Tow rig ??? School me please..

[79F150]

I kinda know what I want and kinda know what I need but the two don't match...:rofl:

Lets start with what I need.

I need it to be a crew cab 4x4 truck to haul 6 people which can be done with front and rear bench seat. It is going to need to be at least 3/4 ton. If I figure correct my truck and future trailer to pull it with will be around 8000lbs.

What I want is a F350 SD 7.3 power stroke/ Crew cab/ single rear wheel/ short bed/ 4x4? Not that hard to find but on a budget is a little tough. I am looking to buy about tax season.:rofl:

Some concerns of mine are mileage. How many miles are to many miles on a diesel? and how many miles = how many $$$??? I really would like to stay around the $20k and below. I just want a nice truck that will be used as my DD/hauler so I don't want it heavily modded either.

To me this is a nice truck for the price (no its not a SD or 4x4). Its nice but I really think I need a 4x4 to back up my drive. Not exactly what I want and most likely not what I need.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/1500482559.html

Wish I had the money for this now even though its a long bed and I hate the color.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1492198723.html

This one has 210,000 miles and I know that is not bad for a diesel but the rest of the truck concerns me. Unit bearings and trans etc....

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1498813439.html

Again nice truck DRW but 225,000 on the clock..

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1491813676.html

Not bad and under 100k miles. 6.0 but at least its not an early 6.0..

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1487886385.html

Seems like a good deal but to early for me to jump on..

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/1501484992.html

Not bad but has 250k on the clock

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1500935363.html

Nice truck if it was 4x4..

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/1498172217.html

I am not even that brand loyal. These are just examples of what I have been looking at. Ford is by far my fav but I am not apposed to the cummins or duramax. If I look at a dodge it must have manual trans. Chevy I am fine with the auto.:D

[dsotmoon]

i cant help you with what you "need" but take a look at auto auction sites, i've been searching them more lately for something I can maybe buy and make a few hundred off of here and there...

http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/detail.jsp?dealer_id=100008814&ct=u&car_id=270846127

http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/detail.jsp?dealer_id=100008814&ct=u&car_id=271174287

[79F150]

I hear ya Joe. I was told to avoid the 03/04 6.0's. I was told nothing but trouble and the later ones they had corrected lots of it. :smokin:

[Traveler]

I just went trough this. We bought an '04 F350 for a company truck.
There really is no better 6.0 Each year had their individual problems. It seems they hit 80K miles and the trouble starts.
Typically a few EGR coolers, and the problem is actually the oil cooler is plugged.
They take more frequent oil and filter changes. Put one or two injectors in and have low power because of an oil leak in the rail.
Just never ending.

Everything is so intertwined on these engines, one problem causes so many others. Typically without that experience you fix the problem but not the cause.

The 6.0 is to this era as the 350 diesel was to the late 70's. Very bad press and it just keeps getting worse.
From the reading I have done the '04 and '06 seem to be the worst, but the '03 and '05 are exactly the same so not sure why they would be different.

Having said all that, we have an '04 with 83K on it. It is a nice truck, but so far, 4 injectors, egr cooler, oil cooler.
Running fuel additive is pretty important. Running the truck out of fuel can ruin injectors, not chaging oil every 5k can ruin injectors. That is almost 4 gallons of diesel oil every 5k miles.

They are fun to drive and all, but very expensive to maintain and own.
I can bad mouth them all day, but I have one, and I will put 200k + on it, BUT it is a company truck and I don't have to pay for any maintenance on it.

That is just the engine. We have also done Tie rods and ball joints already.
The tranny is a little goofy, I don't like the setup at all, there is very little user control.
The tranny is not as bullet proof as they claim. Even at 40K you can start having problems. Oil flow returns from the tranny cooler right to Electronic solenoids. If there is the tiniest spec of dirt in there it can or will stick the solenoid and the truck will not go into gear.
Keep the Special fluid clean is very important.
Oil filters are cheap, but there are also 2 fuel filters that need done every 15K miles. The air filter is $80.
There is an inline tranny filter that needs to be done every 30K.

Love the truck but it is not for the faint of heart.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/756480/fullsize/dscn3775.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/756479/fullsize/dscn3779.jpg

My choice would have been a 7.3 or even the newer 6.4. Just didn't fit the budget.
The 7.3 is solid. You can neglect them and they just keep taking the abuse and love it.
The 6.4 seems to be okay so far, but a very short production run of 2 years means there are less parts and less knowledge on them.
I am a Ford guy so I prefer that.

Last truck was a Dodge with the Cummins, 1999. It is a good truck 228K on the clock the engine is solid. In all those miles the only I did was a starter. No water pump, turbo, alternator, nothing. 1 tranny, lots of batteries, and tons and tons of interior and front axle parts.
It has a D60 and it was constant work to keep the truck going down the road straight. The interior destroyed itself. The dash cracked so badly it was ready to fall on the floor just from normal driving. Drove nice and all, way too front heavy. The body is just a piece of crap.
The newer cummins engines have their problems as well, not as bad as the 6.0, but they have a few issues. The nice thing is with Cummins, engines are all they do, so when the Dodge dealer doesn't have permanent solution, the cummins dealer will.

I have been able to steer clear of the recent GM products, and gladly, I had a '97 K2500 and it was the biggest piece of crap and scary to drive. Worthless. I had been stuck in the truck more times in one year than All of my other trucks put together in the last 16 years. I swore never again.

Back to your orginal question, 6.0 is cheap for a reason. Nobody wants them and they cost more to maintain.
300k on a 7.3 is not a problem. They are still cheap to fix.

First truck is a steal, but yeah your drive you will want low range. The day we backed the triple axle with the '88 parts truck up your drive. We hit 240 degrees on the tranny temp just that fast and that was a pretty quick and straight shot.

The 3rd and 4th link would be my choice. Really how many miles are you going to put on it? 100K? You won't have any trouble. 200k? maybe.

The last link is a F250, nice truck but it is a D50 TTB. High maintenance and the turning radius is impossible.
Get a F350

[79F150]

Thanks Erik. I really want the 7.3 but was concerned about buying a 200k+ mile truck. I might would consider an Excursion.

[79F150]

One thing that makes me ever even consider a Dodge is stories like this truck. (no I wouldn't even touch this truck)

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/1503092658.html

The thing good and bad about them is that their resale is in the toilet..

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/cto/1500806561.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/ctd/1499747393.html

I wouldn't own their automatic..:stupid:

[Traveler]

I think your next step is to load up all the kids and go test drive one of these trucks, or at least sit in it. Not so much to purchase, but to gauge the room inside. The 4 door dodge is not much more than an extended cab with doors that open up normal.
With our '99 quad cab the teenagers did not fit in the back, when they did they sat at an angle using up all of the leg space. A 45 minute drive was more than enough for them. The 4 door models we looked at before getting the Ford did not have any more room in them. Only the mega cab did.

The mega cab would be fine, and the Ford Crew cab. The one we have now the kids could play tennis back there, they are so tickled.

I think that would really give you some direction when shopping.

[79F150]

Another good point! At least we are short people..:D

[High Cetane]

One thing that makes me ever even consider a Dodge is stories like this truck.
I wouldn't own their automatic..:stupid:

So why look at them? It seems you have your mind made up...based on a Craigslist posting. Based on that logic, you should rule out anything Ford made after the 7.3.
The stories of Hot Shotters not getting loads if they drive Ford 6.0's or 6.4s, are just as common (& documented) as Ambulance companies breaking down enroute to calls...and incurring penalties for poor response times because their 6.0 is DOA (just like the poor guy in the back)
Perhaps if you done some further research, you'd find Dodge's 47re auto, which was plagued with issues, was over in mid 2003. The 48 & later slushboxes were very stout. Problems solved.
FWIW- I have both in the driveway right now, and the pics are here to prove it. My 03 CTD(47re) has been flawless. Could I say that if I stayed with Ford in 03? Doubtful....very very doubtful. I am sure the cab would have been off numerous times by now to fix their screwups.

[79F150]

My basis on Dodge automatics is personal experience. I have a Dodge car (2005 Hemi AWD Magnum) now that is about to get its 3rd torque converter in a year and a half. Love the car but Dodges customer service sucks balls. Ford and Chevy has always took care of my during warranty times. Dodge wont even provide rental cars and have my car for a week. If it wasn't the fact I have 5 cars it would be a real problem.

I didn't pay $30k for a car to sit in a shop and when it is in the shop I don't want to be walking. The bad part is the dealers refer you to corp and corp is just a PITA to deal with.

I am a Ford guy and your right my listings posted show it but that doesn't mean I an not open to other brands. I currently have 2 Fords 1 Dodge 1 Chevy and 1 Buick.

I will say the Isuzu diesel in the new Chevy's along with the Allison trans is a great combo. Like I said I am trying to stay Ford but we will see.:top:

[High Cetane]

Now I'm really confused...you said you wouldnt own their automatic, I thought we were talking tow rigs.
I was a Ford guy too...but that ship has sailed. I unlocked my mind in 03 & have no regrets. If my 47re dies, Ill send it to Goerend & be very happy at the end of the day.

I wouldnt know about Dodges customer service, so I'll take your word for it.... Never had a reason to go back.
I have nothing nice to say about Ford's customer service, so I'll keep it to myself. Chevy's CS I have only heard things...and none of them are good.
My local Volvo dealer has set the bar very high on the level of CS with my wife's car, so perhaps I am biased.
Good luck with your truck decision.

[79F150]

My wife's car is the reason I wont own another Dodge automatic. It was the first and last. Dodge has had the worst CS out of the dealers around here (I have used 3 different dodge dealers in my area) so that is another strike on them. Maye I have been lucky with my Ford dealers but I have never had an issue with them. The Chevrolet dealer I use also owns the Ford dealer I use so it is probably the reason why I have had good luck with both.

[Traveler]

It really is all about the service.
Most people can handle breakdowns but it is the dealer that makes it an okay experience or one you will never go through again.

Same deal here. Can't stand Peterbilt or Mack and that is why we don't buy them, but in other cities they are top notch.

[79F150]

Customer service means a lot to me. Not saying they need to kiss my ass but hey how about a little respect for purchasing their product. I didn't spent close to $30k on a car to walk when it needs repair under warranty so why do I have to fight for that? It isn't the dealership even it is Corp. or at least that is what the dealer tells me. Call corp and get them to rent you a car. Then you have to spend two hours fighting with corp. Dodge just sucks from my experience.

It is sad to. We are loosing our industry. We need to go back to our roots and become an industrial nation again.:shrug

[Traveler]

Very true. We have bought over 100 new dodge vehicles in the past years from the same dodge dealer.
Yet when we need service they make us wait a week like everyone else.

Now maybe it is the fair thing to do, but come on, we deserve better when we have been that good of a customer.

The international dealer here, O'halloran. Those guys rock. We walk into the service department and there might be a line of 15 people. The service guys see us standing there and they call us to the front ahead of everyone. That is service that can't be beat, but then again we have been buying trucks from them since they opened their doors.

[79F150]

Exactly. I don't get preference for say but when I get to the service writer at the Ford/Chevy dealers here they either give us something to drive or schedule an appointment to bring it back when they have something for us to drive.

If they are just going to have it for the day they take us to and from where we are going. If it runs more than a day the give us a car.

Dodge on the other hand you have to call corp office and spend 2 hours on the phone to get them to give you a car. Most of the time I don't even get one because its not worth the fight sense I have more than 2 cars. To me it is just poor service and to top it off I am now about to have to take the damn car in for the 3rd torque converter in a year and a half.

[79F150]

Well broke down and bought a tow rig. As bad as I didn't want to get the 6.0 I ended up getting one. The truck is a one owned and very well took care of.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782462/fullsize/c7c213fe7f000001017e8c5bea8de744.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782463/fullsize/c7c2190e7f000001017e8c5bad663177.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782464/fullsize/c7c216957f000001017e8c5b8485a37f.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782465/fullsize/c7c21a907f000001017e8c5be9f79ad4.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782468/fullsize/c7c219b77f000001017e8c5b1690e5b9.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782469/fullsize/c7c219647f000001017e8c5b0adfb835.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782466/fullsize/c7c21b097f000001017e8c5b5e46bb58.jpg

[Traveler]

Sharp ride.
I am sure you will enjoy it.

[79F150]

Thanks Eric. I hope to get lots of service out of it. I tell ya I am not hard on anything anymore. Well ok on the street. My DD's I drive real easy. Seems like to older I get the slower I drive. Well it could be the 9 good driving achievement awards I have had in my life.:banghead:

[bullet]

my dad has owned both ford and dodge 3/4 tons and has had good luck with both the dodge was a 91 that 276k on it when he sold it and all he ever had to replace was the brakes once the truck is still running with the last update i got it had 750k+ miles on it. the 2 fords he owned both had 7.3. the 97 model gave us all kind of problems with the clutch and hubs got rid of it with only 99k on it. the 03 he has now has been pretty reliable but go through fuel and air filters pretty quick. we have pulled pretty heavy loads with all and the 03 has done the best but it should with more hosses and torque. we have pulled a 40 ft gooseneck loaded with round bales with it at about 60 mph up and down hills with no problems, and it now has 180k on it and only have had a few problems. i would prefer the dodge just because of the cummins but only with a manual because you just cant kill em.

[bullet]

i didnt read all the way through:banghead:. very nice truck would love to own it myself

[79F150]

Thanks man.:D

[dan76]

Well broke down and bought a tow rig. As bad as I didn't want to get the 6.0 I ended up getting one. The truck is a one owned and very well took care of.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782462/fullsize/c7c213fe7f000001017e8c5bea8de744.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782463/fullsize/c7c2190e7f000001017e8c5bad663177.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782464/fullsize/c7c216957f000001017e8c5b8485a37f.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782465/fullsize/c7c21a907f000001017e8c5be9f79ad4.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782468/fullsize/c7c219b77f000001017e8c5b1690e5b9.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782469/fullsize/c7c219647f000001017e8c5b0adfb835.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/782466/fullsize/c7c21b097f000001017e8c5b5e46bb58.jpg


How's the truck holding up?