So, I already showed him various threads from here, but my dad is looking to buy a new pickup for his work to replace an older Dodge Ram from the mid-90s. He owns a smallish marina on the Chesapeake and this is a basically a truck used for hauling boat stands around, pulling trailered boats out of the water (larger boats are taken out using a big forklift/travel lift), and occasional runs 20-30 miles to Home Depot or whatever. It's not for general transportation, but must be road-worthy. Not used every day, and when it is used most of the time for 5-10 minutes at a time for above tasks. Will not be used for any long-distance towing or anything (unless he gets something really nice, then maybe I'll borrow it for towing the racecar lol....but not likely).
Anyhow, he's looking for something maybe 10 years old and looking to spend about $10k or so. Must have 4WD since they also do some light plowing and pulling heavy things on occasion.
I think initially he was looking at 2006ish F250 diesels, but from what I can tell most of those in this price range have the lousy 6.0. I don't think he's set on diesel necessarily, just that a lot of those are out there in that year and price range. I showed him all the commentary about the 6.0 here and now he seems pretty set on NOT getting one of those, but maybe a 5.6 or 7.3 (or something else).
I think he wants something that is "good to go" more or less, and won't need much work - since the winter there is spent repairing boats and he doesn't have a ton of time to do truck repairs.
So, suggestions based on the above criteria?
5.3 1500 4x4 chevy.
We towed a damned bulldozer with one. Oughtta do just fine.
Get a 3/4 ton any brand and it should work. I'm partial too Ford but for what he wants any of them should work fine. For those short run times I would stay gas.
I have a diesel. 7.3. But I got mine from my father for a very small amount of money. If I were buying one for fair market value there’s no way I’d pay the diesel tax unless I was towing heavy all the time. Like hot-shotting for a living kind of towing.
A wise old farmer once told me: “.. diesel pickup? Why? The gas motor will wear the truck out.” And this advice was before DEF and all the niggly little gremlins that are known to live under the hoods of even the 7.3.
Go with an LS 5.3 (as mentioned above) or 6.0. Otherwise, folks have been known to get good service from the v10 Ford. The Dodge, IMO, is just too much of a crap pile to consider—although my BIL’s Hemi 3/4 ton looked good and ran hard.
Another vote for skipping a diesel. Go 3/4 ton GM 6.0 or 8.1 or Ford v10. The short run times are not good for a diesel plus the repair costs on the diesel will be 2x or 3x as much when something does need work.
Can he get away with a single cab? I hope so because this seems to be where the real price bargains exist on trucks. This eliminates all the people who want a truck to act like a sedan and haul the family (and maybe actually haul little else.)
Expanding on that idea, maybe seek out single cab trucks with dually rears. This might be as simple as searching keyword "dually" in CL. What you have now is real working trucks often with little in the way of creature comforts and overloaded with hauling capability. Also, duallys don't fit well in suburban settings so you eliminate all the posers and mall-crawlers.
This may net you a truck that has more capability that you need but I also suspect it may be cheaper than a truck of more suburban/residential appeal. If it has a service bed, it could be even cheaper. Skip the diesel.
Quick sample: https://southjersey.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2006-ford-f350-dually-60-low/6734083372.html
(Yeah, this one is diesel but maybe similar in gas engine.)
Another. This one is dually, gas, 4x4 w/a plow in DC
I have a V10 Ford and up till this year was a great truck for what your father is looking for. I used mine for towing and work stuff.
Watch out for trucks with new radaitiors, might have engine issues.
John Welsh said:
Can he get away with a single cab? I hope so because this seems to be where the real price bargains exist on trucks. This eliminates all the people who want a truck to act like a sedan and haul the family (and maybe actually haul little else.)
Expanding on that idea, maybe seek out single cab trucks with dually rears. This might be as simple as searching keyword "dually" in CL. What you have now is real working trucks often with little in the way of creature comforts and overloaded with hauling capability. Also, duallys don't fit well in suburban settings so you eliminate all the posers and mall-crawlers.
This may net you a truck that has more capability that you need but I also suspect it may be cheaper than a truck of more suburban/residential appeal. If it has a service bed, it could be even cheaper. Skip the diesel.
Quick sample: https://southjersey.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2006-ford-f350-dually-60-low/6734083372.html
(Yeah, this one is diesel but maybe similar in gas engine.)
Another. This one is dually, gas, 4x4 w/a plow in DC
actually he would prefer a single cab/long bed. There just aren't that many of them out there on the used market that haven't been beaten to hell in a work fleet, it seems.
The 5-10 min of use then sits has me thinking that he should stick with a gas truck. I would get the best condition one you can find from GM with the 6.0l in it.
I, too, am partial to Fords, but Chevy is a very close second. I wouldn't pass on either of those, but I've tried Dodge twice and I really hated them.
The 6.0L diesel can actually be a good bet. Make sure the seller has receipts for "bulletproofing" (EGR cooler, oil cooler, etc) and it is a smart gamble. Their reputation keeps them pretty cheap, but the physical engine itself is a paragon of beefy reliable iron.
7.3L, bulletproofed 6.0L, any Duramax (but if it's the LB7, make sure the injectors have been done) or any of the gas V8s would be fine. I like to resist the urge to go crazy with power or torque. Sure, a 600-lbft Cummins makes towing really easy, but I have also towed 10k lbs with a 215 hp 4.6L Ford. It didn't go fast, but it had enough torque to cross the rockies at the speed limit, and the transmission lived forever.
Another possibility is the truck I just sold: F150-7700. For 97-99 they called it an F250LD. It was an F150 body and frame, but they box the frame and use the F250 springs, brakes, axles, 4R100 transmission, and 8.8" front axle in the 4x4. Look for the 7-lug wheels. They aren't plentiful, but many of them were single cab long beds like mine. I bought mine for $4500 and sold it three years later for about the same with 126k on it.
Curtis said:
I, too, am partial to Fords, but Chevy is a very close second. I wouldn't pass on either of those, but I've tried Dodge twice and I really hated them.
The 6.0L diesel can actually be a good bet. Make sure the seller has receipts for "bulletproofing" (EGR cooler, oil cooler, etc) and it is a smart gamble. Their reputation keeps them pretty cheap, but the physical engine itself is a paragon of beefy reliable iron.
7.3L, bulletproofed 6.0L, any Duramax (but if it's the LB7, make sure the injectors have been done) or any of the gas V8s would be fine. I like to resist the urge to go crazy with power or torque. Sure, a 600-lbft Cummins makes towing really easy, but I have also towed 10k lbs with a 215 hp 4.6L Ford. It didn't go fast, but it had enough torque to cross the rockies at the speed limit, and the transmission lived forever.
Another possibility is the truck I just sold: F150-7700. For 97-99 they called it an F250LD. It was an F150 body and frame, but they box the frame and use the F250 springs, brakes, axles, 4R100 transmission, and 8.8" front axle in the 4x4. Look for the 7-lug wheels. They aren't plentiful, but many of them were single cab long beds like mine. I bought mine for $4500 and sold it three years later for about the same with 126k on it.
Good information. Pretty sure he's looking for something substantially newer than 97-99, more toward mid-upper 2000s. He will definitely not be upgrading it for more power or anything :)
In reply to irish44j :
Given your proximity to Wash DC, maybe keep an eye on GovDeals for some retired but not used up "fleet" model
I have an older Diesel and while I like it, I'm not sure I'd buy another one for the simple reason that anything to do with the main selling point of the truck (the Diesel engine) ends up costing a bunch of money extra when servicing, diagnosing and fixing. TBH if I end up replacing mine I'll probably be looking at gas trucks again.
