looking at pickups(tractor haulers) what to look for?

tommorow im going to look at a 00 f350 powerstroke and a 02 f250 powerstroke both have 149,000 miles 5 spd 8 foot box and identical prices im just curiouse what to watch out for this would be my first diesel pick up thanks i would prefer a dodge with a cummings i think but none are for sale in my area right now

I would take the f350 becuase its a 1ton. It depends how much weight you want to hual. They should have both the 7.3. I think 2003 is when they stopped making the 7.3 in the trucks.

The powerstroke engine is a good one that should last over 300k miles with good oil change intervals. We have a 2001 SRW F350 with the ZF 6 speed. I believe the 2001 year was the first version with the intercooler installed, so the 2000 you're looking at probably won't have it, so you'll have a little less HP...

Only complaint I have about ours is the poor excuse for a clutch cylinder setup--which I have had to replace 4 times. Also, for pulling in the mountains with any kind of weight, better figure on an aftermarket clutch setup like South Bend/LUK sells. (abt $1k for the whole kit). The factory clutch on ours would slip when pulling up steep grades (from a dead stop), though we do have a large trailer.

I also had to replace ball joints on ours at about 200k miles--a fairly big job on a 4x4 model. With abt 240k miles, we've had to replace one lift pump, one water pump, brake pads/rotors turned & the clutch/flywheel kit. I think that's it except for adjusting the AC clutch and the usual belts and hoses & fuel & oil filters...

Main thing about buying a used diesel--check for any oil or fuel leaks, crank it up while cold, inquire about current & previous owner's maintenance and usage habits--was he pulling a bulldozer around everywhere or a boat trailer??

That's about all I can think of for now..hope it helps....

The 350 is a light ton truck that doesn't take much to overload.A 450 or 550 is a lot more truck for about the same money used.A lot of
construction company's going out of business have these for sale at good prices.

Try the Truck Trader & E bay There might be some thing Localy In Dodge Trucks with Cummins Motor, Some People Sell on E bay rather than local adds do to all the Tire Kickers.

I have had several ford power strokes and loved them all stay away from the later ford diesel,chevy and dodge too for that matter.Above all the Dodge is the last one that I would consider.

thanks for all your comments ill be pulling a 10,000lb trailer which both should handle easily

that 5sp is it an auto or stick , stick is good , auto is rite at overhaul milage . 2000 should make a good hauler for a tag along or a goose neck. I haul a goose with a dodge 3500 ( cummins ) and have friends with the ford both are good haulers . 6 tons on the deck is about it, to keep you under 26000

I had an '02 and it was a pretty darned good pickup and it got around 19 mpg.

Only thing I didn't like about it was the short box. Rode pretty rough under the goose-neck.

Other than that, it sure got the job done.

Allan

If both are the single rear wheel trucks, they are basically identical chassis except a few leafs in the springs. The dual rear wheel trucks came with a Dana 60 front end, both those have a Dana 50 which is ok, but isn't a 60. Both have the 10.5" rear end. The 250 basically exists only as a name plate so fleet purchasers who tender for 250's get 250's.

In 2005, the frameon the sd's was beefed up, heavier rims and tires added and the payloads/ tow ratings increased. Bigger brakes were fitted too. But you have to take a 6.0 L diesel.

If you aren't putting a lot of miles on the truck, consider the V-10. Truck is a lot cheaper, gets similar milage when fully loaded (diesel is much better empty) and maintenance is cheaper. With not many miles a year, the gaser is usually cheaper.

well just got home from dealer both of those trucks were gone already but he has an 01 f350 powerstroke crew cab auto tranny with 170,000 miles trans was just gone through 15,000 miles ago new ball joints in january needs new batteries a logger owned it and used it to haul fuel to his skidders and such extremely nice truck for a logger a few minor scratches on one side i have to wait for him to run it through his shop to get final price but i told him what im willing to spend on it he thinks we can make the deal supposed to call me the first of the week by the way its 23 miles one way to work plust tractor pulls about every weekend i think diesel is my best option

Sounds like your a ford guy, we have a 96 f350 srw and it does ok, but I love my duramax. I had an 01 2500 and now I have an 06 3500 both haul my gooseneck fine. great mpgs, and nice ride. You wouldn't be disappointed. but to each his own. good luck

actually im a dodge guy but do like fords too no chevys though

I have a neighbor with a 02 or 03 f350, he pulled new campers with it and had at last count 900000,he might have one million now. It's a automatic trans and 4X4 4 door. He has replaced darn near everything, but has never had the heads off, also it has a multi position chip.

Right now I've got an '01 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins and an '09 Ford 250 with a 5.4 gas. The Dodge is my last diesel pickup. Fuel cost are almost exactly the same most of the time 12 mpg on the gas truck and 16 on the diesel. With the price spread its a wash. Dodge at 165,000 had to have a head, clutch, front end rebuild, and an injection pump. Over 7000 bucks in it. Im just not convinced that diesel is the way to go in pickups. Yes, it does pull a load better, but not enough better to justify the cost. When the Dodge is ready to be retired I'm replacing it with a 2 ton International with a 466 and air brakes.