looking for a used truck

travis91 · #21 07/21/10, 06:58 PM

im just trying to what the best combo is.. i must have a long bed.. and im 6'6 so a full size it a must. id like to have 4x4 but its not a nessisary thing. im not sure on the manual or auto.

jeff1981 · #22 07/21/10, 06:59 PM

I have a 1990 f-250 x cab 4x4 with a 351 and 5spd manual. Truck has 278 thousand miles on it and still going strong. While it's not my daily driver, I do use it at least 4 times a week, and wouldn't hesitate to take it cross country. I recomend it highly.

travis91 · #23 07/21/10, 07:42 PM

what kinda mpg do you have? my dad had a 250 4x4 with the 351 and a C6 and its lucky to get 12

pancho · #24 07/22/10, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis91

im just trying to what the best combo is.. i must have a long bed.. and im 6'6 so a full size it a must. id like to have 4x4 but its not a nessisary thing. im not sure on the manual or auto.

If you really don't need the 4x4 don't get it. It is just more cost when buying, more cost when using, and much more to go wrong, and much much more cost to repair.

mightybooboo · #25 07/22/10, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pancho

If you really don't need the 4x4 don't get it. It is just more cost when buying, more cost when using, and much more to go wrong, and much much more cost to repair.

I feel just the opposite,get a nice mechanical,NOT vacuum/electric powered system.When the need arises its a far superior vehicle.You never know when you might have to get thru mud,snow or sand,or detour off a blocked road when a tree is down,whatever.Also you never know when life circumstances will change and 4x4 isnt an afterthought but an essential requirement.Never again will I have a truck that isnt 4wd,its a hugely superior vehicle to 2wd,it does what 2wd fears,and thats fact.BTDT.

In a used vehicle the purchase cost isnt much issue at all.

As for how dependable is it? This is the internet age.Forums for every make,year and model truck exist and accurate info from actual owners is out there.You can quickly find out what is a good system and what is a problem system.The diesel forums were goldmines of info in my case.

The only given on costs Ive seen is losing about 1 mpg.As for reliability almost all full sized trucks here are 4x4 and we dont discuss 4x4 failures at all,we discuss power,braking,and traction.The reliability,i just dont see the problem in the real world.That said,again,some are real dogs,like any vehicle can be,do your research.Mechanical engagement beats any electric/vacuum system hands down,they can be real gremlins.I wonder how many who dis 4x4 ever owned one.

If you have more than 2 people for sure you want an extended cab,with your size I would want one.The extra length isnt but 18-24 inches or so,so you dont lose that much in maneuverability but gain tons in comfort.I just proved that to my Buddy who was adamant my truck wouldnt 'fit' on his homestead.True,I had to back up to fit a turn around in some tight spots he had,but it was a 15 second delay.When it rained and I had me,him wife and dogs inside my nice dry warm truck,comfortably,he had to admit it was pretty nice having that extra room.As for wife,she was ecstatic,so if a lady/family is involved you want that room.

I dont like the king cabs though,that length has problems in my opinion for MY needs,they are bears to park,truly.But they sell,so I wont dis folks with em,just toooo long for me,or nephew who rues the day he bought one,never again he says.If I went that route I would short bed it.

Key though is research.Read read read read read about what you want,then get the best in that class.Knowledge is KING.

I was lucky,I had a Bud who had done the research on brand /model/drivetrain and had his truck to prove it to me.I then did model year specifics to get the best rated one by owners .

**clovis** · #26 07/22/10, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pancho

If you really don't need the 4x4 don't get it. It is just more cost when buying, more cost when using, and much more to go wrong, and much much more cost to repair.

I kinda agree with this.

I've never owned a 4 x 4, but with the exception of once or twice a year, if we get tons of snow, I'm not sure I'd ever use 4 x 4.

It seems to me that 4 x 4 are super expensive to fix when something fails. It seems like older 4 x 4 trucks have something failing all the time.

mightybooboo · #27 07/22/10, 09:27 AM

Would you consider 1 Warn Hub in 350,000 miles and lots of use unreasonable cost/repairs? Or 220,000 on a center connect axle with no repairs and only fluid changes unreliable and expensive to own? 1992 and 1997 respectively.

These 2 owners/users dont.Nor do we abuse our trucks,but use em? Yup,sure do.Note Both are fully mechanical systems.

I did note in researching many broken chains and cracked cases,these trucks front ends were also improperly used almost to a tee.Driven dry pavement,shifted at high speeds,Joe Blow front end mods,racing engine without traction,etc.User failure,not truck failure.

travis91 · #28 07/22/10, 04:35 PM

so if im shooting for a 80s or 90s F150 4x4 are the manual transmissons really shi*. i found a few F250s with 5sps and 5.0s in my price range but there dogs.. apparently

mightybooboo · #29 07/22/10, 08:27 PM

What is your price range?

Maybe read some threads here?
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

fordy · #30 07/22/10, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis91

so if im shooting for a 80s or 90s F150 4x4 are the manual transmissons really shi*. i found a few F250s with 5sps and 5.0s in my price range but there dogs.. apparently

..............No , the trannys are , actually alot Tougher than the Aluminumn cased ones that came in the early 1990's . Here are 4 very tuff trannys.....Chevy|GMC----SM465 , Mid 1960s too mid 1980s i think . A 4 speed and 1st. gear is not synchronized(i.e. , you must come too almost a complete stop too engage this gear . T18 and T19 are both very good trannys , 4 speeds , T18 has non synchro granny gear and T19 is FULLY Synchronized ! T18 and T19 came in 1970's fords and International Scouts , and Travelals . NP435 is also a 4 speed , non synchro granny gear , came in 1970's fords probably until almost 1990 . All the above trannys were installed in half ton , 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks .
..............My 1985 CJ6 Jeep had an SM465 bolted too a 475 HP chevy 350 and Never gave me any trouble . , fordy

Madsaw · #31 07/23/10, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beeman

Auto trans are just as easily, actually easier, replaced with a junk yard unit and many times cheaper. The manual trans built in the last 25 years aren't the cast iron anvils of yesterday. Most with OD like a 5 spd. are notoriously weak especially if used to tow. Now the manual trans also has a clutch, price one lately? Then there's the ingenious hydraulic master and slave cyls, notorious to go bad and not easy to replace.

I would suggest someday you lay hands on a truck running a NV(new Venture) 4500 trans. Chevy used them along with dodge. I got one in a 93 chevy 1500 4 wd. Neat thing about this one is that it has low first(crawler gear) it is also geared in the axles for pulling. This monster of a tranny is stuck behind a little 4.3 V6. I am not a fan of the motor, the fact you have to hit 3500 or more to shift with out it falling down is had to get used too. But the trans is one of the most sought after units to put in trucks. It is also used in rock crawlers too when they get built up due to the gearing and reliablity. Mine has 170,000 on it.
As to auto slips. If it a OD unit run away from it. No company perfected a OD tranny till the mid to late 90's atleast. The 700r4 and the E4ODs are nightmares. I have a 91 ford with a 7.3 the E4 has been nothing but trouble. I am going to swap in another used E4. If that don't work it will be getting a 4 spd out of a 89 with a 6.9. This ia a hauling truck so OD is really not needed.
Bob