Situation: I just retired my car trailer as it was becoming a safety liability (frame rot etc) so I've been looking at trailers that can handle the race car as well as tractors w/implements. Problem is our tow rig is often occupied with horse hauling, so I've been looking for reasonably price rollbacks.
Enter this: http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/4579921159.html
What do you think?
Diesel that starts hard doesn't fill me with confidence.
Damn. 5500? Find out what causes "hard starting" on that motor before you buy it and that would be a great tow rig/car hauler. Glow plugs?
I do know the IDI 7.3 was always a hard starter, so it may just be that. Glow plugs look to be easy and cheap to replace.
Seems overpriced to me, but I know pricing region to region is different.
probably needs glow plugs, but the older IDI's will start harder a DI diesel.
Internet search says, injectors may be shot as well or a leak in a fuel pressure or return line.
http://www.intellidog.com/dieselmann/idi.htm
Some states charge a good bit more for a rollback as far as registration/insurance, make sure you research that before pursuing it.
Apexcarver wrote: Some states charge a good bit more for a rollback as far as registration/insurance, make sure you research that before pursuing it.
This.
In reply to Apexcarver:
would a ramp truck be cheaper for OP
aka
That's what spurred my search!
most people in the north east consider roll back and ramp truck to be the same. I did find this though: http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/4557141967.html
Seems like they're all diesels... How hard would it be to build my own ramp back?
On the rollback, don't neglect the potential nightmare of the hydraulic system. Especially with a Northeastern truck...rotted lines, cylinders with rods tahat have cheap platting that rusts, taking the seals with them, etc...
fanfoy wrote: On the rollback, don't neglect the potential nightmare of the hydraulic system. Especially with a Northeastern truck...rotted lines, cylinders with rods that have cheap platting that rusts, taking the seals with them, etc...
This is what would stop me, cheap plating on anything and bad hoses on anything that should have been replaced years ago and I would walk away.
I had two trucks very similar to that, an 88 and a 90. They were hard to start even with good glow plugs. I usually used a shot of either. The truck always worked once it started.
As others have said the rollback is the real headache. Mine were about 10 years old and I was constantly chasing leaks, repairing hoses and wiring, and rebuilt all the cylinders. I can't imagine there would be less problems 15 years later. They were good for what I needed but they were pretty Maintainance intensive. For my personal use I would go with a ramp truck. .
DaveEstey wrote: most people in the north east consider roll back and ramp truck to be the same. I did find this though: http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/4557141967.html Seems like they're all diesels... How hard would it be to build my own ramp back?
Sent you PM.. I think I was the boss of the owner of that truck.
You need to start with this truck, then add the rollback, so as to eliminate concerns about aged hydraulics. 
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/4550953803.html
As said, northeast corrosion on a 25 year old ford would scare me off. As always with hive suggestions: look south young man, then fly/drive the best Georgia/Alabama truck you can find.
1988RedT2 wrote: You need to start with this truck, then add the rollback, so as to eliminate concerns about aged hydraulics.
Now THAT with a ramp body would be badass.
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