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Old 06-23-2020, 04:29 PM   #1
Deeds
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How hard do you guys accelerate to tow!

I know the dumb question is the one that's never asked! But this one might change that... I have a 2000 f350 7.3 and I've been struggling with the way my truck tows I have a 2015 laredo bumper pull its 26ft, my issue is that I dont have tow haul mode and i refuse to chip my truck, light acceleration 1st and 2nd wind up and 3rd it just dumps rpm down to around 1400 which is pretty low to get moving, harder throttle I feel like I'm beating the snot out of my truck, I can get rpms up but I am definetly cooking to get up to speed... my question is to avoid wear and tear on the truck what do you guys think is best slow acceleration at lower rpms, or fast acceleration and high rpms and higher boost,
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Old 06-23-2020, 05:45 PM   #2
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I think letting it bog down is worse than revving it up. I would be running a high quality name brand synthetic in it. Valvoline, Delo, or my favorite Rotella 15-40.
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:00 PM   #3
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Don't know 7.3s , but ran Cummins and a duramax, I don't hit the governor, but pull pretty good getting rolling. Find the power band and get there till up to speed.
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:30 PM   #4
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Well our old 2001 Ram with Cummins and 5 speed manual, I just rolled hard on the throttle to about 3,000 rpm then shifted. the big hurt was the 3.55's and a 12,500# 5er that had me 4,000# over GCWR for the 3.55's I did have RV 275 injectors and a small chip and a double disk clutch.
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:43 PM   #5
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The main issue I'm having is that putting it down I'll go like a banshee, it's really driving like an idiot! But if I lay off the throttle a bit maybe halfway to 3/4 down 1st gear shifts around 2500 rpm 2nd 2500 rpm 3rd immediately locks tq and rpms dive to about 1300 or 1400 rpm and speed stops gaining, if I push it down it downshifts to and again around 3k rpm so 3rd with tq lockup is what's causing the main issue! If I put her to the floor or close to it's just too fast! I feel like if the truck was pulling a heavier trailer it would probably be different with the shifts I'm just confused at which way would be better on the truck! I really dont wanna tune it just to avoid dumping rpm with tq lockup!
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:45 PM   #6
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Did it ever tow before or is this a new endeavor? That should have no problem pulling a 25' camper as long as there's no mechanical issues with the trailer like binding/dragging breaks. Your truck is 20 years old, could it be that it's getting tired? Is the boost normal? Any change in fuel milage or exhaust smoke?
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:51 PM   #7
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The truck is better than most! Haven't broken 200k on it yet and has been immaculately maintained! Hasn't towed much in life before I got my hands on it! Trailer is in great shape too no brakes dragging or anything! I've got a new turbo making 17lbs of boost under load and no smoke or up pipe leaks! For a stock truck it's running great! No issues other than torque converter causing rpms to dump down! I've heard people say that the lighter weight of my trailer (6500lbs) is what my problem probably is... I just dont know what to do about it
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:53 PM   #8
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I've always towed prior using my chevys with tow haul and it made a world of difference! Not having that feature really stinks
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Old 06-23-2020, 07:02 PM   #9
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You might check the differential ratio. Changing the rear end for one more suited for towing would probably help.
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Old 06-23-2020, 07:06 PM   #10
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Its 3.73 in there I've towed more weight with less gears and less motor and have done fine it's just fords tq lockup that's the issue... I just dont know if I should go slow and let it work itself up to speed or boost it and go at a high rpm
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Old 06-23-2020, 09:11 PM   #11
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I had 2 7.3s the last was a 2002 til 2019. CC with 3:73 gears. Fords trannys back than, that at the time I cannot remember the model were junk. I went through #1 at 40,000 , got a new ford tranny replaced by ford and it lasted til about 80,000. I then spend the money to buy aftermarket the best 5400 I ever spend. I knew several co-workers who towed with those and more people I met all had problems until they went aftermarket. After it never let me down or had problems you describe. Before I always towed without OD on, after it was fine with OD on or off. The tranny coolers are way too small. I think your talking tor. converter in tranny wore out. I am no tranny expert. Mine blew clutch plates apart, next 1 overheated when used towing in hot temps. Talk to a tranny shop. Good ones all about that tranny.
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Old 06-24-2020, 04:47 AM   #12
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Might be better for some focus on your transmission issues by heading over to the powerstroke forum and asking there. Lot of knowledgeable folks there who might just be able to speak about your transmission.

https://www.powerstroke.org/forums/9...discussion.12/
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Old 06-24-2020, 04:58 AM   #13
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I would manually shift the trans until up to speed, then to auto after speed is reached. Less stress on the trans.
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Old 06-24-2020, 05:16 AM   #14
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Deeds, why the reluctance to chip? I have the same truck basically and the hydra chip is magic for towing, even on the lowest setting. It changes the shift strategy to use the 7.3s power band so much better than stock.
Do not be afraid to shift at 3k rpms if you need to. Yes it gets loud but you cannot harm the engine or trans unless you have another problem to begin with. Redline is above that anyway. The stock shift strategy is absolute poop!
Feel free to pm me if you like...
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Old 06-24-2020, 05:34 AM   #15
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Take a look at this forum ... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php
There's over 36,000 posts on the pre - powerstroke diesels alone.
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Old 06-25-2020, 06:06 AM   #16
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As everyone else, there's a story about how its this way or that way or its trash or its golden. Well, here's a golden story. 2002 F-350 regular cab with a 7.3 and auto trans. This truck was purchased in 2006 by my uncle for his farm for gravity wagon duty(gross weight is 30k + when loaded). I used it last weekend to move a tractor. The bumper pull trailer I used was 4k lbs by itself and the tractor was around 5k. So 9k lbs. I don't accelerate hard ever, let the truck and transmission do what it's used to. Would shift 2k-2100 rpm. TQ locked up around 1400 and it went on its merry way up to 60 on the state road, it took a minute but it got there. Yes, it can be sluggish with weight but that is the way the transmission was designed. Let the truck do its thing and love it. I know when he decides to exchange it for a different truck I will be there with cash in hand to buy that truck from him.
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Old 06-25-2020, 07:08 AM   #17
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The 7.3s are work horses designed to be pushed. There is no reason to baby them. Since the auto trans is only a 4 speed, you should rev them into their power band which is really between 2 and 3 thousand rpm. 2500 rpm is good for long hills in the appropriate gear. If it hunts for gears, select the lower one. I've had mine for 20 years now and I used 'be gentle' until I realized that was just the wrong way to use it.
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Old 06-25-2020, 07:14 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
Take a look at this forum ... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php
There's over 36,000 posts on the pre - powerstroke diesels alone.
The 2000 was a Powerstroke and the Ford Truck forum isn't quite as helpful as the powerstroke.org forum I recommended. BTW: I have a 50 hp tow tune on my 6.0L and don't notice a lot of additional power BUT the shifting is more appropriate for towing; my tuner (SCT) offers a towing shift tune (shift points only) tune. I didn't mention this as I am not sure what is available for the 7.3 TURBO.
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Old 06-25-2020, 07:28 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
The 2000 was a Powerstroke and the Ford Truck forum isn't quite as helpful as the powerstroke.org forum I recommended. BTW: I have a 50 hp tow tune on my 6.0L and don't notice a lot of additional power BUT the shifting is more appropriate for towing; my tuner (SCT) offers a towing shift tune (shift points only) tune. I didn't mention this as I am not sure what is available for the 7.3 TURBO.
Well excuuuuuuuse me!
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Old 06-25-2020, 07:38 AM   #20
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Having owned Fords exclusively for the past 40+ years, I can say that with the 7.3L diesel and the 6.9L engine prior to that, the transmission was the 'weakest link". The Navistar 7.3L was about as "bulletproof" an engine as any. Even with the turbo problems during the initial upgrades from NA to turbo fueling, that engine seldom failed. The transmission, however..... Well, it's too painful to even discuss..… Between the E4OD, the 4R100 and the C-6 they replaced, there wasn't a lot of difference in mechanicals, just in the control system (manual/vacuum vs electronic). It wasn't until Ford built their own diesel and designed a "modern, capable transmission" to mount behind the 6.7L engine that they "found a winner"...

It's often been said that the "ideal truck" would be a Ford frame/body, a Cummins diesel and a Allison transmission. That may no longer be the "ideal truck" as Ford has significantly improved their engine/transmission, GM has significantly improved their diesel/body/frame and RAM has improved their body/frame and added the ASIN transmission... So, all the manufacturers have improved most components in most models....

As for the question, "How hard to you accelerate when towing?" My answer is, "like I had an egg between my foot and the accelerator pedal".... Hotdogging any truck with a 10,000 pound trailer behind it is like "trying to find the weakest link in a chain"... Why "push to break things" ???
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