I am considering purchasing a 2001 F350 crew cab dually 87,000 mi 5 speed 4WD to tow my 30 foot boat and would like to know pros and cons.

the 7.3 is one of the best diesels ever made...if you do anything first id put an ATS ported intake housing on the turbo($425)...the turbos in that year and 02 had problems with surging under loads, that would eventually blow the turbo up. then a good clutch, and depending on if you want higher HP depends on what else youd need done.

Other then that id say thats a pretty reliable set up..i had an 02 f250 4x4 with an auto..had over 200k on it when i sold it and ran like a top.

I have an 02 single wheel 5 speed and love it. Knock on wood the only thing wrong has been the HPOP lines. The clutch is crap and I would recommend an upgrade. The pressure plate is known to let go. I did a complete banks kit with the six gun and it tows like an animal. JMO

It's a great powertrain. It's probably a ZF 6-speed though? Only the gas engine SD's could be bought with the 5-speed.

That truck may have the dual mass flywheel, which starts to rattle off the line when they wear. Most guys replace to a single mass flywheel when they swap the clutch out. Idle away in 1st and listen for a rattle that goes away at about 800 rpm.

Randy

Agreed - I didn't know that you could get the 5 speed on the 7.3. I have a 2000 6-speed dually F350. 99k miles. I LOVE it. We drive it everywhere. I use it to commute, and my wife and I take it on trips when we go.

About 6 months ago I was sitting at Shell filling up and this guy pulled up beside me with a SRW that was a 2000. We got to talking and I asked him how many miles he had on it. He replied he only had 386k on that one but on his other one he had over 400k. I asked him what all he had done and he replied he had never done anything other than replace oil, tires, brakes, and fuel filters on EITHER one....

Check Diesel Garage.com - those are good trucks!!

I will clarify my 5 speed comment. It is a 6 speed but 1st is so low it is worthless so I call it a 5. So yes the correct term is 6 speed.

South Bend Clutch;

http://www.southbendclutch.com/ford_catalog.html

It's a great gear to get a heavy boat moving. The ZF is a really strong and reliable trans, I rarely hear of any problems with them.

Mine is a daily driver, same kind of use as seaford. 22.7 mpg at 70mph unloaded, 17 in town, 11 towing the resin rocket on a steel Myco.

Good luck, R

I have an 01, 7.3, Crew cab dually, automatic. I've added a Banks turbo, Big head waste gate, Banks turbo wheel, exhaust elbow, 4" exhaust and HyperTech 3 stage kit. It's a beast. I do keep an eye and go easy on the overdrive when towing. They shouold have went with the Allison trans but so far, 158000, no trans problems. It's a great truck. The only constant problem I have had with the truck is that the front hubs wear out prematurely and cause tires to wear and slight shimmy. This is anoying and I wish someone had a solution to this. I've replaced them 5 times so far since 2004. Other than that, go for it.

Have you checked the Ford diesel forums for those hubs? They might know of a solution.