Ford F550 and the 7.3

[cobro92]

Hey all,

Trying to figure out a plan for my truck camper build and I was heavily considering a Ford F550 as a platform, inspired by some really cool build threads lately.

My question was around the engine. Ford’s default gas engine for the 450/550 chassis cab trucks is the 7.3. I assume it’s mostly the same as you will find in the 250/350? Would it be a good option if I’m going to be hauling around 4K-5k worth of camper payload? It seems to have gotten a lot of positive reviews for the 250/350 platform but I haven’t really seen anyone use it for a 450/550 truck camper build. All of the F550 builds I see seem to be using the 6.7 diesel.


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[BretEdge]

I've got a 2021 F250 w/ the 7.3 and a Norweld tray and FWC Hawk UTE. I weighed it last weekend, fully loaded, and total weight is 10,500 with rear end weight around 5,800. The 7.3 pulls it with zero issues. Not as much weight as you'd have on yours but I really wouldn't foresee any complications.

 

[Wilbah]

I would compare the mileage difference. Many times the weight will kill mileage on a gasser v. the diesel. But upkeep/maintenance is more on the diesels.

 

[cobro92]

Yes I agree that the mileage will be absolutely garbage on an F550 with the gas motor. But how much better would the diesel be? Maybe 5mpg?


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[Explorerinil]

Get on YouTube and watch some videos, you’ll be impressed with the 7.3. It will do fine, I see plenty of new 450 and 550 gas service trucks running around now.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

The 7.3 is a very good motor that was designed from the ground up to be used in heavy, commercial vehicles. While it doesn't have the power that the 6.7 has, it's definitely no slouch.

It's also thousands less to buy than a 6.7 plus the cost of maintaince and repairs is muuuuuch lower. The 7.3 is also a pretty simple engine to work on.

 

[Grenadiers]

Watch out for service records, especially for the automatic transmission. If similar to F350 version, I haven’t looked, they don’t last long. Your results may vary of course.

 

[BretEdge]

I would also note that if you got a 7.3 and really, really felt that it needed more power, there are options. I've read and heard that it's easy to tune for more power and if you want to spend some dough on a supercharger it'll throw down 600 HP in a snap. I opted for the 7.3 for two reasons: 1) I don't need a diesel. 2) It's a very simple motor, and Ford overbuilt it for durability.

 

[Porkchopexpress]

Another consideration is the chassis cab 7.3 is derated for longevity compared to the super duty pickup trucks.

I considered something similar but couldn't find any reliable data on expected fuel economy. I decided there is probably a reason the F450 pickup isn't offered in the 7.3.

Commercial buyers will probably use them for shorter trips and won't care as much about MPG. I think for long freeway driving, MPGs will be pretty far off the diesel but since I haven't found any reliable data, that's just speculation.

 

[cobro92]

I agree that it will probably be derated, but that’s nothing that a tune can’t fix. The 7.3 is easily tuneable. As for mileage, yeah we are all just speculating at this point. The 7.3 is pretty efficient for a big block v8 but how bad could it be? Like 7 or 8 mpg?


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[Wilbah]

You might try browsing here and see if you can delineate between gas and diesel. Hard to tell how much weight ppl are hauling but you might decipher some info that helps you.

2016 Ford E-450 Super Duty MPG - Actual MPG from 23 2016 Ford E-450 Super Duty owners

The most accurate 2016 Ford E-450 Super Du1ies MPG estimates based on real world results of 189 thousand miles driven in 23 Ford E-450 Super Du1ies

www.fuelly.com

 

[Porkchopexpress]

I agree that it will probably be derated, but that’s nothing that a tune can’t fix. The 7.3 is easily tuneable. As for mileage, yeah we are all just speculating at this point. The 7.3 is pretty efficient for a big block v8 but how bad could it be? Like 7 or 8 mpg?


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It's definitely tuned differently. It has lower peak HP, not sure about torque. I don't see much need to change it if you are hauling a camper.
8 mpg is about what I saw in a YouTube video on a dump truck with the 7.3. I think it was an F600.

 

[phsycle]

Another consideration is the chassis cab 7.3 is derated for longevity compared to the super duty pickup trucks.

I considered something similar but couldn't find any reliable data on expected fuel economy. I decided there is probably a reason the F450 pickup isn't offered in the 7.3.

Commercial buyers will probably use them for shorter trips and won't care as much about MPG. I think for long freeway driving, MPGs will be pretty far off the diesel but since I haven't found any reliable data, that's just speculation.

Why is the F450 not available with 7.3 but F550 is? Interesting.

 

[cobro92]

The 450 chassis cab is available with both. The 450 with the bed is only available with the 6.7.


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[phsycle]

The 450 chassis cab is available with both. The 450 with the bed is only available with the 6.7.


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That seems odd to me, too. If anything, I’d have thought it’d be the other way around.