Just got back yesterday from my first tow with my TV. Towards the end of last year I purchased a 2000 Ford F250 Super Duty 7.3 diesel with 163,000. I had everything serviced, new shocks and did some paint and minor body work to it. I had put about 400 miles on it prior to last week when I hooked up and towed the toy hauler down to the Texas Hill Country to ride my motorcycle on some great roads.
I averaged 15 mpg around town prior to towing anything, and got 12.5 mpg towing (trailer was probably around 7,200). I came back without the trailer as I rented the space for a month, and averaged 19 mpg driving between 65 and 75 mph. I'm really happy with the mpg's and after a total 1,400 it has not used a drop of oil. For those of you looking at used TV's like I was, it goes to show there are some good used, inexpensive tow vehicles out there if you look long enough.
You got a gem brother; to take what SWD said a step further, good ones are out there but informed sellers are holdling out for top dollar. Many realize that a 99-early 03 7.3L PSD is extremely coveted for their blend of performance, reliability, and economy, and price them accordingly.
I'll be truck shopping later this year and if I decide to get a truck camper rather than a TT, Artemus Gordon's 03 F450 7.3L will likely end up in my driveway.
7.3s aren't the best at any "one" thing, but they do "many" things well.
BManning baking in Phoenix
2008 Ford Super Duty F250 XLT, 4x4, crew cab, 6.75' bed
5.4L V8 300hp/365ft-lb, 5sp Torqshift, 4.30 AAM gears
9400lb GVW 11200lb tow
2007 Volvo XC90 AWD V8
4.4L 311hp/325ft-lb, 6sp Aisin, loaded
6100lb GVW 5000lb tow
Glad to hear the good report. Been talking to a guy at work who's Dad has a 2003 F350 CC SB 4X4. One day he wants to sell the next he don't. Been talking about selling for a year now, still won't give me a price. Truck is a gem. Just going to have to be patient. Good luck, John
shadows4 wrote: Glad to hear the good report. Been talking to a guy at work who's Dad has a 2003 F350 CC SB 4X4. One day he wants to sell the next he don't. Been talking about selling for a year now, still won't give me a price. Truck is a gem. Just going to have to be patient. Good luck, John
Be careful, 03 you could get the 7.3 or the 6.0. I had the 6.0 and got rid of it after 7 years and 60k miles....Tired of putting money into it...
shadows4 wrote: Glad to hear the good report. Been talking to a guy at work who's Dad has a 2003 F350 CC SB 4X4. One day he wants to sell the next he don't. Been talking about selling for a year now, still won't give me a price. Truck is a gem. Just going to have to be patient. Good luck, John
Be careful, 03 you could get the 7.3 or the 6.0. I had the 6.0 and got rid of it after 7 years and 60k miles....Tired of putting money into it...
I sold my '05 crew cab 6.0 with 55K on the clock, hadn't had any trouble with it, but the more I heard & read, I felt it needed to go to a new home (well, I had some influence to sell it from my boyfriend)
I (we) replaced it with a one owner 1997 7.3 PSD, crew cab, long bed, 4X4. We then purchased a 1999 7.3 PSD crew cab, long bed dually as we had purchased a 33' single slide Sunline 5th wheel. The dually tows so much better. Then we upgraded to a double slide 35' Sunline 5th wheel, so my '97 is not being used except as an occasional grocery getter, so after a lot of thinking, pondering and double quessing my decision, I have put my '97 up for sale.
I am hoping it will go to someone that will appreciate it, because like you said these 7.3's are getting hard & harder to find.
Kitty
Deep wedgewood blue '99 7.3L PSD F-350 Super Duty crew cab long bed dually or wedgewood blue '97 F-350 7.3L PSD crew cab longbed SRW, Member: Sunlineclub.com Rescue a retired Greyhound, greyt calm low maintenance traveling companions
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