I'm in the market for an older F250, open to gas or diesel, would like to stay at or below 200,000 miles and $25,000 or less.

My primary need NOW is a snow beast. I live in NW CO and we get 300"+ of snow. I also live in the country with a very steep 1/2 mile dirt driveway. I have a '01 Ram 1500 plow truck which gets the job done. It would be nice to reduce our vehicle count and use a 250 to plow and occasionally a commuter on heavy snow days. Right now I have a '16 Silverado 1500 5.3 RMT Offroad and with enough added weight and 4WD I can make it up the unplowed driveway.

Once we get out of winter we're pulling a 21' boat through the mountains. The Silverado sucks. The 35" tires don't help. My wife's Range Rover Sport with 5.0 tows with no problem but we give up the needed truck bed space. I also haul water and the Silverado doesn't have much of a payload. Finally, we'd like to add a pop up camper to the bed for trips.

My problem is deciding on the engine. I've never owned a diesel truck nor a large V8/V10. My budget means I'm in the 120k-200k+ miles range. They're also around 2002 - 2007.

If I could get some experienced help to look at some listings I would be happy to pay for the time. I'm also 3-5 hrs away from most of them so I really need to narrow down my options.

 

 

I bought a F-450 in NE Colorado last year with a V-10 6 speed manual, good clean truck for 3750 on an online auction. Had 191,000 miles. Drove it home to Kansas, and have spent some money on it, nothing really serious just that everything is expensive to have repaired. Would consider all the trucks you posted overpriced. Neighbor bought a '16 with the 6.2 gas for 15,000.,with less miles than the one you posted. Seems everything desirable is overpriced right now. The V-10 has plenty of power and has about the same operating costs as a diesel, considering mileage and cost of fuel. Long life motor. 6.2 is a good engine as well, in a newer truck. Personally would not buy a 6.0 as neighbors have had costly experience with those. The old 7.3 was pretty good, but diesel maintenance is expensive, oil changes are expensive, service is expensive. And diesel fuel is higher priced than gas.

 

No diesel experience. DO NOT buy anything with a 6.0 or 6.4 Power Stroke.

 

My advise is simple, unless you are truly needing a diesel for towing or heavy loads, do not buy one. The cost of the truck and maintenance is going to be a tidy sum more than more than the gas engines models. The Ford 6.2 seems to be a very reliable engine with decent mileage or towing capacity.

 

Thanks for the help. I haul water to my home and the 1500 Silverado just can't get the job done efficiently. I can only get about 180 gallons a load. I could triple that with the 250. I'd also like to add a camper to the bed down the road. We only tow a 21' boat but the 5.3 Silverado runs like it's pulling a 40' bumper camper. The downside would be the mileage but I'd only need to drive it on big snow days especially considering how much extra water I could haul in one load.

So for an auto loan I really need to be in '14-'17 range which may likely price me out of the 250. My goal is to stay at $30k max.

If I'm looking at '14-'17 models would I be looking for a 6.2?

 

my take having owned a 5.4, 6.8, 6.0, 6.4 and 6.7 superduty.

5.4 no. under powered. might as well get an f-150 or expedition with the 5.4 resulting in more GVWR due to the former being a lighter vehicle.
6.8, yes if you can find one with 75K miles or less. after 75K miles, the gremlins come out.
6.0, no. big head gasket problem, lifter problem, push rod problem, etc.
6.4, same as the 6.0, and a dozen additional problems.
6.7 2011 - 2014. no, lots of various ,mechanical break points
6.7 2015 - 2016. yes, you might get one for $25K. a lot of the 2011 - 2014 bugs were reengineered out in the gen 2 6.7 engine.
6.7 2017 -2019. yes, last of the aluminum piston engines. don't think you can get one for 25k.

 

2013/2016 6.2.
Super reliable.

 

For your use I agree with most others avoid the diesel. Get the 6.2 that started in 2011 with the 6 speed auto. Maybe some HD springs for extra water hauling stability.

 

Yes. The 6.2 started in '11 in the Super Duties. It is a tried and true engine that has been proven to run well over 200k miles. The initial purchase is relatively less compared to the 6.7 powerstroke. For reference, in Sept '18, I purchased my XLT crewcab, shortbed 4wd with 33k miles for $35k. In my 3 years of owning it, it's never had a problem. Our primary use is towing a 7500lbs, 30' travel trailer and it does it with ease.

As far as which year to get....look for a '13 or newer. That year, they put larger front brakes on the trucks. The '13-'16 will be steel body. If you like the body style and can afford one, go with a '17+ as the engine was retuned to produce slightly more torque at lower RPMs.

I do have to ask, with the water...is it on a trailer or in the bed? Some thing to consider is that with a F250, the GVWR is 10k. The available payload in my truck is 2766.

 

You want a 2013+ 6.2 gas.

If Ford will ever pick up my CCLB 7.3/4.30 F350 order I am selling this 2013 F250 with 87k miles on it in the low-mid 20s. Even has a decent set of goodyear duratracs on it. Everything works and only issue is the driver’s seat has a rip in it. I feel that you may need to look outside of your area and work a deal out.