89 f350 4x4 dump need help

Hi all,
New to the forum. I need guidance as I have an old 89 f350 4x4 5sp dump with a stake bed. Wondering if it's worth fixing. Have a family and only used it at our old house to plow the driveway and move firewood and lumber around as I used to run a sawmill on the side. I now have three kids and was trying to sell it so I could have a truck to haul the family. My 1/2 ton k1500 trans blew. Needs new batteries, cab probably should be replaced, rear springs pillers need replaced, hydraulic tank lost the cap. Starter relay has to be jumped to start. Drive train is good and doesn't have a lot of miles 89k ish but I am sure it's been rolled over. Used most of its life just to plow driveway by myself and previous owner. Was a used by a gravel company up north at one time. Reason I need help is our town got destroyed due to multiple dam failures and a lot of people lost everything. Trying to help out by lending my 7x14 dump but I need a truck asap. Friend of mine can help with repairs (says about should 600 in parts- 1000 total just to make road worthy, plus batteries and eventually redo cab) debating fix to this or move on and get another truck. Don't have a lot of money to invest (probably at most 3-6 k but wanted a truck whole family could ride in) but want to do what I can. Trucks usually rot out here before there drivetrain is done. Can't afford a new truck and wouldn't want to buy one to do what I use a truck for. Anyways thanks

Welcome to Oil Burners NT15!

It sounds like the only real investment it needs is batteries and spring mounts to get running. Push button start is cheap and the flush the hydraulics out and you might be on the road to do your cleanup work. Using it would help decide whether the truck is worth a cab swap, if not put new batteries in whatever truck you replace it with.
Those are my thoughts from your description coming from a state with no inspections. I lived up north and know that rotten trucks can be money sinks as well.

Right now since I can't haul the kids in it and I have to have a commercial plate for it (titled stake beds) I am trying to see if I can find another truck. I have seen a few f250 ($1700)single wheel 2wd auto turbo needs fuel pump. ($3000)F350 banks turbo with wastegate auto has a ratchet shifter but guy just got it and says he drove it an hour at 70 and went through half a tank, no egt or psi guage . Didn't know much about the truck. A ($2000) f350 2wd cclb withawith banks and and flatbed that needs a clutch, another f350 cclb (farm truck) that doesn't have a turbo but has a manual. I have never had a turbo so having one would be nice but not sure how reliable these used ones would be or what to look for. Would prefer the zf5 trans to auto. Not sure what kind of mileage to expect I hear mid teens. Mainly just to use for hauling wood/logs/lumber with my 7x14 14k dump trailer and occasionally my 3400 ford tractor with loader.

NT15 said:

Right now since I can't haul the kids in it and I have to have a commercial plate for it (titled stake beds) I am trying to see if I can find another truck. I have seen a few f250 ($1700)single wheel 2wd auto turbo needs fuel pump. ($3000)F350 banks turbo with wastegate auto has a ratchet shifter but guy just got it and says he drove it an hour at 70 and went through half a tank, no egt or psi guage . Didn't know much about the truck. A ($2000) f350 2wd cclb withawith banks and and flatbed that needs a clutch, another f350 cclb (farm truck) that doesn't have a turbo but has a manual. I have never had a turbo so having one would be nice but not sure how reliable these used ones would be or what to look for. Would prefer the zf5 trans to auto. Not sure what kind of mileage to expect I hear mid teens. Mainly just to use for hauling wood/logs/lumber with my 7x14 14k dump trailer and occasionally my 3400 ford tractor with loader.

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Also I think your post/questions would get more answers in the regular forum. This one doesn't see as much action and we don't want you to slip too far through the cracks!

Or if you've gotten this taken care of let us know. Also let's see photos! I haul my kids in my truck also so it has to be in good shape or they're not riding in it <3