7.3 gas engine vs Powerboost

[Snakebitten]

The horses are going to let you inside their clubhouse? ??

No doubt that a lot of fellas on horseback have slept in these "sheep camps" for decades.
I have spent 9 years living in a traditional RV industry RV. And although it's a pre-Covid RV, it's still the basic embarrassingly cheap (low quality) overall package.

I've had a lot of time to zero in on what I THINK is my personal solution. At least to replace the one I full-time in. Or put another way, I don't tow or take my full-time RV on the road. It's not built well enough to carry the weight of my belongings. ?

These guys build tanks.

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[Samson16]

No doubt that a lot of fellas on horseback have slept in these "sheep camps" for decades.
I have spent 9 years living in a traditional RV industry RV. And although it's a pre-Covid RV, it's still the basic embarrassingly cheap (low quality) overall package.

I've had a lot of time to zero in on what I THINK is my personal solution. At least to replace the one I full-time in. Or put another way, I don't tow or take my full-time RV on the road. It's not built well enough to carry the weight of my belongings. ?

These guys build tanks.

It’s beautiful big and clean! That trailer frame is serious business. Who builds it?

 

[Snakebitten]

It’s beautiful big and clean! That trailer frame is serious business. Who builds it?

Here's a link to one of their builds, and thus you will have their channel and website URL. It's a family business.

 

[mxwrk]

I love my PB as a daily, but it gets horrible mileage towing. I just towed a U-Haul Car hauler trailer with a super light Polaris Rzr on it...Orange County to Santa Barbara (relatively flat) and got 12.5mpg. If I was towing regularly I'd be in a diesel hands down. My old 7.3 Excursion would barely flinch when a trailer was hooked up. Diesel diesel diesel (if towing regularly)

 

[Samson16]

@Snakebitten it’s a King Ranch Sheep camp! Watched the video ?

 

[Samson16]

I love my PB as a daily, but it gets horrible mileage towing. I just towed a U-Haul Car hauler trailer with a super light Polaris Rzr on it...Orange County to Santa Barbara (relatively flat) and got 12.5mpg. If I was towing regularly I'd be in a diesel hands down. My old 7.3 Excursion would barely flinch when a trailer was hooked up. Diesel diesel diesel (if towing regularly)

I think about usage and overall value. Fuel efficiency is just one factor. Initial cost is another factor. Maintenance is another.

For example, the Class C motorhome I’m looking at has a 7.3l gas engine that might average 10mpg on regular unleaded. There are Mercedes Sprinter Class C RVs that average 17mpg running diesel and DEF.
Now that’s nearly double the fuel efficiency, but the Sprinter costs $50,000 more new! How far would I need to drive to recoup my initial cost?

Even if the fuel costs were equal at $4 per gallon which they are not, it will still take over 300,000 miles of driving that Sprinter to make up the difference in initial cost.
I look at the E-450 Godzilla over the 3500 Sprinter with a 2.0T diesel and I see value and utility.

It’s the same for trucks. Use case determines value.

Edit: At 8mpg vs 20mpg it would still take 167,000 miles in the RV to break even. If we put that much mileage on our RV I will be very happy indeed and will certainly think back and laugh about how I should’ve bought the diesel ?

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I love my PB as a daily, but it gets horrible mileage towing. I just towed a U-Haul Car hauler trailer with a super light Polaris Rzr on it...Orange County to Santa Barbara (relatively flat) and got 12.5mpg. If I was towing regularly I'd be in a diesel hands down. My old 7.3 Excursion would barely flinch when a trailer was hooked up. Diesel diesel diesel (if towing regularly)

That’s weird. I towed a 72 MGB on a U-Haul trailer 575 miles. Total weight was around 4700. I had probably 400 pounds of used parts in the bed at the truck.

I averaged 17.4 for the trip back. Speed and locking out overdrive is the key to mileage when towing.

 

[Snakebitten]

The value equation when considering recreation and adventure?

Fuel economy can hardly make the chart. It's just going to be the a cost to play. ?

 

[tsigwing]

If I owned a travel trailer versus motorhome, I would own a super duty, hands-down. Much better truck to tow with than any half ton.

I have a travel trailer. My F150 tows it effortless. Not all travel trailers are monsters.

 

[Snakebitten]

Definitely a Powerboost walk in the park rig. The grandkids are having a ball this weekend.

 

[Jerome10]

I haven't towed with either, but I have driven both. Take it for what it's worth. If you feel like power wise the 3.5 EcoBoost/powerboost is only okay then you'll probably not be super thrilled with the NA gas 7.3. The torque delivery of the turbo motor is far superior to that of the NA V8. Add in the extra loss of power an NA engine has at those altitudes and you'd probably be less thrilled. You would probably see better mpg when towing since it won't drink fuel like a gas turbo engine working hard.

I have a 7500lb gvwr travel trailer and I've pulled 6% grades here in CA with my standard EcoBoost without any complaints. It actually has so much torque I I'm using relatively light throttle to maintain 60. The first time I pulled that grade after switching from my 2013 truck with a 5.0 I looked down at the speedometer and was accidentally doing almost 75 on the up hill. While I understand the elevation will have some impact, but if you're not liking the climbing performance of the powerboost you're only real option is a diesel. Personally a F250 and especially a diesel is major overkill for a 6000lb gvwr travel trailer.

No experience either but this would be my guess as well. Summed up my thoughts.

Colorado has to be the toughest towing state outside maybe Alaska.

I’d think turbo would be better with elevation, but…

7.3 is only in Super Duty though, correct?

Diesel im sure is best but $$$.

 

[rdatkins]

Buy once cry ounce and just get the high output 6.7L power stroke diesel

And cry every time you put def in and fuel additives in, replace fuel filters, do oil changes. Had one. I was willing to deal with the upfront cost but the ongoing high maintenance was a deal breaker for me.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I have a travel trailer. My F150 tows it effortless. Not all travel trailers are monsters.

I hear ya……was just MY OPINION.
sorry

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Although all of these recommendations are great to suit ones own requirements, I specifically ordered a F150 5.0/373 to pull a fifth wheel.

4000 dry and 5500 GVWR. Not my rig (internet pic) but this is my future setup.

 

[Snakebitten]

A lot of us know that rig and that guy. ?

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