$15k to spend on a truck help
 

just looking for input here...Option one is a 2001 F250 7.3l diesel 4 x 4 with 113,000 miles very nice truck and should i ever upgrade to a 32/35 it will handle the job. Have not found option two yet but for the the same money i can come up to a 2005 Ram 1500 5.7l gas 4x4 and they are out there with 75,000 to 90,000 miles for that money. I pull a Sunsation 288 and the truck is not a daily driver it sits at the lake in the summer and i pull two miles to the ramp, sits in my garage in the winter and is driven usually just in bad wather. I maybe pull to a couple region poker runs each summer but nothing mroe that 3 hours away. I like the diesel but keep thinking i could get a newer truck with the gas engine. What would yo do?

The diesel has a new transmission and ball joints which i guess are wear items around 100k miles.

I was in a similar situation. Started looking at older used trucks. The idea of a high mileage older diesel, and the repair costs if something goes wrong, scared me too much. I too really only use my truck to tow the boat around, and I do local trips mainly with an occasional longer trip. After searching and searching used trucks, I found a lot of the older trucks to be beat to crap. I wanted a dually, so started looking at 96-00 Chevy's with the 454 Vortec engine. Sort of a modern old school truck. Parts are cheap, repairs are easy, and pulls my 38 no problem. I found this truck down in Kentucky, rust free. The underside looks like a 2 year old truck. Had 85k miles when I bought it. I paid 6,000. Probably have 8 into it now, as I immediately put new rubber, brakes, and some other maintainance into it to get it up for road trips. Im very happy with it, and would tow my boat anywhere with it. Gas mileage isn't stellar, 13mpg hwy empty, and 7-8 towing my 38, but its not my daily driver. And in the grand scheme of things, the trucks fuel consumption is minute compared to the boats fuel consumption!

2 miles to the lake ( short trip), sits in the winter and summer, that screams gas truck, Diesels don`t like short trips or sitting idle.

You can't go wrong owning a low mileage 7.3L PSD.

That said, you could also look into an 8.1L Vortec GM gasser. They are full of grunt, and will tow whatever you have in your aforementioned upgrade plans.
The "big block" gas options from Ford and Dodge (V-10s) do not have the greatest reputation compared to the 8.1L GM. If you get it in a 2500/3500 truck, it comes mated to the Allison transmission which is probably the best part of the package; same transmission that backs the Duramax.

I am in the same situation. What do you guys think with an 08 Ford Diesel 245k miles.

Walk away.....

A Chevy Avalanche 2500 will do the trick along with a Suburban/Yukon 2500. The 8.1 was available from 2000-2006. They pull 12,000 lbs no problem. That said the Ford 7.3 is a pretty good engine ( really a International engine).. Avoid the Ford 6.0 and 6.4 diesels with high mileage.

Older Duramax is OK as long as the injectors were serviced.

I know some people think I don't know what I am talking about, so this advice is FREEEEEE and worth every penny.....

Wannabe

When I buy a vehicle, I'll go search the for sale sites (eBay, AutoTrader, CraigsList) for vehicles with 20K, 50K, and maybe more miles than the vehicle I'm looking at; just to see what's out there and still running. I might even go drive one or two; and pay specific attention to what has been rebuilt/replaced. A quick search on AutoTrader lists a 2008 6.4L in Georgia for sale with 290K miles on it and it looks great. But with that kind of mileage, realize the all the electronics have a ton of "working hours" on them as well; not to mention suspension other expensive parts. I'd go back in years and lower in mileage if it were me.

Personally, I would not buy that truck. It's the first year for an engine they only kept for 3 model years and the fuel mileage is/was horrible. I'd by an 07 6.0L PSD with heads redone and studs before I bought that truck.

Nice low mileage 7.3s can be had all day long for 15k and you certainly won't be disappointed with towing and milage. Look for a 2000. Has the larger injectors and turbo of the '00+ and still has the forged rods of the pre '01 trucks. Either way they're all great motors under 500hp which doesn't sound like you're worried about.

There are some deals on 2500 and 3500 srw HEMI trucks also. We had a 2500 hemi 6 speed that could tow anything. Even our 51' 20,000lb trailer way easier then expected. The manual sure woke her up but you would be fine with an auto. Just agreeing that a newer low mileage gas truck would be nice to own.