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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 08:06 PM
  #1  
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Thinking very seriously...

About selling my truck. I spend a small fortune every week in gas in this thing. We cover a 6 or 7 county area around here and I spend between 25 and 40 dollars a day, depending on what we are doing that day. She still blue books for 5g's private party, but I know the way things are I probably won't be able to get that much. I need to get as much as I can to get something else for a daily driver. I REALLY hate to see her go but I think it might be time to get something different.

I'm just not sure what to do...
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 05:55 AM
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Do have to have a truck for your job or just gotta get there?
I know thier isn't much you can do on a full size truck that makes a big difference in mpg, had a 95 F150 with a 351 - WOW she was a big drinker!
If you don't have to have a truck get a econo car with a 4 cylinder and a 5 speed because as we have seen one little hickup in the oil pipeline and gas prices go up.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 08:42 AM
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Neal 97 250
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You can't sell that thing. It will keep you alive in a wreck. That is what I tell the wife anyway. LOL
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 08:59 AM
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Now if you don't want to go with an econo car.... you could always try....... a saturn Vue with the smallest engine and a 5 spd. Don't laugh they are chick car but atleast it gets 30 MPGs.

I generally get 20 MPGs out of my 4.0 2wd Ext. Cab 93 Ranger.

Be nice if you could just buy a cheap beater though and keep your truck.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by jdecker88
Be nice if you could just buy a cheap beater though and keep your truck.

It would depend on the breakdown of everything for the individual person, I know it wouldn't work for me, and I'm wondering if it works for as many people that actually do it. When you truly crunch all the numbers, if it truly does work that way.

Originally Posted by Paco_Jones
I spend between 25 and 40 dollars a day
I would actually aspire to have a daily bill between 25-40 dollars. My daily breakdown is 30 dollars over that, some of which is price difference as where I get my fuel here, it's between mid-high grade price range and I'm sure your truck takes regular.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 10:20 AM
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I don't really have that much up keep in my ranger. Now my buddy lost his company truck and got a ford escort for 1400 bucks just a little beater and only thing he's had to do SO FAR is plug wires and brakes. But you never know what you get into.
I drive 70 miles aday and it killed me when I drove my 250 to work for a week. I don't see how you do it tex.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by jdecker88
I don't see how you do it tex.
Need it for work. Some of which I am able to mitigate due to my Ag. Tax Exempt status, but not everything. It is also damn near a fight with the IRS to keep that status as the bulk of what I deal with is horses and they always look for ways around people that do that, however, my savings more then make up for the hassle.

I'm always hauling something, so in then end that beater of a car would just be in the garage alot and I would have to pay insurence for the car in case I do take it out. Just not worth it for me. Not the case for everyone, but it is for me.

I would strongly suggest to crunch the numbers on that before "you" get that beater for fuel economy. "You" might just be surprised how much in the end it costs you. Then again you could come out like gangbusters, just never know.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 12:08 PM
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I do need a truck for work but 90% of the time I just haul tools and the occasional materials here and there. From time to time I pull a bobcat as well but if that need arises I guess we can just get it delivered if I got a smaller truck. I would still like to have a 1/2 ton for hauling lumber. I'm sure you can't haul the majority of a floor system on a ranger and get very far with it lol I thought about looking for a early 90's f-150 with a 300/5speed in it. It would still have some decent grunt and get more mpg's than the 351 I have now.

I thought about considering a diesel 250, I have heard they get 19 or 20 mpg's whether they are loaded or not, but I don't know as I'm not that familiar with diesels. I'm not even sure if the price difference in fuel would be cost effective or not either. Right now I get about 13 to 15 mpg's out of mine.

Thanks for all the info and Ideas! I appreciate the heck out of it!
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Paco_Jones
I thought about considering a diesel 250, I have heard they get 19 or 20 mpg's whether they are loaded or not, but I don't know as I'm not that familiar with diesels.
That'll depend on various factors, but you can have the potential to get that type of mpg out of a 3/4 diesels. If you are really thinking a diesel option, let me know, I'll try to help you out with information on that. I have only owned diesels and I have experience from the 6.9(from the 80s) and I'm thinking about going with the 6.7 now(still juggling although I'm sure I'm going to do it).
 
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 07:21 PM
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I'd be looking at ext. cab 94-97 250's If I were going to go with a diesel. I could get by with a reg. cab long bed but I'd like an ext. cab short bed best. If I were to go this route I would have to get a small loan to go with what I got out of my current truck, from what I've seen they are still around 6 or 7 g's atleast for one in decent shape. Could I get that kind of mileage out of one in any other configuration than a reg. cab long bed?
 
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Paco_Jones
I'd be looking at ext. cab 94-97 250's If I were going to go with a diesel. I could get by with a reg. cab long bed but I'd like an ext. cab short bed best. Could I get that kind of mileage out of one in any other configuration than a reg. cab long bed?
Let's see, with the older yrs, your looking at more then likely a 7.3 IDI truck and the more recent yrs your looking at an actual powerstroke(or atleast the beginnings of when they were being called powerstroke).

That mileage you listed is possible, it would depend predominately on if it is a stick or auto(autos in those years were crap, but I don't know which you favor) and the gearing. Those are going to be your two biggest factors with the actual makeup of the truck, the last would be your driving style.

Finding a 7.3 is going to be your hardest task, but I would say that the mileage you are hoping to get is definitely possible.
 
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 08:12 PM
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I have a few friends with the early Powerstrokes and they love them. I would definitely want a manual. The only reason I dont have one now is they didn't offer a 351/5speed in the f-150's (that I know of). I've been cruising on Craigslist around, just to get an idea of prices. To find a decent 250 with a PS is a little more than I thought. There's one on there just a base model .cab long bed PS and they want 10 for it.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 05:48 PM
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Ive tried talking him into getting an L......BUT I havent talked him into it yet....Just wait till the ride to the show Paco...You will get that itch rofl.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 06:33 PM
  #14  
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Oh I know it!... If I didnt have to work out of it I would be all over a Lightning! lol
 
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Old Jan 6, 2010 | 05:11 PM
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After the ride,you will begin to have the itch for one rofl
 
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