Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Trucks? 7.3 Ford?

Cheapest I was able to spec out a F250 or F350 4-door, 4wd with the 7.3L gasser was in the neighborhood of $45k. That is a base work truck with vinyl, the way I like it.

Thanks for all the replies guys. The 6.2 is definitely an option.

I have a neighbor with the 7.3 in a 3/4 ton. He likes it a lot. Fuel mileage isn't noticeably worse than the 6.2 and by all accounts it is a pulling machine coming close to Fords diesel engines.

I'm currently driving a 2014 F150 4X4 Supercrew and am strongly considering a F250 next time around. I don't need the ability to tow or haul anything my current truck won't handle, but having the option in the future won't hurt. I could be happy with the 6.2 with 3.73 gears and used F250's so equipped are usually cheaper than F150's.

I have 33" E rated tires on my 1/2 ton and with that combo I get no better fuel mileage than I'd get with the 6.2 and the same tires that come from the factory on 3/4 tons. I'm not really seeing any negatives for me to go up to a 3/4 ton.

Check in at Fordtrucks.com. There are lots of people that chose the 7.3 over the diesel because their towing demands don't call for a diesel. Many of the are previous diesel owners. There is lots of talk about the 7.3 and 10 speed trans.

When i finally buy a new truck it’s going to be the 7.3. My diesel demands have fallen considerably over the past few years

Not until EVERYONE stops buying the damn things which I don't see happening any time soon. But there will come a time when people simply cannot afford the ridiculous prices any longer. I bet the insurance and tag fees aren't all that cheap on them either.

I bought my 6.0 F350 back in 2006. Still going strong and I’m hoping for a few more years out of her. Bed fooor is shot and rust is starting to creep through above the wheel wells and rocker panels but it still goes like hell

A related comment. I pull heavy with a RAM 6.4L 2500 4:10 axle. It is a beast. Gas is not a bad way to go.

I further the suggestion of looking at a new Ram. I have a 2019 tradesman 6.4, 8 speed and 4:10 gears...It pulls like a beast. I can pull my 9k toy hauler around like its not even back there. Also, you can get these trucks full of options. Mine has nice stitched cloth seats, 8.4" touchscreen with blue tooth, upgraded instrument panel, backup camera, push button 4 wheel drive, tow package, running boards, and bed liner and was right at 38k out the door.

Some may find it hard to believe that the gutless wonder has been towing 15k lbs all morning, sometimes even at 65 mph. It has a 7.3 and a 4R100 automatic transmission. My 20 year old dinosaur F250 4x4 can still gets the job done. I can't understand the new truck allure, but I'm sure glad that people keep buying them.

My 99 24V-ISB had 235/460 and pulled like a beast totally stock.

The 7.3 is 430/475 so it should do the job just fine.

Mine is an older truck, 2017 with the six speed. It is surprising how much the 4:10 axle improves the overall vehicle. I can find a sweet spot towing any time. Pulling at 65mph 2600rpm is peaceful. 3500rpm on tuff hills.

I’ve got a 2020 Tundra and a 2006 F-250. I fully agree. The Tundra is awesome for just running around with a cooler in the back and some fishing poles.

Comparing to my F-250 though, it has zero muscle. I kept the Ford for a backup truck and for when towing was required. If forced to only have one, I’d have got a newer Super Duty.

That 7.3 will pull whatever the 6.7 diesel will, in practical situations.

True, the fees and insurance are ridiculous. I pay $29 a year for tags, no inspections or emission's testing needed. Insurance cost me $260 every six months. Truck is a 2019 Lariat.

Regardless if you go with the 6.2 or 7.3 IMO choose the 4:30 gearing. My 2019 is a 6.2 with 4:30's and I love it. Much better at towing than my old 2002 7.3 diesel was. The 4:30's really wakes up this motor and even at 70 mph I am only turning 2300 rpms. I average almost 16 on a trip and high 13's to 14 around town. Truck is a 2019 CC 4x4 with the short bed.

For $45k, I bought a ‘19 Ram 3500 SRW Tradesman Crew cab 4x4 with the Cummins. Truck I always wanted, cloth seats, rubber floor, set up six ways from Sunday for towing. 8’ bed. Puck system for quick detach fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches, Class 5 bumper hitch, integrated trailer brake controller, 7 and 4 pin hookups on bumper and in bed, power everything, and a bunch of accessory terminals for connecting electrical accessories with buttons on the dash to turn them on or off. 900 ft. lbs. of torque. 22-23 mpg driving around town and to and from. 26-28 on longer trips using tell lanes or interstate. 3.73 rear end. Get between 12 and 15 mpg pulling trailers, depending on weight and wind resistance. 34 ft. 5th wheel weighs 10k empty, I get about twelve pulling it. Dump trailer loaded weight 14k gets me around 12 also. With a lighter load, running about 6k, I get 15. Best ruck I have ever owned, so far. Gets almost as good fuel mileage on trips as my wife’s Impala, and I can walk upright when I get out of it after a few hundred miles.

That’s impressive Snowwolfe.

What transmission do you have?

The man is asking questions about a truck, a Tundra is a car with a open area to put a Yeti. 😁

My F250 is a ‘97, 7.3 Turbo Diesel 5 speed, so it’s theft-proof. 167k miles. It will pull a house off the foundation.



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