Truck Opinion
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Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
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Forum Discription: Anything non-Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32158
Printed Date: January-21-2025 at 7:23pm
Topic: Truck Opinion
Posted By: Air206
Subject: Truck Opinion
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 12:48am
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Been looking for a truck to replace the ol' 1978 Ford F250 Camper Special. It needs to have 3000# in the bed (Slide in Camper) and tow 5000#. Since the '78's trade-in value is low, we are looking for a used vehicle to replace it. We came across an F550 Diesel with 120K. Drove it today, and it's pretty tight. It's a Crew cab with long bed and 6.0 L Powerstroke. Also has the http://www.linkmfg.com/ultraride/ur97.html" rel="nofollow - Link - UltraRide Air suspension . The Powerstroke weaknesses have been mostly addressed - new injectors, new FICM, EGR deleted, new head gasket and bolts. I think it needs a new oil cooler and coolant filter added. So - what do you think the F250 is worth in good condition.... and what do you think the F550 is worth in very good condition. Tough to find market appropriate values for a truck that old and a commercial chassis with a pickup bed. http://www.flickr.com/photos/47348289@N08/10988222114/" rel="nofollow">  ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Replies:
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 8:17am
| Steve, I'm not in the market for a pickup yet, but if I were, a classic in good shape like your F250 would be really tempting! I'd love to see more pics. Post some up of the F550 too... It sounds like overkill for what you plan to do with it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 9:17am
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Ha, You know how it is - they all look good in pictures! The F250 has 126,000 miles. We have had it for 20 years (2nd owner) ..... It's done well for us over the years. I like getting into this upgrade for under $20,000..... but I am unsure about 120K upward mileage on a 6.0L Powerstroke. Does anyone have experience with diesel trucks of this "age"...? ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 9:27am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47348289@N08/10992759746/" rel="nofollow"> ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 9:28am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47348289@N08/10992880553/" rel="nofollow"> ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 9:32am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47348289@N08/10992663195/" rel="nofollow"> ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 9:39am
That's the issue - It's overkill; but overkill is safer (much bigger brakes, more stable and easier pull).... Is ongoing maintenance of a F550 significantly different from a F350? I need TowBossSupreme to comment (Keith, you out there?) ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
TRBenj wrote:Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 9:41am
Tim, Wouldn't the F250 look good with Uncle Todd's Tique? A '78 pulling a '78... and he has a place to store it!  ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 10:33am
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Pretty good lookin Ferd there Steve. I think the only thing that will probably cost you more maintenance wise on the 550 vs. the 350 would be brakes and hubs, and 19.5" tires vs. standard truck issue tire sizes. If a 6.0 is fixed properly it is a good engine but I still hate the fact that they use high pressure oil to fire the injectors?! Seems like international did things the hard way just to be different. We had a 6.0 an old man traded in on a new diesel pusher. It appeared to be bone stock but I leaned into that thing and it would smoke the tires if you matted it anywhere below 30mph. It was a fun rig haha. Drive it before you buy it. The 6.0 in stock form is pretty poochy for around town driving or entering the highway fully loaded. I am sure Reid can weigh in on all of this. Tim, buy the old one! Jon in the body shop is restoring his 78 F250 4x4 regular cab in the same color scheme as your truck Steve! Oh, 120k isn't anything even for a 6.0. Just typical things will go bad (gaskets, hoses, belts, sensors, etc. you know the drill) A friend of ours had an issue with his oil cooler. Something with the ECM was cooking the oil (think it was thermostatically controlled but I could be wrong) and popping the oil cooler. 3 oil coolers later on a road trip a Ford dealer finally figured out the issue and fixed it. It ran way better too. Our old 12 valve had 400k on it by the time we sold it. I would venture to guess it would have ran normally well past 650k. ------------- |
Posted By: IAughtNaut
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 2:41pm
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you put another 100,000 miles on that 78 and Joe will be all over it ------------- bring the ruckus http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5347" rel="nofollow - 2000 Pro Air |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 3:36pm
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Exactly haha. Joe will be running that Rig to Green Lake 2015. Maybe Sjrr too. ------------- |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 6:17pm
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Steve, just shot you a message. Jon is interested in ole blue. ------------- |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 7:03pm
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Yeah I think if I had a 20k budget and that camper special lying around I would be looking to swap in a reasonably low mile cummins, and then throw the rest of the money in tank for some traveling. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: Dreaming
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 7:32pm
You'll spend a fair amount doing this upgrade, but reliability will be second to none. I have almost 300k on my Cummins, and the body is going to fall apart before we get to the end of the engine life. 10 years and ~150k on the Cummins, since I bought it, and previous to me it was a 5th wheel horse hauler, then a demolition car/camper hauler... it's been worked hard, all I've done is the oil changes and fuel filters. I haven't had anything else engine related done. I like the Ford f-series crew... they look great, and they get decent mileage with the 6.0. The 7.3 is a lot thirstier from what I understand, but has significantly better track record than the 6.0, even with the changes that you mentioned. Oil changes are in the 3-6 gallons range for a diesel, not quarts like the gassers, so services are significantly more expensive (if you care) my 3/4 ton truck is 6k LBS empty, I assume the newer crew cabs are heavier than that,so you'll spend a bunch on incidentals like tires and brakes. Figure 15k miles for a brake swap, including rotors. That said, I think the best of both worlds is the newer crew cab with a fummins or destroked swap. That would be a sweet truck! |
Posted By: harddock
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 7:41pm
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The 6.0 is a choked up diesel. If you live in a state that isn't emissions crazy you can free up that motor and then it makes tons of power with good MPG. Some had turbo issues too. 550 may require DOT nonsense because of the high GVW and insurance may consider it a big rig. Check that stuff out! Othewise it looks good and it's a Ford..... you already know what to expect! ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4487" rel="nofollow - 1998 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: Hollywood
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 8:39pm
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That is quite the leap. Why are you even considering the F550? I like the big wheels, that's about it though. ------------- |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 8:46pm
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Really wasn't looking for something that stout. It is for sale by a mechanic I know who we have bought vehicles from before. He does a good job "freshening" older engines, it's REALLY clean and I thought it was a good price...... but no one is coming up with any price range for the new one.... so I don't know if it's a good price. ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 8:49pm
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I have found similar new 2014 F550s with the 6.7L Diesel selling for $104,000...... but can't get book on a used one. ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: Donald80SN
Date Posted: November-22-2013 at 9:17pm
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Steve, Call Reid P. he has had several of the Ford Diesel Trucks in his Cell Phone Tower business. I remember his speaking about the 6.0 and some of the issues they have. He has experienced some of it. Just keep waiting for the affordable Truck Act to come out soon. That new one will be free. Donald |
Posted By: reidp
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 12:37am
Wow Steve, that is a nice-looking and serious truck. I'm driving down the road as I attempt to read all the posts so forgive me if I missed something, but you're trying to pull all of your boats at one time correct?? Jk  Donald was correct in that we've had some of those 6.0 diesels but they ate our lunch rather well. But I've heard also that the main items are addressed that they can indeed be reliable engines. But with our business we have subsequently gone to almost all gas engines. This was mainly because we are only pulling 3 to 5000 pound trailers anymore. The initial extra cost of the diesel plus the much higher maintenance costs out weighed the fuel savings, especially when were only averaging about 30 K miles per year and with diesel costing more. That neat old F250 served you so well for so many years why not just a more modern version of it with a big honking gas engine. And also, you've been doing a lot towing with the V6 van, so V8 3/4 or 1 ton will feel like a stump pulling rocket. All that said, I'd go with your gut and buy what you want. As I said earlier I'm driving and driving all night for that matter, and bored as heck so I might make another rambling post later.------------- ReidP /diaries/details.asp?ID=231&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975 - 1973 Mustang |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 1:20am
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Hey Reid - Sorry I missed your call. Just toying around with the REALLY, REALLY big truck idea. I stumbled across it, and it was impressive. He wants 17-18K for it...but it has a lot of miles. It is clean and beautiful, but the diesel worries me. Your experience mirrors what I have heard and read. I don't think it's enough of a deal to take the plunge (plus, it's 23 ft long - so tight corners and maneuvering around the lake wouldn't be easy - and I don't think I can get it in the garage!!!) ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 1:43am
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I still need a price to ask Zach's buddy Jon for the F250..... What's the going rate for a "classic" like this? ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: peter1234
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 10:38am
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Id be interested to know what that older truck is worth there, if its rust free and up here it could sell for double . I have been watching atlanta craigs list every day I want to buy a southern truck in the spring and would love to set up a finder person down there to start locating a few choice vehicles for me to get up here. the shipping costs are the biggest factor . I am amazed at the amount of 63 to 66 g.m trucks and 67 to 72 still being driven there in need of a freshen up ------------- former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go |
Posted By: davidg
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 11:44am
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I thought I would test the waters last spring to see what my '68 F250 Camper Special (390/C6) was worth. I put in on ebay with a "buy it now" price of $6900. Bidding got up to $3500 in three days before I came to my senses and ended the auction, and thank god nobody hit the buy it now option. I was really just trying to get a feel for the value of the truck. I think it would have sold for $6500 pretty easily if I would have let it continue. I took it up to Volo Car Museum in the Chicago area. They sell a lot of muscles cars, and classics in the area on consignment. One of their folks told me that it should go for $5K-$6K pretty easily, and to the right person that just couldn't live another day without that exact model, $7K should be toward the top of the range. |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 11:53am
In restored condition? If not, I think I have an original "barn find"...... ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: davidg
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 12:18pm
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I bought my truck from the original owners daughter. It spent most of its life in Los Angeles, until the owner died in '99, and his wife shipped it to their daughter in Mpls. I bought it from her back in '03 for $3200. It is totally rust free, and has not been restored, other than a repaint along the way by the original owner. I saw another truck exactly like mine sell for $12K on ebay last spring. However, that truck had been totally restored top to bottom and front to back. It even had a newly rebuilt six cylinder engine vs. a V8. It looked like it just rolled off the show room floor. What are you thinking price-wise for your '78? It is a very nice looking truck! Any rust or issues with it? I bet you will get a lot of interest in that truck if you put it on ebay. |
Posted By: Air206
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 12:40pm
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I had no idea..... it has very little if any rust, interior wear and some bumper chrome loss. It was repainted in 95.... Hmm, interesting.... ------------- https://tinyurl.com/y6t5e3bu" rel="nofollow - 04 Air206 http://tinyurl.com/9urzgls" rel="nofollow - 91 Barefoot 78 SkiTiq |
Posted By: davidg
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 1:30pm
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If I were you, I would hang on to the '78. It is already a classic, and becoming more so every day. Is it no longer doing the job for you? Once you sell it, it's gone. These old trucks are a blast to drive. And, I can't tell you the number of people that come up to me to ask about it. They even pull up to me at stop lights and start chatting. Maybe rebuild your motor, or upgrade whatever may not be working for you. The new trucks are great. But, in my opinion, they don't have the "cool factor" of the classics. My brother has a '77 F250 4x4 factory tall boy. The guy that sold him that truck bought a brand spanking then new '88 Ford F250 for his tree business. A few months later, he called my brother and wanted to buy his old truck back. No way!! My brother still has it, and loves it. |
Posted By: Donald80SN
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 1:31pm
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Steve. You could claim that it was the official Boat Trailer Tow Truck of Sea World and Cypress Gardens and command and additional $10 K for the old truck.  I know of a guy that is doing it with his 80 SN. Shameless is it not? Donald |
Posted By: peter1234
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 1:58pm
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maybe find a rusted ot ford with a 7.3 powerstroke and trans to repower ------------- former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go |
Posted By: politicallycorrect
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 8:03pm
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I work for a utility company. We've had 5 or 6 of the 6.0 liter powerstrokes. Fleet manager said nothing but problems.When I was browsing the internet trying to find a replacement bucket truck for my van that blew an engine I ran across 40 or 50 ex at&t trucks on various websites. Most were 6.0 liter powerstrokes with just over 100,000 thousand miles. Found a couple of cummins powered dodge trucks setup identical as far as body and lift. They went for about 10,000 dollars more than the fords. I mentioned to the fleet manager the ford trucks and he informed me the owner of the company's husband( who runs green mountain diesel) said that she is crazy if she ever buys another 6.0 or 6.4 ford again. Ford warrantied these trucks for 100,000 so when the warranty was up they at&t liquidated the trucks. They ended up buying me a gas powered van. Just my two cents... Scott ------------- Skin grows back...fiberglass doesn't!! |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: November-23-2013 at 8:24pm
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Jbear and I both retired from AT&T and while I can't speak for him our garage that I was in for 33 years never had a single diesel other than the 4 big line trucks. When I left in '12 they were going to yearly oil changes! Those trucks may have 100k on them but many run all day, when they were replaced they were truley used up. I'm also surprised they had extended warranty since they were fleet vehicles ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: jbear
Date Posted: November-24-2013 at 2:07am
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Had a F350 gas driven Ice Cream truck as my underground ride when I left. 2nd driver..1st guy only had it a year. That truck used to run all day & all night. Had to be warm while napping..just kidding! My partner had a Diesel powered bucket truck..mechanics hated those buckets. john ------------- "Loud pipes save lives" AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
Posted By: 79SNbrady
Date Posted: November-24-2013 at 11:19am
i live in south east TN, which is about 2.5hr drive from atlanta. If you want i could possibly make a trip to atlanta once in a while to take a gander for you. Knoxville and Chattanooga are both 1 hour drive for me so i could definitely make a afternoon trip after work to go to either place to take a gander. ------------- "It's just water... not concrete or dirt... so just throw it" -Parks Bonifay 1979 Ski Nautique - (stringer job completed summer 2012) 2007 236 Team - All White! |
Posted By: 74Wind
Date Posted: November-24-2013 at 2:00pm
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Peter: plenty of real mechanical talent like Morfoot,etc all around ATL, I'd guess you'd have no trouble finding someone to go evaluate a truck. ------------- 1974 Southwind 18 1975 Century Mark II |
Posted By: peter1234
Date Posted: November-24-2013 at 3:20pm
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thanks guys i would love to both take advantage of that offer and also offer up a finders fee or business deal that might work for someone down there. ------------- former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go |