueling up on the trip? Getting into gas stations.
I did not. My camper is 33' so it's not overly cumbersome to get in and out of gas stations unless they are really small. But overall no issues at all as long as you pay attention as you maneuver around. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2020 F350 7.3 with the 6.7ft bed. My biggest complaint is the size of the gas tank, it’s smaller than my old F150 5.0 :(. I’ve searched for a larger tank but can only find larger for the 8ft bed.
What size is your tank? Mine is 34 gallnons. It's not overly big, but big enough to get 250 miles or so before refueling. I'm ready to get out and stretch by then anyways so it works out for me.
Same here, mine is 34 gallons, my F150 was 38.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors
Transmission temperatures while pulling up and while engine brake
Transmission temps vary between 208 and 220 degrees at any point in towing. There's really no difference in the situation from my experience.
What's the take on the cam and roller issues they're having at low mileage?
Seems that many are saying there is a delamination issue with the camshafts. I hope mine isn't one of them.
Ford could have slid the new 6.8 into the godzillas slot and threw around 4 or 5 psi at the 7.3 and made an entirely new segment.
I've owned two 3.5 Ecoboosts. That same thought has crossed my mind. Those Ecoboosts pulled well for a half ton. The 7.3 would be a monster with some boost for sure!
If a buy a 7.3 in the near future I’m adding a supercharger as soon as I buy it.
@ZR1Terror you have no idea how many times I've thought the same thing! I've read where the 7.3 can handle loads of hp and torque from a durability standpoint. I'm not sure about the transmission, though, if you supercharge it.
@Blue Ridge Family Outdoors transmission is the same as in the diesel. Rated at 1400nm. Or I think it's like 1037 ft lbs or something like that. The stock block can push over 1000 hp. So between 600-700 Should be a walk in the park.
@@ZR1Terror with that power pulling the max load would be a breeze
Can you elaborate in a detailed way as to how the truck actually engages the braking when going down hill? I know how it works on a diesel, not sure on a gasser. Thanks
Sure! As you begin to pick up speed going down a hill, you will apply the brakes to prevent picking up too much speed. The truck "senses" this, and the transmission will gear down accordingly to utilize the engine to help slow down. It's similar to gearing a manual shift transmission down to help slow down instead of using all brakes. The 7.3 and 10 speed transmission combos engine brake is not as good as the powerstoke. However, I found it to be more than adequate for my purposes in towing 10,000 lbs. I think the 10.5:1 compression and large displacement of the engine make it successful IMO
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors Thank you for the response. So I assume the "sensing" comes from the truck being in Tow/Haul mode? Also, do you keep the truck in Tow/Haul mode if driving on the flats or do you allow the truck to engage the upper gears for better fuel mileage? Thank you.
@RD I keep it in tow/haul for the duration of the tow. The transmission changes its shift point to accommodate the heavier loads and hold gears longer. The idea is that tow/haul keeps the engine in its optimum torque and rpm range most of the time. I also leave 9 & 10 gears locked out unless I'm on a long downhill run that doesn't require much braking. That is definitely not that often. Even if 9 &10 are not locked out, the transmission doesn't utilize them often based on what I was describing earlier on oprltimun torque and rpm ranges.
Yep! As you progress down the hill and pick up speed, you begin to hit your brakes to slow down When you do this the transmission "senses" this and downshifts accordingly to utilize the backpressure of the engine to help hold you back. I don't think it's an intricate system where the exhaust valves are utilized such as like in a diesel. However, it is effective IMO. I've had the transmission downshift 2-3 gears running the rpms up into the 4,500 range and coupled with fairly mild braking on my part it kept the load under control fantastically
There’s no exhaust brake as with a diesel; simply grade braking (marketing term for downshifting) provided by the transmission in T/H mode.
I have a 2021 Ford F-250 with the 7.3 gas. Last year was our 1st year towing the whole year with it. Our camper weighs in around 7k loaded. We went on 1 trip with some steep hills in Southern Ohio and the engine brake did well until it got to the bottom and it didn't shift up as I gave it the gas. It kinda freaked me out so I threw it into neutral and put it back in gear to get it back to shifting correctly. It was my 1st time towing in steep hills and maybe I did something wrong. I'm not sure if I tapped the brake a couple of extra times or not. If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. I know with your experience you're probably laughing right now, but we all have to learn sometime. 😅
No laughing here. I noticed the same thing with mine. I just begin easing back into the throttle and hold it there until it shifts. The rpms are higher than one would expect initially. But it won't hurt anything.
@@blueridgefamilyoutdoors Thanks for the quick reply. I got a little shook up when the Rpms went to 5k! Maybe I just needed to be a little more patient. That was my 1st time on a hill that long. It was nothing compared to what you did but it was about 1 mile in distance. We are planning a trip similar to yours for 2024 to Utah from Ohio. I've been out West many times but without the camper. Hopefully I can remember your reply when it's time. Thanks so much!
@@witsend9909 Anytime! Thanks for watching.
Why do you lock out the upper gears when towing? I’ve not heard that before.
It keeps the torque converter locked more of the time and rpms a bit higher. Overdrive gears, while pulling heavy loads, tend to cause more slippage and heat in the torque converter. It's common to do that in 1/2 ton trucks while hauling. It's probably not necessary in a 1 ton. Just old habit.
13:50 Start here for those who want the conclusion.
Thanks for watching.