IDI for Towing?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 445
Likes: 2
IDI for Towing?
I currently use a 97 F-150 extended cab XLT to tow my 32 ft travel trailer. I am "satisfied" with the trucks performance, but I am getting HOT under the collar for a Diesel.
I am pretty picky and I have to have a pretty nice vehicle but as you can tell I don't mind driving older.
My TT has a GVWR of 7500 lbs. I am around 6k-6500k lbs loaded for camping. (dry weight is 4900)
I need a crew cab for my growing family, might as well throw a dually on there too, right?. I simply can't pay 15-20k for a nice superduty diesel, so I need to look at other options. But, like I said it has to be nice, or easily restored to nice. (if that makes sense) And it has to be my daily driver.
Soo, does anybody have any experience with an IDI diesel towing a 6500-7500 lb travel trailer?
here I am starting from zero. Do ya'll think that I can find a nice crew cab diesel for around $5-6k? Will I notice a difference in towing? My problem with my F150 is that I am quickly running out of payload.
Thanks!
Thanks!
I am pretty picky and I have to have a pretty nice vehicle but as you can tell I don't mind driving older.
My TT has a GVWR of 7500 lbs. I am around 6k-6500k lbs loaded for camping. (dry weight is 4900)
I need a crew cab for my growing family, might as well throw a dually on there too, right?. I simply can't pay 15-20k for a nice superduty diesel, so I need to look at other options. But, like I said it has to be nice, or easily restored to nice. (if that makes sense) And it has to be my daily driver.
Soo, does anybody have any experience with an IDI diesel towing a 6500-7500 lb travel trailer?
here I am starting from zero. Do ya'll think that I can find a nice crew cab diesel for around $5-6k? Will I notice a difference in towing? My problem with my F150 is that I am quickly running out of payload.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 0
From: Princeton MN
With a bigger truck you get stability and larger brakes. My 28ft gooesneck is 6k empty, thats no issue, The heaviest I've had behind it is around 19k, that was way too much but it did it just not fast. Your 7500 will be no issue
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 13
I replaced a 400 that had intake, cam, and headers with my IDI... IDI still wins, and thats not even getting into towing. I pulled a 1600lb car trailer with a 3600lb car on it up a 5% 2 mile grade, got to the top at 2 mph slower. Granted it was working about as hard as it could, but that was with retarded timing and no turbo. Not to mention 35" tires and 3.55 gears.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I don't wanna burst your bubble, but unless you do a couple mods to it, you won't be towing that trailer in the fast lane.... flat ground maybe, but defenently not in hills!
One things for sure, an IDI, even stock, will pull anything you can put behind it without splitting the truck in half, but you won't be going fast, but you are guaranteed to make it there!
The *better* thing about these engines over any of the expensive modern ones, is these are as cheap as an old gas engine to maintain
A dually is more stable, but if you find a nice single wheel crew cab that you like, don't pass up just for that reason.
If you get a automatic truck, be sure to check and make sure it's got an Aux. transmission cooler on it and that it's big enough for your duty.
And be aware, if you get a truck, 1987 and older, auto or standard, it will have no Overdrive unless the transmission was changed. 5 speed came in 1987, and 4 speed OD auto came in mid year 1989.
If you get a 7.3L be sure to do some re-search in this forum about Cavitation and what it is and how to treat it. The life of the engine depends on it....
One things for sure, an IDI, even stock, will pull anything you can put behind it without splitting the truck in half, but you won't be going fast, but you are guaranteed to make it there!
The *better* thing about these engines over any of the expensive modern ones, is these are as cheap as an old gas engine to maintain
A dually is more stable, but if you find a nice single wheel crew cab that you like, don't pass up just for that reason.
If you get a automatic truck, be sure to check and make sure it's got an Aux. transmission cooler on it and that it's big enough for your duty.
And be aware, if you get a truck, 1987 and older, auto or standard, it will have no Overdrive unless the transmission was changed. 5 speed came in 1987, and 4 speed OD auto came in mid year 1989.
If you get a 7.3L be sure to do some re-search in this forum about Cavitation and what it is and how to treat it. The life of the engine depends on it....
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 950
Likes: 2
From: West Bend
Hey I can comment on this one. I've got a 7500lb gross 30' skyline TT. Conventional trailer, not 5th wheel. I'm running a turbo 6.9IDI with a C6 automatic and 4.10 gears. I was running 3.55's before and it worked, but I wanted a little more pull for towing. With the 3.55 I could manage to keep it at 70-75mph, but with my turbo I was pushing near 1100* EGT and would climb to 1250* on an incline. Definately not recommended for long duration towing. Now that I have the 4.10's my EGT's are down, but I'm screaming to go 70-75mph and chew through fuel like crazy, so now I try to keep off the superslabs 
An IDI will get you there cheaply and dependably, but not at the average freeway speeds as IDIDieselJohn stated. A newer TT (fiberglass) or a 5'er might tow a bit easier. Seems the majority of the pull is the flat nose of the TT at freeway speeds acting like an air brake. I also upgraded to the biggest trans cooler the auto parts places had (10k if I remember right) and am running it in series with the radiator. Tranny temps are good and haven't been an issue in 90+ high humidity towing.
An IDI will get you there cheaply and dependably, but not at the average freeway speeds as IDIDieselJohn stated. A newer TT (fiberglass) or a 5'er might tow a bit easier. Seems the majority of the pull is the flat nose of the TT at freeway speeds acting like an air brake. I also upgraded to the biggest trans cooler the auto parts places had (10k if I remember right) and am running it in series with the radiator. Tranny temps are good and haven't been an issue in 90+ high humidity towing.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
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I did the same exact thing. I bought a stacked plate transmission cooler and ran it inline after the transmission cooler in the radiator. It was a pretty easy install and my truck pulls decent.
I really need four doors for the family and I need more payload. LOL. I can't wait to get a dually. lol.
I really need four doors for the family and I need more payload. LOL. I can't wait to get a dually. lol.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I pull our horse trailer w/ two horses in it with my '86 IDI setup. It has 4.10's and will pull like a mule in the hills. It might be pouring black and blue smoke out while pulling a grade with 7k lbs behind it, but it does it like a friggin' champ. Oh, and it's a hideous truck, you don't want one that looks like mine.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,216
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From: Princeton MN
I have 3.54's and lately have been pulling my 6k gooseneck with 9k of big square bales on it, in cool air 65 is doable, but mostly
i keep it at 60 with really no issue, it does however take awhile to get there.
i keep it at 60 with really no issue, it does however take awhile to get there.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
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Thanks everyone! I know that they may be a little slower than my current 5.4. I will probably try to pick one up as a project and have it and my 5.4 at the same time. My 97 onefiddy is a sweet truck. I just need to have more payload. And I want a diesel... I have always wanted one but now I can justify it. I could save an afford a newer powerstroke, but I love to work on my things and the IDI seems like it may be more tinker friendly.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 445
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Oh my, I am not trying to put my 5.4 in the same league as a diesel. I just understand that a diesel's power is different than a gas power. I.E. My 5.4 is quicker starting out than my father in laws PSD 7.3, but towing would be two different worlds.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Thing is, Diesels don't have ***** like gas jobs have, but the diesels have the power where you need it (when towing) and that's low RPM power and low low RPM torque to even get the load moving.
These IDI's only make 180HP @ 3300RPM but 375ft. Torque at 1600RPM!!
....like these engines peak out on their torque curve at the same RPM a gas engine idles in the morning in winter!
These IDI's only make 180HP @ 3300RPM but 375ft. Torque at 1600RPM!!
....like these engines peak out on their torque curve at the same RPM a gas engine idles in the morning in winter!