Ford pick ups

[am1too]

I'm starting to think diesel in terms of durability and over all cost effectiveness after purchase of course. What is available in a ford and what does it offer? I'm interested in performance by engine and transmission. I'm thinking 250. I'd also be interested in comments on a 150. I'minterested in something used. Are parts a problem? I'm sure I'm not asking enough questions and maybe not even the right ones.

[PhilJohnson]

What years were you thinking of looking at? The earliest diesel fords were all mechanically injected and natural aspirated, later years had electronic injection with turbos and the newest ones are an inhouse Ford design. I've had a lot of Ford trucks, they were all pretty decent.

[am1too]

some thing in the 5- 10 yr or so range.

[plowjockey]

A freind had a 1999 F250 diesel, that got areound 20-23MPG. he traded in for a new 2007 diesel (I think that was the year) and could get no better than about 13MPG. I think around that time they were putting more pollution controls and other "enhancements".

Normally, he'd keep a truck forever, but he dumped this one in less than a year, for a a real nice F150 gas, which he loves.

New diesels for any truck, are much more complicated than the old ones and may not yet, have the bugs ironed out, IMO.

I would be happy with a used Ford, but recently purchased a used Chevy, because it was in graet shape and what priced low.

Used Fords can be either wonderful, or junk, mostly depending on how well they were maintained and driven. Just like any other truck.

[CesumPec]

I'm no mechanic but i can relay the advice of a friend who used to be the head of the truck repair dept of a big Ford dealership and now owns his own shop. He prefers Fords, with Dodge is a distant second due to frequent transmission problems. Can't remember why but something to do with the diesels, but Ford diesels older than 2006 are better. If you have the choice, get the 7.3liter vs the 6.0 for reliability, fewer injector problems, similar fuel mileage with more power.

I've got a 2005 F-250 longbed for the wife and her horse and just bought a 2004 beater F-350 flat bed for the farm, both are quad cabs. If you don't care what they look like, there are some great deals out there, paid $12K for the F-350, near half the market price if it was a looker. If you want purdy, you'll get better deals on gas engines and other brands. Fuel mileage sucks, i get about 12 MPG.

Pulling a bumper pull two horse loaded trailer, I hardly know it is back there. Lots of torque from a start and no sway on the highway even when a tractor-trailer blasts past.

Quad cab is something I got only because a friend told me I had to get it. Now I love it. Lots of room for hauling people and equipment you want to lock up rather than leave in the bed.

[ErinP]

We have a '97 F250 with the diesel and love it.
We've had it for 8 years and put 120K miles on it.

[ace admirer]

i also have 97 ford f250, my son (15) is looking for one with the same engine IH i can get around 21 mpg if i run it at 55 mph, at 60 some i get around 19 mpg.

[Danaus29]

We have an E-350, gas v-8 engine, built in 2000. Some of the parts like exhaust hangars are still available only through the dealer. Some parts (front rotors) just recently became available through after-market sources. And there are some parts on which the aftermarket part was much better made than the OEM part (front springs). And there are some parts which we've had to fabricate something better because parts were not available or were simply cheap junk (radiator hose assembly).

I know you're looking at a diesel (and a truck, not a van) but the chassis is pretty much the same across the board.

[MO_cows]

We have 2 Fords with the 7.3 diesel. One is an '02 F250 with extended cab, the other is an older dented-up F350 single cab we use on the farm. Both have 4WD. Very satisfied with both, they do their job and have been very reliable. We have about 170,000 miles on the '02, it still runs great. Just put on another set of tires and drive.

Diesel's advanatages are better fuel mileage (although the fuel costs more), longer engine life, and way, way more pulling power. The downside, they cost a lot more up front to buy and parts are more expensive, too. I think over the life of the truck the diesel truck will end up a little cheaper by the mile, but that is small consolation when you have to buy a $200 starter or replace both the batteries at a bad time.

[roachhill]

Note Ford has 2 different 7.3's the Powerstroke is an International T444 with different names on the covers. I rather like the T444 it seems to be a good motor. I have one in my short bus and it never misses a beat (school buses are by far the cheapest way to get a medium duty diesel truck) . I hear the older 7.3 idi was a good motor but I have heard nothing good about the new diesels. In fact I haven't been impressed with anything Fords been putting out lately, sorry to say.

[southfarms]

I would steer clear of the 6.0 engine. I know of many in my area who have had to replace them. One was to the tune of $16000. Ouch! The 7.3 has been a great motor imo. Many hear nearing 300,000 miles. If you don't need the towing capacity, I would stick with a half ton. By my math it takes about 125,000 miles to pay for the $6000 (or more) extra charge for the diesel engine. That said they sure are great for towing, and they have much more get up and go than even a half ton. Happy hunting!

I have had half ton ford gas, straight stick, PUs for a long time. The only problem I have had is Ford's better idea of a slave cylinder for the hydralic clutch. To R&R the cylinder you have to remove the drive shaft, transfer case, and transmition. I have done this several times on my old F150s and 5 times on my '96 Bronco. I have heard the same tale of woe from other Ford owners. I will not buy another Ford with a hydralic clutch.

[am1too]

I'm not looking for a 4X4 so transfer case wouldn't be a problem ever. If I need a 4X4 I'll get my tractor.

Is the 6.0 a Ford engine or the IH T444? What are the parts like for an IH T444? Are they hard to get? Could one mount a comminns in a Ford without much trouble? These computer run vehicles are something else.

I had a big rig with a cumminns and loved it. Yeah I know it is a diferent engine.

[julieq]

My goodness! Am I the only Chevy person on this forum?! We purchased our 2001 Chevy diesel dually 4x4 back in 2002. We've got over 150,000 miles on it with absolutely NO problems! Gas mileage is around 19, even if we're pulling a trailer in the mountains. The body is still in excellent shape. The only thing we've had to replace a few times is the windshield due to rock chips and of course the tires.

[roachhill]

A 7.3 Powerstroke is an International T444 they came off the same assembly line at International, they just painted the Ford blocks a different color and put different name plates on them. The Ford version does have different computers though. Good parts availability from about anywhere. No idea if the Cummins would fit without huge mods but I'd doubt it. If your not looking for 4 wd and your on a budget I'd consider a short bus and cut the back of the body off to install a bed. You can get a 10 yr old bus with low miles for $1500 to $2500. I know it's a silly suggestion but you can get the Diesel in a true commercial truck chassis, cheap. I think mine is a a 5 ton truck can't beat that for $2500.

[am1too]

Originally Posted by roachhill

A 7.3 Powerstroke is an International T444 they came off the same assembly line at International, they just painted the Ford blocks a different color and put different name plates on them. The Ford version does have different computers though. Good parts availability from about anywhere. No idea if the Cummins would fit without huge mods but I'd doubt it. If your not looking for 4 wd and your on a budget I'd consider a short bus and cut the back of the body off to install a bed. You can get a 10 yr old bus with low miles for $1500 to $2500. I know it's a silly suggestion but you can get the Diesel in a true commercial truck chassis, cheap. I think mine is a a 5 ton truck can't beat that for $2500.

Very interresting. Is that one of those 15 -20 passenger models or a 60 passenger one? Would it be hard to put a reg cab on it. I could use something that size as a dump.

[nathan104]

Stick with the International built diesel engines. The Ford 7.3l powerstroke is hard to beat. I just went through this same thing and after much research ended up buying a 96 F-350 with the 7.3 powerstroke. The newer diesel are built by caterpillar I believe, but are much more complicated and more expensive to work on. . On these trucks, the transmission is the weak link so make sure to have it thoroughly checked out. I get 13mpg. Mine is the single rear wheel 1ton, crewcab, 4wd.

[MO_cows]

Originally Posted by am1too

I'm not looking for a 4X4 so transfer case wouldn't be a problem ever. If I need a 4X4 I'll get my tractor.

Is the 6.0 a Ford engine or the IH T444? What are the parts like for an IH T444? Are they hard to get? Could one mount a comminns in a Ford without much trouble? These computer run vehicles are something else.

I had a big rig with a cumminns and loved it. Yeah I know it is a diferent engine.

There is so much weight on the front end from the heavy diesel motor, in any kind of slick conditions the back end has a tendency to skitter around trying to push that heavy front without 4WD.

[mightybooboo]

Originally Posted by ErinP

We have a '97 F250 with the diesel and love it.
We've had it for 8 years and put 120K miles on it.

For a Ferd I think you about pegged the best theyve ever offered.

[jrpoland]

I recommend the late 90s-early 00's 7.3L diesel if you want a diesel. I've had one for about 10 years and I've only had one problem (fuel pump died). We have several mechanics on staff who tell us to avoid the 6.0L at all costs due to maintenance problems. The later ones (6.4L and 6.7L, I think) seem to be more reliable, but then again they are not as old.

I'm torn recommending diesels in general unless you just have to pull A LOT. With diesel costing 30-50 cents more than gas most of the time and the overall expense of routine maintenance, I think any increased mileage is a wash. I think I'd only buy a diesel now if towing was one of my primary activities.

I have an 02 Excursion and my overall mileage is about 13. I have been able to baby it to about 19 mpg on the highway on flat land at cruise set at 60. The plus is that it will pull Mt Everest if I could get it hooked up.

Good Luck.