Hello, Am a highschooler (I guess I'm a senior, yikes!) in Indiana and recently started looking at old Fords on FBMP as the truck bug came back. Don't need a truck, but want one. I currently drive a 2006 Toyota Sienna that I've been around basically since birth and doubt that would change much if I had a truck as it gets good mileage and is pretty reliable, but alas, I like driving full size pickups (whether its our '85 F350 C&C, or the late 80's idi F350 flatbed dump, the F450 7.3 PSD service truck, or GMC 3500 Duramax flatbed dually at work (farm)) and would like something to call my own.
So my current thought process of what I want has basically been-
Ford
Late 80's up to turn of millennia (budget)
F250 or up, car bodies and to an extent powertrains are shared between most everything from those years, so mileage I don't believe would fluctuate wildly. But, tow ratings and bed capacity are actually there (Rangers are out already before one is suggested, they are just as $$$ as bigger trucks and about as capable as my minivan, F150s are open to consideration but payload isn't great)
Don't really care about precise build/specs, but would prefer flatbed dually standard cab for versatility, can haul hay, water, misc junk both in terms of fitting and weight, and isn't the size of a school bus. 4wd is not a priority/need, the 85 is 2wd and have only used 4wd at work in tilled/plowed ground
Gas vs Diesel, don't really care as long as it actually has some power at speed (our 85 with the 302 just runs out of power (especially on the highway) when loaded (hauling 550gal of water usually) which I think would push me towards 460s and 6.9 or 7.3 idi/PSDs (and the diesel I believe gets a good bit better mileage. I will say that I am a sucker for turbo whine and diesel rumble at times but I can resist. Our weather is usually well above 0*f in the winter and I probably can plug in fine for starting cold in the morning.
Probably would prefer a manual, wouldn't be a primary driver and I do enjoy having a feel for the truck in the way a manual gives (and ZF5 OD would be nice coming from a C6 in the 85)
Rust - I'm not sure how much would really be a detriment to me, I'm not opposed to learning to fix it (probably a good skill to have anyways) and if I would get rid of the truck before college, I don't know if it really matters. Do however want something that still has at least some car body though.
I went and did the math, and if I drove it daily I would probably put less than 5k a year on it (school is 3 miles, work is 11, don't go into town terribly often, and still would drive the Sienna) so I theoretically shouldn't break absolutely everything on it. I would say that I'm not one to constantly drive with a lead foot, and I attempt to follow speed limits (I am not in spin the tires or parking lot burnout in front of the School Resource Officer club or a speed demon like some kids I know (I pity their trucks)
Fine needing to fix stuff (I expect to with my budget, and that's probably more affordable for me anyways), but don't want the FORD acronym of Fix or Repair Daily.
Non DD uses would be (and would in many ways simply be a nice to have second truck) - hay (we do about 10ac currently), water (46 mile trips to a water authority to fill bulk tanks for livestock, currently fill 2 IBC totes for 550gal), plan to take a couple of tractors to plow days/shows (85 probably would be fine, but don't necessarily trust it or its performance), maybe would get some use at work (maybe), and a few other odd job/misc things that may come up.
I think I've covered most everything I've been thinking about.
Oh, top budget for truck would be ~$2k (not necessarily including tags and registration).
Now for what I've been looking at: (all are flatbed, dually, and standard cabs by mostly pure luck)
1997 F-Superduty (7.3 PSD, ZF5) ?miles, is listed as an F-350, looks pretty clean, is not in budget at all but has been listed for 5 months, and no clue what insurance would cost and plates are about $120 more than a 350 from what I can tell (this is mainly on the list for drool factor), $4,500
1989 F-Superduty (7.3 idi, ZF5) 167k miles, also listed as an F350, a bit more rust than I like, seller thinks it may need a power steering line, has a weird stall, see above point on insurance and plates, $1,350
An aside: How rough riding are these compared to F350s? Haven't really found a comparison online. Payload would maybe be nice for water, 3 or 4 tote tanks would be nice but mostly pointless otherwise, do look cool lol
1996 F-350 (7.3 PSD, ZF5) 286k miles, a decent amount of rust and dents, seller thinks clutch is slipping (would get a Luk SMF kit with flywheel immediately if that's what's wrong), miles are higher than I like, price makes me suspicious, but if it was half decent (ie not needing an engine rebuild immediately or similar) would be nice. $1,700 (would aim for $1,5-600)
1983 F-350 (blown 351W, 4 spd) has a 5 digit odometer so miles unknown, currently a 5.8 out of a wrecked truck for $500 locally, basically would be a red manual twin to our 85 (nicer bed though) but not sure if I'd really want that, have read that the 4 speeds run out of gearing at highway speeds (our 85 also suffers from this) $1,000 (would not pay that much, that's more than we bought our running 85 for in 18 or 19)


Who knows what else will show up on Marketplace in the future, or if I will even get anything (I am very much a tight wad) but want to hear y'alls thoughts.

Thanks/Merci/Danke/Tack


Also, some pictures and the description from each:
1997 F-SD
"Selling my 97 ford got another truck and don’t drive it anymore 4500 or best offer "
Saw what I believe was it at the feedmill today and didn't look half bad.

1989 F-SD
"It has some rust as a Classic truck Runs and drive Stall while drive could be air vacuum leak no time to fixed May need power steering line I don’t take offer in messenger offers on person only Lot of new parts “No trades at this moment “ 2 Wheel drive Manual Transmission 7.3 Engine recently oil change"

1996 F-350
"1996 f350 7.3 powerstroke everything works like it should clutch feels like it’s slipping but truck runs great just don’t have time to mess with it will trade for a jeep Cherokee”

1983 F-350
"1983 Ford F350 signal cab 12 ft flat bed. 351 Windsor (motors blown) 4 speed trans 2 wd with a new clutch. In good working order. Tires in really good shape Body’s almost rust free. Beds is in good shape little rust. Frame is solid. King pin front end. Interior is ok. Some new lights on the bed. Miles unknown. Odometer works but don’t know how many times it’s rolled over. Truck ran just fine before motor went out. Held 65 for 2 hours home. Don’t have time to fix. 1300 obo. Make me an offer. Also willing to trade for almost anything. Mainly tree equipment"

Thanks for your time!

 

The Zf 5 transmissions are nice but when they need to be replaced it can get costly. We have a 1993 F-350 7.3 Turbo 5 speed with the zf5 in her. The reverse went out on it and the average replacement tranny was around $2700. rebuild kits not much better. There are alot out there but pricey. So When looking to buy an older truck keep in mind (people lie) even if they say it was kept up they will most likely need work done relatively soon after buying the truck ESPECIALLY if they were sitting more than being drove.

 

Sorry I didn't slug my way through your lengthy post but I see in your opening that " Don't need a truck, but want one."

If you don't want to waste money, don't buy a truck when you don't need one.

A smaller light truck--almost a wash vs. a lot of cars, but you will suffer a penalty at the pump.

But Super Duty size trucks--you will pay handsomely for buying one of those to parade around in.....

JMO

 

I’ll pass on all your listed possibilities. They all stink on a high schooler budget.

If you want a truck, fine. Find a 2010 or so Ranger with the four cylinder in it. Decent on gas, somewhat peppy, won’t kill you on maintenance.

 

I've come to that conclusion for similar reasons, along with pondering just how useful it would be for me (in tradeoff for not being small, fuel efficient, or cheap in most regards), planning on looking at the '83 on Saturday (I'll be in the area anyways) to see just how terrible it is or isn't and what price I could get it for. Who knows. Have turned my attention towards Rangers, F150's and older 2/350 SRW trucks having remembered Ute Beds (Aluminum beds like most Aussie trucks have), would one day have the potential of being a nice small little truck to zip around in and haul most anything I'd need (short of what would need our 350), get decent ish fuel mileage, and not necessarily be a behemoth to deal with at college/life afterwards (or just drive the Sienna lol).

Now just to find a truck that doesn't have a rusty carbody or more issues than our 85 truck for a reasonable price... oh well I have time.

 

The second and third gen Rangers were terrific trucks (if you could find one used in decent condition). Ford blew it when they stopped USA new sales in 2011. My daughter's work trucks have been the little 5 speed Mitsubishi (which was amazing) and now a 2015 Tacoma (also amazing). Hopefully we'll find a decent used 2019+ Ranger XL when its time to replace, though Toyotas seem to last forever if maintained. There is a need for a smaller sized work truck that doesn't have bell and whistles, just good reliability and gas mileage.

 

I’ve been looking at Rangers on MP for a little while now, went and looked at one local (skipped as its rougher than the pictures showed and had some tranny trouble and isn’t cheap for what it is). Is the size of vehicle I’m wanting though.

Or, I found a 1990 F150 with a (blown) I6 300 EFI and an E4OD at the local junkyard that is basically rust free (basically all is surface rust on paint dings on the top half) and needs some odds and ends fixed (seems to be mostly dealing with glass and cleaning the interior out) and a flatbed as the bed was sold already.

 

Well the hunt is over!
Yesterday afternoon I went and looked at a truck I found before church, and ended up buying it.
It’s a 2000 Ranger with the 3.0L V6 Flex Fuel, Automatic, Extended cab, and 185k. Needs some work, but both me and dad figure it’s cheap enough I can put money into it and come out ahead. Paid 1k even for it.



By needs some work I mean that there is a spring through the bed floor, bed needs some metal welded in in the front (bed’s getting pulled sometime this week hopefully to rectify the suspension trouble and reinforce the bed), windshield has a massive crack, and the radiator has a cracked tank. But it runs good, drives good (besides sitting katywompas from the spring hangar), was cheap, and the car body is basically rust free (just some bubble rust on a fender).