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

[Bigfoot62]

BF62,

Problem is that the F-150 is a terrible commuter car, and it is not so great as a grocery getter for the wife (she prefers I leave her Flex at home for her).

Right now I'm thinking my whole plan is a mess regardless...

My commute is basically at least 160 miles each day I have to "go to the customer".

It is decent weather now and I plan to ride my Harley most days (but my carpal tunnel might have other ideas, it is giving me fits on my left hand now).

The truth is it would be ridiculous to drive a F-350 4x4 to work everyday, and worse to leave it for the wife. Plus I really do not NEED it yet, I just WANT it so I can get a gooseneck trailer, and then get more toys etc. I would then need to go find a commuter car for the rainy days when I can't ride my Harley...

Fact is I am not done with the chores I have. I'm foolish to try to add to the list with haying or bush-hogging, or anything until I'm done with what I need to do now. I suspect if I NEEDED to get my tractor or my horses somewhere tomorrow I could borrow a truck & trailer.

I need to settle down and get some stuff done first, and quit trying to catch up to all of you guys way ahead of me on this journey.

Basically, do my chores first, then play later.

But your advice is solid and I am not discarding it. I appreciate all the great advice I get here on TBN, especially from those whom I consider my friends and advisors. Like you, Hawk, EastTX, here on this thread (and many others on other threads).

Thanks & Be well,
David

David,
(from the bottom) My advice, or the advice of anyone else here on this site, reminds me of what an old preacher friend often says, "That, and 50 cents, will get you a half cup of coffee in some places."

You're not in a race, and there's nobody you have to catch up to. It's easy for us "armchair quarterbacks" to help spend your money.

Sounds like you're figuring that out. :thumbsup: Just do what's right for you and your family. That's all that matters. You'll be fine.

 

[SLHawkins]

Just do what's right for you and your family. That's all that matters. You'll be fine.[/QUOTE]

Amen to that:thumbsup:

Hawk

 

[Soundguy]

It all depends....

I didched a 1/2 ton truck ( 98 dodge 4x4 ram 1500 360 gasser ) to get my 99 f350 drw 7.3psd.


I have to be able to hitch to a trailer both bumper and gn, at 'any' time needed. that might be once a month.. or daily.

i drive the dually to work every day. it's got 4.10 gears. not as gret as 3.73.. but still walks ok on the interstate. I don't put my foot in it just to see smoke, so i actually am getting competitive fuel milage, unloaded, as that 360 gasser dodge did. loaded.. i actually BEAT the 360 gasser dodge.


since i have too many chores to do.. a commuter car or small truck wasn't in the books for me. could have gone to a 3/4 ton or another 1/2 ton.. but I wanted towing stability.. and to me.. that was excluding a 1/2 ton, unless it was a newwr one with alot of goodies... and for that $$ i could get the 3/4 or 1 ton and not worry so much.


in the end.. it's whatever you feel is the best compromise.

I realize using a 1t drw is not the best commuter car.. but it's an excelent chore truck. since I do more chores than hiway miles to work. chores won..

BF62,

Problem is that the F-150 is a terrible commuter car, and it is not so great as a grocery getter for the wife (she prefers I leave her Flex at home for her).

Right now I'm thinking my whole plan is a mess regardless...

My commute is basically at least 160 miles each day I have to "go to the customer".

It is decent weather now and I plan to ride my Harley most days (but my carpal tunnel might have other ideas, it is giving me fits on my left hand now).

The truth is it would be ridiculous to drive a F-350 4x4 to work everyday, and worse to leave it for the wife. Plus I really do not NEED it yet, I just WANT it so I can get a gooseneck trailer, and then get more toys etc. I would then need to go find a commuter car for the rainy days when I can't ride my Harley...

Fact is I am not done with the chores I have I'm foolish to try to add to the list with haying or bush-hogging, or anything until I'm done with what I need to do now. I suspect if I NEEDED to get my tractor or my horses somewhere tomorrow I could borrow a truck & trailer.

I need to settle down and get some stuff done first, and quit trying to catch up to all of you guys way ahead of me on this journey.

Basically, do my chores first, then play later.

But your advice is solid and I am not discarding it. I appreciate all the great advice I get here on TBN, especially from those whom I consider my friends and advisors. Like you, Hawk, EastTX, here on this thread (and many others on other threads).

Thanks & Be well,
David

 

[RobertN]

Looks nice, but would not want to tow with it. CG is too high, too hard to get a 5th wheel or gooseneck hooked up without a lift kit on the trailer. Even for a bumper pull, would need an extreme drop hitch. Have seen those extreme drop hitches, but they look flimsy.

The big tires have a negative affect on braking power.

Unless it has been regeared, there will be power loss due to effective gearing change due to increased tire diameter.

It would be a pian to load/unload anything from the bed up that high.

Looks like a pretty street truck though...

I found you one 7.3 diesel,154,00milesView attachment 259891 about 30miles from me
Texas Truck Deals - Dually, Diesel, Monster and 4x4 Trucks - Corsicana and Dallas, Texas

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Chris,

This is a most excellent post. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me.

You WILL know whatever happens.

Thanks,
David

It all depends....

I didched a 1/2 ton truck ( 98 dodge 4x4 ram 1500 360 gasser ) to get my 99 f350 drw 7.3psd.


I have to be able to hitch to a trailer both bumper and gn, at 'any' time needed. that might be once a month.. or daily.

i drive the dually to work every day. it's got 4.10 gears. not as gret as 3.73.. but still walks ok on the interstate. I don't put my foot in it just to see smoke, so i actually am getting competitive fuel milage, unloaded, as that 360 gasser dodge did. loaded.. i actually BEAT the 360 gasser dodge.


since i have too many chores to do.. a commuter car or small truck wasn't in the books for me. could have gone to a 3/4 ton or another 1/2 ton.. but I wanted towing stability.. and to me.. that was excluding a 1/2 ton, unless it was a newwr one with alot of goodies... and for that $$ i could get the 3/4 or 1 ton and not worry so much.


in the end.. it's whatever you feel is the best compromise.

I realize using a 1t drw is not the best commuter car.. but it's an excelent chore truck. since I do more chores than hiway miles to work. chores won..

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Looks nice, but would not want to tow with it. CG is too high, too hard to get a 5th wheel or gooseneck hooked up without a lift kit on the trailer. Even for a bumper pull, would need an extreme drop hitch. Have seen those extreme drop hitches, but they look flimsy.

The big tires have a negative affect on braking power.

Unless it has been regeared, there will be power loss due to effective gearing change due to increased tire diameter.

It would be a pian to load/unload anything from the bed up that high.

Looks like a pretty street truck though...

RobertN,

10000% agreed!

I do not want a gussied up boy-toy truck. I want a working truck...

David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Just do what's right for you and your family. That's all that matters. You'll be fine.

Amen to that:thumbsup:

Hawk

BF62 & Hawk,

I love you guys...

Some days are better than others, and sometimes the view from my chair gets a bit muddy...

Thanks for the kind words guys... And the solid advice...

David

 

[foreman Etexas]

Looks nice, but would not want to tow with it. CG is too high, too hard to get a 5th wheel or gooseneck hooked up without a lift kit on the trailer. Even for a bumper pull, would need an extreme drop hitch. Have seen those extreme drop hitches, but they look flimsy.

The big tires have a negative affect on braking power.

Unless it has been regeared, there will be power loss due to effective gearing change due to increased tire diameter.

It would be a pian to load/unload anything from the bed up that high.

Looks like a pretty street truck though...

Yeah I just seen it coming back from corsciana and thought it looked cool from interstate and looked it up,not pratical but I would like to do alittle offroading in it

 

[MossflowerWoods]

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

 

[Diamondpilot]

Owning a second commuter car never pays off. What you save on gas is ate up with plates, insurance, tires, and general repairs. Bee there done that 3 times and always the same story. Even if your current truck only got 13 like mine does and you got a small car that turned in 33 it did not pay out over the 2 years I last tried this.

Chris

 

[foreman Etexas]

Insurance is cheap on a small 4x4 truck.($30 mnth liability,broke down a year=.98cents a day)
Gets better fuel mileage then big 1ton diesel.(gas vrs diesel around .50gallon,say 20gallons a day savings $10 and gets about 6mpg better)
Maintance/repairs cheaper.(oil changes for gas around $60 cheaper than diesel,brake that down a year=.16cents a day for each oil change)
Tires cheaper.(new set broke down a year=.88cents a day)
Tags are like 60 bucks a year.(brake that down a year=.19cents a day)

Its not exact but close so cost a day to run $2.21,I bought my 4x4 toyota for $2500 so running cost a day is $6.85, so thats $9.06 and I save $10 a day running my gas vrs diesel. Kinda gives you an idea it pays not to run your 1ton diesel all year. My Toyota has been issue free for 5yrs now,besides regular maintance and paid for itself first year. I just done engine rebuild on 7.3turbo $6500,wonder how many times I could have rebuilt the 4banger...
And just say ones in shop,your not at foot(whats that worth):laughing:
Im sure someone will find the numbers off some but its just an example.I run 3 trucks and a car(all paid for but the new dodge) and the car is loaned out to neighbor right now(free of charge),cause there truck is in shop from deer hit,and both have to have a way to work and only have one truck right now,humm what does a car rental cost for cple weeks.....

 

[YesDeere]

When fuel spiked I quit commuting in the duramax. I got a 98 civic that I traded some labor for. I have about $300 bucks in it. Gets 32 mpg. Huge savings over the 13.5 in the truck.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I drive my 03 F350 dually 4x4x crew to work...
It is only driven twice a week as I commute with my wife the other days...
Can't justify a commuter car only putting 5K miles a year on the dually...

 

[Diamondpilot]

Getting one for free or nearly free is one thing. I had a new 2008 Titan and picked up a 2002 Saturn with 105,000 miles on it for $2800. Big mistake. It drank qt of oil every 600 miles plus when I got it the sunroof was broke and the passengers side power window was broke. These cost me about $300 to fix myself. Dont get me wrong, it was a nice little car but the tranny neutral switch went out twice, new brakes, new tires, new battery, new tie rods and ball joints, new horn, new exhaust system due to bad converter, ect. Long story short I drove it for nearly 3 years and sold it for $3800 but when I figure in all the cost even gaining nearly 20 mpg it did not save me one dime. Granted, I keep 50,000 miles off my Titan so that was the only gain.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

Owning a second commuter car never pays off. What you save on gas is ate up with plates, insurance, tires, and general repairs. Bee there done that 3 times and always the same story. Even if your current truck only got 13 like mine does and you got a small car that turned in 33 it did not pay out over the 2 years I last tried this.

Chris

i agree... I tried that a year or so ago.. ... wife got a brand new kia rio lil cheap fuel efficient car...i had just got my drw. fast forward.. a lil low speed fender bender while my wife was at a stop totaled out her rio ( she was hit fromt he rear while stopped ).. their insurace begrudgingly paid off the new car loan.. my wife went back to driving her 00 yukon, and I'm driving my 7.3 psd.

easier.. in the end.. still cheaper... ins and plates on the extra lil care was 1300$ a year


soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

and what will you tow in the lil hopped up 4x4? can a round bale fit in the back safely? will a full pallate of wet sod set in the back without crushing the overload springs?

how much better milage does it get than that 'evil 1 ton diesel'?

got to a good synthetic oil in that 1 ton and do less changes and I bet your oil change numbers come out vs regualr oil on the lil 4x4..though you could certaintly go to syn on it as well for more savings.

maintenance and repairs less? a repair is a repair.... I havn't found much difference in repairs between the 98 dodge ram, 00 yukon and 99 ford diesel I have ( sold the dodge recently ).. the only reapir that was more on the ford was rear brakes.. pulling the axles..e tc..

I kinda see it like this. that big nasty evil 1 ton diesel might have an engine that can go 250-500k miles.. I kinda doubt a smaller gasser will make that, on average. the chassis? that's gonna be a same for same issue on each vehicle.. so a wash...

soundguy

Insurance is cheap on a small 4x4 truck.($30 mnth liability,broke down a year=.98cents a day)
Gets better fuel mileage then big 1ton diesel.(gas vrs diesel around .50gallon,say 20gallons a day savings $10 and gets about 6mpg better)
Maintance/repairs cheaper.(oil changes for gas around $60 cheaper than diesel,brake that down a year=.16cents a day for each oil change)
Tires cheaper.(new set broke down a year=.88cents a day)
Tags are like 60 bucks a year.(brake that down a year=.19cents a day)

....

 

[Highbeam]

Owning a second commuter car never pays off. What you save on gas is ate up with plates, insurance, tires, and general repairs. Bee there done that 3 times and always the same story. Even if your current truck only got 13 like mine does and you got a small car that turned in 33 it did not pay out over the 2 years I last tried this.

Chris

I agree and have done the math. It is a bad idea to own a mpg car. I do own a dual sprt motorcycle that gets 70 mpg but I bought it for the dirt bike abilities more than commuting.

 

[StanR]

I am looking at this one in the moring... If I get it it will be my first diesel truck.. It will stay at the farm

 

[Soundguy]

looks clean and straight.. 93-96?

 

[frischtr]

Looks like a 92-early 94, no Powerstroke emblem, makes it a 7.3 IDI... Turbo or non?