How many miles are you comfortable with?

[Big Wave D]

I'm looking for a 1 ton pickup with dump bed for towing my Kubota L35 with and other uses.

I have a few questions:

1.) In general, what is the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight on a truck this size?

2.) Does 380K miles mean there is much left, engine life-wise, with this truck? Does the mileage scare anyone off?

3.) I've seen many of these trucks come equipped with gas, V-8 engines in the 350 c.i. range. Is this enough motor for this kind of a truck? They must put rather tall gearing in their rear axles, 4.50-ish or greater.

4.) Do I want to find one with and auto or manual transmission? If you'd relay your reasoning for why, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Here's one that I've found and wonder what the 'horse-traders', who know far more than I, think.

 

[scoutcub]

It's got a great engine, the 7.3 diesel, but IMHO 380K would send me running. That's a LOT of miles and you don't know if they've been easy or hard miles.

This year I bought and sold a 94 F350 with the 460 gas. It had some manifold issues but I put several hundred bucks into it and used it all summer. It served it's purpose well. I have seen these 1 tons with a 5.4 V8, and would NOT get one.....the 460 was just able to pull a full load of dirt or gravel.

I will probably get another dump in the spring, but either a F550 - sized vehicle or probably step up to a 650/750 or an IH.

Either way, I will be looking for under 150K miles, (preferably under 100K) and definitely prefer the diesel. For a gasser, either a 8.1 or V-10, no 350 sized dumps.

Good luck!

 

[jcmseven]

Great advice. These 7.3L machines are frequently seen running at 300+ K but by Ford's own admission that is heading into rebuild time and frequently they are getting a little tired at that point. I am not a good speller (at all) myself, and do not want to sound bad, but when I am looking at adds like this, presentation means a lot. The fact the add misspells "knew" is not a good sign. That is not that tough a word and when someone either places or approves an add with that oversight, it makes one wonder what attention to detail might have been present on their truck use and service. For the two reasons I noted at least, I would pass on this machine.

John M

 

[scoutcub]

Sorry, I failed to mention I bought the dump with 57K and it already had a rebuilt auto trans.
I don't mind shifting, but in my mind that's more components to fail/need rebuilding, and would give the edge to an auto. (for me)

 

[Dmace]

There's a good chance that truck is not a Powerstroke and is the old non-turbo IDI 7.3l diesel which is what I had in my 94 F-350 dump. The Powerstroke came out in late 94 as a 94.5 model year but very few 94's actually got it and all 95+ trucks had it. The non-turbo diesel is a dog and pretty useless with 2-3 tons in the bed but very reliable. The GVWR of my truck was 11,000 lbs and I couldn't find the GCWR but found online in a few places that the tow capacity was about 9,000lbs. Hardly much considering today's trucks.

If I were looking for an older dump truck again, I would only look for a Dodge Ram with the Cummins diesel. You get a solid truck with a diesel engine that has no problem going 300k-400k miles untouched and a more comfortable cab.

My dump truck had a sander in the bed 90% of the time and you could tell because the dump bed and truck frame rotted away so bad it could hardly hold itself together. Check the frame and bed very well, new paint is a bad sign.

 

[crashz]

Your own usage comes into play here. Would this truck be used everyday or only occansionally? How do you feel about doing moderate to major repairs yourself?

I bought a 1987 GMC 1 ton 4x4 diesel a few years ago. Love the truck. Put about 200 or so miles on it so far. Currently its all torn apart, awaiting a frame repair at the front passenger side corner. What I would have considered the better part of the frame. My truck was a former salter too, so I've been battling rust issues as well. Its still fairly solid, but I'm looking at options.

I've had this truck and drove an 86 (my father's truck) with a gas 350. Diesels of this era other than the Cummins are way underpowered, even by small block standards. Parts are very expensive. For the cost of a set of injectors or an injection pump, you can replace a 350 with a used engine. If I were to get another truck, it would be gas powered and a side benfit would be a weight savings. The 6.2L diesel does nothing for me, not to mention its probably the most unreliable diesel made. And parts are relatively expensive compared to small block Chevy parts. To drive less that 500 miles per year, its really not worth it. If my truck was running everyday, the fuel savings would be worth it though.

The truck you have listed seems like a decent truck. From the photos, it appears to be in decent shape, not major rot issues. At 380K, I'd expect it to be primariy worn out. Expect the engine to need a rebuild/replacement and same with trans and rear axle. Price should reflect that.

 

[chieff]

You didn't really say how much you intended to spend but buying a truck that is mechanically sound will save you money over buying a worn out one and throwing parts and labor at it unless you are a mechanic and have plenty of time on your hands. But being broke down on the side of the road is no fun for anyone.

I would definatley go diesel they will just out pull a gas truck any day of the week and use less fuel doing it. I have a dodge 3500 diesel and use a 25' gooseneck to pull my l4330 with attachments and tons of fertilize when I go to my hay fields. You will be amazed how much safer and easier you can pull with a dually ton truck. You can find good buys now especially since the economy has tanked and fuel prices are heading up again. If you can drive a manual I would suggest that route because there is less to go wrong with them and putting a clutch in one is much cheaper than a repair on an auto transmission.

Just my 02 cents worth but buy a truck with less than 150k miles with good service records and it should do all you want and more and not break the bank after the initial purchase.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The advise given here is good and sound. That would be way too many miles for me. I dont care what diesel engine is in it, Ford GM or Dodge, the truck is just plain worn out at 200,000 miles period.

If you are not going to drive it a lot get a used dump truck. They can be had in my area all day long for $2000, kind of like the one Dargo just bought. Most are way under powered and drink gas but they are dead simple to work on and have good gearing to pull a real load. The GVWR on them is around 24,000#. They have the frame and components to withstand the beating unlike a 1 ton with a dump that can only haul 5,000# or less legally.

Chris

 

[Big Wave D]

The budget isn't very large at all I fear, $5,000.

As for use, it won't be working every day. It's more for personal use with maybe some odd jobs thrown in from time to time.

Since I'm not driving it daily, for me, a big block gas motor would be easier to maintain, fuel would be cheaper and oil changes too.

I agree with trying to stay under 150K miles on a diesel, but what kind of mileage on a gas engine would you want to stay under? Somewhere around a 1/3 of its life left, or so, means what would be showing on the odometer?

I am trying to stay away from anything that seems to have served a lot of its life as a plowing truck. I generally have been shying away from anything being sold with a plow or saying that it has the mount and wiring already.

If I can't find what I'm looking for, what are your(s) thoughts on trying to pull my tractor around with my 1972 Ford F250 with 360 motor and automatic transmission? It has less than 70K original miles on it. I went through it several years ago and did a lot of maintenance: brakes, fluids, carb, hoses, exhaust. Since that time, I don't think it's had over 5K miles put on it total.

Tractor weighs just under 7K pounds.

I don't have a trailer yet, but I'm looking for an 18' equipment hauler. What does something like that weigh? I'm guessing around 1,500 pounds?

If my guess is correct, we're talking 8,500 pounds combined. Am I overwhelming my pickup? Either with motor's ability to pull load or more importantly, the trucks Gross Combined Vehicle Weight. I've looked online for those numbers and haven't really found anything so far. It's one thing for it to be able to move tractor and trailer down the road; I want to be doing so safely. Since I've never really known. I haven't tried.

The truck was a Camper Special and spent most of it's first 15 or so years of it's life with a camper in its bed. Was this good, bad, or indifferent for longevity?

 

[Big Wave D]

If you are not going to drive it a lot get a used dump truck. They can be had in my area all day long for $2000, kind of like the one Dargo just bought. Most are way under powered and drink gas but they are dead simple to work on and have good gearing to pull a real load. The GVWR on them is around 24,000#. They have the frame and components to withstand the beating unlike a 1 ton with a dump that can only haul 5,000# or less legally. Chris

I've considered that option.

If I go that route, here are a few things I'd need answered.

1.) My Kubota L35 doesn't have the highest reach, I think it's around 8' at the pins. It seems like most dump trucks beds are to tall. I can always take the board extensions off, but what kind of a height does that get me down to? Not being able to dump into the center of a bed seems like it'd really cut down on the useful load one could carry.

2.) License? If it has air brakes, then I thought I'd have to get a CDL. I know you can do the farm tags route, but I have some properties more than 150 miles away that I like to be able to drive to.

3.) Plates and insurance? Do you have to plate a vehicle for it Gross? What kind of insurance does one have to carry on something of that size?

Thanks to everyone who has posted comments so far.