thinking about getting an 00-02 F250. i dont want another deisel because i dont tow much but i also dont want a half ton. im looking into getting a used F250, 4x4 short bed extendo cab. this will be mainly a DD and it will tow/haul some crap around occasionally. i know i dont need a 3/4 ton truck but like i said i dont wanna buy a half ton. right now i have a 97 cummins. i love this truck but id really like to have a gasser due to deisel prices around here and for how much i tow i really dont need the deisel. are these f250s decent trucks. i was never much of a ford guy but the dodge gas engines dont do much for me and i dont like the body style of the newer chevys. i like the way the fords look and ive heard good things about the 5.4l gasser except that the exahsut manifolds warp and can crack the manifold bolts off inside the block. are fords reliable? i love that dodge but alot of little stuff has been breaking and im sick of paying to fix it. let me know all the pros and cons if you own one of these trucks.

TIA

As far as interior and exterior styling, I like the Ford's haven't found anywhere that really digs too deep into the gas engines, though.
Have you asked this question in the Ford forum here? Since most here are bent toward Diesel, you might get better answers in the brand-specific threads.

How much is diesel there??? Here regular unleaded is $1.99 and Diesel is $2.63. And at those prices my CTD makes up in fuel mileage the extra cost of fuel versus a gaser. I guess you have your reasons, but I could never see turning in a CTD for a gaser. Have you looked at Chevy 1500HDs? My buddy has one and he gets around 17mpg's with the 6.0L, and it tows pretty decent. I'd much rather have a Chevy gaser than a Ford.

Chris

I've got a 99 V10, which is pretty much the same as a 5.4 except with 2 more cyliners. The 5.4's and the 6.8's are pretty good motors, and they are overall trouble free. Below 2002 or so they had a tendency to shoot plugs out of the head if you over or under torqued the plugs. Even then the problem isn't all that uncommon and relatively easy to fix(I know from experience)

If I was going to get a gas superduty, I would look for a V10. The gas mileage between the 2 motors would be about the same, and the V10 will pull a lot better lugging the superduty's weight plus the trailer. Also, on average, I get 11-11.5 around town driving somewhat aggressive, and 14 or so doing 75 on the highway.

The company I work for has several dozen Ford E-250 Heavy Duty vans with the 5.4 Triton and automatics. These vans are work trucks from day one, weighing between 8000 and 9000 pounds. The oldest one now has 175,000 miles on it, and still has the original engine and transmission. We did have one that blew an engine at 60K miles, and a couple of others have had tranny problems, but overall, they are pretty reliable. They could use more power, but with that kind of weight at over 5000 feet, they run good.

Shouldnt your 97 12V CTD be getting about 20-23mpg???? Well if it does then it would be more cost effective to keep it. But I know how it is once you get bitten by the new truck bug if your 97 CTD is looking rough.

Shouldnt your 97 12V CTD be getting about 20-23mpg???? Well if it does then it would be more cost effective to keep it. But I know how it is once you get bitten by the new truck bug if your 97 CTD is looking rough.

not in pa with the hills and such i only get about 16-17 around town empty. 18 if im lucky on the highway. im just sick of fixing all the stupid little things on this truck. i love the CTD dont get me wrong i love the body style i love the truck but im sick of fixing stupid odds and ends. im also tired of paying close to 3 bucks for fuel, at 35 gallons thats over 100 bucks to fill the tank. i also do not need a deisel truck as i dont tow all that much and id like to have a short bed extendo cab. that would be better suited for what i need at the moment.

For the price youre going to pay for a SD, even a gaser, you could pick up a later model CTD (02 or 03) for about the same price, and move up to the 24V :)
Look around on the Intardnet at places like autouplinkusa.com, craigslist or ebay (where I found my 03 with only 27K miles for $24K). The first one is a TON of car lots and wholesalers around the country and the prices are pretty darned good. In fact, there were a few in your area when I was looking (well, in that area of the country and 3500's with CTD)

IMO if you are dead set on a gasser...get the V10. My brother had an 05 extended cab short bed 4x4 with the 5.4 and 3.73's. It was a dog. I would say with the 5.4 you would need at least 4.30's and that would probably kill gas mileage. His was even the more powerful 3 valve engine. Empty he got about 15 mpg on the highway about 11 in town and usually got around 9 towing about 5000 lbs (towed every weekday). He consistently told me he should have got the V10.

And you're bank should have an auto broker that can help you locate what you are looking for..and they don't cost (broker that is) much. My broker actually saved me 10K..and was cute...and no I don't have pics..cameras in banks don't look real good..:eek: :flipoff2:

i have a 01' F-250 V-10. i love it. my v-10 has 120,000 miles on, it runs great and i have never had an issue with it. around town it gets about 11mpg, on the highway 14-15 and towing between 9-10. it really depends on how heavy your foot is. when i tow i pull my jeep on a 15' car hauler, it tows great, i've never had a problem with it. when i tow i usually don't go over 75mph. my truck has the 3.73 gears, and because i only tow about once a month and only one vehicle its fine. i think if you get a V10 you will be very happy with it.

I have an 06 with the 5.4, 6spd and 4:10s. Its decent for what I do. I get an honest 15 mpg with around town and highway. Probably about 50/50 It has enough power to get the job done but it doesn't have the gobs of power you probably would want for everyday towing. If you drive it aggressive around town, I would estimate that I would easily be in single digit mileage numbers. As previously mentioned, it would be a dog if I had any higher gears than 4:10s

I have an 01 f250 4x4 with the v-10 and 3.73s
102555 miles, 10.5 around town, 12.5 highway 80 to 85 mph.
Sitting at stoplight this morning, smelled smoke....
electrical fire underhood, lots of white smoke, blowing in through the vents, under fenders, dash went haywire but it kept running.
Parked and checked things out . Decided to take it to the it to the dealer.
should know tomorrow... hopefully.
My cruise control hasn't worked for a month or so... wonder if its that speed controle sensor that was supposed to be a problem on the mod v-8s??
There was a recall for those but I was under the impression that the v-10 was not effected.
Its the only trouble of any kind that I have had.

I have an 01 f250 4x4 with the v-10 and 3.73s
102555 miles, 10.5 around town, 12.5 highway 80 to 85 mph.
Sitting at stoplight this morning, smelled smoke....
electrical fire underhood, lots of white smoke, blowing in through the vents, under fenders, dash went haywire but it kept running.
Parked and checked things out . Decided to take it to the it to the dealer.
should know tomorrow... hopefully.
My cruise control hasn't worked for a month or so... wonder if its that speed controle sensor that was supposed to be a problem on the mod v-8s??
There was a recall for those but I was under the impression that the v-10 was not effected.
Its the only trouble of any kind that I have had.

The V10's were affected in that recal, as with the 5.4's. I have a feeling that's what it was. I just had my truck fixed for that recall a few weeks ago. Did you get a recal notice in the mail from ford?

I have an 01 f250 4x4 with the v-10 and 3.73s
102555 miles, 10.5 around town, 12.5 highway 80 to 85 mph.
Sitting at stoplight this morning, smelled smoke....
electrical fire underhood, lots of white smoke, blowing in through the vents, under fenders, dash went haywire but it kept running.
Parked and checked things out . Decided to take it to the it to the dealer.
should know tomorrow... hopefully.
My cruise control hasn't worked for a month or so... wonder if its that speed controle sensor that was supposed to be a problem on the mod v-8s??
There was a recall for those but I was under the impression that the v-10 was not effected.
Its the only trouble of any kind that I have had.


i got the recall letter from ford a month ago and took it in the following week to get fixed. i drive a '01 V10

Nope, no recall notice.
Turned out to be just that.
Parts were in stock.
Cab still stinks from the burned insulation
Any other recalls on these trucks?

Too bad you weren't closer, I could probably give you a couple thousand bucks for that beater 12 valve. What with it needing constant attention and all.... ;-)

The V10's were affected in that recal, as with the 5.4's. I have a feeling that's what it was. I just had my truck fixed for that recall a few weeks ago. Did you get a recal notice in the mail from ford?

What years and models does this recall affect? I have an 03 F250 (5.4) that I bought used and I never heard of this recall:confused:

What years and models does this recall affect? I have an 03 F250 (5.4) that I bought used and I never heard of this recall:confused:

Weird....I just received a speed control recall notice on my '95 F-250.

i have a 03 f250 with the 5.4/auto, and also a 03 f350 C+C with the 6.8/5? spd.

i do the majority of the towing with the f250. it has an exhaust and intake on it, like 25kmi and no problems.

a few times i've loaded the yj in the bed of the f350 and cruising down the highway, my speed crept up to 90 just because that truck loves to fly down the highway.

with both trucks, i haven't found power to be an issue. miles/gal is what hurts. i think the v10 gets better mpg.