Hey everybody im looking to purchase a truck to do tree care with. I know that the 6.9 and the 7.3 IDI engines are pretty much the same but all i want to know is which is cheaper to run, more reliable and which generally has less problems. I know that the 6.9 has that head gasket problem but does the 7.3 have the same problem? Does the 7.3 powerstrokes have any major issues as well? Thanks

 

climer338 welcome to FTE and the pre-powerstroke forum!!glad to have ya.

if you want something easy and low cost to maintain stay away from the powerstroke.the 7.3 has more power.the 6.9 is a little more durable due to thicker cylinder walls.stay away from 83 and 84's they have a block cracking issue.what all are you expecting the truck to do?

 

all i want from the truck is for it to tow a chipper which is about 4000 pounds and carry about 2000-4000 pounds of chips and logs in the back. I also live in the hills but im not looking to go that fast, there is no reason to go fast if you cant stop it.

 

The best of both worlds were the late 87 6.9's they had the good blocks and the upgraded 7.3 style rockers and I belive the oilcooler was upgraded also.
The fuel filters are all I can think of with a different maintenance cost cheaper for the 6.9. The 6.9 are more rebuildable if you need to and way less prone to cavitation than the 7.3's.

 

just to add to it and i know this is off topic. i also need to know about gvw on the cab and chassis. MASS now has there commercal inspection on all vehicals over 10000 gvw and id like to avoid that as well because of how strict they are. Any ideas?

 

ok cool thanks alot for your help ill start looking for one 85-87.

 

i saw 6.9 i driven both and i real the 6.9 has more power dont know y 87 is the best year for the 6.9 like stated and the 95 stroke only made 215 hp with a trubo these motor make more power for less price and no cpus to deal with

 

If it was me with what you want to do I would be looking for a 6.9 with a 4spd and 410 or 3.55 gears 4x4, you will get a lose a little fuel mileage but as close to bulletproof as you can get, If you are going to be doing a lot of freeway miles I would go with 3.55 gears but if you are going with 2 wheel drive and them loads often I would stay with 4.10
but I like 4x so you can use low range and keep the strain off every thing when you need to. You can go with a dually which is nice for the weight but you are then limited to 2x.

 

Ok I am curious you have a 4000 pound chipper and 4000 pounds of chips I assume you are going to have a chip bed so app. another 1200 pounds and you still have the weight of the pickup and you are liscened for 10,000 pounds, what happens when them mass dot gods catches you at 12000 pounds. lol

 

Id like to go with a dually 4x4 if i can find one becuase i will be driving onto my clients lawn every once and a while to get to a tight job. Are you saying that there are no 4x4 dually trucks out there that i could fine? MPG is not really that big of a deal because i wont be driving more than 30 miles each way and im also just starting off so i wont get the big jobs either so i wont be making to many trips back home.

 

Im also worried about the inspection because if you have one little oil leak you can get failed and with these older trucks you are bound to have something leaking. Im not sure on the 4000 pound chipper either i could end up with a smaller one but they are about 2500 pounds and im still over 10000 which is not good. Im not lisenced for 10000 pounds but i dont think it matters.

 

The duallys are rare I have one but it is a dually kit added to an F250. Most duallys are 2wheel drive finding a 4x you would have to be extra lucky. Another thing you will be over 10,000 gvw with a dually.

 

well i guess that ill go with a 2wd with some good tires and run with it. My buddy has an 85 dually 2wd cab and chassis that is under 10000, i was just hopeing that 4wd would be under as well. Thats fine i work for a guy who has a 2wd isuzu box truck and he drives onto lawns all the time but he has ruffed up the lawn a few times and i want to avoid that thats all.

 

hi there fellow climber!
im a licensed arborist and been in the biz for a few yrs now.(i only climb as well)
trust me when i tell you this: whatever you buy,make getting a 4x4 your #1 priority.


if you find a good deal on 2wd,don't get tempted!
here's why.like you say,we need to drive on our clients lawn,and we can't be making ruts.
if you do this,you won't get called back.
and there's NOTHING,like being able to lock those hubs in,and toss her 4 low,to pull tree's over(where we can get away this of course-and its often.)
and you can't beat being able to twitch logs up steep banks,etc.while on someones lawn.
these are not things you can safely do with 2wd.
if you get a 2wd for this line of work.you will regret it and sell your truck,to find a 4x4.

the IDI engines come in f250/f350's up through to the year '94 (in 94 you can find a powerstroke or the idi.)
so to get into the stoke,you would be looking into a 94-97 truck.these 4x4 trucks cost much more to buy and to fix.

the f250 and the f350 are based on the same foundation.frame/spring/brake etc.
the rear spring blocks,and the front end are all that differ.

so ideally,your looking for an IDI truck,with 4wd,either f250 or f350 (you may not be able to afford an f450 if your just starting out.)

you will want to add some springs to whatever you find,and hopefully a decent dump bed if you can afford it.

just starting out,and already on the right track making sure you get a ford and diesel.
now just make sure it has to be a ford/diesel/4x4 and you'll have it made.
(as far as 6.9 vs 7.3 well,its hard enough finding a good 4x4 diesel at the right price to fix up.if you try and get this precise,you may never find your truck.besides,either one have records of going several hundred thousand miles.)
climb safe.

 

I'm no tree trimmer but did for a while deal in landscape boulders, and I feel that A 4x4 would be a must you can just ease aronnd idling way easier take off with your load way easier just idle around much slower and easier, my 2 cents only and I am bias I quit running 2x's lots of years ago. My wrecker is the only 2x that I have owned for years and while it has pretty good traction it would be 100% better if it even just had low range where you could ease around especially with something hanging off the boom.