Tow Truck discussion

[gordinho80]

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.

[boosTT]

In Wisconsin, trucks rust out faster then I put on 200k miles. I'd go for the newest year you can. Plus HP/Torque wise the modern gas engines are not far behind what the old diesels did.

IDK about buying a 15+ year old truck. The body and interiors don't hold up much longer then that for me.

[1stgenfarmboy]

I keep a close eye on the old Dodge market, I have seen some really nice low miles " around 100k " 95-98.5 that is the 12v mechanical P7100 pump, they will have a NV4500 5spd or an auto with OD and lock up converter. there have been some on e-bay for mid to high teens with no rust and low miles, it will be hard to find a 91.5-98.5 with low miles for less than 12k for a 2wd and 16k for a 4x4.

[SidecarFlip]

mountainkowboy wrote:
Another good choice is an older Dodge with a 12 valve Cummins. IMO not as well built as the Ford but an awesome drivetrain.

So long as it don't have as 727 Toequeflite behind it. An older 12 valve Cummins with mechanical injection is hard to beat as well but be apprised they are notorious for rusting.

With thge price of new iron what it is, I don't see much market softening on the older, heavy duty pickup trucks for the immediate future.

[mountainkowboy]

Another good choice is an older Dodge with a 12 valve Cummins. IMO not as well built as the Ford but an awesome drivetrain.

[gordinho80]

Those are the 2 that stand out the most right now. I might keep looking. I'm not in desperate need of replacing my truck, just keeping eyes open. I might look a little more seriously closer to spring when big trucks are less in demand after snow season here in NJ.

[Kennedycamper]

If that's your only choices, I'd go with the Ford.

[Rather_B_Fishin]

The weak part of getting a 7.3 is the 4R100 tranny. It's not that stout so you'll want to look into it's history or plan on a rebuild at some point. That rebuild should not include a "factory" rebuild but a "bulletproofing" rebuild with a better TC and other improvements. That said, the 2000 F350 I had, had 174K on the original tranny, chipped and all. I did have gauges and installed an aux 20K tranny cooler in 2003 when I bought the truck.

I sold the truck 6 months ago and got top dollar for it even with some issues. Don't kid yourself tho, while it's a heck of motor it needs maintenance and other things on a truck that old will need maintenance as well. I thought I'd have that truck forever...until I sold it. The new truck is twice the rig that 2000 could ever hope to be. my 2 cents.

[SidecarFlip]

Only a couple issues with the 7.3, all fixable fairly low cost, especially if you do it yourself like I do. 1. The warm up valve on the Turbo leaks. Garrett makes a 'delete' pedestal to eliminate the leak, not an easy job to replace but doable in the driveway and the injector harness lead in's (which are part of the valve cover gaskets fail. Replaceable for around 50 bucks each side with upgraded harnesses, another driveway job. A huge amount of aftermarket parts available for the engine and drivetrain and nothing is overly expensive or hard to replace. Even the HPOP is driveway replaceable. Pretty straightfoeward engine to work on really.

[westend]

Any mechanical problems with the older 7.3 may be partially amortized by the difference in fuel expense you'll encounter vs the Hemi. Those larger Rams with the Hemi are known to burn gas at an alarming rate. 10 mpg and lower is very typical.
My neighbor has a 2000 7.3 regular cab and I offered to trade my 2003 Crew Cab gasser straight up. He laughed.

[SidecarFlip]

One plus thing about the 7.3 is. Even when it finally rusts away, the engine and drivetrain will be worth big bucks because the engine isn't being produced anymore and they are in great demand by guys that know what good diesels are all about...

The RAM on the other hand won't be worth anything except scrap value.

7.3's like DT 466's never see the scrapper. They all get rebuilt and used again.

Something to consider.

[SidecarFlip]

jesseannie wrote:
I would pick the white one!

Jesseannie

..........:p

[JIMNLIN]

jesseannie wrote:
I would pick the white one!

Jesseannie

lol...X2 on that

[jesseannie]

I would pick the white one!

Jesseannie

[SidecarFlip]

mountainkowboy wrote:
7.3 hands down, I'm still mad that I sold my 95 CC, 4x4. I sold that truck with 273K on it and the guy I sold it to wouldn't sell it back to me a few years later. It now has almost 400K on it and is still a DD.

If I sold mine, my wife would toss me out. She loves the truck more than I do. The older one's are built like tanks. No thin sheet netal, real heavy gauge steel and if you keep the arches clean of road dirt, they won't rust.

I Fluid Film mine every fall underneath and after 20 years... no rust anywhere and I live in the corrosion belt.

[mountainkowboy]

7.3 hands down, I'm still mad that I sold my 95 CC, 4x4. I sold that truck with 273K on it and the guy I sold it to wouldn't sell it back to me a few years later. It now has almost 400K on it and is still a DD.