Truck questions...

[momtomany]

I need to buy a 4X4. I'm keeping an eye on a few on Craigslist. A couple questions......if a truck has under 150k miles, should it bug me if it's old? Also, diesel........yes/no....and why............ I found a 1999 F-250 with a 7.3 liter PowerStroke Turbo Diesel that is a 4X4 in my price range......anyone have experience with this engine? Sue

[calliemoonbeam]

My son had a 2001 model and loved it, but he only used it for hauling the trailers and stuff and kept it parked the rest of the time. It only got 9 miles to the gallon, lol. Diesels are harder to start in the winter, some have built-in engine warmers, and some people have to use starter fluid if they don't use a warmer or have an indoor space to park them. That's about all I know, sorry. Hopefully, someone will come along who knows more.

[momtomany]

What if the person was using it as a mudbogger? What would that do to a truck?

[Old Vet]

I am sure that the person will tell you about anything that is wrong with the truck. That is why if I buy another truck or car I will have to look at it before making a deal. Or get a good mechanic to look at it with me. I would never purchase a truck sight unseen from anywhere unless it sold for 1/5 of what it was suppose to. And then only for parts.

[momtomany]

Well, the guy says it is in pretty good shape. Guess I'll have to find a diesel mechanic to look at it??? I never owned a diesel before....... Think that it being a mudbogger is scaring people off. I know I would have to have the tires changed, but what would using a truck as a mudbogger due to it.....(I'm guessing it was a mudbogger, d/t it having 36" swamp tires, and it seems like in this area, the raised trucks are mudboggers). Thx! Sue

[JD Green]

Also try www.autotrader.com , you can pin point any area and any location.

Good luck in your search.

[momtomany]

yup, use autotrader too. just finally found a crew cab 4x4 in my budget on craigslist.

[Old Vet]

Mud Bogging with a truck can have many things wrong with it. Like a crack frame, engine, transmition transfer case, front end, rear end,shocks and such. I would look it over carefully before buying it at any cost.

[Darren]

The 6.9s and 7.3s are good engines. You can easily run them for 300,000 plus miles. The 6.9s had problems with the valve guides that lead to oil usage sometimes straight from the factory. That didn't bother the engine, Oil is fuel to a diesel. The early injection pumps died around 100K. That's been sorted out now. Somewhere around 1997 the engine got an electronic fuel injection system.

From the beginning the 6.9 and 7.3 were designed for medium duty truck use. International has used them in trucks up to 26,000 GVW.

I'd also consider an early 12 Valve, 5.9 Cummins in a Dodge. You can make a few simple changes to increase the hp and torque.

If you have a diesel, don't use starting fluid. Especially if the engine has glow plugs. Use WD40 or silicone spray. The key to starting a diesel is to have enough battery power to spin the engine fast.

[travis91]

darren the 1999 will not be that same line of motors you speak of they stopped in 1994. and id be weary of buying a truck someone else has modified bigger tires wear out parts faster then stock sized tires and will decrease your torque. someone should move this to shop talk.

[momtomany]

We had to gut the garage on the place we bought, and don't have a door on it yet. What would I have to do with it, if I had to have it outdoors......?

[travis91]

and hes not gonna be doin much mud boggin with a diesel. all that front end weight will sink in the mud and diesels dont have the high compression needed for it. id find a completely stock truck. or one with tires no larger than 33 inches tall. id strongly advise you not to buy that truck

[momtomany]

Honestly hesitant on the mudbogging, or modified tires on it, but many of the 4x4 crewcabs that have lower mileage here have been mudbogging. Seems to be popular in my general area. Otherwise, mileage is always over 200k.

[travis91]

if you have never owned a diesel i would take some time and learn alot about them they are nothing like a gasser.

[momtomany]

yup. talk some sense into me. What should I be looking for then? Diesel or not? Better to get a Ford vs. Ram? I heard that Rams are better at pulling, Ford has better longevity. Not sure if that's true. Looking at crewcab 4x4s (gotta have 6 seats) that are not shortbeds. Need to find one under 9k if possible, lower mileage (relatively), good shape, and prefer to find one that I might put a plow on next year.

[momtomany]

That's what I was thinking. My brother had a diesel olds, and we used to have a diesel mechanic that had a garage for rigs on his land. He used to service rigs......and my brother's olds, lol.

[momtomany]

Here's the ad I was looking at......http://lansing.craigslist.org/ctd/1474924975.html He says this year was highway miles.......maybe he wasn't mudbogging, just is very tall??? Y'think?

[travis91]

diesel olds are the worst diesels made to many people. and i can tell you most plow companys and such say fords have a better frame. a plow will tear any truck up. ford has a much better automatic transmisson then dodge. and are you looking for a 1/2 ton, 3/4 or 1 ton?

[travis91]

i looked at the truck i wouldnt go for anything with bigger than a 33 inch tire. over 33 and you start losing useablity

[momtomany]

Could I get a new set of tires and sell the ones on it? Or the actual useage of those huge tires on the truck would have made the wear on certain parts over and above normal wear and tear? Just making sure I understand this right?