My 2000 Excursion has a 7.3, and boat and RV towing is mostly all I use it for. I get roughly 20mpg while doing so, and I'm not light on the fuel pedal. It has 350K on it now and a 36 gallon tank so you can pretty much make it to a cheap(er) fuel state. I fish and camp In NY during the summer, so it also brings me home and back when I leave the RV and boat there. I'm not a pro mechanic, but I do all my own work on it, the only diesel I've owned and worked on and found YouTube is your friend when it needs anything done. Oil and filter is changed every 5-6K miles, so about every 4 trips up and back, and oil in a diesel is a big thing, so I'm early on the changes if anything. I also took out the 3rd row seat, and flip down the 2nd seat, put in a mattress, and I have a place to snooze if I need one. I've owned it over 20 years now, best 5 grand I ever spent.
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Need a truck to pull boat, want a diesel
- Thread starter xlr8ngn
- Start date
I still need a truck to move it from storage to the ramp. I have a 23 Ford Explorer, and it pulls my 22' bay boat with no problem with the electric over hydraulic brakes on it. The new boat is a whole other thing at over double the weight. I was tired of going to FL, and missing a week of offshore fishing due to weather being borderline. The bigger boat will allow more fishable days. We have a canal where I can keep the boat after launch. I could just rent a truck for half day, but the logistics of that eats into time in and off the water.
The 7.3 Ford is a good option. My Dad has one, still runs well. The GM with that Allison trans is good, best trans on the market. The Dodge with the 5.9 Cummins is great. Better fuel economy, no Blue Def and the problems that go with that system. The Cummins will last longer than any other engine. If you get a manual, it would be bullet proof. I have the auto, it's OK. The trans is better than the Ford. The Cummins is also easier to start in cold weather as well. Unless you're up North, you don't even have to plug it in.
As far as the difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton. The drive train is the same. There is one extra leaf spring in the rear suspension for more payload. The dual rear wheels add stability when towing or hauling a heavy load. Brakes are the same. Unfortunately, the tires don't last any longer on a dually. Ins. and tag are also higher on a 1 ton. And you'll burn more fuel
As far as the difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton. The drive train is the same. There is one extra leaf spring in the rear suspension for more payload. The dual rear wheels add stability when towing or hauling a heavy load. Brakes are the same. Unfortunately, the tires don't last any longer on a dually. Ins. and tag are also higher on a 1 ton. And you'll burn more fuel
Well, when I’m available, I will pull the boat for you and we’ll go fishing
