Been several years since I've been on here, but am looking to get a dually crew cab for my guys to pick up tractors and machinery that isn't terribly expensive and dead reliable. We'll haul on a goose neck 5,000-12,000lbs typically including the weight of the trailer.
Found a 99 thats been impeccably maintained by the original owner with 270,000 miles on an original 7.3 engine. Still all factory installed injectors, turbo, transmission, and HPOP. Completely rust free and all the necessary maintenance on the front end and brakes has been kept up to date very well.
Ive also been kicking around the idea of a V10 to try and cut down repair costs when the 7.3 does decide to need some major maintenance (Injectors, turbo, trans, HPOP). It's driven less than 500 miles a week typically, sometimes considerably less, so fuel mileage is not of a concern.
My question is: Would you consider the high mileage 7.3 or should I continue to look at a V10 instead?
Here's a link to the truck, don't you go and buy the thing before I get a chance!
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5944733075.html

 

Question is, are you mechanically inclined, have the time to repair, can afford the down time it may give you and last, do you have capital to spend on parts if you can repair yourself? What if you can not repair it? 270k is not that bad on the internals of a diesel, but the accessories that run and operate it can be the failure point. Then take into consideration suspension, steering components and other drivetrain maintenance, you could find it may nickel and dime you to death. It is possible that it may be the proverbial needle in a haystack and run for another 100k without issue, but highly doubtful. Forgot to mention, that is overpriced! Back to the initial questions...

 

I absolutely agree that it's overpriced, but that can be dealt with. I'm on board with you about the miles not being that bad on the engine, but the rest of the truck is my concern. Well, I guess I need to just keep looking for the right V10.

 

I had a 7.3 PS and an IDIT and I now vastly prefer the V10. The only thing I miss is the low-end torque of the IDIT (the PS had too much lag off the line). The around town fuel mileage is a wash, as is the unloaded highway economy, although towing heavy the diesel was better by close to 50%. But since I don't need to tow 10k+ often, I can live with it. But in traffic the instant throttle response of the V10 is great, as is the lack of noise. A 7.3 Excursion was next to us in traffic yesterday (a bit of lift and an aftermarket exhaust), and all I could hear when they got on it - not sure if he wanted to show me his prodigious power or not - was his rig as he was off in a haze of diesel and fury. I couldn't hear anything but a whisper from the V10 as I watched him quickly recede in the mirror.

 

You beat him??