What do you tow that you need a F-250/350 diesel? It would be nice to have, but maybe just would be overkill. I would like to have a large truck too, but when I really think about it getting a decent newer model F250 with a few bells and whistles really goes over the $30K mark really quickly. Even the used late model ones hold their value well and aren't cheap. I guess this is only my situation so I certainlu can't tell you what to do or tell you what you want...lol! I have a trailer that I use to haul large or dirty stuff with my Ranger and it's alot cheaper and fuel efficient than buying, insuring, and daily driving a big truck.

 

Ben I think you have a good plan. Having a nice big truck like that to tow a trailer and camper is nice to have. F 250 will be sweet. Then I say go with either a Bronco II or Jeep. A B2 is such a pleasure to wheel. They turn on a dime and there are plenty ways to improve them. Very easy to work on. A perfect trail rig. Jeeps I dont think I need to talk up jeeps I think you know why they are good for wheeling. If you really love rangers that much go with a Gen 1 or 2 Ranger they are good trail rigs and can be built up very nicely.

 

Cars.com is a pretty good site, not as many options to choose from but they usually have more interesting vehicles than most other sites...

 

I know what you mean for a long time when I was younger I thought it would be cool to have a big truck just to have a big truck but I actually need one now.

I have never said I need a diesel. My brother's company is getting rid of one of their company trucks(94 250 diesel) and offered it to me for "nothing to next to nothing"(whatever that means). I do need something that can tow a car trailer with a trail truck or mustang on it. I also have a pop up camper which is only like 4,000 lbs.

What I have said all along is I don't want my tow vehicle and trail truck to be the same vehicle. Which is what I was doing for the past year until I wrecked my ranger. It always made me nervous to tow the camper to Wharton and then go wheeling and hope I didn't break something, even though i am sure I could have got somebody to get both the trail truck and camper home.

The other thing I am thinking is I want to get another trail truck one day and I don't want that to be the tow vehicle, so it only makes sense to buy something big enough to tow a trail truck on a trailer. Bottom line my ranger is totaled and I need to buy something to at least tow the camper, and I want to get another trail truck and I don't want that to have to tow the camper so I need a big truck that can tow at least 6,000 lbs worth of trail truck and trailer.

Having a trail truck double as a tow vehicle is like having a trail truck double as your daily driver, if it breaks on the trails your screwed. Its not so much that I worry about it breaking and not beable to get them both home its that I worry about it breaking and not being to use the camper the next weekend. I just really want/need 2 vehicles 1. a reliable tow vehicle 2. a fun little trail toy.

Yeah I agree I would not think about buying a brand new F250 or even a 150 because they are just way too much money. I have found many used(2002-2004) F250 EXT cab 4x4 auto 5.4L V8 for less the $20K with less then 30K miles. I think that's pretty reasonable and defiantly something I can afford. I mean really I think the sticker on my 03 ranger was something like $20K.
Also this would not be my daily driver. I have 2 mustangs and a Ford Focus. The Focus has 120K miles on it or close to it so I don't know how much longer its going to be around. The one mustang is a 98 V6 and get killer mileage, the other is a 97 cobra and believe it or not gets good mileage if I keep foot out of it, I think it averages 20-25 and higher on long distances.

 

Also for the difference in the price of a used like F150 vs a used F250 I might as well buy the 250. The 250 has greater towing ability and I would have to get a 150 with 5.4L anyway to get the job done. So if I am ending up with the same engine anyway the 150 can't get that much better mileage.

 

diesel's are badass Ben,put a banks kit on it and you'll be able to run wit some mustangs while pullin ****

 

I love my 99 7.3L Turbo Diesel and i drive the ranger now and again when i miss it but playing with mustangs and imports is a ton of fun hehe.

 

I have not totally rulled it out but they are more money then i want to spend. Sure if the right one comes along for the right price.

 

yea! go bigger youll be happy maybe something with an ole 454 in it haha JK...have you really found anything you like thats bigger yet?for a have decent price

 

nothing serious yet but yeah I have seen a few reasonable deals

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ce=&cardist=94

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ce=&cardist=63

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...000&cardist=40

 

plus the IDI N/A diesels sound great with no muffler :-D

 

Well id go Number 2..then 3 then 1..red..dunno about red really but the second one thats a nice lookin rig..not bad pricing either!

 

Yeah, and those were basically random. Like I said I haven't found anything serious yet. I think I am aiming for $20K with 20K miles, F250, auto, 4x4, 5.4L V8, ext cab, either bed, in the 2002-2004 range. There seems to be plenty of them out there. I think the rise in the price of gas in the past couple years have put more F250's in the used lots. If I really needed the towing power i would go for the diesel but I don't need all that power and they hold their value to well.

An honestly I might not get serious about buying the F250 until like Feb- march. But if a nice trail truck come along before then I am going to ****** that up.