I've been lookin for a different truck with a little more capability and better mileage than my dakota (15mpg). I found this truck and I really like the look of the regular cab "farm truck" style superduty. I called on it and the dealer said its just a hair over 200k miles and was owned by a man with his own construction company and aparently put on 20k a year. Is this too much mileage to consider? I like the price and I know I want a diesel but that mileage makes me nervous. What do yall think? I previewed the link and it worked for me...


http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

 

I think as with any vehicle, check it real good, take it for a test ride, pull the dipstick, smell it, if it smells burn't, the fluid hasn't been changed. These tranny's do have a higher failure rate because of the tourqe our trucks have but good ole preventitive maintance is key to longtivity, 127,000 on mine and all's well, bought it new. 20,000 isn't bad, last three years I put about 33,000 miles on mine, runs like a champ, good luck..

 

Nice lookin' truck on the outside. It's all about how it's been maintained and treated. Having said that, 200k miles at the right price shouldn't be an issue. Plenty of threads here on what to look for. Personally, as a first indicator, pull the air filter tube off, shine a light down to look at the turbo vanes. If it ain't right there, it's likely the rest of the mechanicals have been neglected.

 

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/1360476826.html

Now granted, this one's a stripped down work truck and a 6 speed manual, there does seem to be some decent deals on standard cabs around. But for $4,500, that seems about right for this part of the country.

 

The next cheapest diesel I can find is a '97 250 that looks drop dead gorgeous with 97k miles and the ZF manual. They want $10900 for that one (also reg cab 8') But I like the superduty look, the fact that the superduties are intercooled (right?) should help with power and fuel economy. Like I said, that price makes a PSD accessable to me, and I like the way the truck looks, but I wonder if I'd end up dumping $2500 in it for a tranny 10k miles later....

 

Here is a link for buying a used PSD...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...ers_Guide.html

 

I'd be a little wary of a truck that was owned by a construction company. I can't speak for that company, but I know our trucks get loaded heavy and run hard on a regular basis. They're not necessarily abused, but they're worked hard and I know maintenance on ours is a little less than perfect. Oil changes at 10k+ on 15-40 dino, etc.

I have a reg cab longbed and love it. Sometimes I wish I had an extended cab, but I love the look of the regular cabs and usually it's just me in the truck.

 

I have 190k on my pickup and have I never changed the tranny fluid. Just check it and it still looks and smells fine. Figured I would just run it as my dad was religious with his tranny fluid changes and it took a dump at 120k, and he doesn't run his nearly as hard a I run mine.

 

WOW! Maybe I should stop all maintenance on the truck, and put the $ into healthcare and H1N1 virus vacs for the family.

 

LOL!! I do change other the other fluids, just have been told be a couple of people that tranny fluid doesn't need to be changed unless it has been hot. I guess so far I can't say they are wrong.

 

Darn Marc, could be a record here in the 7.3

 

When I was in the hunt for my truck everytime I went to look at one the first thing I did was pull the tranny and oil dip stick to start with. I looked at about 15 trucks and I would say about 5 of them had dark brown or black tranny fluid. That eliminated them right away, didn't have to spend any time test driving it, just moved on to the next one. It's at least a place to start.

 

If everything checks out clean and the transmission doesn't currently slip, would a shift kit help squeeze every last mile out of it by reducing slip during shifting? Or is that going backwards in making it last longer?

 

I can say that they are wrong and you are lucky.

Transmission fluid wears out and needs to be changed.

 

Greetings Mark and thanks for your advice. I have a 02 F-250 with 160k on the truck and many miles on the transmission fluid, at least the 40k since I have owned it. I am going to change it and I'm thinking from reading your posts that the best way is the inline method without pulling the pan or changing the filter. Is that correct and is there anything you would advise using as an additive or special fluid to use? Thank you!