Can't Decide Between Two Trucks

Got a problem. I own a '99 F-150, 4.6L 5-spd., 70,000 mi., and I like it, but I'm, not in love with it overall. I do mostly driving, but whenever I do "work" it I feel like I'm working it to death. There is the really good possibility that I will be doing more farm stuff next year when I move closer to my grandparents farm due to college. I'm 18 years old.

I found a '94 F-250 7.3 IDI turbo diesel, auto, asking $4800. This size and layout of truck seems like the logical next step up in terms of ability and size.

I can't decide what to do. Don't necessairly NEED a bigger truck it but I don't think it would hurt anything, expecially I will be closer to the farm. My F-150 Blue Books at $5700-6100.

Both trucks are 4X4, regular cab long bed, and red.

Give me some good guidance guys

Thanks

I think I would look at something other than Ford.

You didn't say how many miles are on the diesel.

I have owned one, MPG is better, but the diesel engine is heavy and hard on the front suspension.

The automatic transmission is no where near heavy enough for trailer towing. I spent over 5000 dollars on my 250 in about 6 months, ended up selling it for less than what I spent in repairs, and still owed money on it.

Keep your 150 until you can get a Chevy Duramax, or even a Cummins powered Dodge. If you get a Cummins Dodge, get a 5 speed. Their automatics are also week. DOUG

Whoops, forgot that. Its got 128,000.

Good advice, buy a Duramax and you will never look back!!!!!!!

Some of the best advice I ever got was dont fix what isnt broke and dont buy what you dont need. The corrollary also applies, if its broke, fix it, and if you need it buy it. Since you asked for advice, I didnt read 'need' anywhere in your question. There are lots of trucks and will probably be more next year. While your truck may book in the high 5's it would be hard to sell it privately in this market for that. I didnt 'need' a 3/4 ton truck full time until I started farming full time. A Dakota and a very old dually got me through.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

cummins

I agree with NW377 but, I would keep what you got for now. It is difficult to trade without coming up short. "I want" is not a good reason for trading. Anytime you buy a secondhand truck, there a lot of un-knowns that can eat your lunch.

I HAVE 97 F150 4X4 WITH 4.6 AND A FIVE SPEED OVER 245K ON ORIGINAL MOTOR AND TRANNY. PULL A TWENTY FOOT ALUM. STOCK TRAILER HALF A LOADED WITH CALVES OR FULL OF GOATS. TWENTY FOOT FLAT WITH 5510 MFD,LOADER AND NINE FOOT DISK MOWER. NOW I WILL ADMIT I'M NOT DRIVING 75 MPH. BUT WITH LIVESTOCK YOU DO NOT NEED TO. THE ROAD AROUND AROUND WHERE I LIVE A HILLY AND CROOKED. IT WILL GET ABOUT 11 MPG WITH THE STOCK TRAILER WHEN I DO GET IT ON THE INTERSTATE. HAULED THREE QUARTER HORSE LAST SUMMER 400 PLUS MILES NO PROBLEM. JUST BOUGHT 01 WITH V10 ONLY PULL SMALLER TRAILERS SO FAR AND GETTING ABOUT 10 MPG.
DROVE A DRUAMAX WITH SAME STOCK TRAILER AND A LOAD OF GOATS TO TEXAS LAST SUMMER GOT 10MPG.

GM diesel will take a load off your mind. Every one should own a Ford once maybe twice so to refresh the reason to leave. That does sound like a very good blue book? Sounds like the marriage is over dump the ride. Some are better than others by the response. Spend a hours worth of labor and have the possible replacement checked out. Usually can dump a grand in most with that age and miles and not see it either and all the time be reaching down for the next grand.

Keep the smaller and cheaper to run truck until you actually NEED something bigger. The truck you have gets the job done, and working it helps clear out the carbon.

id keep your present truck the only way to win at a car deal is not to play the game in the first place, now the reason you want to step up in trucks is so you can help out more on the farm, ok, whats grandpa got for a truck? seems like you might just use his for the heavy stuff if he's been doing the work,he must already have something

(quoted from post at 21:02:59 04/21/09) Good advice, buy a Duramax and you will never look back!!!!!!!

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AND, the Allison transmission is bullet proof!!! :wink: I feel the same way about Allisons that a lot of people feel about Cummins engines! :shock: If they'll hold together in BIG trucks, they oughta be bullet proof in pickups! As for Cummins in the larger trucks, (mid-range single axle), I'd MUCH rather have a Navistar engine (DT360 or DT466)! :roll:
8)

When in doubt, don't. This has worked for me many times.

drop 5 grand on an older truck with almost twice the miles??? Plus that diesel is so heavy, you will be getting stuck way more than the lighter gasser. BTW the last 7.3 I drove got 13 empty and 8 loaded and wouldn't pull the hat off your head. It was very dependable and never left me sitting in 250,000 miles but we called it the 70-30 truck. 70 downhill 30 up. Stay where you are. GOOD LUCK!!

Why go to a 5 year older truck than your current one? Also you are buying a pig in a poke, as the one you buy may lay down on you and cost a small fortune to fix. I run my farm with my 97 Ford F150 with a 4.6 liter V8. Get by just fine. KEEP what you have. You know where its been. The older 94 model probably has the spedometer turned back and may have big problems. Tom

1Dollar, I have a ol new style 97 F150 S-Cab, 4x4, longbox, 4.6 V8, Auto, w/ 3.55 gears. It currently has 335,000 miles on it, still gets 15/16 mpg on regular ga.
But every so often I need to run a tank or two of atleast mid grade or top off a half tank with premium to stop it from clattering/pinging The computer seams to need resetted. with better fuel from time to time. When I do this I do not have any problems at all fuel/mpg wise.
I have put 3 tune ups on it in its life. First real problem was I blew the rearend @ 220000K miles. Radiator job at 260000K miles. 1 water pump @ 280000K miles, and various brake jobs in its life, Over all it has been the best 1/2 ton I have ever owned. It is great on smaller trailers the larger trailers will need more finesse. It just doesn't have the power a big block has. I still have this truck as a spare backup truck.
I cirrently own an 01 F-350 Crewcab 4x4, with a PS 7.3 DSL. What a power house!!! It will pull a hole in the wind and get 15/16 mpg on average naked pickup. 12/14 with a trailer.
The 94 you are talking about only had 3 version of the 7.3 that yr depending on which one you are looking at 7.3 natural aspirated, 7.3 turbo, 7.3 turbo, Power Stroke! each had it +s and -s.
The F-250 has that goofy split front axle I am not a fan of it, it will work. If it has been trashed before, there is a lot to go wrong. Has it been serviced, New bushings, universals Ball joints? It will need some I bet! Ball joints especially If you could find a F-350 with a solid front axle I think you will lessen the chances of crap going wrong, or sh1tcanning!!! Hope this helps
Later,
John A.

My brother bought a F150 4x4 new when he was 18, it's a 79 and still almost a daily driver with >400k . Hard to compare the newer stuff. I'd figure out what you will do the most of ad match the truck to that. I'd also stick with what I know works.

Dave

I admit I am a ford man, bought a GM once and traded it for a ford on the 364 day (man was I glad to get out of that thing) Son has had two Dodges with the Cummins both left much to be desired. Engines were great, but the transmissions and fuel systems were junk. Before you buy a Duramax, ask someone who owned a 70s era GM diesel what they were like

Don't try comparing the duramax to that 70's Gm diesel. All Gm did in 70's was convert a 350 gas to diesel. Most of them were junk, altho my brother had one and drove it for 500,000 miles and had no problems with it. I had a 92 Ford 250 for 3 weeks and couldn't pass a sevice station. Went back to Gm. But like all things you drive what you like, otherwise you'll never be happy with it.

Don't try comparing the duramax to that 70's Gm diesel. All Gm did in 70's was convert a 350 gas to diesel. Most of them were junk, altho my brother had one and drove it for 500,000 miles and had no problems with it. I had a 92 Ford 250 for 3 weeks and couldn't pass a sevice station. Went back to Gm. But like all things you drive what you like, otherwise you'll never be happy with it.

id find a 99-to Early 03 superduty, you will have the 7.3 power-stroke which is one of the best engines ever built period, and you wont be trading down, I would recommend a super or crew cab, you may not think you need the space, but once you have it you wont want to be without it.

I have a '95 F150 w/302 auto and 3.55rear and a '96 F250 w/7.3PS auto 4.10 rear. I lost nothing in fuel mileage in fact pulling a 16ft trailer loaded with 80-120 bales of hay I gained mileage.

If you can afford it I'd buy the 7.3 and keep the F150 at least long enough to see how the mileage and drivability work out for you.

The Duramax isnt a GM engine! No comparison whatsoever to those older one!

1973-1979 Ford F-series trucks are the best trucks ever made.