I have a '23 F550 SuperCab, 6.7 turbo diesel, 4.30 gears, Lariat, 60" CA with slightly larger than stock aftermarket tires. My truck is built to carry a 6,000lb truck camper plus tow an enclosed trailer. It does these tasks wonderfully. When loaded with just the camper I'm about 17k. The trailer varies but adds a few thousand pounds to that.

In the Truck Camper crowd this sort of setup is becoming quite popular for big, heavy campers. I personally know a few people here in Colorado with both gas and diesel versions of this layout. Most are 22 and newer trucks. Nearly all are Lariat trim. Most run super singles but I prefer duals with a lower ride height.
Almost everyone with the 7.3 immediately starts talking about putting a Whipple supercharger on it or some sort of programmer. Yes, the truck will get you to your destination but it works harder than the 6.7. Plus the turbo and exhaust brake on the diesel is really nice in the mountains. I drove a friend's fully loaded gas rig and the power was fine. But the engine runs at 4000+ rpm when climbing hills. I don't like that.
Most of my use is longer runs so a more pleasant driving experience is important to me.
When I bought my truck I ran all kinds of fuel economy estimates. I found that the cost per mile (for fuel) was nearly identical. I do my own maintenance and the diesel is still a bit more expensive there.
As for buying the truck, I had the same experience. Even the Ford commercial dealership near me wasn't really interested. I ended up ordering my truck through an upfitter who bought it through a dealer in Manassas VA.
For me, a 7.3 would be fine for shorter runs (maybe 4 hours or less) on mostly flat terrain. For my use case I'm glad I got the diesel.

 

Thank you for your insight. As to the duration of trips, it is widely variable for myself. Sometimes I might only drive five or 10 miles, and other times I might drive all day. I would like to be able to idle my truck for extensive periods without worrying about clogging things up, which I believe is a further incentive of the gas engine, even with my 7.3 diesel, if I let it idle for a long time, it acts kind of funny until it clears out by driving it.

I’m not surprised that the gas engine would run such high RPM, the Hemi engines in the Ram trucks typically stay around 5000, and while it may take some getting used to, I don’t think it would bother me too much. It is, after all, by design.

Even with less power than the 6.7 diesel, I’m certain the 7.3 gas would outwork my current 7.3 diesel. It’s an old truck from Canada, only has 70k kilometers on it, or roughly 45k original miles. But, it has its drawbacks.

Being in Kansas, I’m a flatlander, however, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some big hills around here, or that I would never travel through the mountains, even now, I occasionally find myself in the Rockies. Beautiful country, all of it.

Once again, thank you.

 

Where in KS are you?

Currently have (3) 23+ F-550 in our fleet. Of all our F550's, they are all 6.7's, crew cabs with 11'6 beds with a exception of one gasser SC. The oldest one we have left is a 2016.

The F550's I'll talked about are all 24's, with dual fuel tanks, and are 4x4,XLTs, One has the value package that one has the 19.5 GVW, the others are reg XLTs with 18K GVWs.

The 19.5 (4.88 gear) was purchased out of necessity while waiting for my other 24s to be built. They took a year and a half. I will only order the 18K (4.30 gear)packages. There is a tremendous ride with 18K packages, the ride is incredibly smooth, I drive one as a daily vehicle. The 19 5 package is much more bouncier/tighter in the rear. Still good for a 550.

Collectively, around 100,000 miles on them, 0 issues except the came with the wrong flash file in the towing module for for electric over hydraulic brake.

On a day to day run with no trailer all 3 avg 15 to 17 mpg, and with 66 gals on board, 1000 mile range. We also have additional 100 gal drop tanks attached.

Our trucks are primarily used for towing either 45-ft gooseneck trailers, or 30-ft bumper pulls. Our weights will vary from factory setup to over 50,000 lb.

I can't have you much info on the 7.3, don't have any in the entire fleet. Don't plan on any either. Just received quotes for ordering 25s. Beds are about 12K.






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ee attached.

 

Awesome. I appreciate your insight as well. Those are some sharp looking trucks.

If it really takes a year and a half to take delivery from time of order, I had best make a decision and order one as soon as I know what I want to get.

For the most part, I feel pretty confident that I know what I want in such a truck with the package selections. At this point, the only thing I’m uncertain of is which engine to get.

Edited to add, I am from eastern Kansas, if you were to draw a line on a map from Abilene to Emporia, I would be from the middle of that line, however, I am seldom home.

Thank you.

 

The year and a half wait was "covid"...... I laugh when I hear that.

Order times. I'm much shorter now. I had ordered f250s at the same time, those came in within 4 months.

As far as dealers, Louisburg Ford, Jim Baker and Midway Ford in Kansas City, Jake Fisher.

I live in Missouri but my shop is in Eastern Kansas.

 

As mentioned about the payload upgrade I would think it over well. My experience in an f350 dually and 450 c&c empty will beat you up pretty good.

 

I would expect it to be a rough ride, but I’m young enough that it probably wouldn’t tear me up too bad. These newer trucks don’t seem to be made to last for an overly long time, if I were to keep one for five years, and then trade in, I could always get something with a less harsh ride if I desire to.

 

I had one 2021 and two 2024 F600 7.3 as dump trucks grossing 22k and occasionally towing a 6-8 ton excavator, no complaints aside from the transmission shift strategy. Also have three F650 dumps with the 7.3 and older 6spd. Great trucks so far. I traded off my older 2018 F750 with the 270/700 version of the 6.7 and dont miss it.

The 7.3 is rev limited in drive mode to about 4100rpm shift points but its not actually mechanically different than the pickup version that revs out past 5500rpm. You can use manual mode or just lock out gears and rev the 7.3 past the shift limit to take advantage of almost all its horsepower. Cant do that with the 6.7 as its mechanically different and only makes 330/900. Having only 330hp youll end up bleeding off on hills and have to downshift more than winding out the 7.3 to 4500rpm or more to make almost 400hp. My F650 7.3 outpaced my 6.7 that was 270hp and any truck that size we rented 300hp or 330hp.

 

Sounds good. One thing I want to point out is these trucks actually are pretty sturdy though. They are easy to work on as well. When something electronic fails its usually something well known with little trouble shooting. Contrary to what is said they are very basic and clean under the hood.

I think they will be around quite a while, especially being aluminum and they actually paint the under carriage now.

Yeah thats what was meaning about the programming, from what I have read.

If it was a fleet truck I wouldn’t mess with it. If it was my personal driver I would reprogram it within a few thousand miles. I am not an idiot though and can run hot tunes even on diesels and still take it easy towing etc.

I am not suggesting letting it sing at 5,500rpm up every hill at full gvwr but if you need it to during light duty driving why not do it.

 

If you’re doing much towing I’d go with the 6.7. It’s worth the upgrade and you’ll generally get that back anytime you resell.

if I was going to get something and put it through lighter use then I’d consider the gasser. We have some in our fleet for those types of scenarios.

but you’re buying a 550 and said you plan on towing at the upper limits. I’d go diesel myself for this case.

 

Glad to hear this. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Hopefully it would last a long time. Thanks.

I don’t deny that a diesel would be better for pulling, but, as ling as the gas engine is adequate, I would prefer that route, from an ease of maintenance standpoint. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

 

Not sure what position you're in as far as having a trailer and load already but if you do I would suggest renting the trucks in question and towing a bit to get a real feel. Either choice is going to be more powerful and much improved transmission than a 7.3L powerstroke platform. I have not had a ton of seat time with the 330/900 version 6.7 but enough over the years with part time rentals to know the power difference is all low speed between the diesel and gas in the chassis cabs. Once you get up to speed, they both have to be wrung out if you're towing/hauling at max weights because of the lower horsepower.

For simplicity's sake you cant beat the gas engine. My fuel economy was always about 20% more for diesel when I had both diesel and gas. Diesel price was almost always 20% or more expensive than gas, so that killed any fuel economy benefit. One thing I can say is ive never had a problem with DEF, DPF, EGR, SCR, CCV, fuel filtration, secondary cooling system, turbo, high pressure fuel pump, glow plugs, or injectors on my gas engines but sure have with modern diesels.

 

Renting would not be an option for myself, I have too much equipment and tools, and the hassle of switching trucks simply to give it a test likely wouldn’t be worthwhile, especially since I haven’t a clue where to rent such a truck.

At this point I am leaning towards a gas engine.

Thank you.

 

I have a 7.3 in my ‘22 F-350 DRW chassis cab w/ 4.30s. Normal weight for my truck is right at 12k lbs. I also pull my loaded 14k lb dump trailer pretty regularly and it does it just fine. I’m not passing anybody on a 2-lane road while towing or winning any races, but I’m also not holding up traffic. Now at 163k miles with no problems.

I’ve never driven a diesel chassis cab, but I can’t see it being any better at higher speeds than my truck, as it has 5 less HP. I could be wrong though.

I would think an F-550 with 4.88s could only be a better experience than mine. In fact, my next truck will be an F-450 chassis cab with the 7.3 so that I can upgrade to an 11’ bed. So no regrets after almost 4 years with my 7.3.

 

Post back what you get. Not common to see an up optioned C&C.

You will be happy with the gas job.