Cory, and the rest of you guys, talk to me about the 6.0L Ford SuperDuty
 

Since we had the baby, my wife and I have been tossing around the idea of selling her Outback sedan and picking up a crossover with a little more space... like a CX-5 or something. However, my wife just suggested that she keep her car and replace our truck instead.

First off, I love my truck... it's a 2001 F-250 diesel extended-cab long-bed. It's basically ideal for what we use it for: picking up crap at Lowes, helping people move, and towing the car to/from the track. It's not fancy or anything, but it's plenty comfy for how infrequently it's used. Also, it's been super reliable, it's got super low mileage, and it's paid off. The one single thing that sucks about it: we can't put a baby seat in it because the jump-seats in the back are too small. So if we ever need to go somewhere together with the truck... we have to take two cars.

So, the suggestion from my wife is that I look into trading the truck in for a newer F250/F350 with a crew-cab. Now, I could try to find another of the same generation with the 7.3L diesel, but the chances that there are any in the same great shape as my truck, or with the same low mileage is pretty low. The obvious choice is to grab a 2008 or newer with the sweet 6.4L motor, but those are all in the $30k-$40k range. So, I'm thinking about picking up a 2006+/- 6.0L F250, even though those 6.0L motors are absolutely notorious for failing.

My question is whether or not any of you guys have 1st hand experience with the 6.0L, what to look for when shopping, what it takes to make these things reliable, etc. I know that the big killer of these things is heat. Apparently the oil cooler is built into the block and is cooled by the engine coolant. But that cooler tends to clog up and eventually the motor goes blammo. The other big issue is the EGR cooler, which also uses engine coolant to cool the exhaust, and tends to corrode and fail. Finally, the FICM power supply takes a dump on a regular basis, and apparently there's some reason to swap the head studs out for ARPs. There are companies that make upgrades to address all these issues, but it's like $5000 in parts to fully bulletproof the motor, not including the labor to install it all. Cory, have you ever done that work? Any idea how hard it is to do without pulling the cab?

Now, if I could find a 6.0L truck that's in good shape for under $20k, and then throw $5k at it to fix it up, I could justify going with that generation truck. I'm just not sure how to know I'm buying a truck that's in good shape, or how hard/expensive the upgrades really are to make it reliable. And if I need to spend more than $25k on a 6.0L, it seems like I should just suck it up and spend $30k for a 2008, since in addition to getting a much more reliable motor, the rest of the truck is much nicer as well.

Any advice? Also, anyone looking for a nice no-frills diesel pickup? :lol:

Get an F650. It has room for a child seat.

:lol:

Actually, I really like having the long bed so I can fit 8' lumber in the back with the tailgate up. But a crew-cab long-bed is basically the longest truck there is. The only thing bigger is a crew-cab dually... and that's not longer, just wider. so, I think we're going to look for a crew-cab short-bed... which sucks for carrying lumber, but at least it's no longer than my current truck, which is already a PITA to park anywhere.

Also, look at the fuel mileage for various models. I can tell you that the 2009 4WD F350 Crew and Caravan shell that I use for fieldwork gets HORRIBLE mileage, as in 12 mpg to Ely and back. I've made this trip many times, and rarely is it better than that. And when my friend with an extra long and tall 2WD Sprinter tells me that he's getting ~25 mpg with the Mercedes motor, I almost cry.

I'm actually not too concerned with fuel mileage. My current truck gets in the 13-16 mpg range (around town and towing... a little better on a long drive w/o the trailer). Pretty much anything in the double digits is fine, since we don't drive the truck all that often. I think we average like 4000 miles/year on the truck... 12 mpg wouldn't be the end of the world.

Plus it's not like there are lots of choices in diesel pickups. I don't want a Chevy, and I'd punch myself in the balls before I own a Dodge. No matter how awesome the Cumins/Allison combos are... they're still surrounded by a Dodge.

The only one of those jobs that I've done is the EGR repairs. It's a time consuming som-bitch, but not excessively difficult by any means.

As far as the others, unfortunately, if they require serious engine dis-assembly or removal, I don't think we've got the means to do it. I've heard of them, and how often they occur, but never done any of the repairs.

I know you said you don't want a Chevy, but I REALLY love my dad's Duramax...

Isn't the Cummins/Allison combo incredibly rare, like a couple thousand produced in the 2004 or 2005 range? And most were likely all bought by light-duty haulers/transporters because of the added option cost, so mileage will likely be in the half million range (complete guess, but considering how many miles those guys rack up...)


If it were me, I'd struggle to go with a Chevy/GMC simply because of the IFS. I know it's as strong, competent, etc., and apparentlyoffers a better ride (typically because the few I've ridden in/driven of each have been levelled or on a decent 6"), but I think I'd still have to go Ford/Dodge for the solid axle just cause. And despite my dad's 2005 Dodge 1500 (which was mine) holding up well, feeling solid as new, and mechanically sound at just under 100k, I'd probably have to go Ford because every other recent Dodge/Chrysler product is basically a piece of garbage aside from the four-door Rubi Wrangler and 2011+ Grand Cherokee - and neither of those are worth the money.

IFS >>> solid axle for anything but high-articulation offroad stuff. For all the same reasons your Miata has IRS instead of a live axle.

It almost doesn't matter since I prefer the Fords and they're like $3000 cheaper than the equivalent Chevy/Dodge.

The only reason to look at Chevy/Dodge is if I can find a nice low mileage '07 or something from the same year the Fords still had the 6.0L motors... but since they cost the same as an '08 Ford with the 6.4L motor, it still seems silly for me to consider them.

Solid axles suck, especially for off road use. That is all.

I'm going to guess that what "off road" means to most people (a tiny jeep crawling over boulders with spotters, winches, and beers) is different from what "off road" means to you (an armored truck screaming across the desert at 70 mph with guns blazing). :lol:

Also, I've expanded my truck search to include the newer ecoboost powered F150's.

On paper, they actually tow nearly the same as my 7.3L diesel does if you can find them properly equipped, drive much more comfortably when not towing, and they're much cheaper than similar era SuperDuties. They're just hard to find with a crew-cab, a 6.5' bed, and the max tow package.

What about range when towing? I imagine the fuel economy isn't as good.

Meh, I don't care. I don't tow enough (load-wise and frequency-wise) for it to make a big difference.

In fact, that's perhaps the best reason to switch to gas... the premium I pay for the diesel motor doesn't pay me back fast enough in fuel mileage 'cause I tow like just 4 weekends a year. People are getting like 19 mpg in the F150s combined when they're not towing. I'm getting like 16 mpg in the F250. And diesel is more expensive these days than regular. So, even if the towing mileage is under 10, I'm probably still saving money.

That said... I'd still rather have a diesel. I've already paid up-front for the motor... I'm not sure "cashing out" on it is ever going to be worth it. And towing with the diesel is totally stress free. 90% of the time on the road, you can't even tell there's a trailer back there.

I'd trade my gas 5L NA F150 for a turbo diesel any day almost regardless of gas price difference. Towing without torque is not fun especially up a grade at altitude with a heavy load. :(

Stick to diesel Scott!

You realize that the twin turbo V6 ecoboost motor in the F150 make 420ftlbs of torque right? That's only 80 less than my diesel. It also makes 365 hp, which is quite a bit more than the 7.3L's 250 hp.

The F150 has a towing capacity of 11,100 lbs if you get the max towing package... which is just under the 12,500 of the SuperDuty. Considering I tow like 6,000 lbs at most... it's basically moot.

That ecoboost truck is kind of amazing.

And that's stock. I bet stage 1 tunes on that thing are impressive.

Who wants to help me put an ecoboost V6 in a Miata?

In or on?

Heck, you've got a welder, why not two smallblock v8's instead?

Cory, but only if we write it up and get it on the schedule before he hears about it.

:devil:

If it's going to be that kinda party, why not put two Cummings turbo diesels, the turbine from an M1A2, and the first stage of a Saturn V in a Miata? Quit half-assing, Nick!

I forgot about the new conventional gas turbos being available. My NA 5l is a wimpy gas guzzling POS. :(

..Imma stick mah dick in the mashed potatoes!

I just lost a post, so cliff notes - I bet you, and the family, would be happier with the F150 Eco Boost in the long run.

Dayna & I are planning to buy an f150 with the ecoboost sometime this year. We are skipping the max tow package and are going for the limited model because we rarely tow. The ride quality and the torque with ecoboost engine is what sold us.

I'm actually starting to lean that way as well. It's as capable as my older diesel, plus it's a little smaller and friendlier for my wife to drive. And they're certainly much, much more comfortable than my 2001 F250 by simple virtue of being newer.

I just don't want to buy a new $40k truck that will just sit in my driveway for 90% of the time. If I could find one used with the options I need for like <$25k, I'd be all over it in an instant. But, the crew-cab with the longer bed and all the towing stuff is hard to find, and the ecoboost motor didn't show up until 2011. So, there seem to be just as many F150's that fit my needs as there are 7.3L SuperDuties. :unamused:

Might be worth checking So Cal. There are a few massive dealers in San Diego that I was finding a ton of decently priced Tundras at. Many were lifted though...


If Ford offered the Raptor with Eco Boost I'd have a new goal.

Yeah Scott, I'd go with an Ecoboost F150. I really like that truck. You don't think you'd drive it more often? I thought the same thing when I bought the Tacoma, but I drive it almost every day now

Well, I haven't yet driven one. Who knows? Maybe I'll love it so much I'll sell the wagon!

But seriously, I don't drive my current truck mostly because it's just a pain to park anywhere. I don't know that the new f150's are all that much smaller than the older f250's, but it might be enough that I'd drive it on a regular basis.

But either way, I'm in no big rush to get anything. With the baby, money is a little tighter than it used to be and I don't want to rush into buying something so expensive that we don't absolutely need. As it is, my truck still gets the job done and is in awesome shape... I don't need to spend $30k just for a place to put the baby that we've yet to need.

That is unless someone here really wants to buy it. I'm thinking of raising the price... $18k is on the low side when you compare it to what's out there. So if anyone's interested... lemme know before I'm asking $20k! ;)

I found the F150 shortbed crew to be very parkable compared to 350's. That Ecoboost thingie sounds pretty trick.

Sell the Wagon? Nuts.

PS - the auto trans in the new 150's is so cool off-road. I've done things in the V8 shortbed crew 150 that is on par with rigs with front and rear lockers. The electronic traction control in 4-low is amazing.

Those new F150's are pretty nice. I have always thought about getting a truck, especially with everything that we end up needing for the house, or the random appliance/furniture purchase.

Plus, then I could relagate the Legacy to being a project car (finally!):lol:

bump

Say hello to our new 2013 F150 limited! White with red leather interior.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps40ac4864.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psb68888e2.jpg

Scott I recommend you get one of these :devil:

Dear god those wheels. Dave, I know I'm a wheel whore, but you gotta do something about that.

Otherwise, looks nice, I like the interior with the white. It's like a Superduty and an S2k got into it.

Dave, that thing is over the top! We were looking more along the lines of an XLT with some options, or at most a Lariat. But instead we ended up getting an RDX for Lisa:

http://www.seccs.org/gallery/Car%20P.../photo%203.JPG

We'll just live with the F-250 for now, unless I come across a low mileage 7.3L crew cab. We figured it made more sense if we're buying a new car to get something that one of us would drive every day instead of parking a brand new pickup in our driveway for weeks at a time.

Congrats on the truck though! I'm still lusting after one, it's just going to be a bit before we can buy anything new. On a side note, how much under MSRP were you able to go... you can decline to answer or PM me if you don't want to post it. I'm just curious, since the MSRP prices on Ford's trucks are so insanely high compared to what people are supposedly actually paying.

I PM'd you. It really is over the top even the seats are air conditioned!

My mom has an rdx and loves it. Good choice.

Dave, when is the Plastidip party? We have to do Matt's new truck too :)

Love the truck Dave.

Look at them rimz

22's yo

McCarter got a truck?

Yarp. Ditched the wagon for a Frontier and loves it.