I really didn't intend for this thread to degrade like it is when I started it. My attention was directed mostly to the lugging power/torque which they do possess. That said, my gasser doesn't suffer "power envy". It has all it needs. Often, it seems greener on the other side of the fence, and in reality, rarely does that axiom prove true.

 

to all you guys with gas powered super dutys, you still have an AWESOME truck..! but, my experience with these trucks has been simple, the diesel out pulls, out hauls, and out tows all the gas motors, even the V10, although that motor comes close, and it does so while still getting more than 10 mpg. if you don't tow, or haul big loads, don't bother with the diesel, but, if there is even a chance, just a snowball's chance in hell, you might just maybe someday need to tow something really big, you'll need the right tool for the job, and that's why they made the PSD....

p.s. photogman,

really bud, i'm not trying to put anyone down. these trucks are really awesome anyway you stack them up, if you don't believe me, just ask someone who owns a dodge. but if someone tells you there is no difference between a gas motor and a stroker, they are just not being honest. there is a HUGE difference. my 02 mule is bone stock, (for now), and it is the most powerful truck i have ever owned. the only relevent question for you, or anyone else, is: do you need that difference or not. If you do, then, the grass is definately greener..! If not, then save your money...

 

Oh come on now photogman. You didn't really think the diesel guys could resist hopping on here and cracking on gassers with a thread titled - 'Anybody suffer from "Diesel Envy" ' I know I dont' have that kind of self control.

 

Sure I'd like a diesel Superduty, but no way would I buy a 6.0. I certainly don't need a diesel but I'd like to have one if it worked out right.

I love the V10 and it's working out great for me. When Ford releases the new Powerstroke I'll just about be ready to buy a new one so we'll see how it goes. I've seen a few guys locally have absolute nightmares with their new 6.0L PSD and I would not touch one unless it was given to me. And I don't want a used truck, so the 7.3L is not an option....guess I'll just have to squeak by with my 425lb-ft V10 for the next few years!! Excuse me if I don't cry about it!!

 

Lets see my truck weighs 7800 dry and 8116 wet and fully loaded and hooked up the GCVW is 22,854lbs sounds like 14K+ load to me. That is four adults, Pete the Boston Terrier, two Harleys in the bed, fuel tools and odd gear in with them and a fully outfitted and stocked 24'tag trailer and load leveling anti sway hitch. All nice and legal, well within max ratings of the F350 and she pulls it just fine and stops it just as well.

I tow over Ratone Pass, Loveland pass, and Vail pass. Some serious humps in the road. Yes my 7.3 did it better with same load. My 3 valve V10 5R110 and 4.30:1 gears handle it just fine both up and down 11 thousand + altitudes.

No sir no more diesel envy for me... Most of the time I turn my head at a smoke pot next to me it is to sneer at all the rackety clacking invading my tunes even with the window up.

Every now and then I do admire some one who had done an excellent job with the mods, lift, stacks, monster tires even if is does have a PSD on 'roids in it. Can not argue that done right they are very cool trucks. But for my every day use the new V10 has more than enough grunt.

 

no reason to cry about the power of the V10, and i agree, i would not want a 6.0 till Ford has had several years to work out the "bugs". but, i bought a used 02 with a 7.3, and i have NO complaints. she had 58k when i got her, and has 88k now, so 30k of runnin', haulin', towin', and just cruisin' around smilin'...! no probs and no complaints. when i need a new truck, we'll have the new psd, so we'll see, but, i think ford made a mistake to stop using the 7.3, i'm sure people will tell me i'm wrong, but i bet a few will agree with me...

 

fredvon4

sounds like your V10 really humps a load, but what's your mpg pullin' all that stuff... my second choice in motors is a V10, but i commute 100 miles a day, and i know i couldn't afford the gas... besides, my psd is actually very quiet inside the cab, even haulin' 20k GCVW....

p.s. thank you very much for your service to our country....!

 

There was a guy who posted about the very same deal a while back but he traded, I think, the same year 5.4L crew cab for a 6.0L diesel and only lost something like $2500 on the deal and he didn't even wait a year. Not a bad deal at all considering he's now driving what he REALLY wanted. I can't think of why you couldn't pull off the same deal. I went from an F150 to a 5.4L F250 to an F150 again and I couldn't get rid of this thing fast enough to get back into a 5.4L F250 again. That, and I lunched 3 rear axles and the transmission in 6 months Nothing sucks more than getting into a vehicle that you "settled" for. I know it's really stupid, but everyday, I can't wait to get behind the wheel of my truck and drive it. There's no reason why you shouldn't either. Life's too short to dance with ugly women. Go get the damn 6.0L!!! Sure, there may be a few people with problems but there's many more happy 6.0L owners. It's only gonna cost a little money and effort, but it's nothing to remain unhappy or envious about, is it?

(And no, I don't want a 6.0L diesel, my 5.4L is to me what your 7.3L/6.0L is to you.)

 

My 7.3 was fairly quiet inside also bu a real rattler for everybody else.

The 7.3 pulled those little hills at 12-13mpg. My 01 F250 Platinum was over loaded and with the 3.73:1 and the 4R100 I admit it struggled and cost 7.2mpg. My new V10 does not get exceptional mpgs empty with my daily driving averaging 11.7 to 12.7mpg depending on how froggy I get. But towing surprised me a lot. Our first trip to Vail was the 5800mile on the new motor and up and back total trip average was 9.4mpg.

My onboard trip and fuel computer is fairly accurate on this one and on some of the legs between re-fuels it got over 10mpg and some times it was as low as 7.3mpgs. As it is with my luck, all the low mpgs were also using the very expensive freeway gasoline (I hate $2.00+ a gallon!)

The rest of 2005 will probably be a very local year as we already have 4 trips on the new truck and she is just this week going to turn over 10K on the clock. Have to get in some serious overtime to afford these new, and I suspect permanent, $2.00+ fuel prices

 

fredvon4,

those numbers sound about right, my 7.3 has the 3.73 rear, and 14 mpg towing my 28' fifth wheel is common, just over 18 mpg unloaded, i hope with a couple of modest upgrades to get 20, anyway you slice it, for me it's the best package. the one downside to the new 6.0, i have heard that you can't get the 3.73 rear. and i have been told that they don't get much more than 12 mpg. so, i am damn glad i got the "used" truck. I hope ford fixes this little issue in the future, otherwise, i'll just keep fixin' up my 02.

 

yes sir, fuel prices suck, when i got my mule, diesel was $1.69, (gas was $1.98) now, $2.32, it's the pits, and i may have to change jobs becuase of it, even with 18 mpg, i spend over $100 per week in fuel. but hey, it could be worse, we could live in europe...! don't they spend over $5 a gallon...?

 

Johnny I loved my 7.3L also but I am one of those A type personalities that always had to have the loudest baddest ride so I did most every go fast mod there was on her. Ended up with a BTS 4R100 bullet proofing by Brian and then started breaking other drive train stuff. Ended up with a V10 by accident on my wifes say so we had to buy a 2001 Platinum edition and the only one left was V10 powered. It impressed me and by then I was getting tired of more wrenching than riding the 7.3.

I am one to hope the new diesel is a great motor out of the chute. The 6.0l has been a disappointment (our small business has 2 of them)

And thank you for your kind words earlier.

 

I think some people are in diesel envy denial in here! HA! Seriously though, I just bought my 7.3 to tow my camper. This thing is incredible! Matt

 

fredvon,

the "kind words" are from the heart man, i was USAR for a few years when i was much younger, so i know the drill.... tough job, but someone has to do it... esspecially since 9/11... our men and women in uniform are more important than ever...!

my goal for my mule is to just upgrade a little. im happy with the way she pulls now, and if i had 60hp and maybe 100ft lbs more torque, and a shift firmness upgrade, all to help towing, i think i would be happy as a pig in mud, without breaking anything...! only one problem, everyone in here says upgrade intake and exhaust first, and i don't make tons of money, so i have to go slow.... tough thing to do man.... tough.... so, i have the AIS severe duty intake on the way, gotta change out these junk ball joints ford is using now, and change all the fluids, add a tranny cooler, and that will be the end of the budget for this year...!

 

kc10

hey man, stop talking about pulling your camper, i can't go get mine for 3 more weeks...! LOL...! it's killin' me, and i think my wife is going through camper withdrawl..!