VikingOne
Northern California
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Joined: 04/09/2009
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Hope I don't get hoodafritzered for posting this question, its hardly related to travel trailers. But, I figured someone here might be able to offer some advice......
I'm looking at a 1990 Ford F350 dually crew cab w/ a 460, which I really like. Problem is, I don't know diddly squat about these trucks, dependability, power, etc. This truck has 136,000 miles on it. Anyone use an early 1990's-era Ford 460 to pull your TT? How do you like it? Plenty of power? How many miles can I expect from these engines/trannys? The fella is asking $3500, and I'm sure he'll take a bit less. But even at $3500 is it a decent deal? I don't care what KBB has to say, I'm looking for real-world experience from a seasoned Ford owner. I've never owned a Ford truck in my life.
Thanks for any advice!
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bldrbuck
Boulder, Colorado
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Joined: 02/11/2001
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The truck in it's day was a great tow vehicle. It is 19 years and 136K old, you don't indicate that id has ever been worked on. The price is too high for that truck. Mine is 3 years newer and diesel I doubt that I'll be able to sell it for that much. I plan to run it until it falls apart. I had a 460 and it wall a great puller but had a real need for gas stations, 5-8 MPG towing and a max of 11 solo. Offer 2500 at the most.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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VikingOne
Northern California
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Thank you for the advice, but to be honest, I would expect to be laughed at for a lowball offer of $2500. Either that or kicked in the nether regions and banished from his property. I've been shopping craigslist for a couple weeks now and $2500 buys junk. I'm in the $3500 to $4000 range for a used 3/4 to 1 ton truck, and I'm discovering that $4000 doesn't buy much.
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surveyorjp
Missouri
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Joined: 09/05/2005
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Family member of mine had 2 460s. First was a 1976 F250 that he loved and drove for 20 years with few if any problems. The second was a 1996 F250 that he only drove for 7 years and traded off for a PSD. He said both trucks were good pullers, but 7 mpg was his towing mpg towing first a TT then a 5er with the 460s. His PSD gets much better fuel mileage and has more power.
He also mentioned the 96 would occasionally give him issues with spark knock. That's the only complaint, other than fuel mileage, I can recall. Oddly enough, he had no such complaints about the 76.
I really think 3500 is a bit high for that truck, or at least it is in these parts. $3000 would be very top dollar for a truck like that, and it would have to be loaded with options (that all still work), and have a nearly perfect interior and exterior.
2005 Surveyor SV-291
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 4x4 5.9L V8
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rolnrolnroln
WA
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Joined: 02/15/2004
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I had a 1985 f-250 w/460. The engine was worn enough that I dropped in a rebuilt engine at 125,000. Very reliable but 10 mpg empty, 7 mpg towing in the mtns. puts that engine out of the running in today's environment IMHO. With exactly the same TT, a grade I used to do at 52/floored is done at 60mph on cruise control. Ford diesel. Not a sales pitch for diesel, the gas engines are also much better now. The 460 is simply an old design. If it were me, I'd shoot for something in a later generation.
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VikingOne
Northern California
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OK, how bout a 1994 Ford F350 with the non-Powerstroke 7.3 turbo diesel? (I think they call it "IDI") Almost the same asking price, with a new trans and 170K on the engine. Hows the power and reliability of these motors? Is 170,000 miles alot, or still have plenty of life left in 'er?
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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VikingOne wrote:OK, how bout a 1994 Ford F350 with the non-Powerstroke 7.3 turbo diesel? (I think they call it "IDI") Almost the same asking price, with a new trans and 170K on the engine. Hows the power and reliability of these motors? Is 170,000 miles alot, or still have plenty of life left in 'er?
I personally would pass on that IDI truck. That IDI engine had a lot of cavitation issues/damage because the block was a 6.9L bored out to 7.3L so the cylinder walls were thinner and maintaining the cavitation protection by owner's was very spotty so while 170K is usually nothing for a diesel engine this is not the case in general for that particular engine.
I had a 1978 460 that I towed with extensively until I bought my current Van and it was a beast in it's day, but who in the world puts a 22.5 gal tank in a tow vehicle that as mentioned gets around 11 unloaded and 7 to 8 towing anything of any size. Just after I got my 1978 I did add one of the side tanks that filled from the wheel well and it doubled my fuel capacity, but now days EPA regs, etc. have made those a thing of the past.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
ALL TRAILER MODS>>ETERNABOND INSTALL>>RAINKAP INSTALL
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NCHornet1
Mt. Airy, NC.
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I would spend a little bit more and get a 99-2003 Powerstroke 7.3, you will be glad you did. Lot's of hidden power in the 7.3 as well. I have towed over 23K several times with mine and she never broke a sweat!! They can be picked up for a reasonable price now, unless you live where people actually use trucks for trucks, here they always sell for top dollar and the 99-03 7.3 always is first choice for those that work 'em hard!!
NCH
2000 Ford F350 4X4 PSD,CC, DRW
4:10's, BTM Muffler, Isspro Gauges,
Coolant Filter,CCV Mod
FTVB , Ford AIS
6.0 Cooler,SCT2 W/DP's 40 tow & 80 econo,Zoodad mod
2005 Keystone Hornet 30BHSS
Reese Dual Cam
Family of 4 saved by Grace!!!
MY TRUCK
OUR TRAILER
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MudChucker
Winnipeg Manitoba
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save your money for a little longer and buy better... best to do without then part with 3500 bones on a beater...
2006 Springdale 292BHLS
2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT 6.0
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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Well, I won't hoodafritzere you but I think you will get better response to this question in the Tow Vehicle forum so I will move it there. I don't think you will get hoodafritzered over there either. 
Thread moved from TT forum to Tow Vehicle forum.
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD
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