I am giving up my Camry for a Ford diesil truck. My best friends husband has been making diesel for a year now so I can get it cheap. Also, I am tired of having to borrow their truck everytime I need something big from the store. I have just about decided on a Ford F-250. I need to settle on a year. Would prefer not to buy new (to expensive). I am not a mechanic so would prefer not to learn if I can help it. Would like a truck that has good history of dependability. Any suggestions?

 

Welcome to the Forum Shalmara
It's a great place to hang out and plenty of expertise here.

This is Prolly the wrong forum maybe Cookie will move it to the right one(s) for you.
Iwould suggest duplicate posts in the !994 - 1997 and the 1999 - 2003 Forums

I would suggest the 7.3L PSD pretty bullet proof engine capable of 400 to 500 thousand miles with good care, Gets better fuel economy then the 6.0 L and has all the power you will ever need.

Your next decision is whether you want the Old Body Style or the New Body Style. There are proponents of both here.

 

Get a 6.0l, prices are coming down quick, there are good ones that got bought back, just make sure you run an oasis report on whatever you buy. It will tell you what the service history of the truck is, and if it had any problems that were repetative. I am on my second 6.0 and love it. My 03 2wd got me around just fine in FLA, but not wortha crap up here in Louisana. Traded up to a 05 4WD on the family plan last year. 22,000 trouble free on the 05. Had 4 injectors and the ficm replaced onthe 03 at 20,000, not one problem after that til it was traded in at 60,000 miles.


Ryan

 

I would just have to combine them or delete one if they were cross posted, so I can't recommend that course of action. I'll put it in the 99-03 forums for starters, and if you (shalmara) are thinking of something newer or older let me know and we can put it where it needs to be.

 

Hi Shalmara. Welcome. First off, I wish I could tell you that this is an easy and clear decision, but it is not. You will find some good advice and good amounts of knowledge on these forums, however (please forgive me, 7.3 bretheren) you'll also find plenty of bias. The 6.0 guys are going to tell you to buy a 6.0 liter. The 7.3 guys are going to tell you to buy a 7.3, no getting past that. They are here on this site because they love their trucks, good experiences or bad.

Just so you know, 7.3 liter motors are found in the older powerstrokes 2003 and older. 7.3 liter motors have been around a long time, good motors and have been known to last a very very long time. 6.0 liter trucks are the newer Ford motor (other than what will be coming out in future vehicles). Some guys really live their 6.0 liter motors, and I am told the difference between the two is night and day.

It really comes down to finding a truck that has been 1) very very well taken care of (if used) and 2) in your price range. Get some education from the guys on the forum for what to look for as far as chosing a used vehicle, and go with whats right for you.

take it from me, this is a big step, going from foreign car to American diesel truck. Unlike your Camry, these trucks require moderate attention and regular maintenance (no matter what brand they are). Be prepared to treat this truck as you would a puppy. Mechanically inclined or not, you'll have to learn a few things....

I am curious to see what the rest have to say.

 

7.3 over a 6.0 without a thought. We abused the 7.3's for years in the fire service using them as rescue modules and never had engine related problems. Did have to change the brakes every 2 or 3 weeks though. Since we had to make the switch to the 6.0 maintenance has gone through the roof.

 

I'm a proud,happy 7.3l owner that was a 2004 6.0l owner, note..WAS!
You want as little trouble as possible stay with a proven, abuse taking beast..find a good 7.3 and you'll never regret it! I bought a brand new 6.0 and couldn't unload it fast enough! nothing but headaches!!!

 

if it means anything, ford bought back our 2004 F-550 with only 26000 miles. the engine blew five times and had several turbo and transmission problems. however the new 2007 is one sweet rig. pictures in my sig. several improvements from 2004 to 2007, it's a great truck. it seems to be a very stouter truck. from a standpoint as a 7.3 owner and a driver of 3 6.0's at work, the 6.0's are extremely fun to drive, i will not lie to you. however i would never go buy one unless i get it inherited as i take over the business. however i have had nothing wrong with my personal 7.3, and its only treated me nicely. never left me sitting or stranded. i even have it modified and sometimes use 100% of the engine's capabilty, and the bone stock 6.0 even had the engine blow up twice on the same exact hill.

oh, and i had the "experience" of driving a 6 speed 6.0 as a loaner dump truck, and wow what an experience. NO lowend power what so ever, if you tried to start in 1st with no load, you would feather and rev the crap out of the clutch to prevent bucking and the lug down to idle. in 1st starting out with a load, it lugs very badly and smokes actually until the turbo lites, and when it lites up, watch out, you cannot shift fast enough. the boost bleed off when shifting is also pretty sweet. it will peak ~30 psi instead of the automatic's 27psi or so. plus, the 6 speed needs to be driven aggressively to get power out of the engine, which starts around 2250 and up. it takes a really talented driver to get 100% out of a 6.0 in a 6 speed. the torqueshift transmission (automatic) is a hell of a lot nicer than the 7.3's 4R100, if the drivetrain has one advantage over the 7.3's. plus on the 2005+ (probably out of your $$ range) they turn incredibly sharp. i amazed myself everytime i made a sharp turn with the 2007, as it seemed as if the wheel never stopped turning. a 165"WB turned several feet tighter than our 2002 F-350 with a 137" wheelbase.

food for thought. ultimate IMHO would be a 2007 with a 7.3, 5R110 (TS) tranny, and the coil front springs.

 

I would agree with the above....My dad has the 04 6.0 and multiple injectors, and other sensors and he has near 200k on it...

My 7.3 has 434k on it and just now having injector issues. The other issues I have are because of the abuse she goes through.