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

[Soundguy]

YeapView attachment 261727:laughing: or the WelderView attachment 261728 witch ever.....

hmm.. looks like she's riding low in the water there in the back. Might be suitable if you are just letting her set in the pasture as a bale feeder. run that down a road and hit a pothole... wonder if the spings give out? bottom out? fender and tire kiss?

just cause it fits don't mean it's a good idea..

soundguy

 

[Bigfoot62]

Guys,

I'm here looking for advice again. I've always heard that two heads is better than one and I need someone to help me think this through.

What if I buy one of the older 2wd F-350 7.3 and just put farm plates on it and find me a small Ranger or Toyota 4x4 for my commuter car? (or just keep my F-150, but 16 mpg on a 160 mile commute 4x a week will kill my budget).

My girls need something here they can throw hay and feed into twice a day and run it up to the horses, and I need something that can tow/haul when needed. That would be a decent useage for a F-350 7.3 (gets started twice a day)...

That really nice green one seems to still be available, but at $14,900 I would HAVE to borrow money... I really like it though...

I think we will be starting a massive remodel effectively blowing the roof off and building a full 2nd story... If the bank will loan me money it will go smooother, if not, there go all my savings... (and then some).

What to do... What to do...
David

Chris,

. . .

Hear me out. I think I NEED TWO trucks. My wife's 2011 Flex CANNOT haul a square bale and grain up twice a day without getting destroyed inside. My little daughters are dependant on my F-150 hauling them and the horse feed etc up the hill to the pasture twice a day.

I am thinking about leaving th 1-ton at the farm all the time. Maybe even running a "Farm Use" plate & ins on it. it will still do all the hauling.

But I need something I can drive to work 160 plus miles 4-5 times a week, AND bring 3-5 50lb bags of grain home, or a 100 gallon water trough, or who the heck knows.

If I'm driving the 1-ton, I still need the little truck to haul the girls up the hill a couple times a day.

Dude, I am LISTENING to your and everyone's advice. You guys are all ahead of me on this road and I HUGELY appreciate the advice and insight y'all share with me.

David

David,
I believe there was a wise old owl that suggested this early on. :laughing: (just messing with you) Actually, I suggested that you just keep the F-150 and buy an older 1 ton for the farm.
By your numbers, the F-150:160 miles @ 16mpg = 10 gallons. 10 gallons @ $4.00 = $40.00 per day, x 5 trips = $200 per week, or $800 per month.
Toyota Tacoma 4x4 would be a wash, if not a little worse. (we have one and average 15mpg)
Ranger, depending on engine, transmission, and rear axle ratio, probably wouldn't be much of an improvement, if any.
Even if you just bought a teeny-weenie commuter car that would average 32mpg, that would only save you $400 per month in gas. That would be offset by the car note and insurance for an additional vehicle.
Your F-150 is yours and paid for, correct? I would just keep it. Then, find an older F-350 that you can afford and just use it for the farm.
Something like this: Cars for Sale: 1997 Ford F350 2WD Crew Cab in Troy, PA 16947: Truck Details - 320090496 - AutoTrader.com
Or this: Cars for Sale: 1996 Ford F350 2WD Crew Cab in Pasadena, MD 21122: Truck Details - 318742564 - AutoTrader.com
Or, I really like the looks of this one: Cars for Sale: 1994 Ford F350 XL in Fredericksburg, PA 17026: Truck Details - 313831854 - AutoTrader.com
All three of those are in your area. I'm sure there's more. That's just what I could find in a few minutes.

Most of us have been where you are. You just have to figure out what's best for you and your family. Sometimes that's not an easy task, but I'm sure that you will.
Good luck to you and let us know how it comes out.

 

[foreman Etexas]

hmm.. looks like she's riding low in the water there in the back. Might be suitable if you are just letting her set in the pasture as a bale feeder. run that down a road and hit a pothole... wonder if the spings give out? bottom out? fender and tire kiss?

just cause it fits don't mean it's a good idea..

soundguy

It does it pretty regular and pick up a ton of feed in it,yes it will only go down so far but she'll ride Were not talking cple miles its 15 from feed store and around 40 to lease pastures.

 

[VitaBene]

Moss I'm with you been a ford guy since day one. have a 99 crew cab long bed SWR 7.3 with 125k and have not had any issues with it other than the norm. I just replaced the original batteries last fall. I intend on keeping this truck until the wheels fall off or he(( freezes over, whichever comes first.

Careful... make sure you keep after your balljoints or the wheels will fall off! I just did mine along with the u-joints for the second time at 186K.

Then I sent it into the bodyshop for minor rust repair and a complete repaint (except fiberglass topper).

Mine is a 99 with 7.3 and 6 speed. I hope to run it relatively easy for another 5-6 years. Its primary job is towing our 32' enclosed trailer to some bike weeks. We head to Myrtle next month with 6 bikes.

To Moss- I love the 7.3 Super Duties. Watch for draggy caliper slides and worn wheel bearings (replace hub assy, can be found online reasonably)

 

[MossflowerWoods]

David,
I believe there was a wise old owl that suggested this early on. :laughing: (just messing with you) Actually, I suggested that you just keep the F-150 and buy an older 1 ton for the farm.

Most of us have been where you are. You just have to figure out what's best for you and your family. Sometimes that's not an easy task, but I'm sure that you will.
Good luck to you and let us know how it comes out.

BF62,

Yes, you DID say to just keep the current F-150 etc...

So the wife and I got to go shopping by ourselves on Saturday and we had a chance to just BS about stuff and I brought up the topic of changing our truck situation.

I think I was both successful and failed miserably on making my point.

I believe she is firmly convinced we need a "farm truck" to haul the girls and horse feed around. But she wants regular plates on it so it can haul the camper etc.

Therefore she agrees I need a smaller truck also, something with better mileage and 4x4 for the snowy days. In fact if my neighbors cute little Ranger has AC she wants me to gto try to buy it. The follow up to this plan is it will become my oldest Daughter's truck in a couple years when she needs to learn how to drive.

I completely failed on convincing her I needed an F-350 in any fashion.

She said I can borrow my neighbor's or one of my TBN buddies will help me out, etc. Besides, next you will have to go buy a trailer, etc... She said "Right now you do not need an F-350 and a trailer to haul your tractor ONCE A YEAR somewhere"... She has a point. I hate it, but she has a point.

I don't actually HAVE anywhere to haul my Tractor (Not Yet) I am thinking of many reasons I MIGHT have soon, and would like to get prepared. She wants me to DRIVE the tractor to Hawk's place to mow and or hay with him...

I hate it when she is right, but I married her because she was brilliant and would not take crap from me and would call me on it.

Right now my only justification for an F-350 is "I want one because maybe I will need one in the future and I wish to be prepared"...

So I will be looking at the neighbor's Ranger and who knows...

I clearly need better justification for a bigger truck...

Be well,
David

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . .
. . . I hate it, but she has a point . . .

I hate it when she is right . . .

ROTF :laughing:

How many times have I said that?

Dang it, boy, don't you hate it when that happens?

 

[MossflowerWoods]

ROTF :laughing:

How many times have I said that?

Dang it, boy, don't you hate it when that happens?

Yes... and No. She is really a wonderful woman, much better than I deserve, and she let's me just do whatever I'm gonna do, but she also tells me what she thinks (especially if I ask), and she thinks very well.

Typically I get everything I want. How many guys do you know of with 4 Harley's... AND a brand new tractor.

Now... If my F-150 would develop mechanical issues, or a very inexpensive F-350 were to suddently appear, or???

The fact is, in my secret voice in the back of my head I've been thinking I was trying to jump the gun.

Someday, soon as I need one, I'm going to own a nice F-350 or 450 7.3psd...

Right now there is just too many other things I need first...

Dang it!
David

 

[newbury]

You've done your research.
You've found your target.
Now you just need for the planets to align and you are ready.
Keep an eye out on sites like Craigs List, AutoTrader, powerstroke.org.

I started looking in late 2008 and didn't find what I thought I needed until January, 2012.

I had some crazy restrictions I imposed (couldn't be black or dark green, had to be able to test drive, had to feel the seller was totally trustworthy, had to be a 2002 or 2003, etc.) but they finally aligned.

Perhaps all of a sudden you find yourself with four horses and a trailer and your job moves to A.P. Hill. Well, your ready.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Yes... and No. She is really a wonderful woman, much better than I deserve, and she let's me just do whatever I'm gonna do, but she also tells me what she thinks (especially if I ask), and she thinks very well. . .

I understand exactly. Been married 27 years to an accountant/auditor. Nothing gets by her!

 

[MossflowerWoods]

You've done your research.
You've found your target.
Now you just need for the planets to align and you are ready.
Keep an eye out on sites like Craigs List, AutoTrader, powerstroke.org.

I started looking in late 2008 and didn't find what I thought I needed until January, 2012.

I had some crazy restrictions I imposed (couldn't be black or dark green, had to be able to test drive, had to feel the seller was totally trustworthy, had to be a 2002 or 2003, etc.) but they finally aligned.

Perhaps all of a sudden you find yourself with four horses and a trailer and your job moves to A.P. Hill. Well, your ready.

I understand exactly. Been married 27 years to an accountant/auditor. Nothing gets by her!

Exactly!

University of TBN has taught me well. I know what I want (2000-2002 7.3psd etc.) and I want to stay married also!

As soon as I can prove NEED, done deal...

David