Ford pick ups

Well, if you want to buy a Ford, there's not much to say. My 2001 Dodge Ram has 257,000 miles on it, and still going strong. I got a stick, so no transmission problems. I have had to replace the fuel pump, and recently, the starter, but I'm pretty happy with that Cummins. Why are you locked into the Ford--related to a dealer?

I'm not a diesel person unless you really have a use for one.

I have a 99 Ford Powerstroke sitting at my shop right now. Truck has 160k and needs a motor, check prices and you'll be amazed. Truck wasn't really abused just not maintained to the fullest, had oil changed regularly. Antifreeze wasn't changed at proper intervals and correct additive added to it. It now has a hole in the block. You'll hear all of the it's the greatest truck we ever owned stories before you buy one. Then if you have any problems and do the research you'll start to hear how expensive they can be stories. Unless you really need one I don't recommend a diesel.

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"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self confidence"
Robert Frost

Had a 99 350 dually with the 7.3, 4wd, four door- 17 mpg and right at 300,000 when DH hit a bridge in NM on Christmas eve 2009 (slid on black ice) and insurance totalled it. Still drove it home 15 miles though. It'd be going strong had it not been for that wreck. We used it to tow a 4 horse gooseneck fully loaded (with horses and stuff) from TN to NM.
Have a 01 Dodge 3500 now. 2WD so it's useless as a mammary gland on a male bovine unless we're pulling. Then it gets 19 mpg loaded.

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" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."

Chris Ledoux

I have an 03 F250 5.4 triton v8 4x4 its got 400k miles on it and I've done nothing but change the oil, brakes, tires, alternator and replaced the drivers side hub/wheel bearings as well as the passenger side manifold (every truck I've ever owned manages to blow a hole in the passenger manifold at some point) That truck is still a daily driver carrying 1800 - 2000 lbs of tools and equipment at all times.

I'll second (third? seventh?) the suggestion to avoid the 6.0 Ford!! They went in in '03 or '04. I'd have to look it up.... But they were lemons!
It's something else now. I didn't pay attention to when they traded out again. But the 6.0 is to be avoided like the plague. (Though I'd get one of those before I'd get a Chevy diesel. lol)

I've talked to more than one car dealer, once they figure out they're not going to sell the thing to you, that said the 6L ranks right up there with the Pinto for Ford's bad-decision file...

PS: With 230,000 miles, our '97 is in the shop. Not to say we've never had to replace anything til now (basics like waterpump, starter, batteries, tires, shocks and ball joints), but it's finally something that we couldn't figure out.
DH was complaining about the shop visit to the head mechanic at our local Ford garage who pointed out, "Geez! It's got 230,000 miles on it! At some point it's going to need some work. lol"

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

have an F150 ..like it for it, but it is too high for me to get into the driver's seat, barely can get into passenger side but have the handle..I'm 5'2 1/2" and hip replacement..so I just can't get int here..also the turning radius is awfully wide on it..but probably wouldn't be tighter on any truck

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Brenda Groth
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

6.7 now, Erin. Haven't heard much about it yet.

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" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."

Chris Ledoux

I'm really not locked into a Ford. I justpersonally think they are better trucks. Fewer of them on the market and still the number one seller nationally. Chevies and doges are for sale every where. I don't seem to find a standard anywhere so the trany is very imprtant. Generally I'd say anything is fairly decent if kept up.

My skoolie is a half bus commonly refered to as a short bus it's 22 foot bumper to bumper and seats 22 kids (if it still had the seats). 3/4 buses are also avaialable at around 34 feet. Mine is an International 3600 chasis. A 3600 is just a lowered 3800 truck chasis but for truck use I would probably choose one with the full 3800 chasis since lower isn't an advantage in that case. The Chasis it self is Identical to a medium duty truck so once the bus back is out of the way you can add a dump box or bed like any truck. When I see people convert one for a truck bed or car hauler they generally cut the body off behind the driver area then put the back wall back on and the bed behind it. I've also seen people build a bulkhead wall behind the driver area then cut the back wall and install a big back door or gate for hauling livestock or hay. It's really just limited by imagination and skill. I just left the bus structure as is then took out the seats to install a bed and sofa for a portable bedroom. I should mention though that many (not all) school buses are geared low which limits the top speed unless you change the rear differential. So far I just drive around at 55mph but someday I may do a conversion.

I like my 89 f250. I have been running it for several years now with only the most minor of repairs. A temp sending unit and set of brakes. My brother has the diesel version.... and is welcome to it. 4 grand layout a couple years ago for injector issues!!

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

An '89 F250 huh any chance it's the 300 straight 6. You can't kill that engine if you tried. My dads F250 ran 389,000 miles before he sold it. I regret selling my P/U with the straight 6. They don't make anything as reliable as that old beast anymore.

low octane fuel will kill the high compression 300,,,,,NOTHING ELSE,,,,broke my heart when i purchased wrong tanked fuel and cracked the pistons in my faithful L6 with over 250,000 miles......GOOD Engine....torque almost like my 7.3

I'm on my second 300 and burn reg gas - no ethenol. What grade did you burn in yours? And what milage did you get, please?

I had the HC engine (9.5?) it ran great on regular, but when pulling heavy loads i had to run high test (timing was correct) it was in a F250 with C6 trans,,,good gosh what a combination....good truck...i commuted with it for years (decades),,,,55-60 mph got around 18 mph.

it was an 82 state surplus truck, school bus orange with beat up body, big black metal bumper ,,,,,NO ONE pulled out in front of me when i was driving that truck.......when i got the new f250 with 7.3,,,,i noticed more people (same commute) would pull out in front of me.....and now my old dog was not allowed to ride with me.......sure do miss that 82......

..................I drove a 1999 F250 for ten years , had 120k when I traded it off , stupid me ! Diesels are , in general more expensive too own and operate , that said , I'd recommend that you drive , and evaluate both the V10 ford and the 8.1 chevy ! I purchased a 2003 , Silverado 3500 2wdr. , 8.1 with 45k on the clock ! Beautiful truck and a very strong puller , but fuel milage isn't but about 10 pulling and 14 on long trips . Still and all , this truck is now bringing $5,000 to $6,000 more in asking price than when I purchased it in June of '09 . Used vehicle retail prices are very strong across most model lines . , fordy

NEVER going back now that Im Cummins diesel.GREAT milage,great torque,hauls buns,super reliable,220 + thousand miles,doesnt smoke,starts first click of key be it 20 degrees or 110F.More expensive? No points.No plugs,no wires,no coils,no tune-ups.....Fuel costs a little more,puts gasser mileage to shame.17 mpg pulling a 6000 lb 4x4 truck one mile high up a mtn on each drive!

Buddy over 300,000 on his,with stick gets 25 mpg on freeway in a 3/4 ton 4x4.Also starts INSTANTLY (read as batteries last forever) and doesnt smoke,93 or is it 95?

Nope,Ive lived thru a lot of gassers,people pay more for a diesel for a reason.And why junk yards are filled with gassers and diesels are rare as hens teeth.

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Visit Life on the Homestead,a Friendly Forum

Yup my father bought a 3/4t cummins dodge years back.. Pulled a 40ft gooseneck camping trailer all over the U.S. for years working two week contracts for Raytheon for years.

That old truck is rolling up on or over 300k now I believe and still going strong. It got about 20mpg last time I used it, seemed to get about 20 no matter what.

2006 Dodge with a Cummins. So far so good. It will outpull any Ford and the fuel mileage is better too.

...................I would prefer a Cummins 5.9 with a six speed over any other combination , but circumstances at the time I purchased the 8.1 were not leaning in that direction ! All of the low milage trucks were a thousand miles distant , and the local , low milage trucks were simply priced too high . Now , what I'm seeing as far as 5.9 availability in the 2000 to 2003 year model range which is most of the trucks have very high milage figures like 200,000 to 350,000 ! And , they're asking from $12,500 up too $20,000........... too much $$$ for a truck with too many miles . , fordy

You mean like this one?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/2478527100.html