Ford F-250?

What is everybody's experience with these? I am going to move upstate soon, and would like to get a bigger truck. How reliable are F-250's and how long do they last?

 

The big question is are you looking for a gas or diesel truck? If gas the GM 2500HD with the 6.0 is a better buy in my opinion. And if diesel is what you want the older 7.3 Ford is pretty good, as are the older Dodges with Cummins before they went to DEF systems.

No way in hell would I pay for any ford Diesel made after 2003.5 when they went to the 6.0, or later versions. To be honest I wouldn't buy any new diesel with all the emissions crap they have on them. All the trucks I use at work that are newer are maintenance hogs and very expensive to fix.

One of my work trucks is a 06 F350 6.0 diesel and everything is great on that truck overall, except the engine. It's had a slew of issues and every time it needs to be serviced it's easily a grand or more. It's spent a lot of time at Ford as have most 2003.5+ PSD trucks.

TL/DR version. New diesel sucks, old diesel good, GM gas trucks good.

 

Depends on year. Avoid the 6.0 motor like the chick willing to leave with anyone at the end of the night. If you can get your hand on one with the 7.3, do it. I had an '03 F-250 Crew Cab Long Bed, Lariat with FX4 package. WORK HORSE. Towed a New Holland backhoe all the time with it, never a problem. Often trailered approx 30k lbs with it. Sold it with 150k on it to get something more practical when I stopped doing construction. Still seeing it being driven around.

 

I gotta say that my buddies early 00's Dodge 2500 with the 24 valve Cummins and 6 speed manual is a great truck. It's a little cheap all around, because Chrysler, but that is a solid truck overall. I wouldn't hesitate to get one of those if I needed a full size diesel, but they are getting harder to find in nice shape and most people want to hang on to them.

 

Wow interesting. Yes, I was thinking about a newer Diesel...how about the newer gas F-250's?

 

I would say there a pretty good truck, avoid the 6.0 unless you have 3000 to fix the known issues, I'd probably avoid the 6.4, old 7.3 and new 6.7 are good though, we have a 6.0 excursion that we use to pull a travel trailer, works pretty well now that we've fixed the issues

 

I'd get a cummins over a Ford diesel. But honestly as long as the 6.0 has been bullet proofed it's golden. My buddies bullet proofed 6.0 is a tank that can move anything hooked to.

 

I don't have experience with them. But I see a lot on the road. Many companies have been switching their fleet trucks to gas Ford and GM 3/4 and 1 ton lately due to the diesels not paying off long term.

 

Throwing out ideas here, could also look at the new Nissan titan XD that will soon be on the market. Looks like a very capable truck

 

A guy I used to work/hunt with bought a slightly used F-250 with the 6.7. Seemed pretty nice when I rode around in it, and it hauled everything we threw at it. Granted, he did complain a little bit about all the tedious maintenance things on it.

 

Worst POS I've ever owned but, I did like it.

 

Honestly I wouldn't get a gas f250. Love the 6.4 and the 6.7 is even better. 7.3 is of course the most well known to be the most realiable. 6.0s are hit or miss.

 

What's wrong with the gas engines?
I wouldn't tow too much, if at all. Just carrying stuff, and MAYBE plowing snow.

 

Gas is fine. We use them at work. The F250 is the best gas job truck out there for sure. If you were going Diesel I'd recommend the GM 2500's but if you want gas then go Ford. Everyone who says otherwise is talking about towing. If you are using it for it's payload capacity and 4x4 then the Gas job is the way to go.

 

What are the benefits of a diesel over gas?

 

torque and fuel economy.

 

Torque.

Fuel economy, which is pretty arguable because it's about 15-20% better than gas but if you buy new you are going to pay $4-$6K more for the Diesel truck so the savings only come to fruition after years upon years of ownership. If you ask the farms around here, they pretty much say you pay through the nose either way.

Anyways the heavier Diesel engine, and I mean literally heavier, plus more low end torque makes the truck more suited for tow extreme loads. If you plan on towing more than 10,000 lbs regularly I'd go with the Diesel. Otherwise I'd stick with the gas. I have a gas job Dodge 2500 for work, and other than it's crappiness because it's a Dodge, the truck handles payload just as well as the Diesel version to be honest. We have Ford F250 RCLB gas trucks at work too and I wish the company would allow us to acquire double cab F250's instead of these crappy Rams. The Fords have held up extremely well.

 

My dad and I had a 2000 F-250 with the gas 5.4 that towed about 5,000-6,000 lbs 80% of the time we had it (was my landscape business truck). Also was constantly loaded down with payload. Sold it to a family friend who uses it exclusively as a boat hauler. Still been a dead reliable great truck for them. I loved that truck.

 

Like anything some last forever some are garage queens.

I like my 96 Ford F250 7.3 it gets the job done of pulling my trailer

I also have a 2015 550 with the 6.7 so far so good.

 

So it sounds like people who don't like the F-250's don't like it because of the diesel engine...and the reason the diesel engine has problems is from towing?
What if I get a diesel but just don't work the engine that hard (i.e. don't tow with it)?