This is my second year of college and soon I'll have enough money to get myself a vehicle. I've been considering a 87-96 f150 with 4.9L L6 or an F-250 with a 6.9L or 7.3L IDI. I'll be using it for back and forth to college and the occasional heavy hauling (I will mostly be using the bed). Anybody wanna weigh in?

 

What constitutes occasional heavy hauling?

 

Get yourself a F-150/250 with the 4.9 and a 5spd. It was my first car and its still serving me well 12 years later. Gets decent MPG and has pulled everything I've wanted it to.

 

Personally I wouldn't spend money on a diesel unless you do A LOT of heavy hauling, it's just not worth it otherwise. I vote for the 4.9L

 

Heavy hauling would be at the max an overloaded truck full of fire wood and tree brush. Heres are photos for reference:





Also I heard that the IDI actually gets decent MPG

 

Depends on what you mean by decent.

 

More info needed... How long will you own it, how many miles to college, will you be 4wdriving it much? How long a drive to get that load of wood, can two trips be done?

One of my favorite trucks was a short box 1/2 ton with the 4.9 std transmission. 4:10s in the back and it could pull a mountain of weight.

 

Get yourself something that is Practical for you NOW.

When you need a truck THEN worry about what to buy

 

1) What's your daily commute?
2) Can you handle it when gas goes to $5 a gallon & you get at best 10-15 MPG?
3) Can you get to where you need to go when it breaks?... Its going to break. Its nearly 20 years old.
4) Do you have the semi-technical ability needed & place to work on it when it breaks or the money to pay for having it worked on?

Did I mention it is going to break?

Sorry, that's just the realities of ownership of this vintage truck & you need to really ask yourself these things before committing to what can quickly become a very large & expensive yard ornament.

Good luck with what ever you do.

 

Or 2800 lbs of shingles