I recently sold my 2013 F150 with the 5.0 in it. I'm beginning to regret my decision (albeit, I got a very good trade in value for a new vehicle our growing family will appreciate for years to come).

With that being said, I've been absent a truck for 6 months and found myself many times wishing I had one again. We have recently found a use for a 3/4 ton truck in ways of building a house/DIY projects/livestock hobbyist.

So am I crazy for wanting to explore purchasing a OBS crew cab 250/350 7.3 diesel instead of buying a newer model gasser (6.2 or 7.3)?

I justify this idea through the up front cost of each being in the 10-20k area for the OBS compared to the 40-60k area for a ~5 year old SD. I know the OBS will likely require more maintenance and will probably break down/require rebuilding or overhauling but that doesn't really scare me away since if I get that all done, then I know what I have.

I understand the modern trucks have a ton of features but it's getting to the point they're going overboard with more crap that can fail.

While i do enjoy creature comforts, I also enjoy simplicity and constantly find myself wishing things were simpler. Can always upgrade the interior and what not but I truly don't have the need for that.

I have a good background in wrenching as my dad did it for longer than I've been alive. I feel I could do a good job in maintaining and tackling any major issues myself without dragging dealerships/shops/electronic BS into it.

Anyone been in this situation? What did you ultimately decide and why?

 

Are you a diesel mechanic? What are the reasons you would choose a diesel truck over a gasser? Diesels are much more expensive to repair and unless you find one that has already been upgraded you may be disappointed in just how under powered a stock motor of this vintage is compared to a modern truck.

I agee they have gone too far with electronic controls in modern vehicles, it's not even possible to change brake pads without a disagnostics tool with current models so the days of being a shade tree mechanic are coming to an end. An OBS truck could be a good candidate for a simple but reliable work vehicle if you find one with the right features

 

Not a diesel mechanic by trade but I've done my fair share of work on vehicles. I know diesels are more complicated but I don't see it being something I couldn't understand and do myself.

I understand the old diesels can be gutless without some modifications to them and I'm fine with that. I'd explore options to make them a little more highway-worth if needed.

With the majority of OBS models having the gas 7.5 or 5.8, their fuel mileage is less than ideal and I haven't had a lot of positive personal experience with either engine.

It would be somewhat of a daily driver role along with the work truck role as well.

 

I have an OBS 460/5spd F350 and an Alumiduty F350 with a 7.3 gas. I daily drive my OBS (11mpg) and love it. I've replaced every electronic part that is known to fail besides my cruise cutoff switch which was replaced under recall and works intermittently. I've never been stranded in my OBS. I've driven on A LOT of LONG road trips in the OBS and I prefer the Alumiduty for long trips because it is light years more comfortable to sit in for 14 hours. I've modified my OBS so it is similar in power to the Godzilla but not quite the same. I baby the ZF5 because I want the OBS to last me and not have to constantly repair broken stuff because I drove it like a teenager. Maintenance is simple and cheap. If I need to haul dirt, a bundle of 3/4" OSB or a load to the dump I take my OBS. If I need to drive cross country I take my 2022.

I vote getting an OBS and mod it reliably. fins a low mileage low owner model and enjoy the money savings and reinveat into updates and mods. You can always swap in a new super duty seat and it will be just as comfortable to sit in but the ride can be HARSH with the stock suspension.

 

There are ways around the scan tool when changing brakes on a new car with the electric parking brake system
My friend has 5 Ford trucks and loves his Raptor R
How much money you got?
Buy a new one if you're loaded, flush with cash
But you'll need to buy gat the best extended warranty they offer
I would pass on the vintage diesel unless you are well versed on diesel repair
The early 6.9 and 7.3 IDI diesels have much less trouble than the Powerstrokes
On those brakes, all you need to do is take the allen or torx bolts out of the motor and remove it from the caliper
Then push the pistons back while you turn the little screw with your fingers or a wrench
Once the piston is retracted you can just reinstall the park brake motor to the caliper
I've been doing it that way on Mercedes and all the others for a few years now

 

i refuse to vote your poll because it doesnt have a non diesel OBS option

 

Not loaded, hence the consideration to buy an older truck mostly outright.

I'm sure there are workarounds to all of the technology on new vehicles, but most of the time it will require dealership intervention because of its, which I hate.

I can completely agree and understand the issue of having an old diesel around. It will require a lot of work and maintenance, especially since its 30 years old.

 

I didnt think having a 460 that gets 10 mpg was a viable option. I'm not terribly high on the 460 or 351 anyways.

Unless you can provide an insight to why a guy would want one of those? I do see they're cheaper to buy than the trucks that have the 7.3.

 

I thought you were going to say "not an option if crazy or not"

I bought a non-Ford diesel new back in 86 and yes they could be gutless but the sip fuel unlike a gas motor.
At 100K I installed a Gail Banks turbo kit and it was now like a gas motor but still sipped fuel.
At 230K I sold the truck, kind of sorry I did, but at 16 years old the truck needed some love that I just did not want to put into it.
The SUV I bought to replace it is now 23 years old and 292K on it and is used just to pull my car trailer that I have not pulled in 11 years so who knows how long I will keep it?

As for crazy I just bought a 2007 crown vic with 20K on the clock to replace the SUV for long trips. The amount of bells & whistles the 07 has over the 02 SUV is a lot
Oh I have a 81 F100 to take the weekly trash to the dump and to car cruises it is also back up for the car trailer.
Dave ----

 

too bad you couldnt find a town car with 20k on it

but a crown vic will do. Although the crown vic was showing its age in the late 2000s, the improvements to the 2v 4.6 to make them more reliable (early 2000s anyone?) and upgraded 4r75w, and roomy no nonesense car are admirable and the recent 2003 or 2004 overhaul of suspension/steering I hear was a good choice

I just wish they had a i4 or v6 option which had a shorter engine bay but all other dimensions stayed the same, It would be perfect car of relatively standard length these days and be mildly better on gas
Mostly to save space , plus a v6 or i4 would be much narrower, offering sick underhood room even with shortened engine bay. Lol. too late I guess

Too bad GM chose not to compete in this space after the 90s

I

 

This is my dump setup, I use a truckbed trailer with a topper that closes up and when it fills up every few momths I make a run to the incinerator and pay 20$ usually to dispose of the entire trailer (and bed of truck!) contents

and for posting a gm truck ill show you what its like when my f150 is hooked up

 

The poll is absolutely an apples to oranges comparison.

Dismissing the gas OBS options because of fuel economy is just goofy, especially when you're willing to pay double (or likely more) up front for the same OBS truck with a diesel engine. That's without considering the cost of maintenance and repairs.

Something to consider - how much time do you want to devote to maintaining and repairing the truck? If it's your daily driver, how many break downs can you afford, and how frequently?

As for modern trucks being impossible to work on, I haven't experienced that at all. I have yet to find something on my newer trucks that was impossible, or even difficult, for me to do in my garage. Heck, I'd argue that modern is easier to work on, since the OBD2 system is so good at tattling on itself. Didn't have that luxury on the OBS trucks I've owned. I'm sure there's modern stuff that requires some specialty equipment, but that is not the majority.

I daily drove a 351w powered OBS for years. Was very deliberate and thorough on maintenance, and was still left stranded a few times. It's just the nature of the beast when you're dealing with 30-40 year old trucks.

Eventually I weighed the pros and cons of daily driving and working the OBS vs something newer. I parked the OBS, went out and bought a brand new F150 in '14, and later traded that in and ordered a brand new F350 in '20. I haven't looked back. I still have my OBS trucks to play with on the weekends, but I no longer have any concern that the truck that I depend on is going to leave me stranded. I don't have to spend late nights in the garage, rushing the get a truck back together so I can put it to work the next morning.

 

It should scare you. Replacing parts is the easy part of any job. It's finding good parts that should scare the hell out of you. All too often, our mind thinks that we just put in a new part and we should be fine for years. It's just not true anymore.

When it comes to diagnosis, most people have no time to learn how the system works. Today's dealership mechanics, hook up a tool, then press buttons, until the tool tells them what to do. Older vehicles that I drive, are much more difficult. You have to do tests, but you have no idea what to test until you actually know how the system works.

Most of us are not wired that way. At some point, the world shifted so we no longer figure out what is wrong by research, but by asking questions on the internet for help. That usually ends up with a lot of wasted money. Places like Rock Auto offers parts that certainly will take your money, but not live up to the bargain by selling you a good part.

 

To answer your question, without a doubt, you are crazy or else you would not be here.

 

its cringe to own a diesel now because of people my age who, when seeing me in my f150 (esp as a girl) floor it and roll coal, have 32+ inch tire/wheel with a thin sidewall, shiny trucks that are all crew cab and long bed for some reason. THey buy billet everything, fly flags off the back perpetually, and sit in walmart parking lot at 2000rpm hoping someone thinks they are cool

Idk how old you are but as a 26 year old its essentially already determined me to not own a diesel to avoid that crowd
If youre older you may not be in these hooligans' social groups/around them