I know that if you think a 300K plus diesel would be a better buy than a big block gas with 50K miles on it I have a pretty good idea you havent done much as far as REAL pickup use. And no I dont own a Ford NOW, I just got rid of one a month ago and I am looking to get back in another one soon.

No I didnt say that, a gas motor with 50-100K would be a better buy than the diesel with 200K. Reason being is that most of everything in the gas truck is more likely to not be rattled apart.

Well then its a good thing you didnt hear it huh?

No I meant 90-96 because I was online yesterday looking at Ford Trucks of that era and found several good buys on trucks from 1990-1996. The '97's (the ones I was looking for) had WAY to many miles on them. I never said there was anything unique about 90-96 body styles, stop jumping to conclusions.

But how many clutches, transmissions, and transfer cases will you put in the truck during that 500K?

Could be VERY expensive to repair in a hurry if the truck wasnt meticulously maintained. The thing about buying high mileage trucks is that you usually dont know how it was treated before you bought it. A guy could have bought a great truck when it was new, treated it like crap for 200K miles, then dumped it onto the car lot before anything catastrophic happened.

I never said the V10 Dodge was better than the PSD, I was implying that they are available in a 1 ton truck and can be purchased at 50-100K miles for less than a PSD with 250K miles on it. When paired with a 5 speed they can pull a load good enough to get the job done. And since he said he was low on cash I figured maybe it would be a good alternative.

Im not aware of any fact that states that big block Chevy's that come with 4wd are any worse than 2wd's.

You are stating the obvious, is there any reason for it?

If I had to recommend anything to this guy it would be a '98 Dodge 2500 12v CTD 5 speed 4wd. That being said I'd like you to know that I've blown WAY more auto trannies out of fords that Dodges. The auto I have in my dually seems to be on par with anything else out on the market.

I agree with you on how good the 94.5-97 PSD's are but unless Im the guy who put 250K on them and know EXACTLY how they were maintained, there is NO way I would drive one. Most because I USE trucks for what they are meant to be USED for you. I get a feeling you just drive yours until they have a ton of miles and then tell people like me that your trucks can go half a million no problem.

Once again, you dont KNOW the truck, you know the years of said trucks produced good products but you have NO IDEA how these trucks were used. Odds are if he bought a '96 Ford with the 460 with only 50K miles on it there would be less wrong with it that a '97 PSD with 250K on it.

That makes ABSOLUTELY no sense whatsoever.

For all you know it was driven 10 miles a day everyday and had the oil changed professionally every 3000 miles. The 50K truck COULD be a good outfit and if it isnt you should beable to tell pretty easily if it only has 50 K as everything should still be pretty tight, if it isnt that would be a red flag.

Once again HOW DO YOU KNOW how well the truck was cared for? You are making it sound like every truck that is for sale that has over 250K on it is an automatic buy because the owners treated them awesome just to get that many miles on them. Give me a break, the more likely scenario that these guys drove the wheels on the trucks and traded them in before something big happened and cost them more money than the truck was worth.

 

3-5 clutches, clutches are maintenance items, like brakes. The tranny's and transfers, will last as long as the rest of the truck.



That's really the thing isn't it, your not aware.

The front axle and suspension on the chevy's suck, the axle, hubs, and bearings are weak, and the independant suspension is totaly useless for anything you would need 4wd for.

That's just the thing, you don't seem to realise that only driving a truck 10 miles at a time is terrible for it. It NEVER gets warmed up, and is always running in a warm up state. Most of all it has the most "startups" for the same miles. 90% of all engine wear happens, in the first few seconds as you start the motor. The real question instead of miles is how many startups, a engine that goes 3000 miles per trip, and one that goes 10 per trip have the same wear. But the 3000 per trip truck was able to run hot for a good period of time, making everything clean and well lubed.

The rest of what you seem to be saying is just "buy a new truck". well we can't all waste that kind of money. So it comes down to fiquring out which were the best trucks to begin with, and which are in the best shape. You seem to have NO practical knowledge about fiquring out which are better except the odometer. That's OK we need suckers like you so the prices on the good trucks stay low.

 

WOW!Thanks for a very good information,that's so much help!Thanks!

 

FWIW I have only ever owned one truck with less then 180K mi, and that was a 69 chevy with 34k mi original, as a collector.

You seem to change trucks like underwear.

Is that the most "reason" you can muster? You don't seem to know anything about WHY one truck is better then another.

90-96 isn't an era, you just have no idea what your talking about do you? Oh, you were looking for a 97, what is that supposed to mean. 97 was a transition year, two totaly differant trucks and body styles were available that year. There is NO differance between the 96 and 97 Heavy duty but the light duty was a totaly new truck. There's even two differant F-250s that year, a HD which is no differant, but there is a 97 (and 98) light duty F-250. These are weird and kinda sorry trucks, they are just F-150's in the newer style, but with a differant rear axle, and 7 lug wheels, yes I said 7 lug wheels. Oddly enough after 98 this became a heavy payload F-150 option, that last I looked was still available. I call them the 7&7 trucks, 7 lugs and they have a 7700 GVWR.


It sounds like your so worried about this cause that's what you do.

Sure there's some risk, this is why you grab every clue you can and once you got a good truck you stick with it. But for those of us that choose not to spend the money on a new truck, it's just the best way to go.

 

OK,guys,thanks a lot for a good information.What I understand is : '94.5-'97 Ford F-350,4WD ,5 speed,'99-'02 Ford F-350,4WD,manual, or '98,Dodge 2500 12v CTD 5 speed,4WD.

 

Your welcome, glad to help.

I'm kinda having fun toying with BigDaddy6969. Wow this guy must think he's hot ***** with a handle like that.

When you get a chance let me know what you are thinking, what you are going to be doing with the truck, and what you like.

 

5 clutches at 600 bucks a whack=$3000, thats a pretty decent down payment on something that has less than 100K miles, hell thats a good down payment on a new truck.

I meant a printed article.

I drove a 1997 Chevy 3500 4wd 454 5 speed for awhile and while I did have problems with it I never had a single problem with anything you listed. And this is a trucked that pulled heavy alot and was put in 4wd and driven off road alot. How are you so sure that they are so bad if they are 4wd again? Personal experience? I didnt think so.



This is exactly what I wanted you to say when I made the comment. You are using the truck as a car, which is good. If you had said that hooking onto a 20K trailer and driving 3000 miles I would have called BS. The difference between me and you is that I use the HELL out of my trucks because thats what I need them for, you drive yours like a glorified car and in such case it should last 500K.

Where is any of what I have said did I say "buy a new truck"?? If there is a '97 Ford PSD 5 speed 4wd with 250K miles on the lot and a '97 GM 454 5 Speed 4wd with 50K miles on the same lot I can almost guarantee you that the Ford will have more problems, it only makes sense, more wear=more tear. While the '97 Ford was the best truck at the time they were made that doesnt mean it is now.

Are you the kind of person who lives in the city yet drives a truck just to feel like a man? Thats the feeling Im getting, that or you have a 2 acre spread outside of the suburbs you call a "ranch" so you need to have a "truck". Dont bash me because I buy new, its part of my business, I go through trucks like most people go through a pair of pants. I use them to do what they are made to do/what they are capable of and then I get rid of them before the problems start. And before you spout off about me having problems because I drive Dodges I want you to know the Ford I just got rid of was the most troublesome truck I've ever driven.

 

I'd put the Ford over the Dodge, sure the dodge has a decent drive train but the rest of the truck will fall apart around it. And they're just SOOOO ugly.

 

Yes,I need truck for work,construction.But don't like to change it every 2 years ,maybe wait to by a truck with high mileage (need some money to buy with lower mileage).And,yes,I like more Ford Trucks,because they more tough and have better looks,the Dodge I like is only because they get Cummins,without Cummins I never look at this trucks.Any way,guys,thank you for so good
information!!!

 

$3000 in 500k mi is nothing, in those same 500K mi chances are you'd need two automatics at $4500 a pop. Autos also go though brakes faster, so add maybe two more brake jobs in that 500K mi. And all those tranny service hits, which can way add up if you really take car of it and use synthetic.

All this other stuff about who I am, one it doesn't matter, my facts are right. Two my truck is a huge part of my livelyhood. I own a repair shop that serves a spacial client that demands the best and has special desires to drive the best rig for there needs and desires. I tow alot, I haul alot of tools and parts, And I head into the hills alot to rescue my customers (and friends) when they get in trouble. Not to mention my personal needs, I need to be always able to get there with what I need, no matter where I'm going or what I'm hauling. Add to that quite frankly I want to drive a tank, there are just to many idiots. Nothing is more important then my life and health, and driving a big tough rig does alot to help insure that I stay that way. My truck is my home I spend much more time relying on my truck then anything else. And have built a truck I can depend on to fit these demands.

Add to all this the thousands of trucks I have worked on for customers that demand alot from there trucks. I have seen and done alot, people pay for my truck knowledge how bout you.

 

Ya there's no denying that the cummins is a good motor, and easily the best thing dodge has going for it. However in my book the 7.3 Powerstroke is on par, (people will argue that one all day) and the truck around it is just so much better.

 

My point was why not take that 3 grand and put it towards a newer/better rig?

So you are a tool man? Whats the most you could be towing? Sounds like you dont even need an SD.

Yep that proves it, guys like you who could get by with a heavy half but just HAVE to buy a big pickup with a diesel. Thanks for driving the price up for the guys like me who actually need those kinds of rigs.

When was the last time somebody came in and asked you if they should buy a truck with 300K miles on it or 50K? And when was the last time they paid you for your answer. You are a wrencher, not God.

Where the hell do you keep seeing me calling 90-96 an era?

It means that 97 (pretransition) F250's with the 7.3 PSD 4wd's are somewhat of a collector truck (like the '93 Dodge CTD's) and I wouldnt mind buying one if I could find it for the right price.

You are rambling here, this is common knowledge.

Once again, common knowledge/rambling... are you drunk?

 

So all you know is what you read in mags.



OK in comparing the 454 chevy to a 460 Ford, the Chevy has a better engine, tranny, and rear axle. But the chevy deisel sucks until the Duramax, Allison combination. And there is almost no upgrade between a 1500 4wd front and and a 3500 4wd front end. They have a week aluminum front housing, with a natoriosly unreliable disconector in the right axle housing, that causes all kinds of problems. They use an unserviceable unit bearing in the front hub. And they have a front suspension system that simply does not have the travel available to articulate off road. If you want 4wd, are towing alot, are not going to leave leve roads, and want to do all this with a gas engine, the chevy could be a good option largely because they handle better on the road and are lower so the hitching point is lower.

Ya wow you tricked me,

But that is what I am saying the load doesn't matter. The only place the load matters is in the tranny if you got an auto and let it get to hot, and in the rear axle if you over load it and let it get to hot.

The Ford might have a few more small problems, but you can fix those problems alot easier then you can make the Chevy a better truck.

I think your trucks hate you because you abuse them, trucks need love to. That's the only real answer to all these problems you say you have.

 

I'm getting tire of ya, but what the hey.
So Sorry but the math doesn't add up. In no way will $3000 cover the depreciation of 500k mi, and be enough to cover a new/newer truck.
Your just not listening/understanding are you. I tow a car hauler.
Sorry but no I couldn't but it doesn't matter, is there something wrong with wanting a more powerfull safer truck.
Wednesday, and again Wednesday.

Oh and yes I am a god, bow down to me.
Anyway, this has gotten way off topic, So I am apologizing to FordF350Superduty for the hijack, and will ignore BigDaddy6969.

 

90-96 model year trucks fall IN the era, not totally consist of, I guess I should have worded that better.

Overall I think the discussion has no end to it do to the fact that you live in the city and I dont, you drive on pavement most of the time, I dont, you dont pull heavy loads all the time, I do. The useage isnt anywhere close to the same. For what its worth I do have my vehicles maintained regularly every 3 and 5K.

When I say I use the hell out of my trucks I mean just that, I dont abuse them, but I do work them. Whereas the most work yours get Im assuming is pulling a car trailer which for an SD with a PSD is like no work at all. That being said its not far fetched to believe a truck could last to 300K with a life like that. Out here where I live its just not feasable to keep a truck that long, no matter what make and model.

FordF350Superduty-If your trucks life is the same as Opossums then buying a truck with that high mileage probably isnt a bad idea since in your area trucks more than likely are treated the same. The truck I kept the longest out of any I owned was a '98 Dodge 2500 12v CTD 5 speed 4wd quad cab, I kept it until it had 218K miles (which is unheard of in my neck of the woods)on it and never had a single problem with it. Also another truck I feel I should recommend if you can find it is a Ford 250/350 with the 6.8 V10 in it. Aside from my '98 Dodge I had an '03 Ford with the 6.8 and loved driving it, made a good amount of power and they can be bought at a reasonable price. Good luck with your shopping.