So here it is and im sure many of you guys now this by now... But i just noticed it this week... I was pulling a 25 foot cargo trailer with my 2001 F-350 Power stroke, didnt really think much about the load that it was, however the trailer i bet would come in at 12000 LBS.

I let a friend use my power stroke to help move his sister today, so i used the ole cummins to tug the same load (lawn and landscape equip) and CRAP, this cummins will out pull that power stroke even with the edge off. I was totally amazed on how it pulled it up a grade going 60+MPH that the power joke could only pull 45-50MPH.

And when the trailer was unhooked it was scary to be in a truck with some real torque again!!!

Just thought id let you guys know how thankfull I'am to be back in a cummins!!!

 

This summer I saw an older powerstroke '84 pulling the grade out of Truckee with a 20' travel trailer attached smokin like a Banschee doing 45 mph up the hill. I blew by him doing 60, 6k trailer in tow, with the cruise set and noticed I was not even smokin???

I was going to honk but I did'nt want to rub it in.

Rick

 

My dad happens to be the unfortunate owner of a '05 f350 6.D'0h, my only comparison to what I drive (in terms of other diesel rigs I have driven). Big differences everywhere; despite the age difference and the tech. difference, I will always love my truck more!

 

Power strokes didn't show up until sometime around '95 what you had was a non turbo 6.9L international. If I recall, Fords didn't get a turbo until the power stroke showed up in '95
There would be a HUGE difference in hp and tq

 

Before I got the Cummins a couple of years ago, my pickup was an 85 Ford ext. cab, 4 speed manual, with the 6.9 in it. And, as mentioned above, the turbo's didn't come out till the 7.3 engines. We have a 32' 5th wheel camper. With the camper attached, if I was on level roads, and NO wind, I could hold (barely), 65 mph. Any type of wind, or slight hill, and I was out of 4th and down into 3rd. Steeper hills, and I was down in 2nd, floored, holding 25 to 30 mph. The first summer with the Dodge, my wife and I took the camper down to Bismarck, ND for a weekend. Got into 6th gear, set the cruise, and the only time we slowed down, was when "I" wanted to, as in, sharp curves, towns, stop signs, etc. I couldn't BELIEVE the difference in power/torque the 5.9 (yes, with turbo) had over the 6.9. And, in other trips, even "wind" isn't really a factor with the Dodge/Cummins combo. Absolutely no comparison between the two vehicles.

Dewey

 

Pretty close, we had the unfortuate experience of having a powerstroke. Was a 94.

I think the 6.9 was used untill 87 or 88, the 7.3 indirect injection was next and was a option right up until 1994. Was aviliable as turbo charged in 93-94. And in 94 you could get the 7.3 powerstroke with manual transmissions only. What a nightmare ordering engine parts, 3 different diesel options for the same year, nobody understood it was a powerstroke.

 

Just to be fair, there are a lot of factors to consider when comparing trucks pulling a load, none the least would be gear ratios, transmissions, tire size, etc, etc.

Rich

 

DieselDaze,

Yep, that's very true, and I should have thought of that in my message above. However, my Ford, and the Dodge seem to have been geared pretty close.... with the engine tach at 2000 rpms (or, very close) both pickups were at 65 or 70 mph. I'm thinking the turbo on the Cummins is what really makes it pull away from the 6.9, that, as well as the torque from the I-6 design of the Cummins. All I know, is I was flat out IMPRESSED by the Dodge. I got it used, in fact, on the 26th of this month, I will be starting out my "3rd" year with it...(purchased it on my b-day, with the wife's permission). I was still going down main street with it, after leaving the dealership for a test drive, and already knew my pocket-book was NOT going to be "happy" in another hour or two.... , and haven't looked back since!

Dewey

 

I can understand the 2001 7.3 to 2001 Cummins comparison, but is someone really trying to compare a 2001 Cummins with a mid-80's 6.9 here?? If so, what exactly did Dodge offer in 1985 to compete with it?

 

BigHorn,

No idea what Dodge offered back in 85. I was just comparing the two pickups that I've owned in the last 10 years. And, true, there really "is" no comparing the two... Before I bought the Dodge, I figured I would be loosing both horsepower and torque, going from a 6.9 to a 5.7, and, maybe I would be, if it weren't for the turbo on the Cummins?

Oh well, far more happier with the Dodge anyway, no matter what the differences; except, I REALLY like the "Captain's Chair" style seat the Ford had. That's about the only thing I miss from that truck.

Dewey

 

FWIW- I owned a 97 PSD, mildly BOMBed, and currently own a mildly BOMBed 97 CTD, I'd take the CTD any day!

But the 7.3 is a good engine, I liked mine a lot while I had it.

 

Dewey, I was just curious because I didn't remember Dodge running a diesel prior to the 5.9. Those old 6.9's were nothing to brag about by todays standards but for their day they were pretty decent, especially when people added aftermarket turbos.

I can certainly see why you are impressed by the Cummins. I sure do like mine.

 

I had a 95 PSD and I ran it for a lot of miles before getting rid of it. It ran fine. Of course it doesn't have the power that these trucks do today, but it did the job and took a beating as well. It was a very good truck. I have nothing against the 7.3 My brother went through two 6.0 Fords before finally going to Chevy. I tried to bring him over to the CTD but with the amount of cab space he needed at the time, he decided against it even though he liked them a lot.

 

She couldn't fit in a half ton eh?