Still possible to get a 6.9/7.3 4x4 for under $10k?

Tk83

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I have been interested in getting a diesel IDI F-250 to use for a slide in camper, but I am wondering if I missed the chance to get one. I have looked at 6 of them now and the ads are all "$7,500 good condition, price is firm, no lowballers, I know what I got" etc.

Then I show up and the truck isn't even safe to drive (brake pedal goes to the floor, stuck calipers, fuel leaks, gear oil leaks, coolant leaks/cracked radiator, 30 degrees of play in the steering, door hinges so worn that the edge of the door and fender are mangled, rust holes, long expired registration, big parts of the dash missing with wires dangling everywhere, etc, then the seller says "it's 30 years old, what do you expect?"

I bought a beater 1987 Mercedes diesel back in 2018 for $880 and drove it home, and it was still better than any of the $7,500 trucks I looked at. Is it unreasonable to find a truck that isn't perfect but is in good enough condition to drive on an 800 mile trip without major repairs for that price anymore? I am thinking I should probably give up on finding one that this point but I figure it doesn't hurt to ask for opinions here.
 

themechanicalford

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Wow I’m not sure, but actually wondering about prices myself. Since Brandon got behind the drivers seat and prices got out of control I wondered how it would affect our old girls. I paid $6,500 for a SRW 7.3 F350 4x4 in goood shape inspected back in 2020. Unfortunately there’s so few for sale ever that I can not get a good feel for price action.

She had very little rust on the quarters, was one owner with 200k, zero “mods” new M/S tires. She has slop in the wheel for sure but I’m going to replace all that this summer. Also a bum u joint in the front that knocks like crazy in 4wd. Still gets the job done up here in the woods. I am extremely thankful to have found that truck for that price for sure.
 

Norark

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It’s possible, but challenging for sure. I lucked out and found a good one a few months ago for $4k, but I knew the family. I had been searching for months for an older truck to use for tasks I didn’t want to use my new Ram to do, i.e. pulling the boat to the river/lake, feeding the cows, etc. I was absolutely shocked at the prices people were asking for absolute junk. I wasn’t even looking for a diesel specifically. I thought an older 3/4 ton gas would work fine, but people were asking stupid money for rust buckets with 250k-300k miles. I had almost given up when this one fell in my lap.

Even though the truck I bought is in very good shape, I‘ve still had to do things to it. I replaced all the glow plugs and GP relay, which wasn’t a big deal. But I also had to replace the rear differential bearings and axle seals and a few other things. My point is that these trucks are getting long in the tooth, and no matter how good of shape it’s in when you buy it, you’ll likely have to put more time/money into the truck.

Who knows, with the price of gas and diesel headed toward $5 a gallon, people might start dumping trucks for small cars which will creat buying opportunities for those of us who still want/need larger trucks. Good luck in your search.
 

lotzagoodstuff

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Trucks are at an all time premium right now, and there’s a lot of people misrepresenting a lot of junk right now.

Here’s my question: can you wait another 6 months or do you need a truck right now?
 

u2slow

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Around here, a similar gas truck is easily half to one-third the price. I'd go that route and change it to diesel later.
 

Brian VT

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Used vehicle prices and availability have gone screwball.
Plus many (like myself) are fed up with owning vehicles that have incessant computer warnings (check engine, tire pressure, etc.), fickle and expensive emissions systems, and stuff you can't diagnose/repair yourself (or even have an indy. work on them in some cases) so many folks are looking for solid older vehicles without all the crap on them.
I probably paid too much for mine. I did kinda rush into it but I really haven't seen any better deals since then so I would still be without one if I waited.
 

captain720

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I paid very little for mine, but it was almost to the axles in mud in a 8 year old hole when I drug it out, but from the description of those $7500 ones mine is worth a lot . If you have really low standards and wait long enough you can still get them cheap but it's much harder than last year. Although around here NA Diesel rigs sell for far less than a big block gas rig
 

Big Bart

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The chip shortage has shot the used car and truck prices way up. New trucks are scarce and often going out the door at full pop. So it is really going to be a waiting game. Be patient, check daily, look further away than you might normally. Stay focused and be ready to jump, something should pop up that is 4-7k but in decent shape. If you are handy maybe think buy a nice blew the motor one for $500-1,000 for the body and tranny. Then find a engine at a junk yard and do a swap. Worst case you have to pull it after putting it in. Best case the junk yard motor works and you are on the road. All for say $2,000-3,000.

Keep in mind these trucks are ~30 years old. Built like tanks but most out there are +200,000 miles. So they need constant work, they don’t leave you stranded to often. But they need work frequently. if you do not want to wrench on it you might want to pay a lot more for a newer but used 6.7L.

When I was looking some 4 years ago, I passed on PowerStrokes because of the much higher price. (About double.) I would personally pass on 6.4l with more than 100k. (Known for a injector problem after 180k that kills the motor. Expensive parts to rebuild.) So if you are seeing PS’s in good condition, for a little more than IDI’s ( Worse that are in bad shape), maybe you go that route. Newer, more capable, can cruise at 70mph plus, and better parts availability. Not all bad, they do have a computer but this site has sections for PS’s too. If not keep looking something will pop up.
 

Black dawg

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Prices are stupid.....and will stay that way as long as people pay.

I paid 5500 for my 89f350 crew 4x in 2002....that was book value.
Now it is rusty and tired( but functional and in drive anywhere condition), almost 300k more on it and could pretty easily sell it for a grand more than I paid for it.
 

Old Goat

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I looked up your area, Sacto. Ca. I checked CL and a few show up. Yeah the prices have really shot up on the used truck market. My 85 I bought in Sacramento 3 yers ago for $2500, 6.9 Banks turbo, 4-spd t-19, 3.55 Diff. and 2 x 2. with Super Cab, and 165K miles.
That thing now is $8 or so.
Paid $1800 for my 86 in Sacramento back in 2014, guy wanted $2500. But I have dumped a lot of money into it the past 7 years. Engine runs great though.
I will probably dump in more money as the miles go by. Not to make the truck worth more, but for my enjoyment. You will never get back what you put in to them. They are not an investment.
Hate to think how much, but still cheaper than a new one with payments.

These trucks are old, lots of them have been used as a truck, some beat to heck, and some times you can Find a
cream puff if you are not in a hurry.

Four wheel drive seems to be the only thing most people are looking for, for some reason. The have become gold plated by the prices for them.
My one wheel drive F250 has been ok for me even though I live where it snows. I have only put on the cables probably 4 times in 7 years, and that was going over Hwy 50 to Ca.

Here is an 84 in your area

Here is an over priced one, but a dealer listing, looks pretty clean.

86 similar to mine, priced kind of high.

90 4x4 ZF-5 could be a good one that Joe is selling.
is a 94 factory turbo

Don`t know how far you are will to travel for a good one, this one is in Eugene, Or. doesn`t look too bad. price is good.

Here is an 85 Supper Cab for $3000, too bad it is in Seattle.

Start expanding your search area, and don`t get in too big of a hurry. There is CL and also Face Book and ???

It is all about the condition of the truck. If the body if full of rust, I would pass. My 86 has a for amount of rust, and looking for a clean 150 250 for a clean body, with a blown eng for cheap for a swap.

What ever you find, post it here and there is years of experience to guide and help you.


Goat
 

Tk83

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I would need a 4x4 one to do what I would want, I don't mind doing some work but also I wouldn't want to pay $7500 for one that's not even safe to drive. I am thinking they have just gotten too expensive, I thought it was a good idea based on looking at ads for them last year but I didn't realize how rough they are at this point. I would want to be able to buy one, catch up with maintaince, get the AC working, etc for under $10k but I haven't seen anything even close to that yet. The first one I looked at was a 93 F-250 for $6,250 that I passed on because when I test drove it the brake pedal went to the floor at a stoplight and I almost rolled into another car and it was over an hour from my house, but I haven't seen a better deal since.
 

IDIBRONCO

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If you really want one, you may try looking at trucks in different states too. I'm thinking about Arizona and Nevada. I completely understand wanting 4X4. I rarely even have the hubs locked in on mine, but I still don't want to be without it. My other two are 4X2 and that's fine. They can stay on the pavement.
 

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