What was the last year for the 7.3 ?   I keep hearing people say such good things about them, and really nothing bad.  An older truck would fit my budget better, I need a long bed AND a big backseat, and mileage is my prime motivation.  I expect I would sell it when we finish the trip as I already have the Mega.
I have a friend who has just about got Momma talked into driving to the Arctic Circle for the Summer solstice next June.  Our kids are the right age and if you are gonna go to Alaska, ya might as well see Alaska.  I figure a 20mpg 5 passenger Clark Griswold special is just the ticket.  Although dragging a trailer might be a better way to go.  Dunno, we'll see what happens.
So who has the bigger back seat, Ford or GM? My kids are getting bigger by the day.   

fords have the biggest cab other then the maga cab, 03.5 was the death of the 7.3l when your looking the vin number for the 7.3l is the 10th letter need to be a F, i looked for 6 months and finaly found the truck i wanted, i just got it in jan 2012 its a 2002 f250 excab longbed with 74000 miles, some grandpa owned it. you just have to look everyday and find the right truck but never get a 6.0. i am a ford guy "till i die" but i am really sorry they came out with that motor. i rather push my ford then drive my sisters truck.

ya i pull with the cruz at 68 with no problems. if i am pulling the boat i get about 14 mpg without the boat i get 17mpg. and that is not bad if you have ever seen how big my truck is. lol

I am interested in this bulletproof kit though. just cause i like gadgets and aftermarket stuff. And i do get an egr engine code everyonce in a while. I used to clean out the egr vavle and the engine light would go away for a while. but it always comes back with the same code eventually. So no i just let it ride. the light will be on for a few weeks then go off for a few weeks.

So for this bullet proof kit do you need to buy the oil cooler or the egr cooler or both?

My truck has every mod that banks makes for it installed and the stupid egr code has always been a little problem that bugs me

You should just get the whole kit fix the things that go bad.  the BulletProofDiesel kit gets rid of the oil/coolant heat transfer system.

im running the banks 6 gun tuner

My dad had the triple dog from bully dog installed at the Mopars at the strip event in Vegas by Bully Dog themselves on a 05 3500 GMC. Its been great. I think it was $800. It pulls his 34' travel trailer like its a kite. That the only upgrade he has. He can get 19-22 mpg unloaded on the stock tune.

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Lucky it wasn't 67,000 mi and $8K, and needing a set of heads. Son in laws 6.oh oh. over $32k in a '05 that he didnt trust, and wouldn't drive out of town.

I will gladly tow your 6.0 with my 7.3, 470K on the clock 

Daniel

I'll pass it on see what he says

One word. Cummins!

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Can't argue that, strong motors. I'd be partial to the 12 valves cause they run forever but ya get no technology in anything with a 12er.. steer clear of the #53 blocks, more common on the early 24v's but some late 12's have them. Few guys in my ol diesel club had a coolant loss problem from cracking blocks. I'm almost leary on the newer stuff cause of the unknowns and more shit to go haywire. My mercruiser tech buddy has got a 2010 6.4l Ferd that is a champion with comfort and ample power...

LML Slurramax's are nice, but not so much on fuel econ.. guys that had them I know drove em too damn hard to get accurate mileage readings. The dude with the 6.4 got 21mpg to Parker and back with 800lbs(nothing) with air conditioner full blast idling around camp.. you really have to have a NEED for torque to justify ownership on any diesel... Otherwise I'd still have mine.

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My boss's kid works for Cummins, told me that engine was designed for lots more power than it puts out. They seriously detuned it for street use. I had two customer's when I worked for Dodge that had over million miles with nothing but the valve covers off at anytime. One hauled horses back and forth across the US for racing and averaged 18mpg with 18k trailer. Showed me his fuel log or I would've never believed it. He did go through 3 transmissions & clutches during that time (what my dealer was replacing when he stopped in). I hated Dodge for a lot of years, but now I drive an 05 Hemi. They've come a long way since I worked for them. I was raised Chevy and I have mad respect for the superior BBF over BBC, but when it comes to diesel I got to give it to Cummins. Now if one of the Big 3 drops a kitty Cat under the hood, I'll switch up in a heartbeat. I think they're the shizznit!!! JMHO
Sam

Cat no longer builds DOT diesels...FYI 

I guess i should elaborate...They teamed up with the makers of the Powerstroke, Navistar...

You think Ford came up with the new motor..

Ain't they just talkin big boy tractors though?

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