Hey all,

My names Jesse, I live in colorado, and I'm 18. Let this serve as and introduction too.

My first vehicle is/was a 2000 Jeep Wrangler; this has been a good vehicle, but I am losing interest in it as I find I need more carrying capacity and hate borrowing others trucks. For this reason I'm looking at options.

I'm looking at highboy-era F-250's, since I need 4x4 and may be towing and hauling equipment and logs in the near future, and love the body style and overall basic design. I have considered newer trucks, but truthfully, I prefer the old iron, for form and function. With a truck like this, I can do most anything that it may need (I'm a pretty good mechanic, and have a pretty complete tool-set.).

So, my questions are, what years should I avoid (if any), which are ideal, what are some trouble areas I should be aware of in these trucks, I am ready to deal with the inherently low MPG, but is there one engine that would be particularly more inefficient than another? I drive pretty conservatively (not your standard heavy-peddle teenage driver, I've broken enough parts to get past that by now).

My uses of this vehicle will be primary transport (not much really, I get most places by foot and live in "contained" communities as of now), camping/hunting, medium duty towing occasionally, some mitigation/arborist work, and probably at some point living in the bed for temporary housing.

any input is appreciated, and thank you for your time!

 

Shortwheel base is good but harder to find with a 4x4 I think from my perspective in my area. Long wheel bases are good as well. More room and you can tow without having to worry real bad about your trailer. I mean shortwheel bases can tow but you have to watch what you are doing.

300 I6 (4.9L) engine is probably the most fuel efficent engine for these era trucks. You can get a 4 spd (low first) or a C6 in these trucks. Some come with a 205 or 203 transfer case (205 case has 2H, 4L, N, 4H while the 203 is a fulltime 4x4 transfer case).


Some tools you will usually need is a compression tester, hand tools, impact tools and wrenches, jack, jack stand, well the whole 9 yards..the more the better. These trucks are easy to work on! Parts are pretty cheap and you can do alot to them and make them look sweet.

Put an A/C in it (if it didn't come with it) if you are going to be lugging a girl around.

Find one that doesn't need alot of body work on it. This will save you money and time.

 

Hes looking for a High Boy so short wheel base isnt a consideration. A '76 is a good choice; FE power and front discs were standard. But '76 and up and if you arent hung up on a true "hi boy" a '78 or '79 F-250 or 350 would be a good choice IMO.

 

Good info! I have mostly all of that sitting in a knaack box in my garage right now and then some!

300 i-6, was that available in the 4x4? How's it do at higher speeds and on inclines (I go over a lot of passes, from my dads house to college I go over monarch (12,000 ft) or cottonwood (14,000), and to work I climb all the way there ending at 9000 ft; so hill performance is somewhat important. Most the trucks I find are outfitted with 351, 360, 400, or 390 engines (staying away from the 460, had one learning to drive, sucked the petrol like no other).

Is A/C and easy enough add on for these? I have seen a few with it on it, but I am curious how easy it is to do the R-134a convert from the R-12. I'm not particularly concerned about it, because while a fair share of the fairer sex will be transported in it, the girls I hang around with like the windows down and aren't accustomed to ac, and as of June, I will be living full time in places never going over 70.

What's a good cruising speed for the T-19 4 speeds with these trucks in stock form? I drive a 73 CJ5 all over and usually stick around 55, but 60 would be nice for the longer drives.

Thanks for the wisedom, looking forward to the hunt for a nice trade or buy when I sell the Jeep, should have enough cash left over to go through the mechanicals as needed and freshen up some aesthetics and comfort items.

 

@bamaf150:
I'm not super hung up on the "true highboy" thing, but I would love to stick in that realm if the right trucks are showing up. 4x4 is a nessecity, but if a pristine 78/79 appeared I'd probably consider it. I drove a 77 today with the 351, it ran very well, felt like the linkage was a little dry (needing grease), and it's aesthetics left much to be desired (79 bed, mis-matched paint, interior largely disassembled). It gave me the bug, and the drive experience reassured that this is the truck I want (I was pleased the steering was tighter with the solid front than the i-beam f100 I use as a work truck in summer).

 

300I6 has good low down torque. You can put a 4 barrel on it.

These trucks came with NP435, T18, and T19.

A/C is going to be expensive to add if it isn't on there. Glad they made vent windows for these. Mine is a Custom F150 and came with A/C but I am missing the compressor and stuff.

 

Hey Jesse, I'm up here in northern Colorado. Recently bought a 76 F250 highboy. It has no AC, not really worried about having it as it would be rarely used. If the wife complains about being hot, she's walking. You should be able to find a nice truck here at a fair price, there seems to be quite a few around. Good luck in your search.

 

Nice to see another Coloradoan! There are a few around, most of them have... character. I have no issue driving what looks to be a beater for awhile, as long as it's solid enough that I can eventually make it look nice (something to be for it when finding girlies).

Looks like I'll try to find a 300, but really I'm not that concerned about MPG, most places I go, I go with a passenger or two, and they WILL pay there share (or more) in fuel, and I will have no car payments so it balances out well enough.

People warned me of the ride quality; but I must say, from my brief encounter today, I don't find it that much worse than our 97 powerstroke, but maybe that comes from slamming around in the CJ all over too.

It seems most of the trucks around in my price range are cosmetically challenged to an extent, needing paint and repair in the usual rust zones, but are coming in around $1500-$3000; which leaves a little room for upgrades and such, supposing I get a good price on my jeep and/or a solid trade. Does this sound reasonable? There are a few restored hiboys around for $11,000 plus (out of my range), which seems fairly steep (I guess I don't see a practical difference of $9000 for paint and driveline refreshing)

 

11G's? Wow, I suppose fully restored its worth it but I would never drop that much cashish. I would think you could find one for around 4-5K. Of course, its all about condition. Most do have the typical rust around the rear fenders, mine was no exception but its not bad. Fortunately, Colorado's weather isn't too rough as far as rust goes. Try posting a wanted ad, might score a sweet deal.

 

Just keep checking on craigslist. I see some good deals on there, and some out of there minds. Alot in Denver area the last couple of weeks but alot of them are parting out. Maybe to side step the emmisions.

 

emmisions don't particularly concern me. I have an address in park county so that doesn't matter to me; doesn't need inspection either. And if I find 76-down, in Colorado it's exempt anyway...

 

1976 Ford XLT 4x4 High boy P.U.

Might be worth checking out.

 

I've seen that one, looks pretty straight... But I wonder what he means by "needs body work" and I'm a little nervous about it not currently running.... Anyone have an idea of what he might mean by "needs interlocken taken out"? Interlock as I know it means a clutch safety switch on late model cars, but maybe he means vapor lock or something?

 

Looks solid BUT pictures can be tricky. It's like you see a fine gal on here on a picture but you go meet here, you will be like, "WTF what I thinking? She has 4 chins!".

Go check that truck out when you have time or call him and meet up.

 

I'm putting the Jeep up today most likely, have a little clean up work first and I need to pull off some goodies before I will sell it (I am keeping my CB and winch...).

Theres a killer 74 in montrose right now, 4 hour drive, but it has new metal all around, new printed 390, new NP435 tranny, fresh suspension, fresh paint. They want 8600, I'd trade em straight up I think... My clean retail is 9700