Seeking Advice -- Purchase of Older 3/4 Ton Tow Vehicle
I posted a while back seeking info and advice about buying a used tow vehicle. Thanks to all who responded, I have narrowed my target truck parameters down and have a few questions.
I want to buy a 3/4 ton 4WD crew cab truck with a short bed. These are the trucks I am considering:
Ford F250 V10
Chevy/GMC 2500 or 2500 HD, 6.0 V8
What years do these engines appear in these trucks, and any cautions or tips on what to look for and/or what to avoid? Should I expect that the Ford V10 would get worse mileage than the Chevy 6.0, or about the same? I owned a Ford van with the V10 once and loved the engine, but it was very thirsty.
I am also thinking of considering the Ford 7.3 diesel, or an older Dodge 5.9 diesel. But I need some advice. The vehicle will mainly be used for tow duty in the summer, towing from the hot hot southern desert in AZ to the AZ high country, plus runs to Home Depot and other errands occasionally throughout the year. The vehicle will probably only get 3,000 or 4,000, maybe occasionally near to 5,000 miles max per year, though I will be sure and exercise it regularly. Question: Is this too few miles per year to be practical from a maintenance point of view for the 7.3 Ford or the 5.9 Dodge Ram? Miles in the winter would be within the city not towing.
My budget range is $8,000 to $12,500. I have occasionally seen 7.3 Fords in that range, but would it even be possible to find a Ram 5.9 in decent running condition in that price range?
Thanks in advance for any info and tips!
I want to buy a 3/4 ton 4WD crew cab truck with a short bed. These are the trucks I am considering:
Ford F250 V10
Chevy/GMC 2500 or 2500 HD, 6.0 V8
What years do these engines appear in these trucks, and any cautions or tips on what to look for and/or what to avoid? Should I expect that the Ford V10 would get worse mileage than the Chevy 6.0, or about the same? I owned a Ford van with the V10 once and loved the engine, but it was very thirsty.
I am also thinking of considering the Ford 7.3 diesel, or an older Dodge 5.9 diesel. But I need some advice. The vehicle will mainly be used for tow duty in the summer, towing from the hot hot southern desert in AZ to the AZ high country, plus runs to Home Depot and other errands occasionally throughout the year. The vehicle will probably only get 3,000 or 4,000, maybe occasionally near to 5,000 miles max per year, though I will be sure and exercise it regularly. Question: Is this too few miles per year to be practical from a maintenance point of view for the 7.3 Ford or the 5.9 Dodge Ram? Miles in the winter would be within the city not towing.
My budget range is $8,000 to $12,500. I have occasionally seen 7.3 Fords in that range, but would it even be possible to find a Ram 5.9 in decent running condition in that price range?
Thanks in advance for any info and tips!
