urbex
1/2 ton status
Current tow rig is a 1990 F350 4x4 7.3 IDI with Banks Sidewinder turbo kit, 5 speed, crew cab long bed. Boost is currently set at 8psi. I HATE this truck, with a fiery passion. I wanted/needed a 1 ton when I bought it, was specifically looking for a big block gas truck, not partial to any one brand at the time, and it came along at what I felt was a dirt cheap price. It's physically uncomfortable to drive any distance, and the diesel aspect is just a pain in the rear to deal with. I suppose it gets halfway decent MPGs at around 10mpg, pulling roughly 8000lbs through the Arizona mountains, never at a lack of power, but constantly having to get out of it because EGTs keep climbing to dangerous levels.
Now it's leaking oil out of basically every gasket, was due for glow plugs, injectors and fuel pump years ago, and I don't want to drop a grand plus into a truck I hate driving anyways, lol. The guys on the Ford forums say my truck is running just fine, and pulling out due to EGTs is common on these things. Newer diesels are WAY out of my budget, as in not even a pipe dream, and I refuse to finance a vehicle that rarely gets driven. Not to mention, I didn't want a diesel before, and I still don't now. I'd rather have the MPG hit than the maintenance cost hit, and it just seems like they're a PITA to drive compared to gas.
This truck, and whatever replaces it, is strictly a tow rig/heavy hauler for me, period. It will never be a daily driver, and not even likely to be a backup daily. I have a Caddy that's my current daily, and I'd take the K5, followed by the Samurai before this, lol. The F350 gets driven maybe once or twice a month now, maybe a couple hundred miles total. So I can't bring myself to spend 10K+ on something that gets used so little.
So that said, I've found the 454 TBI trucks to be within the current budget, but would this be an absolutely horrible idea if I'm planning on hauling/towing say a max of 12K combined between trailer/camper weight? Most often it would just be a K5 on a trailer, guesstimating around 7K loaded up. I know the MPGs are going to be lower than the diesel, and I don't really care about that. Just more concerned about power issues, and if I'm still going to be running 25mph up the hills like I am now.
Now it's leaking oil out of basically every gasket, was due for glow plugs, injectors and fuel pump years ago, and I don't want to drop a grand plus into a truck I hate driving anyways, lol. The guys on the Ford forums say my truck is running just fine, and pulling out due to EGTs is common on these things. Newer diesels are WAY out of my budget, as in not even a pipe dream, and I refuse to finance a vehicle that rarely gets driven. Not to mention, I didn't want a diesel before, and I still don't now. I'd rather have the MPG hit than the maintenance cost hit, and it just seems like they're a PITA to drive compared to gas.
This truck, and whatever replaces it, is strictly a tow rig/heavy hauler for me, period. It will never be a daily driver, and not even likely to be a backup daily. I have a Caddy that's my current daily, and I'd take the K5, followed by the Samurai before this, lol. The F350 gets driven maybe once or twice a month now, maybe a couple hundred miles total. So I can't bring myself to spend 10K+ on something that gets used so little.
So that said, I've found the 454 TBI trucks to be within the current budget, but would this be an absolutely horrible idea if I'm planning on hauling/towing say a max of 12K combined between trailer/camper weight? Most often it would just be a K5 on a trailer, guesstimating around 7K loaded up. I know the MPGs are going to be lower than the diesel, and I don't really care about that. Just more concerned about power issues, and if I'm still going to be running 25mph up the hills like I am now.
