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Ok 5.9 cummins vs. 7.3 powerstroke

34K views 31 replies 23 participants last post by  dan_k 
#1 ·
I have a hot shot businesss and tow every day can gross at 31k with trailer


So would you choose a 7.3 f350 or a 5.9 3500 03 and up and why
 
#6 ·
we have one of the freigtliners at the ranch I work for, its got a mercedes diesel in it. its a POS it doesn't tow any better than a pickup the only advantage is that it stops better.
 
#13 ·
My dads business has a Sterling with a Mercedes diesel engine in it. It tows everything we put on the gooseneck trailer its attached to.And its got plenty of room inside the cab.
 
#8 ·
5.9 = good
Dodge= sucks beyond all realm of reason


7.3 = good
Ford= Best trucks on the road, PERIOD.
 
#9 ·
Took the words right out of my mouth!!!
 
#10 ·
ive drove a cummins powered 78 ford crewcab for 5 years, set it up to tow. 800 ftlbs of tq at the rears at 1950 rpm. it drives nicer than my dads 07 5.9 powered dodge. but we tow alot for farm and side money and the 04.5- 07 dodge is a superior tow truck to ford. i know guys that run powerstrokes and d-maxs and for 20k plus towing the dodge is very good. i just bought my wife a very nice 02 p.s excursion- bone stock for now and very guttless compared to my cummins- but i know the 7.3 is very respectable and look forward to getting more out it. i feel as stated above the ultimate is a cummins powered ford. thats why i built mine.
 
#11 ·
How do the C7 CAT motors do that are offered in the 650s and up models?
 
#12 ·
I'm gonna come out and say it. like ####. atleast with an auto behind it. Guy that lives down the street from me has one and he said if he could go back he would have got one with a 6.0 in it. hes got a little speed boat and says it downshifts and lacks on every hill he comes to.
 
#14 ·
O but my vote is for a 7.3 manual with a couple mods to help and would be just as good as 5.9 probably wouldn't be as fuel efficient but you'll make up for it with not having to do repairs to the actual truck just my .02
 
#15 ·
31k huh..I am thinking you need something in that range..
More like a 550. From a stopping point and dot weight stations you will want more then a 350 or 3500. Or are you talking just swapping power plants.
If that is the case I would find out which one will cost less fully setup, and which is less to operate. My gut feeling is gonna be the 5.9 will get better milage.
 
#18 ·
Ford with 7.3, especially crossing passes, the wider power band makes a difference.
 
#19 ·
The C7 Cat with a few parts thrown at it really wakes up just like our powerstrokes! We run a C7, 3126 Cat and 8.3 Cummins in our medium duty rigs and I would go with the Cats over the cummins anyday!
 
#20 ·
31k = grossly overloaded = hella ticket/ bring another trailer to unload some of this one onto that one on a f350 if you get pulled over or it will get even worse if you have to hit a weigh station. not to mention you will simply tear the truck up with that much weight. dont get me wrong, i over load my truck pretty bad sometimes, but if im not mistaken, thats more than twice the max capactiy of the truck
 
#21 ·
My buddy had an 03 dodge before he traded it in for his 05 6.0. He said the dodge shifted like garbage and the dealer said thats how it shifted. He said nothing is better than the 6.0. I would say go with the 7.3 or the 6.0. All my buddies and my brother have dodges the trucks are garbage imo
 
#22 ·
I was wondering if ui was the only one looking at the weight.
To be honest I am not sure what the 550's are. Def in the med duty or greater truck zone.
 
#24 ·
I wonder if he has farm tags and it exempts him from the DOT weight requirements? Just looking at his user name.
 
#26 ·
i dont think farm tags exempt you from weight restrictions. as long as you stay within 150 miles of home you dont need a cdl, but i think you have to be using it for farm related things, ie hauling corn, maybe shuttling equip. on a truck for hire, i dont think you can use farm tags legally. and in illinois, there is a mileage limit per year i think, or maybe its certain parts of the year you can use it in. there is a restriction something like that here.
 
#27 ·
31k gross isn't that bad. The key to it is to keep front and rear truck axles withn their weight ratings. (wheel and tire ratings, this is what dot will look at) if the trailer has the axles and the brakes for the weight, put the weight more on the axles and you're golden. I've been 28k with my 3/4 ton, and been 3,800 on the front axle, 7100 on rear axle, and the trailer axles carried the rest. Truck was squatted about 3" in the back, lower than the front, and it stopped fine. The 7.3 may be a little slow getting it rolling, but with the mods in my sig, I could keep it rolling 70+ mph across i44, and then down i35. Rarely downshifted on the rolling hills, and big hills I'd lock out od, and use steady 1/2 throttle at 2600 or so rpm, and it would pull up arbuckle at 73 mph all day.

A well tuned 7.3 deserves a lot more heavy towing credit than it deserves, and I'll say this in closing. My truck out pulls my buddies 03 cc dually dodge 6 speed with a banks chip and 4" exhaust when pulling a loaded 32' gooseneck cow trailer.
 
#28 ·
Hey now, what do you know!? Your truck only makes 14lbs of boost...J/K, come get my isspro when you wanna check it.

To the op, take a 7.3 with tunes
 
#30 ·
I think neither one is big enough for your needs.Just because it can pull it does not meen its safe or that you should.Buy a truck that is big enough to handel it.
 
#32 ·
I had an 05 and an 07 cummins, and an 01 and now 00 psd.

The ford truck body/doors/bedside is solid when compared to the dodge. The ford has a better ride, and the ford is more comfortable.

The 5.9 is the best motor to date. Great fuel economy, loads of torque, quiet, did I say its a torque monster.

The auto tranny sucks in both trucks, but is quite a bit better in the dodge.

The dodge is a very nice towing platform, solid and stable, but so is the ford.

The dodge has alot more power in stock form, in fact I drove both of mine around without any performance enhancers and 315 tires and never felt underpowered while towing.

The 7.3 needs a little help in this dept, as it is a dog in stock form. I have a tow program which helps ALOT, but it still doesn't have the torque of a stock 5.9.

The rpm's in the psd need to be in the 2300+ range which puts you out of od when you hit rolling hills, whereas the cummins wheelhouse is 2000 rpm and even at 1800 rpm it just pulls giving you the ability to keep the r's down when pulling through rolling hills.

My wife wouldn't ride in my Dodge, due to the rough ride (both were 3500 short bed single rear wheel) She doesn't mind the ride of the ford. All trucks I listed above were leather equipped (except the 01) so it's not like she was riding on a solid vinyl bench seat.
 
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