We have started the process of preparing for a fully retired lifestyle which will see us becoming snowbirds next winter. We are still searching for a larger 5er and have sold our 3/4T a few weeks ago. I now have a line on a 2011 F350 King Ranch with 60,000 km. it is located 4 hrs from home but is on the way to visit family for Xmas and will be stopping in Monday to view it. I am not even close to considering myself a mechanic so thought this would be an ideal place to get some suggestions on what to look for. Here are some of the questions I have emailed to the salesman?Car Proof History Report, including details of Original ownership, Any accidents, Service history; i.e. Any major repair work outside of regular maintenance, Mfg date, In-service date.# of Hours on motor? # of Idle Hours on motor?Does the F350 have in-bed 5th wheel hitch mounts?If any of you have suggestions of other things I should be asking or looking for when I inspect and test drive the vehicle I would appreciate your feedback.Thanks

Gas or Diesel? It makes a very big difference, pulling a fiver you will want a diesel if you leave the flatlands. Service history is a big item now that I own one, did it get oil changes when it should have, fuel filters are a lot more important on new diesels so those should have been changed, and so on. You can get the idle hours off the info center if it is equipped with that. Otherwise just the normal things you'll look for. Since you are in the frozen north, rust of course is a major item. Starting in 2011 the OEM hitch was an option, so it may or may not have been installed. If you see 4 plastic 'puck' covers in a rectangle with a bigger puck in the center then it has the bed prep package. There will also be a trailer connection outlet on the left hand wall of the bed near the tailgate end.They are great trucks we love ours and haven't had anything but a couple of minor problems with it: a replaced battery clamp and the 120V outlet needed to be replaced since a plug would not stay in it.

Sounds like your on the right track. The goal is buy a truck knowing what was done to it (or lack of) with no surprises.Good luck

It's the 6.7 diesel so should have plenty of pulling power

I don't know what kind of warranty Ford provided on the 2011 trucks, but maybe it still has original factory coverage. If it does, that might make it an easier decision.

Charli wrote:We have started the process of preparing for a fully retired lifestyle which will see us becoming snowbirds next winter. We are still searching for a larger 5er and have sold our 3/4T a few weeks ago. I now have a line on a 2011 F350 King Ranch with 60,000 km. it is located 4 hrs from home but is on the way to visit family for Xmas and will be stopping in Monday to view it. I am not even close to considering myself a mechanic so thought this would be an ideal place to get some suggestions on what to look for. Here are some of the questions I have emailed to the salesman?Car Proof History Report, including details of Original ownership, Any accidents, Service history; i.e. Any major repair work outside of regular maintenance, Mfg date, In-service date.# of Hours on motor? # of Idle Hours on motor?Does the F350 have in-bed 5th wheel hitch mounts?If any of you have suggestions of other things I should be asking or looking for when I inspect and test drive the vehicle I would appreciate your feedback.ThanksWhy not buy a small pickup.

2011 F350 What to ask? | Good Sam Community

Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Dec 22, 2013
I do not have any upgrades on the 2012 concerning on board computer display.

The engine hours and idle time can be seen by punching a button to get that displayed.
BigBaron
Explorer
Dec 22, 2013
Before you buy it take the dipstick out a drop a dot of oil on a plain piece of white paper. If it "wets out" a big circle that is mostly clear, there is a lot of fuel in the oil-a bad sign. If it "wets out" a smaller circle that is dark in color (dirty oil color), then there is little or no fuel in the oil.
Ask for maintenance receipts. Check the fuel filter and housing-is there a bunch of gunk in the bottom?
Was it driven daily for just a short distance or 20-30 minute trips? If it wasn't allowed to warm up on a regular basis that could cause problems.
The list goes on and on...
Also do a LOT of research on that model and engine- Powerstroke Nation, The Diesel Stop, etc.
Supercharged
Explorer
Dec 22, 2013
agesilaus wrote:
It sounds like he plans on hauling a fifth wheel, how many small pickups have you seen doing that?
I pulled one for 35 thuosand miles will out any problems behind a 1/2, Had a flat of two and that was it. Climbed the highest Rocky Mtn. easy. Big is bad, little is great.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Dec 22, 2013
It sounds like he plans on hauling a fifth wheel, how many small pickups have you seen doing that?
Supercharged
Explorer
Dec 22, 2013
Charli wrote:
We have started the process of preparing for a fully retired lifestyle which will see us becoming snowbirds next winter. We are still searching for a larger 5er and have sold our 3/4T a few weeks ago. I now have a line on a 2011 F350 King Ranch with 60,000 km. it is located 4 hrs from home but is on the way to visit family for Xmas and will be stopping in Monday to view it. I am not even close to considering myself a mechanic so thought this would be an ideal place to get some suggestions on what to look for.
Here are some of the questions I have emailed to the salesman?
Car Proof History Report, including details of Original ownership, Any accidents, Service history; i.e. Any major repair work outside of regular maintenance, Mfg date, In-service date.
# of Hours on motor? # of Idle Hours on motor?
Does the F350 have in-bed 5th wheel hitch mounts?
If any of you have suggestions of other things I should be asking or looking for when I inspect and test drive the vehicle I would appreciate your feedback.
Thanks
Why not buy a small pickup.
DrBaker
Explorer
Dec 22, 2013
I don't know what kind of warranty Ford provided on the 2011 trucks, but maybe it still has original factory coverage. If it does, that might make it an easier decision.
Charli
Explorer
Dec 22, 2013
It's the 6.7 diesel so should have plenty of pulling power
FishOnOne
Nomad
Dec 22, 2013
Sounds like your on the right track. The goal is buy a truck knowing what was done to it (or lack of) with no surprises.

Good luck
agesilaus
Explorer III
Dec 22, 2013
Gas or Diesel? It makes a very big difference, pulling a fiver you will want a diesel if you leave the flatlands. Service history is a big item now that I own one, did it get oil changes when it should have, fuel filters are a lot more important on new diesels so those should have been changed, and so on.

You can get the idle hours off the info center if it is equipped with that. Otherwise just the normal things you'll look for. Since you are in the frozen north, rust of course is a major item.

Starting in 2011 the OEM hitch was an option, so it may or may not have been installed. If you see 4 plastic 'puck' covers in a rectangle with a bigger puck in the center then it has the bed prep package. There will also be a trailer connection outlet on the left hand wall of the bed near the tailgate end.

They are great trucks we love ours and haven't had anything but a couple of minor problems with it: a replaced battery clamp and the 120V outlet needed to be replaced since a plug would not stay in it.

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