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Old 04-04-2012, 01:37 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokeyWren View Post
Here's what I know about the Fords:

As others mentioned, the Ford 7.3L diesels before 1995 model year were not turbocharged - they were not PowerStrokes.
Your are almost correct that they were not powerstrokes BUT there were 3 versions of the 7.3 offered in 1994. They were the 7.3 IDI, 7.3 IDI TURBO, and the first 7.3 powerstroke sometimes called the 1994 1/2. The reason I know this is that I once owned at 1994 F-350 with the 7.3 IDI TURBO. I always had to know the VIN code at the autoparts store due to the 3 versions.
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Old 04-04-2012, 04:31 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by Kunysz513 View Post
Not to threadcrap but I tow a 30' fifth wheel with a '99 f350 cc drw with the v10. It tows nicely. Now, I live in the Midwest so I don't have to climb the Rockies or the Sierra nevada's and my trips are about 6 trips a year. The rest is short, local driving.
Depending on your amount of driving and the elevation climb/descents a v10 may work out for you.
I told the wife we could have kept the v-10 had we lived in the plains.... I liked that truck ......



.....love the diesel
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Old 04-05-2012, 07:31 AM   #17
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Your are almost correct that they were not powerstrokes BUT there were 3 versions of the 7.3 offered in 1994.
Yeah, I knew that, but it seems like information overload for someone asking about older tow vehicles. The turbo-but-not-Powerstroke 7.3 (IDI, or indirect injection) was available from Ford a year or so earlier than the '94 model year. And aftermarket folks such as Banks were adding turbochargers to 7.3L IDIs before that. So you might run across a '92 or so 7.3L with a turbocharger.

The last new 7.3L IDI not turbocharged was sold in 1994. 18 years ago. Those are almost antiques now. And although dead reliable, they were not very powerful. About 8,000 pounds worth of trailer was all you wanted to tow with them in the rolling plains, and even less weight in hills or mountains.
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Old 04-05-2012, 04:55 PM   #18
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Ford has had several diesel engines available in their pickups over the years...

1983 to 1987 were the 6.9l IDI (Indirect injected)

1998 to early 1994 were the 7.3l IDI.

Late 1994 to 1997 were the 7.3l DI (Direct injected) non-intercooled "Powerstroke"

1999 to early 2003 were the 7.3l DI intercooled Powerstroke.

Late 2003 to 2007(?) were the 6.0l intercooled Powerstroke.

After that, they had the 6.4l and now they have the 6.7l Powerstroke.

As far as the IDI 7.3 goes, Ford offered a limited number of factory turbo charged engines in 1993 and more in early 1994. Both of those years still had naturally aspirated (Non-turbo) engines.

When they changed to the Powerstroke engines in late 1994, they didn't label them as Powerstrokes. They simply had a "Turbo Diesel" emblem on the fender. I believe the Powerstroke emblem came in late 1995.


To the OP: I bought a 1999 F350 dually, with the intercooled Powerstroke engine. I'm using it to tow our 35' fifth wheel and it does a great job of it. I also have a gauge pod installed and tow by the gauges, when I'm in the hills. I wouldn't tow, without a transmission temperature and exhaust gas temperature gauge installed. Also, in the 1999 model year, Ford started using the 4R100 automatic transmission in the diesel pickups. They are a major improvement to the E4OD used in the 92-97 trucks and are much more reliable. If you want to buy an older Ford pickup, I would suggest a 1999 to early 2003 pickup with the 7.3l Powerstroke in it.
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Old 04-05-2012, 05:42 PM   #19
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I had a 1997 2wd powerstroke extended cab to pull my old 5th wheel and it was fantastic to drive. I traded up to 2002 grey powerstroke crewcab and then shortly after bought the MH. The thing I liked better about the 2002 was the towing mirrors. Made things a lot easier. Both trucks pulled about the same. I pulled an 11000 lb Montana and could barely tell it was back there. I kept the 2002 in the hope I could talk DW into a new 5th wheel.
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Old 04-05-2012, 06:22 PM   #20
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Rusty, the Dodge is a great truck with a fabulous Diesel engine no doubt, but here in the northern midwest, most if not all look like a 73 vega as far as rust goes, fenders barely hanging on, doors flapping in the wind,,, yuck.

Similar year chevy's and Fords still look like new.
Stay far away from the 6.0 Fords, hard to keep the heads on em.
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Old 04-05-2012, 07:07 PM   #21
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There is some really good advice at 10 Best Used Diesel Trucks (and cars) - Diesel Power Magazine

My own choice is the '06-1/2 to '07 Chevy or GMC.
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Old 04-05-2012, 07:09 PM   #22
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Did you perchance look at the pictures of my 9 year old Dodge truck? Would you like to see more photos? No rust at all...do you see any flapping fenders? Neither was there any on my 1996 V-10 Dodge Ram 3500 (sold and moved to the 2002 Cummins for the fuel mileage and improved towing capabilities). Hard to argue against photographic evidence...

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Old 04-07-2012, 10:21 AM   #23
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We aren't exclusively looking at Ford - are main concern is that it is reliable and has ample tow capacity. Thanks for narrowing down our search I think we'll change it to 350 or 3500 (dodge) - late 90's (we'll see what price range that puts us in) and powerstroke or turbo seems to be a consensus for a must. Yes we are complete newbies and I appreciate the input more than you know!!!
Stay away from the Ford 6.0 engine. Bad news. I did my homework and bought a GMC Durmax/Allison. Probably the quietest diesel of all and very few complaints. Very pleased with it after 8,000 miles of towing.
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Old 04-07-2012, 10:56 AM   #24
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Watch this U-tube vid. Very interesting.... You have to get past the first 1:37 still pictures before the video starts.

I think there is something wrong with this man's truck. I do not think all the Duramax trucks would have performned like this mans.
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Old 04-09-2012, 08:57 PM   #25
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That was most likely a 04.5 or 05 Duramax. Yes, those had some overheating issues. I have a 2004 LB7 and it's as solid as a rock. Pulls like crazy, gets better mileage than any other Duramax. I think finding one of the 2001 to 2004 GMC or Chevy would be a good choice.
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Old 04-10-2012, 06:24 AM   #26
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Did you perchance look at the pictures of my 9 year old Dodge truck? Would you like to see more photos? No rust at all...do you see any flapping fenders? Neither was there any on my 1996 V-10 Dodge Ram 3500 (sold and moved to the 2002 Cummins for the fuel mileage and improved towing capabilities). Hard to argue against photographic evidence...

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How much salt do they spread on the roads in Texas? Take a look at a 9 year old Dodge truck in snow country.
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Old 04-10-2012, 10:32 AM   #27
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A 9 year old any make here in NEPA, unless it is a summer driver.
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Old 04-10-2012, 07:22 PM   #28
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well ever man is different,don't let no body say they are not.. I mean some like short women some like tall women.. what I'm saying is if your going 5th wheel dual wheels gives stability and better pull.... the motor with 500 horse power does not all ways pull better than one with 400... It's not the power but the torque the motor puts out... I had a 1990 dodge 5.9 diesel with 400 lbs torque... you could not keep that thing down.. a friend of mine had I want to say either a 6.9 or the 7.3 in the ford..He could get me going down hill but i could leave him going up... so check the torque on what ever you decide....
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