RustyRooter

There has been speculation on why Ford went to '7.3L' for their new big gas motor... if they really wanted to use brand loyalty and recognition, they should have made it a 7.6L... or a 460, instead of the 445. Oh, well, maybe next time. I don't think anyone buying a big block gasser is thinking they are getting the equivalent performance of a diesel... that's just nonsense.

I really like the 3-valve V-10, even with the 6-speed (?) ... it is far smoother than the sledgehammer of the 7.3, and that's even with the added smoothness of the 10-speed, but I DO like the 7.3/10s combo. 3.73's work well for me, but I would think in your case you wouldn't go wrong either way. Let's put it this way, it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

Well... I'm not shy with the gas pedal, and my job is driving to multiple stops in the city, I get between 8-10mpg, which is what I got with both my '09 V-10 and my '17 6.0L 2500HD gassers. I just completed a trip from TX to IN, and back, and surprisingly got 16mph for the trip.

I would think with the 10-speed transmission, you would be OK with the 3.73's... you'll be heavy, but not that heavy. The only caveat to that would be if you pull stuff... heavy trailer, or do a lot of off-roading (think mud/farm) where you might be pulling or recovering. My '23 has the 7.3L/3.73 combo... but I've not yet pulled anything with it. It's normal workday payload is 800-1000# and you can't even tell it's back there.... except the smoother ride.

I have Bilsteins on my '09... they have always done a pretty good job, even considering the rear leafs are made of spaghetti noodles. I don't really care about ride, I care about even wear on my tires, and traction. Bilstein's web page has nothing for the 2023 SD... which is why I'm axing. Was the 22 to 23 year change that big of a difference???

Winner, winner... chicken dinner! 4 clicks did the trick! The book said 3... so that's where I was hung up at. Blissful silence... Thanks, gang!

I'll give it another go...

Yes, sir! I did it just like the instructions called.

So I started looking around for replacement shocks for my 2023 F-250 4WD, I usually replace them after I get the first set of tires on, or about 20K miles. Rancho and Bilstein are my 2 usual suspects... but I'm not finding anyone that makes shocks for this thing. I even emailed Rancho directly and they said nothing at this time. Anyone have any luck with aftermarket shocks?

I'm going to continue to work on it... If I find a working solution, I'll post about it. The airbag light goes out almost instantly, after everything cycles, I even waited over a minute before I cycled the seat belt... but nothing.

You didn't, but I would have assumed people reading my question would have interpreted that as a 'reasonable' need, rather than a way to skirt the safety virtues of a seatbelt. As it turns out... no, that didn't work, either. Maybe I'm missing the cues, or maybe I'm just doing it wrong, or maybe the 2023 just doesn't do it.

Which is not always necessary when operating off-road or other instances where it won't be operated on streets and roads.

Anyone know how to disable the seat belt dinger on the 2023 SD? Yes, I'm aware the instructions are in the Supplimental, but it doesn't work... I can't get past Step #1 where you turn the key on, wait 1 minute, and the seat belt light goes out... the indicator never goes out.

I would say either upfitter switches, or the 4WD switch... something like that.

Well... that would explain it, and kind of what I thought, now that I can see the actual temperature.

What's funny... my 2009 transmission gauge warms up and sticks like glue to that One Spot on the gauge... and has never wavered in 14 years and 208,000 miles. It's an XL, so it doesn't have the digital readout like my new truck does... so I don't know what it's really reading. Ignorance is bliss. My snotty comment would have to be... 'if Ford put manuals in trucks, again, like the Good Old Days, I wouldn't have to worry so much about the trans temp.'

Interesting. My 2023 transmission runs pretty hot as well... I've seen it as high as 222F. Funny, the actual gauge never moves... it's in the same place from about 160F to 220F. All this in the city, making multiple stops, with about 1000# in the truck.

I picked up this 2023 F-250 STX on 12JUN, in Dallas. CrewCab, LongBed, 7.3L gasser, 4WD, trailering package. My wife wanted running boards... who am I to say no? At the dealer... Parked next to my 2009 F-250 XL V-10... No Aggie sticker here... Not completely set up just yet, but it had to go to work to earn it's keep...

Reading through most of this topic, I was a little apprehensive. I needed a new SuperDuty to replace my ailing and failing 2017 2500HD, and the feedback I was getting from the Ford dealers wasn't sounding good; for that matter, I wasn't liking what I was seeing at the Chevy dealer, either. I had almost committed to buying a Dodge... when my Ford dealer gave me a call. They had dealer traded for a F250 SuperDoody STX CC/LB with a gas engine... and it was mine if I wanted it. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best thing I was likely to see anytime soon... 2023 F250 STX, 7.3L gasser, 4WD, with the trailering package. I didn't want 4WD, and I initially didn't care for the blacked out wheels, but beggars can't be choosers. So far, it's a very nice truck, and I love the 7.3L motor, even compared to the 3-valve V-10 in my '09. It's not as smooth as the V-10, but it certainly pulls! I consider myself pretty darned lucky to pick this truck up, considering the current market.

New guy here... but not to Fords. My current Ford is a 2009 SuperDuty XL CC/LB, V-10, 206K, my previous was a 1999 SuperDuty XLT CC/LB, V-10 with a 5-speed (I sure miss that truck.) My current work truck is a 2017 2500HD LT CC/LB, 6.0L gasser, 131K ...and I still have my 2002 F-150 SC/SB 4.2L V-6 auto, 170K