Truck question

[2horses]

I posted this in the shop forum, but I don't think as many folks visit there as they do here. I'm looking at replacing my 2000 F150 as my horse trailer towing vehicle, and have found these two that look promising. If it were your choice, which one would you lean towards and why? Or, if you'd run away from them both, why?

Here's the links to their ads:

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/1043659364.html

http://austin.craigslist.org/ctd/1044257752.html

[plowjockey]

These look like very nice trucks, although I did not see the mileage on the first one. Did not look up Kelly pricing though

F series during those years with the diesel engine are great trucks and acutally get much better mileage than more recent models. They will pull what you need too just fine.

There are probably many of these out there, so shop around. Haggle on price also.

I would consider these if I needed a pulling monster.

[PhilJohnson]

I'd say either one will do the job real well. I have driven both F-250 and F-350 Super Duties, and they drive about the same. I would lean towards the F-250 since it is cheaper and it will still do what you need to do just fine.

[Ramblin Wreck]

I've heard (but don't know for sure) the same thing about Ford diesels: The older models get better mileage than the newer ones. Given the prices I'm seeing in the paper here (especially for the towing vehicles), you should have some negotiating room, maybe a lot. Edmunds.com has info on pricing and reliability for most models, so it would probably be worth your time to peruse it. White is the safest, easiest color to see on the road, and you may want to consider that. The white truck also has leather seats, which is easier to clean when horse poop is involved! Both should get the job done, and in a much safer fashion than an F-150. When you are hauling large, mobile animals, the heavier the truck the better. Be safe and best wishes.

[Smokesignals]

I own a 2000 F-250 diesel. It's been my daily driver and now has 165,000 miles. We use it to tow a small horse trailer from time to time as well as a 30' enclosed utility trailer (about 9000 pounds loaded). These trucks are great; however, like any vehicle they are not completely problem free. I love mine, but your mileage may vary.

I'm a member of the Dieselstop forum and you can get a wealth of information about these trucks over there. Just keep in mind that most posts will involve people looking for answers to a problem. Don't let that scare you for the most part, my truck has been problem free (knocks on wood).

Here is the link: http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f24/

[texican]

I'd have to go with the second one... it has 4x4. My 97 F350 7.3 will get 20mpg if I keep it below 65.

Both look great!

If all things were the same, I'd go with the one with more mileage, and costs less... the engine should still have a couple hundred thousand miles left in it.

[artificer]

Unless your current truck was 4x4, and it was working well for you, I would go with the cheaper one. Still moderate miles for a diesel, looks good, and the report of the mileage is good.

The second has the 3.73 rear diff, which might be a bit short for decent mileage at highway speeds. 4x4 also kills/decreases mileage.

So... do you want 4x4 for $7,400?

The question I have is: WHY are you getting a new truck? 4x4? lower mileage? etc....

Michael

[ErinP]

Or did you just overwork a half ton doing a bigger pickup's job?
4WD will bring your mileage down some, but our '97 PSD, with 210K on the clock, is still getting around 18mpg when we keep it around 65.

So far as which pickup to choose, I'd snag either of them in a heartbeat. However, you can find them for cheaper. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate!


PS: If you're looking at PowerStrokes (and really... Is there any other diesel pickup worth looking at?? ) steer clear of the 6L engine that came out in... '03? '04?

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by texican

I'd have to go with the second one... it has 4x4. My 97 F350 7.3 will get 20mpg if I keep it below 65.

Both look great!

If all things were the same, I'd go with the one with more mileage, and costs less... the engine should still have a couple hundred thousand miles left in it.

I second that on the second one.

[littlejoe]

Yes maam, there is! Dodge's 5.9 cummins is at the top of the list. Tried and true!

Originally Posted by ErinP

(and really... Is there any other diesel pickup worth looking at?? )

[The Paw]

I would go with the older one. It is significantly cheaper, not that many more miles, and it is already outfitted for multiple kinds of trailer hook-ups. If it is primarily for towing on roads, then the 4x4 and off-road tires are features you don't really need.

[Ramblin Wreck]

Here's the edmunds link where you can input the options, mileage, and condition to get their assessment of value/price: http://www.edmunds.com/used/2002/for...tion=vdpresult

[RedneckPete]

If you are replacing a F150, I would buy a Toyota Tundra to do the job.

Far superior reliability, far less maintenance cost and better fuel economy sealed the deal for me.

I'm done with NA built garbage. There is a reason the companies are going bankrupt.

That said, if you want a serious, heavy duty puller, it's hard to beat a F350 or a light duty freightliner.

Pete

[2horses]

Originally Posted by artificer

The question I have is: WHY are you getting a new truck? 4x4? lower mileage? etc....

Originally Posted by ErinP

Or did you just overwork a half ton doing a bigger pickup's job?

That pretty much sums it up... I've been using my 2000 F150 to pull my three horse slant load aluminum trailer, bumper pull, with a tack room, for four years now. I haven't had a lick of trouble with it mechanically, but it really struggles pulling that trailer up a slope. It has over 185,000 miles on it, and that's geting up there for a poorly maintained gas engine. It's a 5.4L V-8 (the Triton), and while it's been an awesome engine so far, I don't want to find out what it's break point is. Heck, even going over an overpass pulls it out of OD and sometimes it has to kick up (down?) into passing gear to stay above 50 mph. It just strains too hard. And since I tend to pull for one to two hours (one way) to ride on the weekends, I don't feel like pushing my luck any longer.

So would I be okay with a 250? There's a nice one at the same dealership that has the white truck, it's a 2002 with 122,000 miles, for $14,900. Same engine, but it's a shortbed. That gives me pause. Here's the link to it: Truck

[2horses]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Wreck

Here's the edmunds link where you can input the options, mileage, and condition to get their assessment of value/price: http://www.edmunds.com/used/2002/for...tion=vdpresult

Thanks for the link, RW - edmunds has it at $13,800 dealer price. Man, if I could get that bad boy for around $14,000, I'd call it a good deal!

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by 2horses

That pretty much sums it up... I've been using my 2000 F150 to pull my three horse slant load aluminum trailer, bumper pull, with a tack room, for four years now. I haven't had a lick of trouble with it mechanically, but it really struggles pulling that trailer up a slope. It has over 185,000 miles on it, and that's geting up there for a poorly maintained gas engine. It's a 5.4L V-8 (the Triton), and while it's been an awesome engine so far, I don't want to find out what it's break point is. Heck, even going over an overpass pulls it out of OD and sometimes it has to kick up (down?) into passing gear to stay above 50 mph. It just strains too hard. And since I tend to pull for one to two hours (one way) to ride on the weekends, I don't feel like pushing my luck any longer.

So would I be okay with a 250? There's a nice one at the same dealership that has the white truck, it's a 2002 with 122,000 miles, for $14,900. Same engine, but it's a shortbed. That gives me pause. Here's the link to it: Truck

I'd say you would be okay with an F-250. The only reason why I personally would go with an F-350 would be if it was a dually. Duallies tend to be more stable towing a load and the trailer doesn't push the rear end around like a single rear wheel truck.

[ErinP]

Especially if the F250 is a diesel. You'll be set.

So far as price, remember, the "dealer retail" price should be the top end of what you'd expect to see for asking price. No dealer expects to actually get retail.
Expect to be able to talk them down closer to the "private party" price.

[watcher]

I'll say it this way, if there is an overdrive button on the end of the shift lever RUN AWAY. The odds are its an E4OD tranny and you don't want it.

[Wolf mom]

Any truck registered in AZ over 250 or 2500 has to have commercial plates. Just one more expense. Check with your state DMV.

[Ramblin Wreck]

Originally Posted by 2horses

Thanks for the link, RW - edmunds has it at $13,800 dealer price. Man, if I could get that bad boy for around $14,000, I'd call it a good deal!

FYI: I stopped and looked at an 02 model very similar to the truck in the second link above (except it was red). It had 86K miles, OK tires, and the body looked like it was wreck free. They were asking $17,700 (individual selling it at the Villa Rica Walmart lot). The prices for tow vehicles (and bigger trucks in general) has been very good around here for a while (from a buyer's perspective).