I'm in the market for a different truck. I currently have a 2001 F150 Super Crew with a lot of miles, 223k. I'd like something newer, but I'm not against older provided its a better vehicle.I've got my eye on 2 totally different trucks right now. 2006 Ram 2500 Mega Cab with the 5.7 Hemi and a 1999 Ford F250 Super Crew with the 7.3 diesel. The Ram has 83k miles and the F250 has 140k. I like the idea of a diesel, but the Ram is much newer with less miles. Both trucks appear to be in really good shape. Based on KBB values, though, the Ram's asking price appears to be a much better buy.What are everyone else's thoughts? This would be my daily driver, but I do not commute for work, so I'm really only looking at doing 200~ miles a week regularly.

You live in New Jersey. Check the frames for excessive rust from winter road salt. That should be the FIRST thing to consider coming from a snow state.

The mega cab would by my choice. However there are two things against it. Well three actually Low capacity, short bed and the gas motor. Megas have great capacity and are quite comfortable, but that comfort comes at a price.

When we do travel, it would be my wife and I along with our now 2 year old. So having a full backseat is a plus. Smaller bed is fine, as I'm used to the 5.5ft bed on the Super Crew currently.

DutchmenSport wrote:You live in New Jersey. Check the frames for excessive rust from winter road salt. That should be the FIRST thing to consider coming from a snow state.Also check if it's been in an area with floods, LOTS of Houston flood cars in the used market right now, often having gone through a state where they can wash the flood salvage from the title. Carfax might not be that useful but they will tell you where the car or truck has been registered.

Clean CarFax on both. Ram originated in Maine, F250 is from PA. I know the 7.3 is a great motor, my brother in law has a 2000 F350 with the 7.3 and loves it. I know it would tow my Coachmen just fine. No experience with the Hemi, but I assume that would have no issues towing the camper either. 7.3 might yield better mileage. But the Ram is a little newer.I'm torn!

Tow Truck discussion | Good Sam Community

LifeInsideJack
Explorer
Jan 07, 2018
SidecarFlip wrote:

Rwice the truck, 3 times the payment.....:)

My '97 owes me nothing. It's been paid off since 2001. Nice not to have a payment book. Probably the prime motivator for not buying a new one other than all the emissions junk.

Our 2003 F250 4x4 flatbed is at 143k and those haven't been pretty. It's a work truck and it pulls our house around. Being an F250 the doors are rusted and being a work truck it's pretty bland. However, we can hose it out when it gets too dirty.

The kicker is, it's long paid for and since we're full time RV folks I'd rather drive a holy F250 than have a payment. Being debt free is a big part of what makes this lifestyle work for us.
ppine
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2018
Boosting the power of the 7.3 is easy with bolt on parts. Mine is a hot rod after adding 4 inch exhaust, new air cleaner and a simple new programmer. Mostly is just advances the timing and changes the shift points.
totaldla
Explorer
Jan 07, 2018
The 7.3 can be a bit dissapointing - it's not that powerful. Efficient yes, powerful no.
Westcoasting
Explorer
Jan 06, 2018
Jebby14 wrote:
7.3 all the way. bonus points for the blue oval. more for diesel,

if im not mistaken it was still a international motor right?

You mean Navistar (International) yes they are!
Jebby14
Explorer
Jan 05, 2018
7.3 all the way. bonus points for the blue oval. more for diesel,

if im not mistaken it was still a international motor right?
campigloo
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
You didn't install a jake. Jacobs brakes act on the valves. You installed maybe a Blue-Ox butterfly exhaust brake

Pardon me for using a generic name. It was easier to write "jame" than to spell out Banks exhaust brake mounted on the exhaust side of the turbo connected to a stainless steel 5" exhaust system.
1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
My SIL had a 2000 7.3 with some fuel mods, he ended up putting a trans in it at 320k............piece of junk..........:B
westend
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
The weak part of getting a 7.3 is the 4R100 tranny.
Don't get me scared. ;) I've got 199K on the '03 and I'd like to push that out for a few years. Not all of that 199K has been easy miles, either.
Rather_B_Fishin
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
HAHA - yeah payment isn't that much actually. Haven't had a truck payment for 12 years but at some point it's time to upgrade so all of those years of no payments add up for a nice down payment. :) Mine owed me nothing as well but got tired of the 2-3 grand a year it took to keep it on the road. I suppose at some point I'da replaced almost everything but the tranny wasn't going to last forever either. Where I live I needed/wanted something that was more HD and something that rides better. I have no use for one of new those junk diesels so I saved myself a chuck of cash and headaches down the road. The 6.2 pulls as good or better than the chipped and modded 7.3 it replaced. Cheers!
rbpru
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2018
I took the easy route, I told the local dealer what I wanted and let them do their work.

I needed a low mileage F-150 super cab 4x4. I took several weeks and I looked at a couple of trucks, but eventually a very low mileage F-150 showed up.

If you are in a hurry, that is another story.

Good luck

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