f250 questions

[bigjbear]

A local place is selling off its fleet of older F250s. They are from around 2000 and have about 200k mi on them. All are gas V8s. Some are extended cab/some regular, some manual/some auto, some 2WD/some 4WD. I'm looking for something to pull a trailer full of mulch or stone, haul lumber, maybe take camping. I don't know if I'd want to pull the K5 with one, at least until I find out if it will be reliable or not.

For the most part these have been people movers and hauled light loads. They are going to be going to auction soon and I can buy one if I want. KBB says they are worth 3k for trade in. Personally I wouldn't pay that much, but I doubt they would let one go for a grand. So the question is what would be a reasonable offer? Remember they want these things gone and will most likely send them to auction. Also, is there any thing to look out for? Especially is the auto trans worth a crap at this mileage?

 

[clarkjw24]

I pulled my K5 a couple of times with a 2001 V8 Triton. It did ok but I would say that in the mountains it really worried me the way the tranny was shifting and the engine sounded. So I went and got a 2002 PSD F350 7.3

 

[Snowman1000]

Really depends some of the transmissions could be good others not its a real crap shoot with autos. Some people have zero problems others have problems. Buddys uncle has a 99 Ford F-250 Super Duty with a powerstroke and the tranny lost second and reverse within a year of buying it (used). had a little over 100,000 I think. We got two f-150's with the triton V8 and the auto, and have had zero problems with them other than there Fords, and the other 16 or so trucks are Chevys (thats just in our "department" not to add the water department and wastewater treatment which are all Chevy, boss is definetly a Chevy guy).

 

[bigjbear]

Thanks for the input guys!

John, when you say mountains do you mean Western Carolina or out West?

 

[clarkjw24]

Thanks for the input guys!

John, when you say mountains do you mean Western Carolina or out West?

Western Carolina. It did fine, I guess it worried me because I knew the 1/2 ton truck wasn't made to tow something as large as my rig. Now if it was F250 with the same engine/tranny I would have felt somewhat better.

 

[vortec]

i wouldn't want a fleet truck from my area because those are hard miles. Horrible traffic. all that stop and go is hell on a tranny and not great for an engine. also, a long time ago, when i had a job with a work truck, we used to sit in our trucks with the engine idling and the ac running A LOT while doing paperwork, eating lunch, etc. those engine had to have so much gunk inside them from all that idling and short-hopping.

these days, a gasser can last beyond 200K (my k5's 350 went a 266K) but i wouldn't bet my life on it, and in some cases, that's exactly what you might be doing.

now that i have the paranoia and negative stuff out of the way...go for it. if it dies, maybe you can part it out or something.