Looking for USED F-350 - Which year/engine/model is best?

Diamondpilot · Mar 6, 2012

I agree. Had a 04 6.0 and still have a 06. Not a single issue with either in 200,000 miles.

Chris

RollingsFarms · Mar 6, 2012

The few 6.0's I've been around haven't had any issues either. You see a good many on the road around here.

Dmace · Mar 6, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
I agree. Had a 04 6.0 and still have a 06. Not a single issue with either in 200,000 miles.

Chris

Try doing 200k on a single truck...

Bigfoot62 · Mar 6, 2012

OK, David. That's it. You've got to call off your search for a diesel pickup.

Ever since you've started this thread, diesel fuel has been going up in price. Today, it went over $4.00 per gallon around here. I've had enough! If you don't stop shopping for a truck, NONE of the rest of us are going to be able to buy fuel for ours.

:laughing:

Soundguy · Mar 6, 2012

my 04 6.0 is about 60% there on the 200k deal.

one of my 99 7.3's is gonna be there next year the way i drive it..

Sterff · Mar 7, 2012

bm3 said:
I own a 2004 super duty with 6.0 , KEEP AWAY ! really stay clear of them ! money pit

That's reall helpful :thumbsup:

Soundguy said:
generalization... mines been fine... neither post proves anything...

Exactly, it's all in the maintenance. The ones that are abused are the ones with issues.

Dmace said:
Try doing 200k on a single truck...

My dads 04 just went in for new head gaskets at 348K miles... Wasn't a single problem before hand. I have three myself, one with 135K, one with 182K, and one with 217K.

Wnc3 · Mar 7, 2012

I knew the op was going to open a can off worms...

We have 450,000 miles on a 7.3...great rig

I spent $16,0000 on a 6.0 and threw in the towel at 120,000 miles.

We refused to buy a Ford until 2012 and have 2 F-550's. The jury is still out,
Hoping for the best.

I'd buy 7.3 or the 2012 6.7 or get the 6.2 gas.

murphy1244 · Mar 7, 2012

Guy by me has a 93 chevy dualie deisel one ton for 5100.00 91,000 miles

deerefan · Mar 7, 2012

Sterff said:
That's reall helpful :thumbsup:

Exactly, it's all in the maintenance. The ones that are abused are the ones with issues.

My dads 04 just went in for new head gaskets at 348K miles... Wasn't a single problem before hand. I have three myself, one with 135K, one with 182K, and one with 217K.

There is a key to keeping the 6.0 going strong- keep the oil changed and carbon down. What I mean by this is work it hard and maintain it hard and it will keep you happy. Most of the people I know that had problems with them either dogged them with excessive boost and mods or babied them, putting around town in their king ranch with nothing to tow. I had 2 and they were trouble free, consistently pulled 20k lbs.

Diamondpilot · Mar 7, 2012

deerefan said:
There is a key to keeping the 6.0 going strong- keep the oil changed and carbon down. What I mean by this is work it hard and maintain it hard and it will keep you happy. Most of the people I know that had problems with them either dogged them with excessive boost and mods or babied them, putting around town in their king ranch with nothing to tow. I had 2 and they were trouble free, consistently pulled 20k lbs.

Your experience has been the same as mine. We have tons of 6.0L in my town and for the most part have a good reputation but there will always be the non believers.

If I were buying a used one today I would spring for ARP studs and a EGR delete from the get go then drive it like I stole it with 5K oil changes.

Mine were always happy with 15,000# to 25,000# behind them.

Chris

Soundguy · Mar 7, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
Your experience has been the same as mine. We have tons of 6.0L in my town and for the most part have a good reputation but there will always be the non believers.

If I were buying a used one today I would spring for ARP studs and a EGR delete from the get go then drive it like I stole it with 5K oil changes.

Mine were always happy with 15,000# to 25,000# behind them.

Chris

i just went to 5k intervals and valvolene permium blue full syn 5w40 oil in my 6.0.. finally convinced the boss it was worth it.

I've already been using that oil in both my 7.3's since i got them.

all mine pull trailers weekly. that 6.0 has made multiple cross country trips pulling a trailer with a tracor on it, running more or less full time there and back.. only being shut down for fuel, doing red eye trips. one trip to texas, we stopped for fuel every 4-5 hours, truck got to rest the 5-15 minutes we were at the truck stops each time.. one of us slept while the other drove.. truck seemed to enjoy it..

trailbuilder · Mar 17, 2012

I have been pulling and plowing with a 2002 F350 dually and the 7.3 with 4.11 gears, It has a full Banks kit and exhaust brake with 135,000 miles....I have been happy with it and worked it hard pulling a 14 K GVW gooseneck with 12-14 K on it. I am overweight on the trailer axles and am looking to upsize the trailer to a 20K GVW gooseneck.
1. How much can I legally pull with this F350 GVW 13,500?
2. How much can I safley pull with this F350 GVW 13,500?

MossflowerWoods · Mar 17, 2012

What is the load capacity difference between a F-350 Dual and Single rear wheel?

Also, do the 4x4 unit's have lower load capacity or the same as 2wd?

Thanks,
David

Diamondpilot · Mar 17, 2012

trailbuilder said:
I have been pulling and plowing with a 2002 F350 dually and the 7.3 with 4.11 gears, It has a full Banks kit and exhaust brake with 135,000 miles....I have been happy with it and worked it hard pulling a 14 K GVW gooseneck with 12-14 K on it. I am overweight on the trailer axles and am looking to upsize the trailer to a 20K GVW gooseneck.
1. How much can I legally pull with this F350 GVW 13,500?
2. How much can I safley pull with this F350 GVW 13,500?

Look in your manual for your truck and it will list the max tow rating. I think it will be in the 18,000# ball park.

As far as safely its a matter of opinion. I pull a 25,000# BP boat with my 06 SRW 4x4 F-350 Power Stroke and I used to pull a 25+5 GN with my 1999 SRW 4x4 F-350. Its all about the equipment, driver, terrain, ect.

Chris

Diamondpilot · Mar 17, 2012

MossflowerWoods said:
What is the load capacity difference between a F-350 Dual and Single rear wheel?

Also, do the 4x4 unit's have lower load capacity or the same as 2wd?

Thanks,
David

There is about 2,000# difference in the GVWR if you order both with the max setups but of course the Dually is about 400# heavier so real world its 1500 to 1600#.

The 4x4 has a slightly lower capacity because that weight comes strait off the GVWR and the GCWR, so also lower tow rating by about 400# also but I would not care. No way I am buying a 2 wheel drive truck.

For that matter back when Ford had the V10 it actually had a slightly higher tow rating and payload versus the Power Stroke Diesel due to weight. The diesel is about 500# heavier.

Chris

MossflowerWoods · Mar 18, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
There is about 2,000# difference in the GVWR if you order both with the max setups but of course the Dually is about 400# heavier so real world its 1500 to 1600#.

The 4x4 has a slightly lower capacity because that weight comes strait off the GVWR and the GCWR, so also lower tow rating by about 400# also but I would not care. No way I am buying a 2 wheel drive truck.

For that matter back when Ford had the V10 it actually had a slightly higher tow rating and payload versus the Power Stroke Diesel due to weight. The diesel is about 500# heavier.

Chris

Thanks Chris, excellemnt info!

David

newbury · Mar 18, 2012

trailbuilder said:
I have been pulling and plowing with a 2002 F350 dually and the 7.3 with 4.11 gears, It has a full Banks kit and exhaust brake with 135,000 miles....I have been happy with it and worked it hard pulling a 14 K GVW gooseneck with 12-14 K on it. I am overweight on the trailer axles and am looking to upsize the trailer to a 20K GVW gooseneck.
1. How much can I legally pull with this F350 GVW 13,500?
2. How much can I safley pull with this F350 GVW 13,500?

Legal depends on what state you are in when/if you get checked.

My 2002 F350 dually 7.3L 4x4 w/auto 4.10 gears (not 4.11) has the optional 11,500lb GVWR package, (compared to a standard 11,200lb) and is rated in the manual for 20,000 lbs GCWR. On all the web sites max trailer tow capacity is listed as 12,500 conventional, 12,700lbs fifth-wheel/gooseneck.

I believe I could safely tow far more than the 12,700 lbs.

Diamondpilot · Mar 18, 2012

newbury said:
Legal depends on what state you are in when/if you get checked.

My 2002 F350 dually 7.3L 4x4 w/auto 4.10 gears (not 4.11) has the optional 11,500lb GVWR package, (compared to a standard 11,200lb) and is rated in the manual for 20,000 lbs GCWR. On all the web sites max trailer tow capacity is listed as 12,500 conventional, 12,700lbs fifth-wheel/gooseneck.

I believe I could safely tow far more than the 12,700 lbs.

Its amazing how much trucks have changed in the last few years. My F350 SRW has 11,500# GVWR and about a 16,000# tow rating. The Duallys now are 13,500 and higher with nearly a 24,000# tow rating.

Chris

SLHawkins · Mar 18, 2012

David,
Sorry it took me so long to respond to this thread. I've had both an '01 with the 7.3L powerstroke and the '06 with the 6.0L powerstroke. Both were 4x4 Crew cab Duallies with the 6-spd manual trans and 4.10 gears. The cam sensor failed on the '01 and the turbo went on the '06 (both were covered under warranty). Other than that, I did not have a lick of trouble out of either. I exceeded 120,000 on each before letting them go. And, I only sold them due to pending deployments. Otherwise, I would still have one or the other.

I prefer the duallie, but a SRW crew cab will handle your tractor and horses. Anything heavier...well, you have seen what I have in the backyard to take care of any heavy hauling. They are available when needed.

What can you legally tow? Not sure about a SRW, but I have gone across the scales there in Lorton at 29.5k with the '01 and 29.4k with the '06 (got the pictures to prove it too

) . I got the green light both times. Both trucks pulled those loads up I-95 with the cruise set at 65. I might have had to drop back to 5th once or twice. So, I reckon you are good to at least 17-18k. Just watch your speed and increase your stopping distance.

Check all the hoses coming off the turbo and that are part of the intercooler. I didn't have any problems with the 7.3 but I kept blowing the hoses off the 6.0 with minimal boost. If you see any traces of oil (fresh or otherwise) on any of the hoses replace them. No damage is done when they blow. But, it sounds as if a rocket is shot off underneath the hood and all power is lost. It took me a while to figure that out and it was frustrating as all get out.

Bottomline, I'd recommend an '01 and earlier, or an '06 and newer. Looking forward to sitting under the shade tree and spending the rest of the afternoon checking it out :thumbsup:
Hawk