My F250 finally bit me in the bu##

[Redcatcher70]

After 15 years and only 85,000 miles my F250 hit me in the wallet this week.
All the dash gauges, radio, door locks and window buttons would just stop working. It is an intermitted problem, sometimes while driving or at start-up. My local general mechanic ran the diagnostic test, checked all fuses and relays. Decided it was a short somewhere and he did not want to tackle the job. Bit the bullet and took it to Ford dealer Service Dept. After a day and a half of checking and researching, they decided the circuit board on the cluster panel was bad. Ordered a new board, should be here in about four days, another day to install and program, total of about $1000 dollars. Can't complain, the truck has served me well and other than regular maintenance it has cost me zero to own. This is a 2004 F250, XLT crew cab, with the V10 gasser.

[mich800]

mtofell1 wrote:
I'd have no problem with the Ram Tradesman except for the seats are just uncomfortable and not enough adjustments. My SLT 6.4 Hemi came nicely optioned for 39K back in 2014. 81K miles and only major problem was a blown tranny @ 38K miles (fixed under warranty). Otherwise it's been a good truck. I've got the lifetime warranty and am planning on keeping it until the wheels fall off as the saying goes.

I feel the same way. I hate the way the Tradesman seats fit me. The higher trim levels are ok. Another reason why not every make or model is a good fit for everyone. The Ford seats are still my favorite for my back side.

[mtofell1]

I'd have no problem with the Ram Tradesman except for the seats are just uncomfortable and not enough adjustments. My SLT 6.4 Hemi came nicely optioned for 39K back in 2014. 81K miles and only major problem was a blown tranny @ 38K miles (fixed under warranty). Otherwise it's been a good truck. I've got the lifetime warranty and am planning on keeping it until the wheels fall off as the saying goes.

[FishOnOne]

Yes they're very good trucks. I guy I work with just purchased a new Super Duty 6.7 PSD last week. He traded his 09 Super Duty with 345k miles and he replaced serpentine belt tensioner, AC/Heat duct flap, and transmission. It was leaking oil from the bed plate so he decided to just go ahead and purchase a new Super Duty.

[Redcatcher70]

Well, truck is out of the shop. Replaced the instrument cluster in the dash panel and they reprogramed the cluster. New OEM parts and a two year, 24,000 mile warranty on parts and labor. Total was just a tad over $1,000, this is the first major repair on the truck. I will see if I can get another 15 years out of it and then maybe think trading it off.... ??????

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

mich800 wrote:

Me Again wrote:

Edd505 wrote:

75K was exactly where my F350 Lariat Super Duty CCLB 6.7 power stroke 4X4FX booked new. Price that in a 2019.

Yep, FORD's are over priced.

You may have missed the new MSRP range on the Rams. $75k is not the top out price.

Yep you can top out a Ram to over 83K if you order ever option on a Limited 3500 DRWCC a little more if you go with the Mega Cab.

[mich800]

Me Again wrote:

Edd505 wrote:

75K was exactly where my F350 Lariat Super Duty CCLB 6.7 power stroke 4X4FX booked new. Price that in a 2019.

Yep, FORD's are over priced.

You may have missed the new MSRP range on the Rams. $75k is not the top out price.

[shum02]

Me Again wrote:

Edd505 wrote:

75K was exactly where my F350 Lariat Super Duty CCLB 6.7 power stroke 4X4FX booked new. Price that in a 2019.

Yep, FORD's are over priced.

They sell as many Super Duty's as they can make. No one seems to have a problem buying them, even here in Canada with a 25% markup on the Cdn dollar. Well actually no way I'd buy new but having a real problem finding used trucks as well. Most here in Ontario are being scooped up and exported to the US for resale. Used trucks are stupidly expensive and high mileage.

Makes keeping my 6.0L moving along a no brainer.

[Me_Again]

Edd505 wrote:

75K was exactly where my F350 Lariat Super Duty CCLB 6.7 power stroke 4X4FX booked new. Price that in a 2019.

Yep, FORD's are over priced.

[deltabravo]

schlep1967 wrote:
I don't see me going to a tradesman level with no A/C and very few other amenities. And it has to be suitable for the fifth-wheel I currently have and would be looking ahead to the next one I would need.

Ditto.

A $40k truck these days is probably a "work truck" (contractor) model.

The truck in my signature was $54k 9.5 years ago.

The only major issue I've had is the rear passenger side door lock stopped working. That was about $400 dealer fix.

[CampingN_C_]

IdaD wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
...Take your moderately equipped diesel truck that “we” say can be had for $50k. Round numbers. Obviously that’s $10k or more off the sticker...

Good luck getting $10K off the sticker on a $50K truck. You ain't been shopping for a while. Even A-plan is not $10K off the sticker.

You aren't doing it right.

Nope, I've bought two Rams in the last three years and got 10K off both. It's nothing spectacular, it's actually the norm. On my 18, I offered a price exactly 10 grand off sticker and he immediately took it...:S

[MountainAirMan]

I have some reservations about the dealer findings. Do you get your money back when they discover their guessing didn't work?

[rhagfo]

schlep1967 wrote:

IdaD wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
They all bite us eventually. My Ram got me twice in the last 6 months. Turbo went bad in October ($3,000 variable fin type of course) and I just got hit with the dreaded Dodge death wobble last week. Thankfully I wasn't towing. $2,000 going into front end parts on Monday.

Still cheaper than a $75,000 replacement truck.

I agree with your premise, but the bit about the $75,000 replacement truck feels like a stretch to make yourself feel better. You can get a modestly optioned gas truck for well under $40k in a 4wd/crew cab cab configuration, or a bit over $40k if you want diesel. You can check a bunch more boxes and work up to $75,000 but that's certainly not the entry point.

I don't see me going to a tradesman level with no A/C and very few other amenities. And it has to be suitable for the fifth-wheel I currently have and would be looking ahead to the next one I would need.

Well I test drove a Tradesman a while back, and it had power windows, power locks, a ok radio, and air.

Picked one at random from Dennis Dillon, this has what I mentioned above and 5th wheel prep, sticker is $55K discounted to $45K

2018 Ram Tradesman

2018 Ram Tradesman window sticker

[bucky]

F250s of the OPs generation were known to have windshield leak issues in the left upper corner. Check yours if you have one. They were usually further left than the cluster however. Rust pinholes behind the weatherstrip were the culprit.

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

If that's all it has cost you in 15 years you have one great truck! You know you can buy a complete rebuilt cluster for less than 1/3 of the cost the dealer is charging you, right? Swapping out a dash cluster is a walk in the park.

Don