I found a 2000 Ford F350 SRW with the V10 Gas engine. It has around 130,000 miles on it and has been used as a work/plow truck. They're only asking $3200 for it and its not perfect but I'm wondering if this would be suitable to my 41' Avanti with trailer weighs around 12,000.

What problems should I look for on it? Are there any common issues with this model?

Thanks

Do you get good points with the fuel card? My sister had a sd with the v10, sold it to a friend...never any problems with it, but its a THIRSTY one... It goes thru gas faster than I go thru rum even...

How bad is the rust on it? Most plow trucks are pretty rough! But if it's in good shape it will be fine towing that.

Thats one major negative I've been considering already, but I just accept bad gas mileage as part of this hobby.

I haven't crawled under it yet but theres some minor rust on a couple of the panels here and there... I'm going to have another look at it today so I'll find out.

I had one. Sold it to a friend. Just minor stuff like the cap on rear differential. Was a good truck. Mine was an old DNR truck. Rust spots on these seem to show up in wheel wells and lower part of the door and at bottom corner of the cab. I would buy another again without worries

That motor is famous for blowing the spark plugs out the sides of the engine. Do a search on "Ford V10" here on OSO as it's been discussed before...

And these Google searches:

https://www.google.com/search?q=ford+v10+spark+plugs

https://www.google.com/search?q=ford+v10+problems

My buddy and OSO member had one years ago. He towed once with it only once at rated capacity, moving from VA to TX with an enclosed trailer. He said he barely made it, coughed and smoked the 2nd half of the trip. He sold it as soon as he got to TX. IMHO, they are OK for work vans and fleet trucks that haul moderate loads (in van/in bed), but not suited for towing, especially not a 41 ft. boat.

If it's been used as a plow truck, the weight takes it's toll on front suspension, especially the ball joints. And pushing snow, more specifically all the jolting and shifting... takes it's toll on the drivetrain, from the torque converter to the axles (transmission, transaxle, U-joints, carrier bearing, seals, differentials, etc. etc.).

It's probably a perfect plow truck, OR a perfect tow vehicle, but NOT one after the other.

They blow out the top, maybe that's why ford went to coil on plug to help hold them down lol, but that's not an issue with the aftermarket plugs, I'd stay away from from an old tired plow truck but wouldn't hesitate for a clean well cared for v10.

have a couple of them with way over 200k on them. good engines. the plugs blowing out are on all ford modular engines and it is no big deal, the tool set to fix them is about $200 and it takes about 15-30 mins to replace the threads. Pretty good mileage unloaded but thirsty when towing. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

I have a hard time believing that Avanti weighs 12k on a trailer unless you have siphoned every drop of gas out

Those are some of the things I was concerned with. Pushing snow is definitely not easy on the parts you listed. I am going to have a mechanic look it over and see if any of those parts are in bad shape. I know the U-joints were replaced already though.

I haven't put it on the scales yet but the specs say it weighs around 9000 empty. even adding 2500 lbs.for a full tank of gas the and another 2000 or so for the trailer would put it around 13000 total...