1990 Ford F350 diesel dually?

[Everythingbutwings]

Mr. Wings came home in one last night and asked if I wanted it. Well, naturally, I want it! BUT…

We know nothing about diesels. This truck has 89,000 miles (less than 10,000/year) and the asking price is $6,000.

It should easily pull my trailer, haul my hay, etc. Driving it to work will be a stitch, though. XLT package, automatic, cruise control, a/c, power windows/doors, grill guard, new tires and brakes, bed liner, and is already set up to pull a gooseneck - too bad we just bought a tag along! The current owner says he has all the repair records and recently repaired the air conditioning.

We checked the Kelly blue book site and it is listed there (with 92,000 miles) with the options for just under $8,000.

What should we look out for in a truck this old?

[Everythingbutwings]

Only I would be looking on this change as “downsizing” to a more practicle truck!

[Winglet]

I like the 2500 HDs, did you get the 5 speed Allison trans? It’s really the only one with enough oomph to handle the engine output from the turbodiesel… 6.6L, right? Dodge makes a good diesel engine, but their transmissions crap out at 100K, I’ll be looking forward to when they put in the Caterpillar setup they boosted off the big rigs… I’m a happy mechanic…

JoHn (WiNgLeT)

“A horse runs with his legs, competes with his heart, and performs with his soul.”
-Tesio
Look at my ultra cool site! www.geocities.com/winglet18

[Everythingbutwings]

Mr. Wings came home in one last night and asked if I wanted it. Well, naturally, I want it! BUT…

We know nothing about diesels. This truck has 89,000 miles (less than 10,000/year) and the asking price is $6,000.

It should easily pull my trailer, haul my hay, etc. Driving it to work will be a stitch, though. XLT package, automatic, cruise control, a/c, power windows/doors, grill guard, new tires and brakes, bed liner, and is already set up to pull a gooseneck - too bad we just bought a tag along! The current owner says he has all the repair records and recently repaired the air conditioning.

We checked the Kelly blue book site and it is listed there (with 92,000 miles) with the options for just under $8,000.

What should we look out for in a truck this old?

[gwen]

Go for it!!! Trucks last a long time!!!

Barb

[jsg24]

I have never had a Diesel truck. I used to have a Diesel sedan A few things to remeber assuming you get it. Around the D.C. area many gas stations in the burbs don’t have Diesel and if they do you want to be careful. Diesel fuel can grow algae and yucky things. When I got a “bad tank” from one of these stations, it was over $500 to flush out the car and that was 10 years ago! Only buy your Diesel from larger gas stations that go through a lot, e.g. truck stops off 66 or 95. Don’t buy it if you seen the fuel truck refilling at that station (filling the tanks kicks up all of the sediment at the bottoms for several hours). Use additives you can buy at Trak Auto or Auto Zone for Diesels. Most people love their Diesel trucks, you should just be careful about where you get your Diesel in my experience!

Have fun!

[vineyridge]

but my trainer has a diesel Ford 250 that she is expecting to last 500,000 miles on the motor.

Very low gas mileage in a 350, and it’s much bigger than anything you need. On the other hand, it really is a deal.

Buy it, and if you decide it won’t do for you, I’m sure it will be very easy to sell. Heck, I’ll buy it!

If it’s a 4x4, be extra suspicious. I was directed never to buy a used 4x4 because you don’t know where the driver took it. Around here, all the deer hunters have 4x4’s and beat the heck out of them. Has to do with the extra complications that are built into a 4x4. For some reason, the term “transfer case” comes to mind.

You want to check the body carefully for rust. If it has a sprayed in bedliner, be somewhat suspicious.

I always look for old vehicles that are cheap and plan to use my savings to do major repairs.

[Miniwelsh]

and one that looks like that fabulous one that Mr. Bush has…

Behind every good woman lies a trail of men

[AAJumper]

Oh, jsg just reminded me of another pieces of advice regarding gas stations that sell diesel…shop around!!! The price of diesel can be dramatically different at two stations only miles apart! The truck stops jsg mentioned are also going to have the best prices. But even if you can’t find a truck stop, still shop around the local stations. They can vary by 30 cents a gallon sometimes! My husband and I have all the cheap diesel stations scoped out in the neighborhood, as well as along our typical vacation routes!!!

[Robby_Johnson]

That’s a great deal. I have a diesel and love it. Particularly for hauling. It’s my around-town vehicle too, but if I could have a rice rocket I definitely would prefer to keep a car for driving to the mall, etc.

Oil changes are more expensive (about $60), and some repairs are more expensive. I had to have all of my glow plugs replaced last year and that cost about $850. You also have 2 batteries! And when one dies, the other usually follows!

Robby

[ThunderingKnight]

I just got a Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel and I LOVE it. 4 door and a 4WD. It takes about 40 bucks to fill my tank and I get over 600 miles. Plus I can upgrade it to a fifth wheel if I ever get a gooseneck trailer. No need for a duely. It is also 10 times quieter than Ford or Dodge diesels.

[HuntJumpSC]

Mine’s just getting “broke in”…I hit 100K miles last week & mine’s a '96 F-350. Have had no major problems w/ mine other than normal upkeep. The only thing that went wrong was it overheated one nite due to a heater hose that was installed improperly at the factory. It had rubbed against the body of the truck until it finally split~ but hey, it took 5 years to do it…LOL. Took it in & got it spliced, no biggie. I’m just glad it didn’t happen when I was towing…now THAT would have been an inconvenience! SUZ

[Everythingbutwings]

Not 4x4, slide in bed liner and has been garage kept, no rust! I’m afraid it sounds too good to be true.

[Rebelspi]

my friend, incidently, has a ford 350 '90 diesel dually… he gets 21 miles to the gallon whether hes hauling or no always 21… so id say its got good gas milage, and it can tow anything, he uses it to haul his truck + all farrier supplies, and a 3 horse slant bumper pull trailer… does fine =)

[ThunderingKnight]

yes, I got the duramax diesel with the Allison trans. Pulled our big a$$ bumper hitch trailer (complete with horses) yesterday and couldn’t even tell you were towing anything!!

[Cactuskate]

I just bought one two months ago. Exactly as you have described, but mine too was a find, only had 55,000 miles on it. I love it to death. Haven’t hauled with it yet as I just ordered the gooseneck.

Mine is a 5 speed standard with compound low. It appears to be a hauling machine.

I think your price is a real deal. I’m to new at this diesel set up to be of any advice on maintenance. Do you have a good diesel mechanic that could look it over?

Good luck, hope it works out and I hope you like it as much as I like mine.

“The older I get, the better I used to be, but who the heck cares!”

[Everythingbutwings]

I am going to be very bummed if this falls through. My Volvo wagon doesn’t get better than 20 mpg and that goes down along with loss of power on Fridays (like now) with 5 bags of feed and 6 bales of pine shavings in the back!

[AAJumper]

Monsterbuck, you are making me jealous!!! I want one of those!!!

[Cactuskate]

A tale to share.

I’m picking up my big ol’ dually at the radio shop, there is a 1/2 ton truck sitting in front of me with one of those stickers behind the driver’s side window. It reads, “Warning, driver of this truck has LARGE TESTICLES”.

Well could I pass up this opportunity, NO. The “kid” comes out of the shop, I say, “Excuse me are you the driver of that truck?” He starts to apologize because he thinks he was in my way. I said, “No, I mean are you the one with the large testicles? (grinning)”

He says, “Well ya.” To which I respond, “Well my truck is bigger and I have raging hormones!” He grinned and I drove off, rumble, rumble, rumble.

What fun…

“The older I get, the better I used to be, but who the heck cares!”

[Finzean]

BUY IT!!

Diesels are just getting broken in at 100K…

As a charter member of the “I made it up the mountain to Blowing Rock” Club…you can NEVER have too much truck!

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There is no crying in baseball!!!