Ready to Cancel Trip GROSSLY DISAPPOINTED w/ Towing!

[Roadfrog]

You are obviously afraid to get on the pedal. You need to stop worrying about "hurting" your baby and drive this truck like it was DESIGNED to! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I tow an 8000 lb travel trailer all over. There's a mountain pass in Wa state that's about 10 miles long and steep - just before Moses Lake. I can pull up that pass at 55 miles an hour without mods. My EGT's get up there, but I wouldn't expect any different. Don;t over analyze this, just DRIVE! Your truck knows what to do. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Now, it sounds like you'd be happy with an SCMT tuner or Edge. Then you'll REALLY be impressed.

[Texascadillac42]

My 99, (when it was stock)felt like it did the same thing towing 8k down the highway. At 55-65 in OD (6spd) it felt gutless on the hills, didnt really have that much lugging power, dropped down to direct, (1:1) spooled her up and she took off passing people with no problems. Now, on the same grades, if I was still in OD, but 10 mph faster, 70-75mph, it would still fly past people, because as Smokeywren said, it was coming up to the HP range that really makes these trucks move. Sure stock sucks, but itll get the job done, if you want to see what a PSD can do, get a chip. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img] It made a believer out of me.

[Wobblin-Goblin]

[ QUOTE ]
yes these trucks are a DOG without a chip. You need a chip or programmer. If your computer code is PMT2 I have a 78hp tow safe chip that rocks. Towed since new 10klb skidsteer with no drivetrain problems about 200 mi month in northwestren CT, pretty hilly.

If you want to spring for a programmer I just put an EDGE EVO in 3 days ago. The power is SCARY. You cant stay on the gas for more than 7-10 seconds before you are way way over the speed limit and almost scared. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

You will LOVE your truck soon, stick with this site [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
My '03 is stone stock and has plenty of power for me, and atleast 1/3 of all the miles on it are towing miles. Usually, it's a 4,500lb trailer (enclosed cargo trailer), but sometimes I'm pulling 9-10K lbs as well.

Different strokes for different folks, but I wish people would refrain from "the 7.3L is a dog" comments, because it simply isn't gospel.

[Tugboat]

You should try being more aggressive on the go pedal. As others have said already, I have found that the power curve for towing is in the 1900 to 2500 rpm range. Below around 1800, you are going to lose speed in a hurry. I was a lugger when I first got my 2000 F250, and learned when pulling a 8500# trailer in hill country to wind it up a lot more. If you are not running a chip you really wont hurt it by mashing it. Maybe get the rpm's up before getting too much into the hill.

The 3.73 gears are working against you for towing, as I find now that I have 4.10's in my (newer) 2003 CC. I have only had six speeds, so don know about the shift points and lockup stuff. Mine only does what I tell it to.

I was in DC a few months ago and rode a lot in a hotel shuttle bus, a F350 with 7.3 and an auto. I was able to watch the driver over his shoulder and it was running fully loaded with people almost consantly in the 2500-2700 range and performed very well, sounded great and had a ton of miles on it. Im sure that was box stock.

I saw the mention of 200-275 lb of net torque. What is that about and how is it being measured?

[afboone88]

Guys, don't forget you need to "teach" the trans and computer it's towing. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img] When I tow the 7500 lb TT for the first couple of miles the truck is "teaching" itself that we have more weight. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] Tow the trailer around for about an hour or so. She will learn. And Don't baby the gas, [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]GET YOUR FOOT IN IT!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[tginz]

Thank you all the responses. This is a great site!

1. I have NO experience towing with this size truck coupled with this size load. I've pulled small sailboats where windage more than weight is an issue and I've run Mack's with stainless hopper bodies full of potatos. Again to different ends of the spectrum and nothing in between. I was very surprised at how the load yanks the truck???? There is no sway at all thanks to SmokeyWren's help! Right away I noticed on bumps the trailer yanks the truck and drivetrain backward???? Not ready for that one?

2. How do you guys drive in slingshot traffic. Here in CT, NY, NJ, its 65 to 25 to 45 to 35 to 55 to 0 back to 70 all within a mile???????

3. I got say I'm afraid to mash the go pedal with EGT's pushing 850. I'm at 900 easily in 40 degree weather, what happens in 85 deg. Florida weather???

4. On a bone stock truck pulling 8,000-lb. in a start-up situation flat, say at a toll booth - how high would you rev the motor????? I was holding it at 2,000 and really never exceeding it, PRIMARILY BECAUSE I have always had plenty of go in that range without a trailer. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

I'm tempted to hook up again today and tow little more. My first 30 miles in slingshot traffic weren't best ones. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

tginz

[haul_n_horses2]

[ QUOTE ]
3. I got say I'm afraid to mash the go pedal with EGT's pushing 850. I'm at 900 easily in 40 degree weather, what happens in 85 deg. Florida weather???

[/ QUOTE ]Lugging it is a bigger problem than high RPMs. If your pyro is pre-turbo, 900 is nothing and I would not worry even at 1100. Sustained EGTs over 1250 would be problematic. I have heard of people lugging there engine thinking they are babying it at 1500 rpms and have their EGTs go through the roof. Giving it some fuel, boost and allowing it to breath by downshifting and running at higher RPMs actually drops the EGTs.

[Derag2]

The trailer shouldn't yank the truck backwards it might bounce.... Maybe you got some wires loose or somthing on your brakecontroller or somthing when you hit bumps it triggers the brakes. Don't be scared to run that thing up to anywhere you want. That motor is designed to run 3K all day long. If you want to start it faster give it more fuel. You gotta get the boost up to get the power. Don't be scared your not gonna break it. You can run your turbo up to 1250 degrees so 900 degrees aint all that bad. Bigger DP and exhaust and aftermarket intake will help out in the EGT's thou.

[fordmastertech]

The more you mash it the more boost you will build and the cooler the EGTs will be. Drive it like that old Mack and hold it to the wood if the need arises. Lugging the engine will drive up the EGTs.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[afboone88]

Hey tginz, I tow up in the great northeast too! New Jersey and New York to Lake George. I get the truck rolling out the toll booth and then run the RPMs up to 2500 if necessary and let the trans do it's thing. Like I said you need to "teach" the trans and computer to tow now. Once you do it a few times it will feel like it did before. I drive with one eye on the EGT gauge and one on the road. My wife even drives this way now towing. Let the truck build up the RPMS. It will run. Enjoy.

[MudHog]

If the truck isn't chipped your EGTs won't get high enough to worry about. Bone stock truck is designed to not worry about that. You could lay into the pedal all you want.

As mentioned already, drive the truck. Diesels aren't made to slow poke around all day. Also, don't expect the truck to perform loaded as it does unloaded.


Worst come to worse, I'll give you $100 cash for the X if your that unhappy with it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[whyzee]

Sorry to call the 7.3 a dog but when your pulling 10k from almost a dead stop after rounding a sharp corner up a 8 or 9 % grade it is a dog. But who here doesn't love dogs? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] I couldn't push the pedal any further into the floor and even then i barely hit 30mph after almost a mile. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img]
It does sound like you are afraid to get on it. DONT BE! take it out of overdrive and put the pedal to the metal.
Now if you want to pull that boat to the moon using only 1/2 throttle Get the EGDE EVO. It will make you feel better knowing that your only 1/2 way into the throttle and the other 1/2 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]....well that is for kicks! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]
Just watch your guages when you are towing with a chip or programmer.

[Wobblin-Goblin]

[ QUOTE ]
The more you mash it the more boost you will build and the cooler the EGTs will be. Drive it like that old Mack and hold it to the wood if the need arises. Lugging the engine will drive up the EGTs.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
This is true. "Let the turbo do the talking." The turbo needs RPM. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[tginz]

I hear what you guys are saying. I've got to change my driving habits. The old Mack or even the new Mack Vision, we basically bang the rev limiter until you're moving. I don't need to do that in my PDS, but I've got start running into the 2,500 range huh.

tginz

[whyzee]

redline it !