I'm looking to buy a used truck on a very tight budget. I'm looking to get an enclosed car hauler to pull my 2014 Mustang to the track. The combined weight of the car and trailer will be about 7200lbs. I'll also be throwing some extra wheels, tires, tools, jack, etc either in the trailer or bed of truck. Trucks I have looked at are:

2004-2009 F150 5.4L. With 3.73 gears they are around 9100-9500 towing capacity.

1999-2003 F250 7.3L Diesel or 6.8 V10. Both show same towing/payload capacity.

Right now I'm hoping to get something around $7000. I've found a bunch of F150's with varying mileage but usually around 150K(ish).

I'm currently looking at a 1999 7.3L F250. The truck is a little rough with a good amount of dings, dents, scratches as well as rust in the back rear corners of the cab. It has about 152K. Besides the rust my biggest gripe is the steering wheel is way off center. Though the truck seems to hold straight when the wheels are straight. Price is just over $7K

There's also a 2001 F250 6.8L with 170K that looks really clean but they say cruise doesn't work. I do want the cruise to work...or should I not use cruise when hauling? It's priced at $7K but I'm guessing I could offer a bit less.

I would like to get any suggestions or opinions you have?

Thanks

 

Is the 7.3 an early 99 or late 99 build, it does make a difference?

The wheel being off center is not a big deal at all if the truck holds straight. The drag link can be adjusted with a socket, ratchet and a large channel locks in just a few moments.

I am biased toward the 7.3 because I have loved mine since the day I bought it 2 years ago with 228,000 miles on it. This past summer we towed a 10K lbs travel trailer from GA to Seattle and back and it was a great trip.

Some people on here are very aggressive when talking about the diesel vs gasoline argument, but for me and my situation a diesel was the best option for long distance heavy hauling.

If you are going short distances, maybe the gasoline is the right answer for you. The maintenance costs tend to be cheaper, but the mileage is going eat up your cash. Your situation is different from most and it is your money so only you can make the right call.

You can use cruise control when hauling, I did it for about 6K miles during my trip last summer without a problem.

Might I suggest going to the forum section that each truck is specifically discussed in for further guidance. For example, the 7.3 forum is here https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum31/

 

It was built on 12/15/1998. Is that good or bad? I'll try to do more research on the individual forums but I have limited time. I may be selling my current daily driver and will need to make a decision soon.

 

I would try to go a year newer at least if you are shooting for a 7.3. Pretty good motor and would work fine for the amount you want to pull.

I will say a 2005 and up 5.4 or 6.8 gas motor would do a pretty good job as well.

 

Is there anything specific about the 99 7.3L you can tell me?

Are you saying the earlier (2000-2003) 6.8L isn't as good?

Yeah, I've researched the 5.4L to death when I first decided to sell my Jeep and get a truck. Even with all the reported problems and a friend of mine telling me "it's the worst motor ever made" I'm willing to take a chance if the right deal comes along. A mechanic friend told the 7.3L is one of the best ever made but he didn't specify any years and I told him I was looking at a 99. He thinks I should get a diesel.

 

Later 6.8 and 5.4 motors are 3 valve and produce more HP.

 

The 7.3 is a proven workhorse and It will make your trips much easier.
The V-10 6.8 will also do the job, just a bit more work.
At your towing wt, I'd stay away from the 5.4 if the budget allows.
I've pulled my 7,500 lb boat and trailer with a 5.4 and it's lots of work.

 

Thanks for all the info so far.

So now I've read another thread where someone is looking at different truck/engine combos and responses are that if you're daily driving, a diesel might not be the best choice. I would be driving less than 10 miles quite often. Should I look at sticking with a gas engine?

 

So long as it isn't a V10..... they get worse fuel mileage than a diesel! Esp when NOT towing!

 

It's the old pay me now or pay me later concept.

The diesel is more expensive initially, easier on fuel, and pulls well.
The V-10 is cheaper, pulls pretty well, and uses lots of fuel.
The 5.4 is usually cheapest, pulls poorly, but gets a bit better mileage.

Pick your poison, and pick your price.

 

OK so the price of all the trucks I'm currently looking at is around $7K.

I'm more concerned about the people saying that it's not good on a diesel to only drive it short distances. If that's true, then maybe I should skip the diesel and get the V10. Though I'm sure the F150 will do the job and it does make more sense as a daily driver. Just seems like the ones I'm finding in the same price range have more miles.

 

Just a thought...a 2wd/six-speed/diesel might be the right combination to keep you in budget and still get a reasonably clean ride.

 

When you say 6 speed, do you mean manual trans? I don't want a manual in my truck. That's fine in the Mustang, just prefer to keep it simple in the truck. I may have an opportunity to buy a 2wd V10 (2003) with under 90K miles from a guy I work with but that's only if he sells his camper first. It would also be more than $7K but I could still probably get it less than book value but a little bit at least.

 

The real benefit to '05+ gassers is the 5R110W trans over the 4R100. Yeah the 3Vs makes somewhat more power, but you aren't exactly maxing out the GCWR with a 7200# trailer. A transmission works every shift every drive every mile, and the 5 speed auto from 05-10 was one of the best Ford put in a truck. Probably third place only because the two new iterations in the Super Duty keep getting better.

 

I just picked up a rust free (unusual for this area) 05 crew cab F350 v10 dually with 140k for $4500. Intended use is towing.

It's only a 2wd, which really depresses resale value, hence the low price.

I can buy a lot of gas for the $5000+ that I saved by going to a 2wd V10 instead of a Diesel 4WD, and I don't plan on towing a fifth wheel in the winter anyway.