Ford F-250 & Ford F-350 The heavier duty full sized trucks from Ford, offering bigger, more powerful engines and drivetrains for the abuse they may go through in the workplace.

G'Day from DownUnder

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Old 02-23-2018 | 12:42 AM
FlyingAroundRV's Avatar
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Default G'Day from DownUnder

G'day;
My name is Scott and I live in Australia.
In May this year, my wife and I are traveling to the US to buy a travel trailer and a truck to tow it with. We plan to spend 3-4 months of the year Touring the US, for the next 5-6 years.

The trailer we have decided to buy has a max weight of 7600#, and I was advised by a few people that although it is supposedly a 1/2 ton towable, we'd be better off with a 250 sized truck. While doing some research on the Ford trucks, I was struck by the amount of significant problems. Things like spitting spark plugs, death wobble front ends, diesel engines that have so many design faults a whole industry has grown up around "bullet-proofing" them ... etc.

Then I was told that the trucks post 2011 were much improved, with the 6.2L engine being more reliable and not prone to spitting spark plugs.

For our truck, we are budgeting around $25K and looking for the best truck we can get for that money. We need a truck that isn't going to strand us beside the road somewhere or which is going to take a month out of our travels sitting in a shop having major repairs done.

Ideally, we are looking for a truck
Around $25,000.00
2011 or younger
An F250 sized truck
Gas engine
Double Cab or Crew Cab
With 100,000 miles or less - generally in good condition inside and out
Not driven on salted roads, or beaches (Sorry northerners)
No accident, frame damage, salvage or theft history
Not modified - ie no lift kits, low profile tires etc
Cloth seats, carpets, electric windows and other such creature comforts
Preferably XLT or above, but XL acceptable (not with hand crank windows etc)
Preferably one owner, non smoker

We will be arriving near the end of May this year in Dallas.

What are your thoughts on the reliability of the post 2011 gas F250s?
Are there certain years or models that are better than others?
Does anyone have a truck that fits the description and are thinking of trading up to a newer truck?
 
  #2  
Old 02-25-2018 | 11:49 AM
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Welcome to the site Scott..

Sounds like you were reading about the earlier Tritons, 6.0-6.4s?
The early Tritons had SP thread issues, later builds SP/designs would separate the SP on removal and would require retrieval from the head.

There’s a lot of lease returns available in Texas, and some scrutiny can find a decent rig. Quite a few have had evidence of being Tow vehicles, some pretty clean and Virgin. Sporting a bedliner?? have a look on the underside for holes in the bed or evidence of trailering hardware removed..

Or other areas for truck/fleet sales you may find fleet reduction or MY fleet upgrades where rental outfits etc are selling off trucks at a decent price, generally in good shape and cared for.

But when ever I’m considering a truck, I like to check the private sector for possibly a low mileage truck that maybe an older retired couple had for towing a TT and don’t need the truck any longer and want to get out from underneath it. Quite a few are lower mileage, generally didn’t do a lot of the ‘predicted’ towing like I see in our area.
Same with me,, lifts, gauges, oversized wheels/tires, lots of aftermarket, barely a look see..
 
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Old 02-25-2018 | 03:31 PM
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Hi:
Thanks for the reply and the tips.
Speaking of the private sellers, I've looked at Craigslist. Is there a better site for searching for private car sellers?
Thanks.
Edit:
BTW, I seem to find very few 2WD f-250s on the market. Is there a reason for that? Did they just not sell many in the first place, or do people hang on to those more?
My preference would be a 2WD because of less to go wrong ... Simpler is better!
 

Last edited by FlyingAroundRV; 02-25-2018 at 03:38 PM.
  #4  
Old 02-26-2018 | 11:36 AM
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Yeah, quite a few 250/350 will be 4x4's. You tend to see a decent showing of 2x RWD's in F350 dually,, but many 2-350 will be diesel. Not all though. I've seen quite a few around, and when I was working in fleet apps.

The 4x4 systems in the 250/350 rarely have any significant issues and a few ways to look at having the option.
First would be the added purchase cost of course, some coin more, and with that getting the MY or close to what you want and mileage mark on the clock you after..You may have to up the game if 4x, should be a go or close if 2x.
But for me, the 4x4 option would be added security in knowing Id have the extra traction/pulling power should the trailer get stuck or bogged down. 'I know this' So along with 4x,4 high/low ranges..
The other consideration,, is that the 250/350 are a very popular truck and resale of a 4x4 may be easier than one not option.

I did a quick search on Carmax and Carfax sales and found a few 4x2/RWD in my ZIP, but tended to be mid 2K+ and i believe were diesels. Most of the rental companies fleet sales tend to be 150 class, but my brother bought a 05 250 4x4 6.0 from Hertz (commercial rent/leasing) some years back, nice truck and was lower mileage.. These's always eBay, Kelley BB (area/dealer/private locator) Autotrader and many others, but most sites will link to the seller be it dealer or private, fleet sales, or a specific truck.. There's a boat load of trucks for sale in TX, and finding a 2x gasser I wouldn't think would be overly difficult..

Id stray away from a the 6.0/6.4 with any higher mileages, although mine ran like a champ until i sold it off at 175K. was a great truck, hauled many a heavy load. I also wouldn't be overly concerned about one if it were lower mileage, checked top to bottom, head to toe, but not a bad practice either way gas or diesel even if some sort of warranty is given...
 

Last edited by Hayapower; 02-26-2018 at 11:40 AM.
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