I need a truck.

[darkstar]

Time to buy a, newer truck for some estimating and to occasionaly haul my LS180 steer skid or chipper.
I was hoping to avoid a dually.
I hear an F250 would do well , but i see their are 350's that are not duallys
So guys gimmie your reccomendatons , im gonna try and stay under 10k:cry:

[Skwerl]

On the Fords, the ONLY difference between the F250 and F350 is a spacer between the springs and axles. The F350 sits an inch higher and has a higher number on the GVWR tag. Every other part is identical.

[treetx]

Yes, but loaded, what will make an F250 squat down 8 inches will only make a F350 squat 1.

I know, I used to pull a 12 inch chipped with both a 7.3L F250 and a 7.3L F350.

The F350 also has the option of much lower gears.
.02

[Skwerl]

I'm afraid I have to disagree since the parts numbers for the springs, shocks and axles are identical.

Maybe it's a magical spacer? :P

[GASoline71]

Jerry... if you want a diesel... the F-250/F350's from 1995 to 2001 are good trucks. They still have the first generation 7.3L PSD turbo diesels in them.

Stay away from 1994 and earlier Ford diesels... They are the non PSD 7.3L and the 6.9 non-turbo rattletraps.

The 1995 to 2001's will be under the 10k mark for your budget.

I had a 1995 F-250 7.3L PSD... best damng truck I ever owned. Had to sell it when I got divorced. I miss that truck.

Gary

[MasterBlaster]

On the Fords, the ONLY difference between the F250 and F350 is a spacer between the springs and axles. The F350 sits an inch higher and has a higher number on the GVWR tag. Every other part is identical.

No shit? Really?

What about Chevy/GMC?

[treetx]

I'm afraid I have to disagree since the parts numbers for the springs, shocks and axles are identical.

Maybe it's a magical spacer? :P




Maybe it is because they have more differences than just the spacer? :roll: :P The 350 is available with the 4.10 and the F250 only has the 3.73. They sure tow different.

;)


:D:D

[No_Bivy]

estimates?........go smaller. Can't you move your skid steer with another rig?:D

[stehansen]

I also do estimates with the same pickup that I tow my dump trailer and tractor with. It's the single wheel chevy 3500, 4WD. 9200 lb. GVW. Kind of a gas hog for estimates but I figure that the payment, insurance and license for another vehicle would be more money than I am spending on the extra gas to do estimates in this pickup.

[arborworks1]

I also do estimates with the same pickup that I tow my dump trailer and tractor with. It's the single wheel chevy 3500, 4WD. 9200 lb. GVW. Kind of a gas hog for estimates but I figure that the payment, insurance and license for another vehicle would be more money than I am spending on the extra gas to do estimates in this pickup.

I'm with you on this note, the extra payment for a truck or car that sits most of the day while I'm working, or a heavy truck that can serve double duty. I'm a small time operation though.

[TheTreeWiseMen]

You only considering Ford?

[Paul B]

I have contemplated taking the wifes honda to estimates and leaving my truck at home. havent done it yet but I have thought about it. :)

[No_Bivy]

MILES PER GALLON will offset double duty. If you only move some eqip here or there, whats tha point? Bid in a cheap vehicle......

[brendonv]

I will agree that an F250 squats like no other compared to an F350.

But chevy wise, my dads 2500HD doesn't nearly squat as much as an F250 would. The truck feels like a Cadillac and tows nicely too. Ford's ride like shit IMO, but you get the solid front axle.

Like Gary said, 7.3 Diesel is a killer engine, mines no hot rod but it'll pull like a bastid. 6.0 and 6.4 are full of problems from what I hear.


Fords for work, Chevys for comfort.

[stehansen]

I have contemplated taking the wifes honda to estimates and leaving my truck at home. havent done it yet but I have thought about it. :)

I've taken our car a bunch of times for bids.

[rangerdanger]

I have to totally disagree with alot of you guys. Nothing can beat a Chevy. My Dad's dually 3500HD will haul/pull anything with it's Duramax Diesel Engine and Allsion trans. Ford's are really a piece of $hit in my opinion. I've heard front brakes wear really fast, and multiple other problems. I've ridden in afew, and nothing can compare to the chevy. Go for the Duramax and Allsion trans. You would not be disappointed!!!

[darkstar]

Thanks,Lots of good advice here
I got alittle Nissan for bidding .
Still need to update my old 95 f 150 at about 300k shes about had it.
Ill be searching for the 1995 F-250 7.3L PSD
What does PSD meen sorry im no good at anything above 1979...
Looks obvious but ?
Any how i found a flat bed today 2001 f 250 but its got a 5 . something in it .
Only 33k miles as it is a government ex truck.
Keep umm coming fellow i need all the advice i can get.
Im sure you can tell this haha.
Dark

[Al Smith]

I don't know about the new ones at all .However my old beater F-250 has a set of one ton springs on it because I put them there .Just like Teddy Roosevelt ,a rough riding son -of - a - beech . It doesn't ride worth a hoot until you have about a ton and a half on it . I've had 5,000 on it before .[10 ply tires ,100 psi ]


I would think that at least by early fall it would be a good time to buy a used pick me up truck .People are trading them in for puddle jumpers .

[lumberjack]

PSD= Power Stroke Diesel.

[RIVERRAT]

On the Fords, the ONLY difference between the F250 and F350 is a spacer between the springs and axles. The F350 sits an inch higher and has a higher number on the GVWR tag. Every other part is identical.
Brian are you sure? For years the rear axle was always stouter. It may in fact be the same axle but the spline count was greater on the 350.

I am having a hard time accepting that as fact.

[stehansen]

PSD is made by a partnership between International and Ford.

[Skwerl]

Brian are you sure? For years the rear axle was always stouter. It may in fact be the same axle but the spline count was greater on the 350.

I am having a hard time accepting that as fact.

The information I've seen was referring to the late model trucks, the newest body style (2004 or 2005-current). After buying my latest truck in 2004 I spent a lot of time on some Ford truck forums online. There were many discussions on the F250-F350 trucks including many testimonials from Ford service techs of various rank.

[RIVERRAT]

Well I will see what I can find out tomorrow. Cause I am looking at buying a truck.

[Frans]

No one likes the Dodge cummings turbo diesel?

[bergsteiger]

Chevy, Dodge and Ford all make good 3/4 and 1 tons but everybody still has an opinion about which is better :roll:. I've got a '97 f250 diesel and it has been great. The Dodge you could only get a single rear wheel in a 3/4 ton until I think 2001 or 2002 when they got the new body style. The 5.9 liter cummins is a great engine too. The Chevy diesels are hit and miss until they introduced the Duramax which is also a solid truck.

For under 10 grand I would look at the 95 and up Fords and Dodges. To help with payload capacity you can always add airbags to the rear axle. If you want serious towing capability you'll the lowest gear ratio possible but that also takes away from fuel mileage. My '97 F250 has 3.55 gears and I can get 22mpg at 55-60mph and I can comfortably tow 8,000lbs. Any more than that is hard to get going up some of the real steep hills around town. Of course you can always get a programmer and exhaust, etc. to get some more Horsepower and torque. I've driven all 3 of the brands of diesel truck with the different engines from 94 on up so if you got any more questions just ask.

[CurSedVoyce]

I probably shouldnt say nuttin ... I have a 1980 Ford F350 and a 1985 Dodge 350 crew cab... I started buying older that I can turn a wrench on and save bucks for service.. I know I only get 10-12 MPG but I save 65-85 per hour labor... My later trucks (now gone) always cost me $500.00 just to start every time they went in the shop... The one tons tow and haul fine ... and they have boxes to catch chips. Granted they don't haul much, but I don't need a big chip truck for what they do... Truck cost up front, 1300.00 for both.. Put new engine in Ford... under 2000.00.
Dodge will get next engine next year.. Pretty ... Nope.. ford is sorta. But.... They see the sign, know what I do .. And I still get 90% of the consults... figure... But hey, I am just a hill billy in the ozarks of CA... :) And Gas cheaper than diesel anyway.... :)

[Al Smith]

Well now as far as old and still running ,I most likely have one of the oldest which is a '77 F-250 with an I 6-300 .

You can repair and keep running old Fords forever .It just depends on ones ablity and willingness to turn wrenchs .

Now that old clunker when it was running good would get 17 mpg and move any load a v8 could although not accelerate it as quickly . I hauled an 8,000 pound van on a 2700 lb trailer out of Portsmouth Ohio ,hilly like W Va and got 14 mpg ,believe it or not .Plus pulled those hills at between 45 and 50 mph

I have to admit though that after a while it gets old wrenching the damned things on a regular bassis . Were I too replace my old beater it would be a late 90's F-250 with a diesel .

[Rotax Robert]

cummins, I love mine so I bought two

[brendonv]

PSD is made by a partnership between International and Ford.


Yep, 2008-2009? might just be the last year for it. Ford just designed their own diesel nicknamed the "scorpion". I guess this is happening becuase all the recall issues they had with the latest PSD's.

[RIVERRAT]

No one likes the Dodge cummings turbo diesel?

For the class of trucks its used in. It is the longest running most durable diesel motor out there!!

[Skwerl]

Yup, the newest 6.0 PSD has been a nightmare and the newest twin turbos look to be the worst. A buddy of mine bought a new F350 6 months ago and it looks like a sonofagun to work on. The service book says you have to pull the radiator in order to change the fan belt. :O

[RIVERRAT]

Well now as far as old and still running ,I most likely have one of the oldest which is a '77 F-250 with an I 6-300 .


No Al, I got you beat by a pretty good margin. It's a Ford with the same motor though. I will get pics next time I get out to my place I just got.

[darkstar]

Well that settles it for me ill be looking for a 1995 to 2002 f 250 with a PSD.
I actually love Ford and yes they ride rough but mine has been uber reliable.
Its just doesent have enough power to tow anything anymore.
Thanks

[Burnham]

Dodge for me, w/o a doubt...but everyone has their favs and prejudices.

[sotc]

No one likes the Dodge cummings turbo diesel?
no but i love my dodge with a cummins;)

[GASoline71]

Yup, the newest 6.0 PSD has been a nightmare and the newest twin turbos look to be the worst. A buddy of mine bought a new F350 6 months ago and it looks like a sonofagun to work on. The service book says you have to pull the radiator in order to change the fan belt. :O

Yep... if there is cylinder head service to be done on the new Fords... you have to pull the cab off the frame to get to them... fun stuff...

The 6.0L PSD I had was an '06. I didn't have any problems with it, but I had heard all the story's about it. Of course after I bought it. A lot of guys I know had nicknamed them "6 Leaker" since the main problem was oil leakage from the 2 piece block. Also there were some major issues with the seals between the turbo and the block. I got lucky I guess... but the truck is long gone.

Ford is still in litigation with International over who is to pay for all the warranty work that was done on all the recalled 6.0L and 6.4L PSD's... as far as I know International is no longer going to be supplying Ford with diesel engines. Ford is going to do it all "in house".

The Duramax (made by Isuzu) is a great engine as is the Allison auto trans. However, just like in the past... GM is always the last one to the party. While Ford and Dodge were proudly pumpin' out great diesel trucks in the 90's, GM finally stepped up in 2001 with the Duramax. The 6.2L and 6.5L GM diesels were a joke. Quite possibl;y the most worthless diesle engines ever put in a truck. So the Duramax was a welcome addition to the GM lineup. Too bad GM didn't get their act together sooner.

Cummins has been a winner for years. Look in almost every Cat, Skidder, long haul truck, logging truck, and now lots and lots of motorhomes... you will prolly find a Cummins. The venreable Cummins 300 has made it's mark, and set the bar for inline 6 diesels. The 5.9 turbo diesel in the light trucks for Dodge are based off of the big ol' 300's design.

So for "NEW" trucks... I would prolly get a Chevy/GMC or a Dodge. Ford still is having problems with the 6.4L. For "OLD" (1995-2001) you can't beat a Ford 7.3L PSD. However the Cummins in the Dodges of the same years are fantastic as well. It's just the Dodge trucks are so damn ugly... ;)

Stay away from any GM truck with a 6.2L or a 6.5L... they aren't even worthy of being called a boat anchor... scrap metal is more like it.

Gary

[darkstar]

Im gonna get one of these,1995-2001) you can't beat a Ford 7.3L PSD
and keep it forever.
Ive never been left stranded by a ford that i maintened.
And yeah the dodge's are awesome, i hear, but oh lordy they are ugly kinda look like a cat fish or somethng.

[brendonv]

The only reoccurring issue on the 7.3 is the Cam Positioning Sensor. If it's an issue it can cause the truck to randomly stall and leave you stranded, most owners keep one in the glove box, 10mm wrench and 10 minutes can fix ya though. Ford just recalled this item but the recalls are now showing problems too (making the computer throw codes, etc.). Make sure you don't let the oil pan get rusty too, gotta pull the cab or yank the motor for a new one. High pressure oil pump o-rings leak here and there too, cheap fix...hmmmmmm what else....cut the exhaust and free-flow intake to let it breath...love my truck.

[GASoline71]

Good point on the CPS Brendon... the only flaw my 1995 7.3L PSD was the glow plug solenoid went out a couple of times. There is a lot of juice going through there. We tracked it down to faulty wiring, and replaced the harness too... good as new. :)

Gary

[Al Smith]

No Al, I got you beat by a pretty good margin. It's a Ford with the same motor though. I will get pics next time I get out to my place I just got. Oh I don't recommend an I 6 for somebody that is in business and needs a reliable truck with plenty of guts .For a guy like me that can wrench them but doesn't really need to relay on them on a daily basis you can't beat em . I think the last 300 was made mid to late 90's if I'm not mistaken . It disappeared about the same time as the 429/460 .


Of course you all know my name is on the last 460 that was ever made .;)

[Paul B]

really Al? Thats cool. I have driven, back in the day a 460 pickup (early 90's but the truck was likely an 80's), what a beast!

[squisher]

I drove a 460 today. What a beauty, my 87 ford 1ton is a real hit. One of my buddy's asked me at the cardlock this morning if it qualifies for collector plates yet.:lol: