First Diesel - Is it worth it?

[Mrbrownstar]

I just bought a 28' bumper pull camp trailer. I have no truck but can't afford a new truck so Used is what I am looking for. I hear about how Diesels cannot be beat for sheer pulling and I very much like the fords. In your honest opinions, how much would you be willing to pay for the following:

1994 Ford F350 XLT Lariat 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3L Turbo Diesel IDI
168" wheelbase, Styleside longbed, Electronic 4-speed automatic transmission w/overdrive, 3.55 ratio rear axle, A/C, Cruise, PW, PDL, PS, PB, Tilt wheel, Manual hubs, Manual shift 4x4, Sliding rear window, Dual fuel tanks, Dual batteries (new 6/2010), AM/FM stereo cassette, Trailer brake controller, Bed liner, 169,963 miles.

New injector pump, lines, o-rings & caps, Ball joints, Alignment, Glow plugs, Glow plugs controller, Water pump, Radiator, Valve cover gaskets, Front and rear brakes at 153,000 miles.

Complete service at 169,156 miles. Tires are Michelin LTX A/S with more than half their life left.

New front and rear Rancho 5000 shocks, BDS leveling kit, Windshield squirters and Windshield at 169,950 miles.

[erics diesel]

Sounds like a descent truck but pulling with 3.55 gears will be a very slow start

[Mrbrownstar]

Originally Posted by erics diesel

Sounds like a descent truck but pulling with 3.55 gears will be a very slow start

Thanks Eric. I am new to all the diesel language so I do very much appreciate any input. I KBB this truck with all the options and it is coming up about 4k private sell value so I am not sure why the seller is asking so much 7k. Thoughts other than because the seller has sentimental attachment

[CowboyCody]

if it were me i would hold out for an actual powerstroke, they can be had at around that 7-8K mark and the powerstroke was a definate step up from the IDI

[Mrbrownstar]

Thanks Cowboy - I have heard the pwr stroke cost more to work on if something were to malfunction. Is this true? Also, I am interested in a 2000 7.3 pwr stoke with 208,000 miles Crew cab with a couple dents. It was a commercial truck early in life but for the last 7 years was owned for personal use but still looks nice and it is going for 10k. Like I said, need a truck to pull a 28' trailer 7000 GVW up these Idaho Mountains.

[jesilvas]

Diesels aren't cheap no matter what. So don't think an IDI will just be cheap.
KBB is a bad value. I like NADA myself. But diesels hold value, ppl just like em right now.
And they're right; an IDI, especially with those cruising gears, will be kinda working hard to pull that trailer.

[CowboyCody]

Originally Posted by Mrbrownstar

Thanks Cowboy - I have heard the pwr stroke cost more to work on if something were to malfunction. Is this true? Also, I am interested in a 2000 7.3 pwr stoke with 208,000 miles Crew cab with a couple dents. It was a commercial truck early in life but for the last 7 years was owned for personal use but still looks nice and it is going for 10k. Like I said, need a truck to pull a 28' trailer 7000 GVW up these Idaho Mountains.

It is true that powerstroke parts are expensive(IDI injection pumps are too) (but that one has been done.) thankfully most of the time they last a long time, my truck has 242,000 miles on it and as far as i know the only major things done to it are alt, water pump, and the front end was rebuilt. you could argue that those things are not even major, just maintenance. you could pull that trailer up the mountians with a small gas V8, it would just be slow. you dont "need" a diesel to tow, it is just nice! I would say that sounds like a reasonable price for a 2000, you can always offer less

[85_305]

What the ****? Talking about putting the CART before the HORSE... how do you physically buy a 28' trailer before you even have something to pull it with???

I personally wouldn't waste time with an old idi... there's far better options at this point. Thats some old school technology right there.

[Mrbrownstar]

Thanks Cowboy and 85 305 for the info. The Trailer is parked at my In-laws as it was theirs so it is waiting patiently for me to pick it up. Anyway, I did buy the 2000 7.3 pwr stoke with 208,000 miles Crew cab with a couple dents for 8k. I drove my family around it in before I bought it. About 70 miles so I thought it was all good so I bought it and now it is stalling. Check it out:

I finally bought the truck that was eying me from the used car lot I drive by every day. After careful investigation on web-sites (including this one) I went ahead and bought it - a 2000 F250 7.3 power stroke. Previous to signing on the dotted line, I dove it with my family in it about 70 miles and ran like a champ. The next day, after I bought it, it started stalling and died. I started it and would idle fine but went to put in to drive (automatic) and would slowly chug along but give it a little pedal, it would die. I did the following:

Changed the cam position sensor
Drained the fuel filter

Started it back up and drove it home at normal 25-40 MPH speeds with out a hiccup about 3 miles then it started cutting out again.

Is this just bad luck or might there have been some deliberate hiding of mechanical issues from the dealer. I have heard of sometimes chips being removed from the previous owners and dealers not checking that then causing these kind of failures.

Any suggestions would be appreciated before I start this beast up again and look into this further.

Thanks!

[jesilvas]

Icp maybe. Uvch. Fuel pressure. Just a few

I made my Samsung SGH-I997 send this.