Well used farm truck: What would you look for?

[terryknight]

the mid 90s (OBS) fords are great truck. I would buy a 350 if buying a 4x4 to stay away from the crappy TTB front end under the 250s. the ZF was a good trans, but only found behind the 460 and diesels. the autos are fine but require a bit more care. there were millions made so lots of spare parts kicking around. depending on the rules where you live getting an older truck and tagging it as a historic vehicle maybe an options to save some money. the chevys from this era are not bad either.

last aug i bought this for 4800. it was a little over 90 minutes away. drove it home spent roughly 2000 more on it and have a very nice truck. nicer than what i think you want.

 

[rbstern]

last aug i bought this for 4800. it was a little over 90 minutes away. drove it home spent roughly 2000 more on it and have a very nice truck. nicer than what i think you want.

Wow! That's an awesome looking truck.

 

[terryknight]

thanks - it wasn't what i was looking for, i was looking for something more like you, but this is better in some ways, not so great in others

 

[kthompson]

About two years back bought a 2007 250 super duty ford with V10, manual trans and manual four wheel drive. Has the extended cab and long bed. One long to turn around but really like it. Check and be sure the trans shifts smooth, my issue turned out to be someone had put wrong fluid in the trans causing it. Specs are auto trans fluid in my manual transmission.

But really like the setup of the V10 and manual. The V 10 will pull a bear or four and will run with the sport cars. Well they run better than I would have thought. One issue to me with the manual on my model, be sure you are able to adjust for the clutch and the steering wheel with seat position. The clutch is heavy and you need full leg movement to use it. Other wise may tire you out. One thing will say on the super duty...service is super also.

 

[bigtiller]

It wouldn't be my first choice, but this '36 Ford seams to be a good field truck for this guy.

 

[4570Man]

I'd want as much manual stuff as possible. I have a Chevy 1500 4x4 with 221000 miles that I paid $1500 for. The power mirrors don't work. The power adjustable seats don't work. The passenger side window is a ticking time bomb although I like the power windows. I had to spend $80 on a switch for power door lock. I'd rather have a stick to engage the 4wd. Mines electronic and it's finicky. And it will eventually fail at the worst possible time. It does have A/C that works good. A buddy couldn't believe I was driving around with A/C and 4x4 in a $1500 truck.

 

[rbstern]

I'd want as much manual stuff as possible. I have a Chevy 1500 4x4 with 221000 miles that I paid $1500 for. The power mirrors don't work. The power adjustable seats don't work. The passenger side window is a ticking time bomb although I like the power windows. I had to spend $80 on a switch for power door lock. I'd rather have a stick to engage the 4wd. Mines electronic and it's finicky. And it will eventually fail at the worst possible time. It does have A/C that works good. A buddy couldn't believe I was driving around with A/C and 4x4 in a $1500 truck.

Agreed. Not to mention all that power stuff makes life tougher on the battery. I like power windows, too, but I do miss the cranks.

 

[motownbrowne]

the mid 90s (OBS) fords are great truck. I would buy a 350 if buying a 4x4 to stay away from the crappy TTB front end under the 250s. the ZF was a good trans, but only found behind the 460 and diesels. the autos are fine but require a bit more care. there were millions made so lots of spare parts kicking around. depending on the rules where you live getting an older truck and tagging it as a historic vehicle maybe an options to save some money. the chevys from this era are not bad either.

last aug i bought this for 4800. it was a little over 90 minutes away. drove it home spent roughly 2000 more on it and have a very nice truck. nicer than what i think you want.

I could be wrong, but I'm under the impression that all of that generation of 3/4 and 1 ton trucks had the ZF if they had a five speed. On a related note, the 4 speed for these trucks, which was a top-loading Borg Warner was probably even more well regarded. Anyway, I know that mine with the 4.9 I6 has a ZF S5-42 transmission.

On another note, that's nice looking truck in your picture. Which engine/transmission combo do you have? Sorry if you already posted it and I missed it.

 

[terryknight]

the t18 (or t19) was a great trans, they stopped using it in 87. we have one in the dump truck and the plow truck

and you are right the m5od was in the half ton. i don't know what i was thinking

 

[franklinute]

I picked up a 1992 F350 XLT 4x4 5.8L and auto trans SRW crew cab
long bed at an auction about two weeks ago. I paid $1500 which seemed
a little high becauseof the chance something major could be wrong.
All that I knew was that the motor runs and that it had sat for 3 years.
I am going thru the truck now and hope to put $1k or little more in it.
The interior is in very good condition. The front axle needs some
components replaced.
I like the idea of a government or utilty company vehicle. Generally low
mileage and well maintained. Also check regional 4x4 forums for work
trucks and parts.