97 F-250 Towing Capacity

[MH]

What is the towing capacity of a 97 F-250 with the 7.3 powerstroke? Thinking of upgrading the 89 F-350 with the 460.
Thanks,
Matthew

 

[JT]

97 F250 has a towing capacity of about 12,000# or so. The biggest thing of a single wheel F250 is not towing capacity, it is the stopping capacity. The F350 pulling capacity will be a little higher, but you give up the torque and fuel economy of a power stroke. Is the F350 a dually? if it is, the dually would be more stable pulling, but you would loose a lot of torque and fuel economy would be a gallons per mile thing instead of mpg.

 

[MH]

Yes its a dually. Main reason I'm considering the change is the fuel economy issue...

 

[Mike M]

How much do you tow ? You will notice a pretty good difference from a 350 dually to a 250.
Less stable and capacity on the 250.

 

[rustyfarmall]

Let's see, you're probably getting about 8 to 10 mpg with the 460. The powerstroke, if it is using the same transmission and gearing, might get 12 to 15 mpg. I say MIGHT. I know of several powerstrokes that are only getting 10 to 12 mpg. Is that enough difference to make up for the cost of the Diesel truck?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Don't know anytrhing about either of your mentioned two Trucks.I do know of my 89 F-350 / 460 and 5 speed super cab with my 35' 11K Jayco 5th Wheel RV Trailer attached will get 9 MPG on the flat and no head wind and 6-8 running the Hills with no head wind. Head Wind is a big issue with one of these Trailers. My Travel Buddy with his 99 F-350 Power Stroke w/Auto Trans pulling a like amount of weight and wind resistance with his 10,600 Lb. King of the road has me beat about 2 MPG in the same situation of wind etc. Now, when we fill our Tanks I pay right now $2.51.9 per Gal. He pays $3.09.9. Neither one of us puts on more than 5,000 miles a year ,I can change my Plugs and Dist Components, Change 6 Gal. oil and filter,and do necessary Brake Trans or Clutch work. He in turn has to take his Truck to the Dealership for just about any thing having to do with the Engine or Drive system. My Licesnse is much lower than his as is my Insurance, No thank you I will keep my "OLd" Ford with the 460. Maybe I'll get it reupholstered in Leather and get a new Paint Job. That would make it an Keeper for sure. I'm not trying to discourage you but offering comments on my situation. My Friend nor I can come up with what a new Truck costs so we are happy with what we have. Good luck on your Truck deal.

 

[Tim Shultz]

my "94 F-250 had no problem towing a trailer with 14-16 big rounds on it.. (not sure of the weight) but we moved 150.. it was getting about 16 MPG with the trailer.. getting about 20-30 MPG emty.. (depends a LOT on how you drive) but it"s not a stock 7.3.. it"s got a K&N intake, 3 inch turbo back twin strait pipes. and an edge downloader.. great on fuel and I"ll beat a mustang off the line every time..
Tim

 

[jd530]

Dad's got a 00 f350 powerstroke dually and a 39' jayko fifth wheel with 4 slide outs he sets the cruise at 75 mph gets 10 mpg with or without wind. We have had powerstrokes since 94 and right now we have 3 of them the worst milage we got was 7 and the best was 20. I will never buy another gas engine.

 

[dhermesc]

Agreed.

I hear about these 25 MPG deisel one tons and heavy 3/4 tons all the time but have yet to ever see on in action. Our experiance has been the power strokes get better fuel mileage under load (usually around 12-13MPG), the gas units get better fuel mileage running empty(as high as 17MPG). Thats comparing the 7.3 to 7.5 and the 6.0 to the 6.8. None of them ever broke 18 MPG for an entire tank of fuel.