jentzschman
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Sandy, Utah
That's a good looking truck. I say it's worth looking into fo sure.
Noob tow rig questions
- Thread starter sixstringsteve
- Start date
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Are those 7.4's reliable?
Toad
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Millville(logan)
The 7.4s are not bad. I have seen a couple low mileage motors loose bearings in the bottom end. I think alot of guys are disapionted with the power and poor mpgs. But it will have the 4l80 trans.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Thanks Toad.
I drove a 6-speed cummins today. It was definitely a different experience. It was weird shifting at 2k rpm. I can see it'd be a towing machine. I think a 6 speed 2001-ish cummins would be mt 1st choice.
I drove a 6-speed cummins today. It was definitely a different experience. It was weird shifting at 2k rpm. I can see it'd be a towing machine. I think a 6 speed 2001-ish cummins would be mt 1st choice.
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SmokinCamel
Went from 80" to 125" :)
- Location
- Salt Lake City
Lucky. The 6 speed is the only thing i would change. The 5 speed i have is alittle too spaced out. i drove a 6 speed, not really towing much but still liked it.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I started out in 2nd when not towing, does that sound about right? 1st just seemed way too low.
Toad
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Millville(logan)
Go for the Cummins. Just dont put dual 18" stacks on it and over fuel it so it belches black smoke like all of these Idaho trucks I see cruising aroud Logan.
SmokinCamel
Went from 80" to 125" :)
- Location
- Salt Lake City
Yeah 2nd gear normally. 1st is a granny gear.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I hate the black clouds. I don't want one that's been chipped. I want a nice clean stock one, and I'll keep it that way.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I got to see this today. It was an AMAZING truck. Super nice guy too. Is he your brother in law?
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
That's the plan, unless I find a SUPER cheap 8.1
But deep down I'll really wish I had the cummins. You guys have been really helpful, thanks.
Cherokeester
Registered User
- Location
- Wellsville Utah
SmokinCamel
Went from 80" to 125" :)
- Location
- Salt Lake City
Mine isn't chipped and it blows black exhaust. 
LT.
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Los Alamos, New Mexico
With the five speed tranny there will come a time when fifth gear will be too high of a gear and you will find yourself shifting down to forth. If you are on a long enough hill you will also find yourself wishing for a gear between forth and third. Especially if you tow heavy. Third gear will rip a house off it's foundation and forth is just a little too high still. The six speed tranny fixes that.
LT.
LT.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Sweet, that's good info. Six speed for me then.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I test drove that silver cummins a few pages back. it needed an alignment, but drove pretty well. It was clean and only had 112k on the clock. Turns out he wants $14k for it, and he didn't mention it had a salvage title till I got there to drive it. Front end had been hit. It's probably a great dependable truck, but not for $14k with a salvage title.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
For those of you with the Ford 7.3, what are you getting for MPG?
- Location
- Smithfield Utah
218 reply's!
Tow rig and daily driver... That's tough and for me it eliminates all the V10's and big block gassers. They just do not provide fuel economy that I can live with. If you only use them to tow it might be worth considering that option, but for me they are out. Most late model small block gassers will pull your Toyota just fine for the most part and give you decent mileage as a daily driver but you will NEVER want to pull two rigs unless you have a very light trailer.
For starters am far from a die hard Ford fan (If Toyota made a truck like this I would have one LOL) and this is only my reasoning and opinion so everyone please take it with a grain of salt. Not trying to pimp my vehicle in any way just sharing some info about it because not too many people are familiar with them
I bought a truck that fit my needs and Ford was the ONLY one to offer the true four door with a mechanically injected diesel and a manual overdrive transmission with a solid front axle. I've been through quite a few trucks trying to find the right one and so far I am extremely happy and very satisfied with the Ford and I have NO desire to buy something newer or different. Here is my reasoning....
7.3 IDI. While its not a powerhouse compared to the new trucks it will still put out plenty of usable power. It is also right up there with the 12valve Cummins for reliability and simplicity. I like the fact that every component on this engine is serviceable and wear items are cheap to replace for the most part. There is no need to have a technician trouble shoot it or to pay big money for dealer only parts either. A new injector pump and injectors cost 1/10th the cost of anything on the electronic diesels and I can change them out myself (if they ever go bad) with basic tools. This motor had a long production run and aside from industrial use it was placed in the most popular light duty pickup sold from 83-94 which is really nice when it comes to sourcing parts.
Manual trans: I'm done with automatics in full size trucks--well I haven't owned an Allison but for the most part I'm done They can work well but they are expensive to replace when they don't. Buying a used truck means you have no idea what the transmission has been through and that could cost in the long run. I prefer towing with a manual as well as I feel it gives me a lot more control.
Crew cab: Fitting the entire family comfortably was really important to me. I like the space and I feel its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Car seats in the super cabs are a pita and a regular cab truck does me no good whatsoever.
1ton axles. Solid front dana 60 and Sterling rear. I don't have premature balljoint, rod end, pitman or idler problems and I never will. These components are very stout and work well offroad.
Diesel. Better mileage, better power, longer lasting (well depending on which one you go with) and stupid simple/reliable if you go mechanical. For my money it would be 12 valve Cummins or Ford IDI or a 7.3 Powerstroke with a detailed service history. Problem with Fords in the late 80's and 90's is the TTB front end in the F250's (F350's didn't have that later than 85.5) and the auto trans. If you find a older Ford with an auto its not a question of if the trans will go out its a matter of when :-\ Anyway if these interest you price them out in the classifieds. They are really cheap compared to the Dodges (Cummins) and the newer diesel trucks.
Tow rig and daily driver... That's tough and for me it eliminates all the V10's and big block gassers. They just do not provide fuel economy that I can live with. If you only use them to tow it might be worth considering that option, but for me they are out. Most late model small block gassers will pull your Toyota just fine for the most part and give you decent mileage as a daily driver but you will NEVER want to pull two rigs unless you have a very light trailer.
For starters am far from a die hard Ford fan (If Toyota made a truck like this I would have one LOL) and this is only my reasoning and opinion so everyone please take it with a grain of salt. Not trying to pimp my vehicle in any way just sharing some info about it because not too many people are familiar with them
I bought a truck that fit my needs and Ford was the ONLY one to offer the true four door with a mechanically injected diesel and a manual overdrive transmission with a solid front axle. I've been through quite a few trucks trying to find the right one and so far I am extremely happy and very satisfied with the Ford and I have NO desire to buy something newer or different. Here is my reasoning....
7.3 IDI. While its not a powerhouse compared to the new trucks it will still put out plenty of usable power. It is also right up there with the 12valve Cummins for reliability and simplicity. I like the fact that every component on this engine is serviceable and wear items are cheap to replace for the most part. There is no need to have a technician trouble shoot it or to pay big money for dealer only parts either. A new injector pump and injectors cost 1/10th the cost of anything on the electronic diesels and I can change them out myself (if they ever go bad) with basic tools. This motor had a long production run and aside from industrial use it was placed in the most popular light duty pickup sold from 83-94 which is really nice when it comes to sourcing parts.
Manual trans: I'm done with automatics in full size trucks--well I haven't owned an Allison but for the most part I'm done
They can work well but they are expensive to replace when they don't. Buying a used truck means you have no idea what the transmission has been through and that could cost in the long run. I prefer towing with a manual as well as I feel it gives me a lot more control.Crew cab: Fitting the entire family comfortably was really important to me. I like the space and I feel its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Car seats in the super cabs are a pita and a regular cab truck does me no good whatsoever.
1ton axles. Solid front dana 60 and Sterling rear. I don't have premature balljoint, rod end, pitman or idler problems and I never will. These components are very stout and work well offroad.
Diesel. Better mileage, better power, longer lasting (well depending on which one you go with) and stupid simple/reliable if you go mechanical. For my money it would be 12 valve Cummins or Ford IDI or a 7.3 Powerstroke with a detailed service history. Problem with Fords in the late 80's and 90's is the TTB front end in the F250's (F350's didn't have that later than 85.5) and the auto trans. If you find a older Ford with an auto its not a question of if the trans will go out its a matter of when :-\ Anyway if these interest you price them out in the classifieds. They are really cheap compared to the Dodges (Cummins) and the newer diesel trucks.
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sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Thanks Rot Box.