Truck Decision UPDATE: Decison Made (pending)

martyn8677 wrote:

mike mck wrote:
This thread seems to be getting a bit off track.
Stay focused folks.
OP wants to sell his current truck for $25K and buy a 1 ton for !5$ and spend the bal of $10K on a camper.
He is looking for opinions on what 1 ton truck to buy for $15K or less. I'm thinking that leaves out 2010 or newer off the list.

Just for fun I ran a 2008 XLT F350 6.4 diesel excellent condition thru Kelly blue book. $11,700.00
Same truck with V10 Gasser $12,400.00.

I find LOTS of Ford Powerstrokes available in my price range with low miles (for a diesel), compared to Chevy/GMC and Dodge. Coincidence? I don't think so.

My takeaways from this. Don't think I want to roll the dice on a Powerstroke, though just in terms of looks, is my favorite truck. I will take another look at Dodge. But, from what I am reading here, no reason I shouldn't consider a gas engine, which may be my best option.

BTW, campers I like in early buying phase to upgrade to: Adventurer 86SBS, AF 811S, Lance 855S.

If I were to find a killer deal on a dually, I may jump on it, and that would open up other camper possibilities.

Thanks again everyone for the great replies. I love this forum, and have learned a lot since I started reading it.

Martyn
All powerstrokes are not the same. I don't think you can go wrong with a 7.3L It's looking like the 6.7 may be as good a motor. 6.0 got a lot of well deserved bad press. I'm not sure how heavy a truck you are looking for.
If you are looking at Fords at $15K or less you can find lots of 6.0's but not sure I would go that direction.
As you are talking a TC with slide out I can tell you I hauled a 94 Caribou with a 94 F350 dually. Did the job but as mentioned did get lean turning out of parking lots. I just can't imagine hauling a slide out camper with a SRW truck. Believe me a long bed crewcab in srw or drw is no different when it comes time to park.
When I came across my 1999 F550 with pick up bed I was sold. $7K, No squat or lean. It just does not care what is in the bed. 4.88 gears.
Empty on flat highway under 70 MPH gets 15 MPG. Loaded with camper towing 5000 lbs headed from Phoenix into the mountain's to Flagstaff got 10 mpg.
From the outside it looks no different that a F350 until you look underneath. I didn't even know there was a Dana 135.

All I can tell you is my F550 with 7.3 fills all my needs and more. Is probably more truck than I need but that adds to the comfort factor. Many advise why buy more truck than you need. My answer is comfort factor. I would advise buy as much truck as you can afford.
Am adding a couple images to show the F550 looks no different than the F350 from the out side with the exception of the 19.5 tires.

My opinion of going to the larger truck applies to Dodge and Chevy as well.