10K what year model to buy?

[crankme69]

If you had 10~14K to spend on a diesel rig & it's main purpose will be used for towing a enclosed 24' toy hauler for travel / vacations weighing in about 6K pounds, what year & motor size truck would you recommend?

I'm wide open...all replies are welcome, I do not currently think that I want or need a 4X4 or a dually truck, but am open to your suggestions... Oh & I'm not looking for something that will win the race to the top of the hill either, just something reliable that will get the job done without bleeding me dry at the pump like my big block gaser surburban used to do...

TIA,
69

[dbkerley]

I'm partial to the OBS crew cab trucks.

[holleywood]

ya I would aim for a 95-2000, With a 7.3 liter. You are probly going to find it is easier to find a dually with lower miles. But with only towing 6k you dont need a dually by any means. Then you have to decide if you want an auto or a manual. Manual will probly give you longer life, because if you find an auto its probly going to have about 100-150 and will need a rebuild before to long. But you can execpt a LONG life out of the 7.3 we just had someone post the other day his hit a million miles, and several other memebers have well over 400 on most of their rigs. Good luck with your search

[Marty]

for your price range... a regular cab 99 or 2000 would do you nicely. Add some tranny mods, an economy tune and tow tune and you'll be set...

[4everlearning]

These guys have not steered you wrong. They tell it to you straight.

[holleywood]

Originally Posted by Maintain

for your price range... a regular cab 99 or 2000 would do you nicely. Add some tranny mods, an economy tune and tow tune and you'll be set...

Thats a good point, if you only want a single cab you can probly get a newer one.........but for a tow rig i think i would want the extra room. I would recommend a 7.3 though you will find a nicer rig for the price just because they are an older model. But man are they excellent motors, and get great millage with very little supporting mods. You could easy see at least 20 mpg

[bucwheat]

Originally Posted by 4everlearning

These guys have not steered you wrong. They tell it to you straight.

I have a 97 F-350 CC DRW,Auto and I would def go with a manual trans.Got 280,000 miles on mine and 3 transmissions.

[bfloyd4445]

Originally Posted by crankme69

If you had 10~14K to spend on a diesel rig & it's main purpose will be used for towing a enclosed 24' toy hauler for travel / vacations weighing in about 6K pounds, what year & motor size truck would you recommend?

I'm wide open...all replies are welcome, I do not currently think that I want or need a 4X4 or a dually truck, but am open to your suggestions... Oh & I'm not looking for something that will win the race to the top of the hill either, just something reliable that will get the job done without bleeding me dry at the pump like my big block gaser surburban used to do...

TIA,
69

I just sold my 97 F150 which can easily handle 6k and a lot more. For under ten thousand ponds they are economical and live forever properly maintained. The 4.6L seems to live forever, of more consideration than mileage is the past service history of the vehicle. I much prefer the diesel in the F250 for towing but the fact is a gasser, 4.6L is hard to beat and much more economical than a D. Fuel consumption is less with the D but the initial cost and fuel prices today seem to swing the numbers further in favor of the gasser. 14k you can get a pretty nice low milage F150. Oh, I have towed up to 10k with my F150 4.6L and that was aver the Sierra Nevada mountains and accross the Siskiyous on I-5 many many thimes with never a complaint even if i wasn't going 70mph

[dbkerley]

Another thing I'm learning is that maintenance and repair on these things IS NOT CHEAP. Read these forums and learn all you can. Everything you learn here is like putting money in your pocket.

[bfloyd4445]

Originally Posted by dbkerley

Another thing I'm learning is that maintenance and repair on these things IS NOT CHEAP. Read these forums and learn all you can. Everything you learn here is like putting money in your pocket.

you are of course referring to Diesels. I guess all repairs are expensive today but D's seem to be double what it would be for a gasser