I've got a 2000 f350 srw cclb with a 7.3. It has a BTS trans and a DP chip in it. I have a friend needing to move a 5th wheel camper from Springfield, Illinois to around Dallas, Texas. The camper has a ship weight of around 12,500lbs I believe and it is pretty much empty for the haul. What's everyone's opinion on weather or not my truck would be able to safely and reliably haul it one way?
There are no suspension mods done to my truck and as far as I know turbo and injectors are stock.

 

According to the Ford towing guide in the link beliw, it looks like the max recommended weight is 10,000 lbs


https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/2000/bbcamper.pdf

 

According to that towing guide your truck from the factory is rated to pull a 13k lbs fifth wheel. Yes, you can tow it. I'd suggest taking your time and make it a 2 day trip down. Maybe your friend will let you sleep in the camper at a truck stop somewhere around Tulsa.

 

I'd pull it. Plan your route for major roads so you don't get on a side street.


Plan on 7 mpg so you ensure you have enough funds for fuel and plan on stopping/looking for fuel stops when you hit 1/4 tank of fuel left.


Truck stops are fine to use. If you have an rv advantage card for flying J/Pilot then you can fill up at the truck lanes.

 

Get 4 5-gallon fuel cans, so you have extra fuel to avoid having to worry about making it the next 40 miles to an exit to fillup. 30 gal * 7 mpg is 210 miles, if you go 150 miles and have to hunt for fuel again for fear of getting caught between exits/towns needing diesel.
Secure them in the bed.
Going 5 to 10 mph slower improves your mpg and minimizes the # of vehicles you need to pass so you can just putz along in the right lane.

 

most likely the trailer has ST tires and you need to go no faster than 65 mph.

 

thats funny you can pull it anywhere. if you want empty waste holding, and all water holding, and any gas fuel tank to lighten you up . your truck is made for this kind of towing. you ae just at 65% or so.

 

If I decide to haul it I planned on spare fuel cans in the bed and probably just running 55 mph to be safe. I know I'd have to alter my original route plan since parts of th interstates are currently flooded out.
Sur48 - what do you mean by just at 65%or so?

 

Not the camper in question but same model I believe

 

Do you have gauges? With the tuner I'd watch your EGTs and trans temp, especially on hills. I know with my old 7.3, even with a tow tune exhaust temps are pretty high after several miles of towing uphill.

 

I have EGT, trans( I've got a 6.0 cooler), engine oil temp, oil pressure, hpop pressure, boost psi, and fuel pressure along with factory gauges. I did notice last time I pulled a large trailer, maybe 7k enclosed, that my EGTs can stay high if I'm in the hills but I was running faster than I wanted.
I figured hills would be a killer in addition to pin weight.

 

Interstate 44 should reopen in a few days

 

I was trying to find it but I thought 18,500 was tow capacity of a 05 6.0

 

OP has a 2000 7.3 PSD

 

Don't pull out of the driveway without multiple spares for the camper. Make sure the bearings are greased and brakes are adjusted and working correctly on it. 2 hours of labor in the driveway beats the crap out of working on the side of the interstate for 30 minutes. Make sure your tires on the truck are E rated and run the rears at max psi, and the fronts close. Check your truck spare and also make sure your cable isn't frozen up to drop it. Make sure you have a good jack and the tools to change truck and camper wheels/tires.

I wouldn't run 55mph on the interstate, you will be a safety hazard. 62-65 is what I run when towing and you will blend in with most of the tractor trailers. As a curtesy, if I have a semi that's running a mph faster than me, if he pulls out to pass, I will back off the cruise a bit to let him by. This doesn't hold up the left lane for 3 miles. Most of the company trucks are governed, and they just run with the pedal on the floorboard.

You need to check your gvwr and scale the loaded rig. The camper maybe under your towing capacity, but with passengers, luggage, fuel, tools, etc, you will probably be over your gvwr. I'm far from being the weight police, I've pulled over gvwr myself, but you need to be aware of the risk and liabilities , especially when it's for someone else.

Lastly, Do you have a plan if your truck needs $3500 in repairs 1k miles from home? I have a coworker that just payed that much right outside of D.C. For a new HPOP and a couple other small things on a 150k 7.3. He didn't like it, but he was kinda at their mercy that far from home with a 5th wheel in tow.