Ford F-250 (Crew Cab, Long bed)

[soomb]

I am looking at used Fords and I would like to know who has the good stories and the bad stories about the F-250's and 350's.  Most of what I am loking at is 90,000 - 120,000 to fit the budget and allow for a mechanic to go over the truck and correct anything worn or corroded  This will be a truck get the family and dogs to camping spots and so forth (no boat hauling, or heavy equipment moving)

Thanks

[NM_Shooter]

I have a 2002 F250 powerstroke crew cab that I am deeply and madly in love with.  Are you using it to tow a camper?  Just wondering why the 3/4 or 1 ton vs a 1/2 ton if not doing heavy hauling.  I have 140k miles on mine. 

I get 16mpg in town and 18 to 20 on the road if i keep my foot off of it.  If I am driving 75mph, I only get 17.

I have some accessories that I purchased.... a 4" exhaust, supertuner, and pillar gauges.  When tuned for "performance" it is scary.  Economy is shot too. 

Down side is the oil changes... 15 Qts of oil and a huge filter.  A bit expensive.  Tires are $800+ for a set.  I am currently running Cooper and do not like the way that they are wearing.  I will switch back to Michelin for the next shoes. 

Beware that a common failure is the overdrive button wire that is draped across the top of the steering column.  It rubs when you turn the wheel and eventually shorts out, which blows a fuse that controls the throttle control.  I posted a how-to-fix on the dieselstop forum.

did I mention that I love that truck?

(Although I was seriously considering selling it for a new Tundra just recently)





-f-

[peternap]

Wait until gas goes up again. You can pick one up for fifty bucks.

My experience with Ford trucks has been mixed. They are either Fix or Repair Daily.....otr I have no problems whatsoever. A lot seems to have to do with how they were treated by the previous owner.

Overall rating is Good.

[peternap]

That's too pretty to be a real truck Shooter. Where's the mud, empty cigarette packs, beer cans, loose ammo?

How can you concentrate on your driving in that thing

[considerations]

I have a 1989 F250 2W.  It's got 78K on it and 18K on the new tranny.  I bought it right after the tranny replacement so i don't know why it happened.  It's dependable, powerfull, hauls my horses, the 5th wheel, feed and a full load of gear, lodge poles, building materials, whatever.  I've taken it from Western WA to Montana and California more than once and just didn't have any problems.....then the price of gas went up.

It's a 460, so about 8 miles to the gallon, empty or loaded.  When I need it, I need it.  When I dont, it sits. 

I don't swear by Fords, I just end up with them.

There are a few out here who would love to take it off my hands...the ones that actually have money get diesel rigs and 4WD. 

I think 1989 is probably the last year of manual roll up windows and door locks, knobs on the dash and radio, the little stump on the floor for the hi beams, things like that.  There is not much in the way of electronics to foul up.

Oh, and there is no gear on the shift column with an 'O" around it 3 forward, 1 back.  Just a farm truck.    

[MountainDon]

I don't have a pickup, but in my 4WD club the predominant choice for a pickup to tow a flatbed trailer with their Jeep in it is a 250 or 350 series Ford. A few Dodges, but more Fords and everyone seems to be happy. Most are diesels.

[StinkerBell]

We have a ford 350 Diesel king cab long bed. I call it a beast. The Hubs, well he is in love with it.

[considerations]

Oh - and RED is the right color 

[diyfrank]

I love em.  

I've had a number of them.  My work trucks have always been the f-250's diesels. You can put 300,000-400,000 on them. 17 - 20 mpg
My personal trucks have been big blocks  390 & 429's in the early days and 460's in more recent. They get horrible mileage but there all truck.
I just picked up a  1988 one owner diesel 2x4 with 180 miles on it. Traded my 2000 ranger 4x4 for it. It's going to be my pack mule to get my lumber to curlew this summer.
If all your doing is packing the family and dogs to camping spots and so forth. I would also say an f-150 is a better ride for that.

f-150, # 1 sell truck for 28 years running!

To be fair, even though I'm not much on Chevy's and Dodge. They have sold a lot of trucks and a lot of people like them.
I've broken every ford I've driven at some point in time.

[soomb]

I have a 2002 F250 powerstroke crew cab that I am deeply and madly in love with.  Are you using it to tow a camper?  Just wondering why the 3/4 or 1 ton vs a 1/2 ton if not doing heavy hauling.  I have 140k miles on mine. 

did I mention that I love that truck?

Well, I want the crew cab for Mommy and baby, and maybe dogs (if we do not get a cap), and the reason for the F-250 is the 8' bed.  I am looking to get my wife to do some truck camping (I am 6'5"), then slowly move her to a tent, and my scheme ends with a small camper.  All of this builds to finding a nice spot to buy and build a small place.  So then the hauling of supplies or pre-built sections comes into play.  That is part of the reason I keep asking you about the bolt-cabin in your area of NM.

PS- that is a nice looking truck and the backdrop is not half bad either.

[NM_Shooter]

/quote]

Thanks.. I took that picture when I was considering selling it.  Sad thing is that backdrop is my view from my porch, and i tend to take it for granted.  We're always in a hurry... I need to smell the roses more often. 

BTW... we got fresh snow on that mountain today! 

[glenn kangiser]

I bought a 79 Ford 4x4 brand new - custom special order, so I would not have so much trouble with breakdowns  with my old trucks.

Shortly after that time I decided I would never buy another Ford.  We called it the Ford from Hell.  I gave it away to a friend and he sold it to someone else.  It continued true to form earning it's name at every turn.

We never had an engine that would stay together in it.  It was for sure in the shop more than it was out.  Hopefully it was melted down into scrap by some later owner.

[lonelytree]

I am a Ford and Toyota guy. When I bought my first new truck at the ripe age of 46, I bought a Dodge......go figure. It has been a GREAT truck so far. Just broke 36K miles this weekend. The Cummins pulls strong and the ride is peachy.

Mike

[bayview]

   I have always owned Fords.  Don't know why . . . I guess because Dad always had one and I would get his hand-me-downs.

   The Triton V-8 and V-10s have aluminum heads . . .  Be careful torqueing new spark plugs!  Over tourqe and you will strip the threads.  Under torque and the sprark plug will loosen, wobble in the hole, causing thread damage.   Either way, you have a chance of ejecting the spark plug!  Then, time for an expensive heli-coil.  Use a torque wrench and always work on a cold engine.   

   I currently have a 2001 E-350 Ford van.  I can't keep a TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) sensor in longer than 10,000 miles.  However it's a quick repair.

   The Twin I-Beam front suspension has a tendency to wear tires.  Rotate tires every 5000 miles and periodically get a front end alignment.

[Mike 870]

Hey Soomb, I have used all the 3/4 ton trucks and did not notice any real appreciable difference in them.  I was using them to tow so that was what I was focused on.  The diesels are all awesome, you can move a mountian with them.  If you're not towing, I'd say go for a 1/2 ton but that is just me.  I've never had one long enough to comment on dependability or quality issues.  I have had an F150 for 2 and 1/2 years and I absolutely love it.  It's the only truck I have owned so I can't really compare it, but I know I like it a lot.