I have an 88 F250 with the 7.3 IDI non-turbo with an auto transmission. I pull a two car gooseneck trailer with two cars that total 4,000 lbs on it. Total with trailer might be around 7500 lbs being towed. Finally took it on a two hour road trip to another track a few weeks ago. Truck tows great until you hit a hill. You can be going 60-65 and drop to around 40 going up a hill that is not that steep. Couple hills it only dropped to about 55. Could there be a problem with it getting fuel under that much of a load uphill? I am not looking for a speed demon truck but just curious if this was normal or not. I also did not notice excess smoke coming out going uphill either.
This last summer put new fuel injectors, glow plugs and radiator in.

 

That sounds typical to me. They'll pull the load, they just won't do it fast. If you pull this kind of load regularly, you should get a turbo.

Just make sure you don't go uphill in overdrive, if you have an OD transmission.

-Matt

 

That sounds pretty good to me, there are a couple of times I've pulled my equipment trailer with one car on it and crawled over some steep grades @ 18mph.

 

when I had My idi it was auto 4x4 ext cab 3.54 gears and wen I towed my 16 ft cargo trailer with 2 quads and hunting gear on steep hyways like the couqhala and the salmo creston here in BC I would pull over and put it in 4 low and not lock hubs in just to make 35/40 klm going up . you only got 185 hp . My 97 powerstroke only has 225 with 4.10 gears tows better but still nothing to brag about

 

If you are going to do alot of towing with it get a big tranny cooler

 

Ok well at least it sounds "normal". It has a tranny cooler installed already. Our "normal" weekly trips to the track are about 30 miles round trip. Don't know that we will run our 2 hour trip very often next year either. Thanks for all the info!

 

towing 7500lbs with a 7500 lb truck for 15k combined gross with 130 hp @ the rear wheels will result in 40mph or less hill climbs for sure.
a turbo is needed for faster hill towing.as n/a don't be afraid to mat 'er pre hill.she'll climb better.

 

Just out of curiosity what are you at altitude wise? Frankly based on how mine does turbo and the one time I drove with a blown CAC tube (empty) Im surprised you did that well but then Im at 5200'. Frankly without the boost I couldn't hold the speed limit on flat ground while empty due to EGTs and starting to smoke (turbo cal pump).