used truck - Montana Owners Club

Garin1 · 09-20-2005, 01:42 AM

Thinking of buying a used Ford f350 diesel TV. What is the safe range to look at for mileage

richfaa · 09-20-2005, 04:28 PM

Not sure that is a question that can be answered.Been driving diesel busses for the last 6 years, Cummings, Detroit, Navstar Duramax...At least 300,000 diesel miles or more. Have driven motors with 150,000 to over 200,000 miles on them.We have two durmax school bus mini vans..one with 138,000 and one with 120,000 all ran strong with no problems. Maint is the issue..with proper maint the diesel motor will be running strong when the truck body is in ruins. The diesel is a high maint motor (so say the diesel techs in the bus garage) When buying used you never know how it has been maintained. .

dersequim · 10-13-2005, 09:30 PM

I belong to a Dodge/Diesel truck group. We really get nervous about used diesels. Most of the time when somebody new comes into our group we find they are pulling large trailers or loads and never heard about Exaust Gas Temps, their manifold looks like it, they didn't know about letting the EGT to get down to around 300 before shutting off engine to protect Turbo, ETC.

Then it doesn't matter if diesel or gas if they have been cooking the tranny.

I got REAL lucky when I bought my 97' in 2000. It had only 48K and everthing looked well taken care of and who ever owned it took pride in keeping it up. Ofcourse the first time I took it to a rally, they went over it with a fine tooh comb and instructed me on what to look for in the future. We have had trucks come along that showed alot of abuse.

powerstroke73 · 10-14-2005, 02:41 AM

I have 1997 f350 4x4 srw with 204000 miles on it and the motor is strong as ever. The only time I ever get any smoke is in the winter when it has sat for a couple of days. but it goes away after the truck has run a few seconds. I change oil every 5k miles and the air and fuel filters about 10k miles. I would try and find out who owned it before and what kind of work they done with it and how they kept up with the mait.If it hasnt pulled alot I would not worry about it. With the way some soccer moms and dads are buying the bigger trucks and do nothing but haul the kids around in them. MOst of the time the trans is going to be the weak link in the whole set up.

Garin1 · 10-15-2005, 04:21 AM

Well, spoke to the DW the other day and informed her of my decision to buy a used truck

Phew,,, She pertly informed me that I was not about to pull HER new Monty with a used truck. Oh well,,, I guess I will just have to rough it with a new F350 LARIAT

(yes yes yes yes)
'Course i'll have to wait till I get back from Iraq but a man has to have goals,,,right???

drhowell · 10-15-2005, 05:53 AM

Good to have a goal! Better to have an understanding, knowledgeable wife that sees the advantage of a new truck!

Come back safe!
Thank you for what you are doing!

dsprik · 10-15-2005, 06:25 AM

I had the same reaction from my DW, Garin1. However, the logic behind her similar comment when I brought up the words "used truck" in regards to a tv for our new 3400 was NOT financial, technical, or a result of much research. It was because "IT LOOKS BETTER!" I know... I'm probably the ONLY DH that has ever had to deal with that.

Garin1 · 10-17-2005, 06:45 AM

It sure is great to have a spouse that is on the same wavelength

richfaa · 10-17-2005, 07:39 AM

Never had any trouble with Helen on buying new trucks or Campers or new cars or toys.I have my toys, she has her toys and we have our toys...

old turbo · 10-17-2005, 12:18 PM

I purchased a 2001 Dodge dually diesel 6 speed in march of 05. It came with the banks set up. I purchased at a dealer,they gave me one of the stories about how the original owner took real good care of it. I told them I would purchase if they would let me get the truck checked out. The dealer did a little whineing but finally agreed. I took it to a farm boy friend of mine who lives in and out of diesels. He gave me the ok,so I purchased. I never buy new, let the people with all the money buy new,my used will go to all the same places.

dsprik · 10-17-2005, 07:00 PM

Old turbo, that's been my philosophy for years on my other vehicles... have saved THOUSANDS of $$ on my Park Avenues and DW's SUVs. However, I have run into a totally different situation in my quest for tvs. I have been absolutely astonded at the used vehicle pricing on NADA, KBB, and even dealers! We have an anytime family GM employee disount. When I found out I could get a 2006 2500HD D/A fout only $2K to $4K more than a 2 yr old. I had to do a "double take" on that! Continued research held this up.

This was NOT the same situation where I was getting a 2 yr old P.A. w/ 40,000 miles (that listed new @ $38K new) for $15K (have done this twice in a row from 2 different dealers). I really have to take a serious look at the 2006, unless you can show me a dealer somewhere where I can get a 2003 2500HD Crew/SB, 4x4 (only an SL... not like my "loaded P.A") w/ 53K miles for ~$18K, instead of the $27K "best price" I just looked at.

jerryb · 10-24-2005, 10:18 AM

New pick-ups have better resale than any vehicle, I have had to pay capital gains tax when I sold 2 year old trucks with 60 to 70,000 miles, at wholesale auctions. If you watch for rebates etc. you can do much better buying new, plus the finance rate is cheaper and you get a warranty.

sreigle · 10-24-2005, 07:54 PM

Garin1, you're gonna love that new F350 Lariat and the way it tows the Montana! Excellent choice.

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