Heavy Duty Truck Purchase

Berlin · Post by **Berlin** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:21 pm

Keepaeyeonit wrote:I have a 01' F-350 flatbed with a 7.3l and a 6-speed 318,000 and still going strong ,its my daily driver to Cleveland 5 days a week putting 500/mi week averaging 16 mpg/10 to 11 while towing my 38' fifth wheel love the truck and the power but its 13 years old and rusting like a bitch so I just started looking to replace it in the spring but I'm having cold feet on this one.The new EPA regs as some of you have said is killing the durability of the diesel engine,I'm not sure I could handle big step back in torque or the lack of in a gasser because I do tow and haul with my truck and you do get use to having all that power it but the cost is a hell of a lot less and at $50,000+ its something I have to look at.I had a 5.9 Cummins before the Ford and It was a ok truck but not nearly as good as the Ford,I like the looks of the Ram but the rest of the truck freaks me out and my family has had nothing but bad luck with GM stuff(not knocking them but we just can't own anything from them without it being a big PITA but I think it's just us)so If I get something I'm still not sure what it will be or maybe I will keep driving this one for another year,who knows. Keepaeyeonit

PS. I had herd that the Ecoboost is having coolant/oil mixing and turbo issues but don't go to the bank with that info!

That's why if you have a pre-epa diesel, keep it rustproofed with an oil-based undercoating (about 3 gal. or you're not doing it right for the average ford superduty trucks) and then the only thing you'll have to worry about is routine maintenance. I have a folder I put cash in every month for each of my vehicles - each have their own savings account as well. If, at the end of the year I have too much cash built up I put in savings; during the year I schedule maintenance and repairs before they go bad. This doesn't mean that things don't pop up, but, when they do I have the cash on hand to fix them. It also means my 10 and 20+ year old (250,000-500,000 mile) diesel vehicles look, feel, and drive the way they came out of the factory.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:31 pm

Keepaneyeonit ... just have the body done over - could do a complete frame-off and STILL be ahead of the game over a $50k bill ... PLUS TAX plus insurance ....

Any way you slice it, keeping the old one is more economical. Fix everything that needs fixing, and you'll never have an issue - it'll be a new-old truck.

And you'll have enough money leftover to buy a winter beater to save future rot.

My ol' man gets about 14 towing and 17-18 around town - for a truck that size (extended cab, long bed, 4x4) that's impressive. With the 5.3 gasser I get 11-12 mpg towing (half ton, extended cab, short bed) and 15 mpg around town, 16 tops. A diesel would be more economical for me if not for the crazy cost of it up front ... but ain't EVER buying new again. I don't tow enough to justify the extra cost of a diesel anyway. My 5.3 suits me fine for now.

GM has been building *censored* lately, so I have no faith in the longevity of the engine - especially the way I drive. I take out all my aggression on my truck ... and there's alot of it!

Keepaeyeonit · Post by **Keepaeyeonit** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:38 pm

Well Berlin I think its to late for the cab(but if I can find a cab I may replace it)but the chassis is still in great shape I just now replaced the u-joints on the rear drive shaft for the first time and still have the OEM clutch which I'm surprised considering I have a few mods and tow.The last cold spell put the original glow plugs/relay to the test which it passed with flying colors,I hate to get rid of the truck its been super reliable and still has tons of power and no payment each month

.Keepaeyeonit

Smitty,thats on my mind as well,I'm into reliability more then looking good.My friend has a 06' F-550 crew 4x4 with a custom Ravens aluminum dump flatbed and the POS 6.0 that truck is sharp but you couldn't give me that truck I don't make nearly enough $$$ to keep up with the repairs.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:44 pm

Of course our know what is best for us Government took a lot of good truck bodies & frames out of the picture with that fabulous program...taxpayer money for trade -in's,something close to that anyway. Both the 7.3 & the 5.9 were good engines,but of course they were awful polluters

Of course I believe that,same as I believed it in the early 70's when the epa hit the car engines with reduced power & mileage to cut pollution

Keepaneyeonit I gotta agree with berlin & smitty find a good cab & drive that truck another..... years,7.3 is a good strong tough engine.

Flyer5 · Post by **Flyer5** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:46 pm

What we need is someone with enough kahonies in office to stop funding I R S and E P A . Get this country back to us the citizens. I will probably keep my non or at least low emission diesel drive line for a long time. I will have to start talking to that LS farm guy out dare in the upper points of Michigan to get a spare trans built up and ready. See if he can have it airmailed and dropped in Berwick. I hope he remembers a chute. We have enough hole in our roof.

cArNaGe · Post by **cArNaGe** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:48 pm

SMITTY wrote:
If it were me, I'd get on eBay, or pick a town down south and get their local classifieds. Well worth the fuel and time to buy an older one rust-free down there, and bring it up north.

Just my .02 - don't say I didn't warn ya!!

That is what I'm doing.

Something like this

**Broken Link(S) Removed**

That truck is 15 minutes from my mom.

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:49 pm

Well Keepa,this may be your chance to have your very own "Adventure Theatre" Episode at Home. If you think you can swing it,get a Cab. Next Project would be taking it off the Road to do the job. Plus,you could go after a lot of upgrade to the chassis with all that sheetmetal missing ! You know the Classic:"Hell,it's only Money!". I do love the idea of not being committed to a Loan,one way or the other !

Also a guy in our area(Kirtland,Oh.) is hawking a product called Corrosion Free. He's recommending an 18 month application interval. Berlin hit that subject on the head,fer sure!

http://www.corrosionfree.com

Flyer5 · Post by **Flyer5** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:50 pm

Hambden Bob wrote:A purpose built Truck is a Tool. A Pimp Wagon/Living Room on Wheels is not. Can't stand undependable when it comes to something standing on 4 to 6 wheels and it's needed to pull. Commuter Transportation,sure,go buy a Priapus or a Focass. Your going to get great mileage,yet your going to shell out some severe bucks to get it. Bottom Line-never bring a Honda to a Truck Fight. It's your hard-earned money,do your homework,do your best,and understand that it's a tool,not a Cult/Status Symbol. God Help You

Ah come on! Chicks dig big pipes.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:54 pm

cArNaGe wrote:hat is what I'm doing.

Something like this

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That thing is NICE!! $12,500 for a dually DIESEL!?!?!?!? Boy did I get porked ...

cArNaGe · Post by **cArNaGe** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:55 pm

Mileage isn't listed.....

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 9:57 pm

Oh,Carnage I missed your post as I was tossing mine together. A word to the wise: Don't let Ma check out and test drive that Beauty for you. You'll never get her out of it !!

cArNaGe · Post by **cArNaGe** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 10:03 pm

Hambden Bob wrote:Oh,Carnage I missed your post as I was tossing mine together. A word to the wise: Don't let Ma check out and test drive that Beauty for you. You'll never get her out of it !!

I plan on waiting till the spring. I'm in the same boat as keepaneyeonit. My friggin cab is shot. I put a new bed on it a few years ago and that's when I noticed the cab corners were bad. The oil pan seeps because it's rusted through (JBWeld has Held for 3 years). The engine has to be pulled to change that and if that were to happen all the the exhaust bolts would have to be drilled/tapped out. They look like they were 3/8 but now less than 1/4... I'm afraid to touch them.

Flyer5 · Post by **Flyer5** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 10:20 pm

cArNaGe wrote:
SMITTY wrote:
If it were me, I'd get on eBay, or pick a town down south and get their local classifieds. Well worth the fuel and time to buy an older one rust-free down there, and bring it up north.

Just my .02 - don't say I didn't warn ya!!
That is what I'm doing.

Something like this

**Broken Link(S) Removed**

That truck is 15 minutes from my mom.

I would be nervous to answer an Atlanta Craigs list ad. You may end up needing kidneys cause yours are gone.

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 10:21 pm

More Brine,Please ! Damn near sounds like something out of Oliver Twist ! I hate to break it to all of you,but Smit's is driving to Hotlanta as we type ! He was reported to have a glazed over look in his eyes,and The Frog was in a Aquarium on the seat next to him....Kept mumbling: Ford....PowerStroke...Dualllyyy....Clean!

Flyer5 · Post by **Flyer5** » Tue. Jan. 14, 2014 10:23 pm

Hambden Bob wrote:More Brine,Please ! Damn near sounds like something out of Oliver Twist ! I hate to break it to all of you,but Smit's is driving to Hotlanta as we type ! He was reported to have a glazed over look in his eyes,and The Frog was in a Aquarium on the seat next to him....Kept mumbling: Ford....PowerStroke...Dualllyyy....Clean!

Tell hm stop in PA I have some 30rd mags he can borrow.