Excursion Diesel - Towing Questions
#46
Rennlist Member
Charlie,
Get the Edge with attitude. It is simple plug and play except for drilling a hole in the exhaust header( which isnt that bad) it has a display that shows egt, boost, revs and has 5 different levels of tune. Took me about an hour to do the total install. The 7.3 engines are a lot better then the 6.0 or the new 6.4s. The transmissions are ok as long as you are not drag racing your truck. I have noticed an improved mileage on my 7.3 but the first week it was horrible b/c my right foot was not off the floor. Also get a turbo back exhaust atleast 4" with a muffler it isnt really any louder then stock and really helps the motor to breath a lot better.
Chris
Get the Edge with attitude. It is simple plug and play except for drilling a hole in the exhaust header( which isnt that bad) it has a display that shows egt, boost, revs and has 5 different levels of tune. Took me about an hour to do the total install. The 7.3 engines are a lot better then the 6.0 or the new 6.4s. The transmissions are ok as long as you are not drag racing your truck. I have noticed an improved mileage on my 7.3 but the first week it was horrible b/c my right foot was not off the floor. Also get a turbo back exhaust atleast 4" with a muffler it isnt really any louder then stock and really helps the motor to breath a lot better.
Chris
Thanks!
#48
Super Moderator
Needs More Cowbell
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Needs More Cowbell
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Fix Or Repair Daily.
Sorry, none of those apply to HD Ford pickup trucks.....IMHO, they're pretty damned near bulletproof, at least based on my ownership experiences over the years.
Even my lowly Ford Escape Hybrid (daily driver) has been pretty much perfect.
Sorry, none of those apply to HD Ford pickup trucks.....IMHO, they're pretty damned near bulletproof, at least based on my ownership experiences over the years.
Even my lowly Ford Escape Hybrid (daily driver) has been pretty much perfect.
#49
I pull a 26 foot Haulmark with a F250 PSD Supercab is which basically an Excursion. I use load leveling bars... It pulls great and get pretty good mileage while towing...12-14 mpg.
I think one reason you have heard about problems when chipping the 6.0 is the fact that Ford already tweaked the engine a bit.. The same Navistar engine is only 275hp and 400 tq(I may be a bit off on the numbers)... Ford put there own tune and strategy in place and pushed the engine to 325hp and 560tq.. Then people add aftermarket piggy backs and chips and stress the engine even further. Thing will let go.
Ive always been happy with the power from the stock engine... unloaded I get 21mpg @70 on the highway..it tows greats... pulls up the grades on 17 w/o problem..
I think one reason you have heard about problems when chipping the 6.0 is the fact that Ford already tweaked the engine a bit.. The same Navistar engine is only 275hp and 400 tq(I may be a bit off on the numbers)... Ford put there own tune and strategy in place and pushed the engine to 325hp and 560tq.. Then people add aftermarket piggy backs and chips and stress the engine even further. Thing will let go.
Ive always been happy with the power from the stock engine... unloaded I get 21mpg @70 on the highway..it tows greats... pulls up the grades on 17 w/o problem..
#50
Burning Brakes
My exhaust guy does Flo-Pro its was like $400 installed and the chip was $725, I did all this and the cold air intake in the same week. Man what a different truck, I dont "race" my truck but the power gains were amazing plus it has a fuel mode that i run in 99% of the time and get about 18 around town and 20-21 towing the open trailer at 65. The biggest difference i found in mpg we slowing from 75 to 65-68, almost a 25% gain on a 300 mile trip down to TWS, sure it takes a little more time but the savings is worth it not espically at 4.60+per gal!
#53
I have the firestone bags and have had no problems. I don't have the onboard compressor. Maybe I don't know what I am missing. Anyway, use the motorhome now and it does have on board compresor and it self levels
Wow amondc, 18 in town. Thats great. I may have to do the exhaust and intake as well. I did that on my old 7.3 crew cab but have not bothered on our 05 excursion. We just have the chip. We also run in the fuel mode most of the time. Our down fall is probably the new tires. we are paying for vanity I guess. The 305s just look awsome and right at home on this truck. They are also much better in the snow and we spend a lot of time up in the mountains durring winter holidays.
Wow amondc, 18 in town. Thats great. I may have to do the exhaust and intake as well. I did that on my old 7.3 crew cab but have not bothered on our 05 excursion. We just have the chip. We also run in the fuel mode most of the time. Our down fall is probably the new tires. we are paying for vanity I guess. The 305s just look awsome and right at home on this truck. They are also much better in the snow and we spend a lot of time up in the mountains durring winter holidays.
#54
Rennlist Member
#55
Rennlist Member
I have the Edge Evolution. Install is just as Chris described. Drilling the header is easy as the truck has high ground clearence so all you have to do is crawl under it. Hardest part for me was figuring out where to run the EGT temp cable into the cabin so that I could hook it up. I ended up drilling a hole in the driver's side floor behind the pedals to get it through. Its hidden by the carpet and invisible and while not the most elegant solution, it seemed OK for a towing mule with 160K+ on the clock.
I also agree that the tranny should bot be an issue on the 7.3L unless you are abusing the truck. I don't have any experience or knowledge of the other engines other than the fact that the first couple of years of the 6.0L were a disaster. Lots of mechanical issues posted on that website and I can tell you that our own truck fleet at work got hammered hard with maintenance costs when we switched to those vehicles.
I also agree that the tranny should bot be an issue on the 7.3L unless you are abusing the truck. I don't have any experience or knowledge of the other engines other than the fact that the first couple of years of the 6.0L were a disaster. Lots of mechanical issues posted on that website and I can tell you that our own truck fleet at work got hammered hard with maintenance costs when we switched to those vehicles.
#57
Lifetime Rennlist Member
The transmission on the 7.3 is the weakest link in the truck. There have been plenty of failures, with or without towing, at around 100k miles. You may be one of the lucky ones and make it to 200k, maybe not. The trans is rated at 525 ft-lbs so it is run pretty much right at the limit. Regular fluid service and a trans temp gauge to know when to back off will help.
#58
Rennlist Member
It's all about temperatures.
If you have a regular chip like the Superchip and you leave it in tow mode the truck is much nicer to drive with better MPG and no problemw with tranny or anything else for that matter, just don't go stupid and it will last long.
I can't imagine running a 7.3 without chip, perfect engine for it, they left a lot on the table.
If you go higher performance, Imo the Edge is the best, you can get more performance out of the truck and as ling as you watch the display and nothing overheats you are good to go.
I never added a down pipe or exhaust, they will add a little performace as your temps stay lower longer, so you can back out later. But if you keep en eye on the temps, you do not need it.
Most problems I see are the guys running on max boost , drag race etc.
If you have a regular chip like the Superchip and you leave it in tow mode the truck is much nicer to drive with better MPG and no problemw with tranny or anything else for that matter, just don't go stupid and it will last long.
I can't imagine running a 7.3 without chip, perfect engine for it, they left a lot on the table.
If you go higher performance, Imo the Edge is the best, you can get more performance out of the truck and as ling as you watch the display and nothing overheats you are good to go.
I never added a down pipe or exhaust, they will add a little performace as your temps stay lower longer, so you can back out later. But if you keep en eye on the temps, you do not need it.
Most problems I see are the guys running on max boost , drag race etc.
#59
FWIW
#60
When unloaded I keep mine right at the min which is 5psi. When loaded it depends on the tounge weight and also just me eyeballing how level everything is sitting. I usually don't need more than 25 to 40 psi but they are rated up to 100 I think. I have a sticker next to the valves that remind me of the range. If you had a full load, full load of people over the rear axle then you may need more. There may be a better way but that is how I set mine. Not very scientific I know. It does not take much air at all to get the pressure up. Just a tap from my compressor and you can watch the rear of the truck rise up.