[Fr. Frank]

Only thing about the 7.3 is they like to guzzle the fuel.
strick

Don't believe that, Gillie. I get almost 18 mpg with my 7.3L F250 Crew 2wd. On the highway I can push that to over 20 mpg. I used to get 18.3 combined and 21 hwy before I suffered erosion on my injectors from bad fuel.

2 weeks ago, I put a 14' Aluminum boat on the rack over my roof, loaded about 1500 lbs of books into my bed, and pulled my 1100# diesel generator from the old house in Crystal River to the new house 354 miles away and got 18.8 mpg on that trip, loaded and towing. (granted, I was traveling at 60 mph, not 75)

Oh yeah, all the 3/4 and 1 ton rear ends on the F250/350/Excursions that are 3.73 or 4.10 gearing are limited slip diffs. But they're Ford limited slip, not Dana, which for whatever reason don't work as well as a Dana. But still better than an open diff.

Airing down my rear tires to 25 lbs, I pulled a 30' SeaRay (7800 lbs) up a ramp with no hesitation a couple of years ago doown in the Keys. Owner had a Dodge dually with a Cummins with a bad fuel pump.

Ford will get the job done.