Hello All!

I am new to FTE and have learned so much already, so thank you!

I am in the market for a F350 PSD, EC, 4X4, and I am just wondering if anyone has any buying tips for me? Things to look for, features to avoid, what kind of mileage would be acceptable (I have seen used ones with over 250,000 miles on 'em!) ? I plan to spend $10-13K

I have never purchased a truck before, but am learning fast because I will be living on the road full-time starting about June of 2012. The 350 will be the cup holder for my future slide-in camper.

As a single gal, I feel I may be at a disadvantage when it comes time to deal, so I am hoping I can gain a little edge with the valuable info ya'll might be able to share.

Thank you in advance!

Sherry

 

If you're in this forum, I presume you're trying to avoid a 6.0l Ford diesel, which is a good thing. 6.0 engines were found in 2003-2007 trucks, although a very few 7.3 2003s exist.

I would buy the lowest miles, nicest truck you can afford. The top few things I would look for in a used truck would be a) replaced ball joints or evidence of front end work/maintenance b) rebuilt automatic transmission c) new/good tires (you can spend $1K on tires right off the bat). Beyond that, evidence of regular maintenance by the previous owner is a good sign. If the engine compartment is massively filthy, it may indicate neglect or leaky intercooler boots, etc.

I'd try to find a private seller with a clue, rather than buying off a dealer lot. If you're in a large enough town to have a diesel repair shop, ask them if they can do a pre-purchase evaluation. This might cost $120 (a hour of shop time) and they should do things like check for turbo wheel play, blowby, etc. Don't let the shop just test drive it and say that it 'seems ok' - make them do some real evaluation, and dump computer codes, etc.

Others will have a lot more thoughts on this - but go (somewhat) with your gut, based on the truck, seller, and his/her story. Try to drive as many as you can, including ones you see on sleazy used car lots. By driving several, you'll have an idea of how good/bad they can feel. I found a LOT of trucks that were ex-fleet trucks that were beat - this is what ended up on the sleazy used car lots. If the seats don't match, or it's an XLT-level truck with cheap steel rims, you probably have a cobble job truck.

Read all you can on this forum, too, of course.

 

Thank you, Steve! Good info. You are correct, I am avoiding the 6.0l after learning about all of its problems on this forum and elsewhere.

What type of "evidence" should I look for in regards to front-end work?

Great idea on hiring a diesel garage to do a check-out! I live in Las Vegas, NV, so that should not be difficult to find.

Thank you again!

 

Whether you check things yourself or have a garage do it, here is a great buyer's guide for the 7.3 Super Duty.

7.3 Buyer's Guide

 

Thank you, Alan!
Great info there ... I have printed it out for reference.
You ROCK!

 

Welcome to FTE..If you find a truck that you are serious about and feel o.k. about posting your location.Post up where you are located to see if any of our members are close and will help you look over the truck.
Great bunch here but safety first.
More reading:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...questions.html

 

Welcome to FTE Sherry.