Hi all! New member here, looking for advice and input. I posted this in the diesel forum but thought I'd ask here too.

I am planning to buy a used ('cause new is just too spendy) diesel for hauling my horse trailer and to be my daily driver. I'm kinda honing in on the '06 Super Duties, and am wondering if the 6.0 is a good engine? I know it had some problems when it first came out in '03, but did they get the bugs fixed by this year model?

I currently have a three horse aluminum bumper pull, with a tack room, but also to plan to move up to a 3 horse GN with living quarters. So, will a 250 do the job I need it to, or should I go for the 350? Also, how much different is it driving the dwb rather than the single? And how bad is that on fuel consumption?

One more thing - I'm not seeing a lot of trucks with the integrated brake controller. Did they not include them in the earlier models, or is that an indication that it doesn't really have a " towing package?"

Here's one that I'm considering: 06 Ford F-350 Dually XLT Crew Cab 6.0L Diesel Long Bed 55k

Will I be *overtrucked* (if there is such a thing) with this one? Looks like a good deal to me - I like that it has such low miles and is still under factory warranty. I have already asked for an OASIS report - thanks for that tool, btw!

Pam <!-- / message --><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: ad_showthread_firstpost_sig --><!-- END TEMPLATE: ad_showthread_firstpost_sig -->

 

looks nice...are you sure you dont want a 4x4 though

 

Don't know - do I need 4x4? Really, I don't know if I do or not. Can you tell me why I would? I'm in Central Texas, on the edge of the famous Hill Country, so there are some moderate hills around that I travel on occasionally.

 

well it would help taking your horse trailer in the fields etc plus it will help if you get in a bind in some places

 

That OASIS should be the basis for your decision on any particular truck.

I have an 03 F250 Crew...with the 6.0. I bought mine used based on the OASIS report and have not been disappointed with it at all. Mine is one of the really early models and I've not had a bit of problem with it. In fact, this was my first diesel so as a CYA, I bought an extended warranty for @1,400 to take me to 75K miles. That was wasted money...I never needed the warranty.

The truck had 34K on it when I bought it...it's got 82K on it now. I bought the truck in Feb of 07. I use it as my daily driver and for light hauling. I plan to pick up a TT so that's my reasoning for buying the 250. I kept my 92 F150 as the spare truck.

As for the brake controller...as long as yours has the tow package you'll be ok. Mine has it...the previous owner unplugged his brake controller and installed it in his next truck. That's the beauty of this system.

I can't help with the DRW vs. SRW as I've not owned a dually.

Good luck and enjoy!

Joe

 

Love the color. IMO a dually with that much horse flesh would be a nice thing to have.

 

The OASIS report shows that fuel injectors have been an issue with this particular truck, two instances of them being replaced. Is that fairly common, is it done, or will I be dealing with it as time goes on? And then it also had engine oil in the coolant at around 47,000 miles - looks like that required replacing the radiator and thermostat, and all the hoses associated with it. Not really sure what's considered *typical* for these trucks, so is this acceptable or should I keep looking?

 

Couldn't give me a 6.0L diesel. Too many repeat failures with the ones I see on a regular basis.
JL

 

ugghh...double posts lately......
JL

 

We pulled our horses for countless years in a halfton chevy with no problems.... We had a steel stock trailer and did a lot of playdays and traveling etc. I would think my 6.0 would pull a smile on all 4 horses faces and for less or about the same amount of fuel as our old 94 chevy did. The pulling I have done has bee 8k and under and it seems to not really notice it milage drops though from unloaded. The 05-up have the tow command and I believe it is common as well

 

we tow the horse trailer in my sig pic. I would highly recommend that you get a 4x4. We sometimes even have a little difficulty in loose stones going up a decent grade in 2wd when starting from a stand still.

oh, and my '06 6.0 with 65k on the clock has been flawless and love it. It is also my DD.

 

Pal, if it was me, I'd keep looking. I'll bet you I test drove 4 or 5 trucks before I found the one I'm in...and it took me about a year and a half. Bluebonnet's got to have a ton of trucks on the lot. LOL, I remember buying my first Super Cab from them back in the 80s!

Seriously, any powertrain issues should be looked at closely. ESPECIALLY repeat items.

Just my 2 centavos worth.

Joe

 

The F-350 dually diesel is a good start when considering you may pull a three horse GN with LQ. The LQ can really load the GN hitch, so the dual wheels will help. Off road can get ugly quick without 4x4. Recommend higher than the 3.73 rear gears, if you climb hills or plan to have full quarters greater than 13 feet long wall. Four thousand pounds of horses and tack, three thousand pounds of LQ stuff and a six thousand pound trailer requires a heavy duty truck.

Get any vehicle throughly checked by a knowledgeable and trustworthy mechanic before you buy.

We have a 2H GN with 13 foot LQ and just below the max. truck GVW and GVWR for our 2007 F250, 5.4, 4x4.

Belong to the LCMP (www.lcmp.info) horse club and many haul big rigs. The F350 dually, 4x4, diesel is the top truck.

Joe

 

Thanks for all the advice - I really appreciate it! Shopping is the not-so-fun part....

 

You may want to give Texas Direct Auto a look. I bought my Excursion from them over 2 years ago and have been very satisfied with the purchase.