Too many miles?

[Black Dog]

I've been looking at full size trucks to pull a 31' Airstream trailer my wife bought before we were married (impulse buy, she drives a Subaru and has never camped in it). So far the only one I've found in our price range is a 1994 F250 with the big powerstroke diesel and manual transmission, the thing I'm most leary about is that it has a quarter million miles on it. It has been used as a tow vehicle in the past, and for at least the last few years it was a fleet vehicle for a construction contracting company. Outward appearance it looks great but I don't want to judge a book by its cover. With that many miles, and knowing it has towed heavy loads, would you consider buying it?

 

[xpndbl3]

I'd probably up the price range for a lower mileage truck or think about how a truck with that many miles will definitely need a bunch of maintenance items to keep running smoothly.

 

[Black Dog]

Thats exactly what I was thinking. My first thought was Will it make it 1100 miles unloaded back to Nebraska, then 1100 miles back up here with the 8000+ pound camper? Then I was thinking that if this was a fleet vehicle, and who knows what before that, has anyone ever overdone it and pulled too heavy of a load with it? Or what if a complete idiot who can't drive a stick trashed the transmission and I'd have to replace it in a year or less? Our price range is as high as $7500, but we could probably go higher if we financed but we don't want to do that. They are asking $5400 for this one. The next truck I've found that will pull our giant was either a '95 or a '97 F250 with the same engine but automatic transmission and only 185K miles for $8200. There have been other cheaper trucks but they are all rust buckets.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

From everything that I have read, the auto trannys are not as reliable as the manuals, that is across the board on the Big 3 trucks...
Something to keep in mind when you're looking.

 

[Black Dog]

The manual transmission is definitely a thing I am looking for just because I'll be using this as a tow vehicle. Automatic is fine in something like a car or my jeep, but for hauling a load I'd like to have the extra bit of control over my machine.

 

[bronconut]

It might cost you a few bucks but if the current owner will let you I'd find a shop that will check the compression and crank case pressures for you, might want to get a oil sample and have that tested also. Just curious where in Nebraska are you heading, I grew up in eastern Nebraska

 

[Black Dog]

We moved from North Platte up to NW Montana last April, but our airstream is still stored with a friend down there and we'd kind of like to get it up here soon so we can use it this summer. We didn't bring it with us when we moved because we didn't have anything to tow it with. Its tag on the tongue says its gross weight is 8000 pounds, and I forget what the tongue weight is, but the trailer has been ripped up and rebuilt a couple times since the mid 70s so we're not sure exactly how much it weighs. I'm looking for a truck that I can sleep comfortably knowing it has enough juice to pull it.

 

[Shiryas]

Manual strength

The manuals on the Fords are ZF units. The early ones were S5-42 (up to 95) the later ones are S5-47 (95-97). They are all aluminum cast construction with bellhousing attached (not bolted). I do not recall the differences between the two, but I think the later included an updated input shaft bearing and full synchonization. I KNOW that the 47 (later model) has a higher HP rating as posted in some of the ZF literature.

I also sought out a manual based on the horror stories I have heard about the E40D (?) automatic for the IDI / Powerstrokes. But having purchased a manual here is what I have learned about there strengths:

- Ford uses a dual mass flywheel to isolate engine vibrations more towards the engine side of the transmission union. While this helped keep the transmission noises down, it is prone to failure. (I replaced mine with the solid flywheel conversion kit from Valair, and there are a bunch of others), base level kits are around $500-$600 plus shipping (very heavy).

- Being cast aluminum, they are prone to cracks. I purchased my truck with a blown DMF (Dual mass flywheel) and after it broke it shook everything so hard it cracked the bell housing from the starter up around the the vent / inspection covers by the shifter. Initially I thought I would be able to have this welded but after I dropped it down, I was just not convinced it would ever hold. I bought a second transmission (used/core) to have rebuilt. When I dropped them off at National Transmission in Denver I was told the bell housing problem was not uncommon and to upgrade to the solid flywheel which I had already planned. They inspected the cores and found a much more common crack on the back half of the (used/core) transmission I bought where the transfer case shift assembly bolts on. I think this crack is mostly operator error by harsh engagement of the 4wd but it was a common enough problem that ZF changed there castings on the late 97 units to a much beefier mounting stud.

So having learned all this I am still happy with the manual. Just be aware that they have their problems just like the automatics do.

 

[Black Dog]

Thats something that makes me a little afraid to buy a ford, like my dad always said "Ford stands for Found On Road Dead". I really don't care which make of truck I get, just so long as its a diesel and extended cab, crew cab 4-door would be optimal. Dualies would be nice but not absolutely necessary, and 4x4 is optional. It will mainly be a highway vehicle and occassionally forest service roads for cutting firewood and stuff. My jeep is my offroad machine.

 

[Shiryas]

kcOtma (Tacoma?)

I have gone through the same process you are going through now.

I have a lovely "little" 95 Toyota Xtra cab that has seen most of Utah, two trips to Cabo and who knows how many shuttle runs transporting my whitewater raft. While it has been a great little truck, thats its problem. I needed something bigger to transport all the coolers, frames, gear and people for rafting, plus I help chase and tow for my co-workers off road racing http://fireguysracing.webs.com/ and the 3slow was just not intended for that kind of use.

- I wanted a diesel since with a moderate load the mpg does not get killed
- 4x4 with a solid front axle
- Preferred an xtra cab but crew would be OK
- Short bed to help with turning radius

I know you can build anything to suit your needs but I was looking for something that had most of these attributes as OEM. Both to keep down on expense, and I knew I would be modifying enough things on what ever I ended up with, so engine swaps and axle transplants was just too much $$.

Loved the Cummins of the Dodge, short bed, xtra cab, perfect. Just could not find anything in my price range that was not trashed. In my price range was the:
- 95-97 F250 Xtra Cab/LB or F250 CC/SB, the Twin Traction Beam (TTB, gotcha 'ntsqd') with leaf springs is just a punishing ride.
- 95-97 F350 only came as either a standard cab long bed or CC/LB and I wanted the interior space.

I wanted a shorter wheel base to help with turning radius but having driven it for a couple of weeks it is really not that bad. Having said that, it is not my daily driver (Subaru wagon) and most days I walk to work.

As for Ford, this is the first I have owned. We have 3 as brush trucks (7.3/7.3/6/0) and 3 as ambulances (7.3 truck body/6.0 truck body /7.3 van body) on my fire department. As fleet vehicles I have no complaints with them, we have had leaks, fault codes and other problems. We do all our own scheduled maintenance so I kind of know my way around them. The problems we have had are those inherent in all mechanical machines.

Every brand and model will have problems, I have owned VW, Nissan, Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Chevy, Toyota and now this Ford. I was the Parts Manager at a Land Rover dealership and wrote service at another one for seven years. I reiterate Every brand and model will have problems, base your decision on that vehicles condition, records, and history.

 

[TheOne]

Didnt see any mention of this above if so disreguard

One additional note you mention that it was a fleet vehicle and as a fleet vehicle driver most reputable fleet companies require a scheduled maintenance program on their vehicles and even though they may be driven harder than most pov's the maintenance could possibly be more up to date than some of povs on the road.. we are required by our fleet company GE Capitol to have our oil changes and tire rotations almost 1000 miles before the factory recommended time frame.

 

[IdaSHO]

Dont toss the auto-trans to the curb so quick. They are stronger than you think.

Most E40Ds last anywhere from 75-100k behind the 7.3

Some of the early ones died early, but we also talking about a motor that puts out 400+ lb ft of torque.

With the latest factory updates, the E40d is a very good trans. Certainly not the best auto out there, but it does quite good.

And as for towing heavy, I would MUCH rather let an auto trans do the shifting than have to row gears. With a turbocharged, low reving diesel, it is very easy to let the motor fall out of boost on a hill and not be able to shift fast enough to regain things.

The other huge benefit is comfort. I love getting behind the wheel of my powerstroke and having to do nothing but hit the go pedal.

 

[zukrider]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1585051784.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1584880108.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1584878113.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1584486340.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1583041270.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/1582323347.html

here is a few in my area, just something to chew on! no affiliation

good luck

joe

 

[Black Dog]

kcOtma (Tacoma?)

KC0TMA is my ham radio call sign, each letter pronounced seperately and a zero instead of an 'O'.

It seems like around here the few dealers that there are are pretty proud of the used vehicles on their lot and are asking quite a bit. I suppose they probably aren't selling many so maybe they would be willing to wheel and deal on the price. Vehicles sold by individuals around here it looks like you'll be getting what you pay for, so if it is cheap it probably isn't worth it. The truck in my OP is a private sale by the small business that used it in their fleet, they make doors and windows and stuff. They have another small pickup and a full size truck for sale too, but the big truck is an F350 with dualies and a flat bed and they are asking a lot more for it.

I think I'm going to open up my requirements and consider some unleaded vehicles.

 

[redthies]

I shopped for a diesel for a long time and like you, found that most had high miles in my price range. I ended up with a super clean F350 for half the price I would have paid for the same diesel. Yes, it does have a 460, which is not the pinnacle of engineering, but will go forever. I just got back from a 11,000 mile road trip to the southwest and Mexico and had no issues at all.
If I compare mileage with a friend who has the same truck with the powerstroke, he gets 17 +/- empty and 11 towing. I get 10-11 all the time. However, we both bought our trucks to tow. Thus, not much difference! The long and short of it is, don't be afraid to look at gas trucks!