1999 f250 7.3

[Polk]

I am looking to get a used 5th wheel. I really like the 36regs and the 361 reqs but not sure if its to much for my truck. 1999 f250 7.3 with air bags.
what do you think? maybe I should stick with getting a 33.5 rets? I really like them also. whats your advice

[Wrascal]

This is my highly biased opinion only, but I would first look towards upgrading the truck. I don't know your trucks current condition - nor do I know how far from home you'd be wondering with a fifth wheel - but I do know yours is getting old. The 7.3 was an incredible workhorse in its day, but it has been left way behind when compared to the newer (last 5 or so years) models.

I eventually chose to swallow this same medicine, upgrading from an 02 F250 V10 to my current 14 F250 6.7. For me the piece of mind has its own rewards.

[Polk]

we have thought about getting newer truck. I like the 2012 f350 srw king ranch golden bronze metallic. My 99 is in great shape with 180000 miles on it but I am getting tired of shifting a 6sp and my wife could drive an auto.

[Gman1372]

See my sig line. My feelings about my rig is this. I've pulled my boat weighing almost twice my TT. My boat and TT tow very differently. I'm more comfortable trailering the boat. That said, these trucks will pull but they're old technology. I plug along in the right lane doing 60mph out of OD and 65 on flats in OD. Since getting my TT I've been looking for an upgrade. New is insane $$$. So I'm looking for the same truck but 14'-16'.

[Edd505]

I think max GVW weight for the srw is right at 13K so you would be over gross. I love the 7.3, mines just under 200K looks and runs like new. Wouldn't think twice about coast to coast. JMHO

[Sledgehammer]

The 7.3 is about bullet proof. I drive a 01 everyday with 230k on it, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across the country. Have a 99 7.3 that runs everyday at 440k. While I probably wouldn't cross country in it, I think it would probably do it lol. Even though the 7.3 is very reliable, they are underpowered by todays standard. I dont know what the trailers weight your looking at, but about 10k is all my 01f250 is comfortable with. Mine is an auto with 3.73 gears so yours will probably pull a little better than mine being a 6 speed. I've pulled way more than that with it before, but I shouldn't have, and wont again. They also dont stop near as good as the newer trucks with bigger brakes either.

[Gman1372]

The 7.3 isn't the problem. It's the transmission

[Edd505]

Originally Posted by Gman1372

The 7.3 isn't the problem. It's the transmission

?? 200K with +80% towing w/o issue, service regular.

[Sledgehammer]

Originally Posted by Gman1372

The 7.3 isn't the problem. It's the transmission

The 4r100 isnt terrible, but its not like the Ford 5r and current 6r. Mine made it to 170k. Funny part is a bunch of people told me if it made it to 175k i better be planning on a transmission soon lol. I was a few miles short. I replaced it with a motorcraft HD4r100. So far, so good.

The 99 is on its 3rd transmission. Last time I put a used trans in it because we were planning on selling it soon....but it refuses to die so we just keep running it!

[Gman1372]

I still have my original tranny. the flywheel cracked 8 years ago. Noisy as all hell but I'm not changing it till I have to drop the tranny. That's said, It's still the weak link in the system. Push the truck too hard that tranny will puke before anything else does.