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

[dodge man]

PS - How hard (How Much $$) to change the rear-end?

Unless, you tow heavy, I'd consider the 3.73 rear end a big plus. My truck has the 4.10 rear end and I wish it was a 3.73.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Foreman,

I know... Life is a crap shoot some days... Used is always a gamble...
I thought you bought a brand new Dodge Cummins?
David

Yeah that was the whole reason I went and bought new,my dang ford took a crap on me...

 

[frischtr]

PS - How hard (How Much $$) to change the rear-end?

Ring and pinion sets run around $400 for HD trucks, and remember that with a 4x4 you have to buy two sets! Its a fairly labor intensive job also, so if you aren't doing it yourself it can get expensive right quick.:confused2:

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Yeah that was the whole reason I went and bought new,my dang ford took a crap on me...

But you've still got it?

I might be taking a road trip with a buddy to OK to pick up some stuff of his he is planning to leave at my place (horse trailer, horse stuff, etc...).

I'd MUCH rather buy from someone I at least kinda know and trust...

Just an idle thought...

David

 

[jeffsw6]

Nice looking truck but that low GVWR would keep me from buying it. 9,900# in a one ton SRW does not cut it. They make them with as much as 11,500# GVWR. Heck, my 04 F-250 had 10,000# GVWR.

Is it the same truck as a higher GVWR just ordered from Ford to have 9900# on the sticker? Chevy/GM does this.

Back in the 90s, when you could deduct anything over a certain GVWR from your taxes even if you used it largely for grocery hauling, you could order a bunch of GM SUVs with a certain GVWR that met the tax rules, so every Mary Kay salesperson and real estate agent had a Escalade with exactly the right GVWR.

9900# GVWR puts you underneath the expensive tags range in some states and it also gives you the benefit of the "lemon law" in some of them. For example, in Indiana, a 10K truck isn't covered by the lemon law at all, but a 9900# one is.

 

[foreman Etexas]

But you've still got it?

I might be taking a road trip with a buddy to OK to pick up some stuff of his he is planning to leave at my place (horse trailer, horse stuff, etc...).

I'd MUCH rather buy from someone I at least kinda know and trust...

Just an idle thought...

David

Its only 2x4,and will not be out until late march early april but she's getting everything new. So really maybe closer to the $6500 mark when everything is all done,I dont like cutting corners at anything and wont to just go ahead and put new now instead of having to do it later...

 

[Sterff]

Im happy with my 2003 6.0. If your looking at 6.0s, in my opinion the 03-04 engine is the best. Im at 135K miles now and have only replaced 4 injectors and a serpentine belt. I find it's a pretty reliable engine and I would take it over a 7.3 all day long. I tow over 14K lbs with it weekly and it has plenty of power. My truck has been tuned for 55K miles now and has been dynoed at 447/978. That's with SCT tune, intake, exhaust, 58V FICM, and fuel upgrades. When the truck hits 150K miles Im pulling the engine to do headstuds, oil cooler, intake manifold, full egr delete. I may also add 190s and a powermax turbo. As with any diesel engine maintenance is the most important thing.

 

[Tomtint]

My past trucks include a 2003 reg cab 4x4 F350 7.3 SRW. 1996 DRW 4x4 7.3 dump. Several 2004-2006 4 door 6.0 Super Duty 4x4. Current is 2009 F350 4x4 DRW Dump V10. And a 2011 SRW reg cab 4x4 F350 with the new V8 gas. I have had experience with all of them. My take on it is this, the 7.3 is a good motor, the automatic trans is junk. Plan on a new one every 50-65k. The oil pan is going to rot out and it is a big number to fix. Injectors can also be a bummer. Although I never had any major issues with any of my 6.0s.... They have a reputation and I don't think I would buy a used one that I dod not know the real history on. They do however get good mileage and are quite a bit quieter than the 7.3. And the tranny is bullet proof. My V10 is a nice set up, it has gobbs of torque and pulls a 10k trailer as well as anything I have ever had. But it loves fuel.. 9 mpg if I'm easy on the pedal. Loaded or empty it gets 9. The exhaust manifolds went at 14k miles and were replaced under warranty.. But at 14k miles... WTF. The new V8 in the 2011 is ok. It gets about 13.5 mpg avg. But has no where near the torque of the V10. And the 6 speed trans shifts a bit more than I like and at odd times. Good luck in your hunt.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I'd MUCH rather buy from someone I at least kinda know and trust...

Just an idle thought...

David

Good you passed on the Woodyard Auto sales. They've a bad rep on the web.
There's a guy down further south. Wally's Wholesale seemed to get good ratings and I was just about to buy a truck from them when they were moving their lot in late Dec, early Jan. From what I could find on the web they are an honest firm. They are a couple of grand MORE than most other dealers, but I thought I was going to be able to sleep at night.

Instead I bought my current ride from what seemed like a trustworthy guy (he has a long presence on ebay selling military equipment) who had moved up to a 450.

And then it didn't even pass a safety inspection! I had to spend over $2 for a lightbulb

Plus he had been running the front tires at about 50PSI instead of 60!

I think it's often better to spend a few $$ for peace of mind.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Instead I bought my current ride from what seemed like a trustworthy guy (he has a long presence on ebay selling military equipment) who had moved up to a 450.

Hook me up! I'm looking for a few items of military surplus. PM me with the ebay info for this guy.

Honestly, I think I'd rather buy from an individual vs. a dealer.

But I typically endlessly research my options and look into them deeply before I buy. Well... Most of the time I do...

David