Question for the diesel bros: is 200,000 excessive mileage?

So the wife and I continue in our search for a dump truck for our growing landscape business. I know, I know "just get a dump trailer" but we have our reasons.

I had wanted to find a good gasoline powered truck due to cheaper repair costs but it's hard to find a gasoline powered truck these days. So.....I may bend on my desires and go for a diesel.

Looking at 7.3 L IDI or possibly a 7.3 Powerstroke.....late 1980's or early 1990's Ford F 350 / F Superduty.....

Found one we like: 7.3 L IDI 5 speed manual shift but with 200,000 miles. Is that an excessive amount of mileage? Seller asking $13K but the truck does look nice (haven't seen it in person).

Thoughts? Comments?

 

I don't know about the IDI but I've heard of Cummins with 500k miles still going strong.

 

I bought a 2004 Cummins with 200k on it, drove it for another 100k with no engine troubles.

 

I appreciate it CoTJ but it's not just "dump truck" that I need but one that fits the bill.

It's primary use is to receive vacuumed leaves so that means a long bed. Not just for more leaves but to give enough space behind cab and in front of forward leaf spring mount for the leaf vac (it's about 30 inches wide). I've passed on two 10' foot beds already and have decided to hold out for at least a 12 footer. Vac will mount passenger side so that means it has to have a clear passenger side. Tool boxes are easy to take off but a pump tank, not so much.

Bed width matters to some extent and since the primary load won't be gravel or dirt, prefer thin bedsides. Barn doors already on the rear would be nice but I can make my own if need be. The thick bed sides of the snowplow truck you linked, for example, may be too thick to give enough space for the vac to tuck under there.

Money is a factor....about $13K is all I'm willing to spend. Managed to talk a guy down to $8K but his truck was a 1973 F 350 that needed so much maintenance that might have run up to $7K just to make it work right. It was a gorgeous, rust-free survivor though, had to give it that. Had the brakes worked on that test drive (ask how I figured that out!) I'd have made him an offer but that was before I researched its other limitations.

I'm really into manual shifts and PTO so that kinda limits me to the late 80's to early 90's.

I'm limiting myself to a max distance of 500 miles so the west coast is out. Suck to fly out there, deal with all the carry issues of plane travel, only to find out the seller wasn't exactly accurate in his description. Anything north of WV runs risk of too much rust, so basically stuck with traditional "southern" US.

 

A friend of mine had an IDI powered van when we were in college, that thing was an absolute pig. If given the choice between the two, I'd hold out for a 7.3L Powerstroke.

 

Can you define "absolute pig?"

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CO TJ,

I found a really nice F Superduty that's an automatic.......nah....just too much money to try and have someone put a manual into it. I'll just have to wait.

 

If you guys had any idea what my top speed is driving my fastest car, you'd call me the same thing, then promptly ban me from the site for fear it might be infectious. (Your analogy was very entertaining though).

My top speed on the interstate, is 60 mph, unless I'm in a big hurry. I'm buying a dump truck, not a daily driver. It really can't go very fast.

No manual truck for you? Have you had your T-levels checked?

Seriously, what is it? Injury? Heavy traffic where you live? What?

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I found the same truck, but with about 70,000 fewer miles and about $3K cheaper. I'm still holding out for a 460 gasoline engine but I may have to go for the diesel as spring is coming and I really want a dump truck by spring. I'll try and call my diesel mechanic friend tomorrow and ask his advice. Whatever truck I go to look at, I'll have a shop that way check it out, frame, engine, and pump.

 

Are you talking about "7.3 IDI" or "manual shift transmissions?"

 

"Both at the same time."

Then why, when asked, was the reply "Absolute pig....slow as hell....." if it "wasn't about speed?"

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"Better control, braking, fuel economy, and easier on drivetrain."

It's been stated by others that "modern automatics offer better fuel economy" and maybe they'd argue the same for "easier on drivetrain" but I fail to see any justification in the opinion of "better control" and "better braking." So, how does an automatic transmission have better control and better braking over a manual tranny?

On second thought, since a clutch is cheaper to replace than a new transmission, how is an automatic "easier on drivetrain?"

Since I'm not a mechanic....please help me understand the thinking here.

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Getting thread back on topic: anyone else have an opinion on 200,000 miles being excessive for a 7.3 L IDI diesel engine?

 

Opinion: just buy what you want and deal with it after.

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Reasoning: either this is a "bring me a rock" type of exchange or you have already made up your mind and are trying to justify your decision. You've asked for opinions, you've received them, but it appears your question isn't what you're actually asking?

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Curious what you end up with, but for the budget, you sure that dump trailer option isn't the right option? Even up in New England, most of our landscapers are using bumper mounted vacuums or tow behind vacuums with removable boxes in the bed for collection capacity. This suggestion, of course, is assuming the leaf collection part you speak of is the requirement.

 

IDK why you’d buy old iron if you’re not a mechanic. On a truck that old, you’ll wrenching / welding pretty regularly if you’re using it for work. And by the time you pay someone to keep a 1980ish dump truck running from the inevitable break downs, you won’t make out financially. Your best bet to find a workable gem is to watch municipal auctions and when the right truck shows up, be prepared to grab it. I never see business owners selling off great, trouble free inexpensive dump trucks. The old trucks you’d find for sale around here need more money in repairs than they’re worth and the guys that are offloading them are knowledgeable enough to know that. Caveat emptor.

 

I know there’s been quite a bit of conversation since my post, but TJ is absolutely correct. Speed preferences aside, that thing had trouble keeping up with regular traffic around town, which frankly felt pretty unsafe. If the same engine is in a heavier truck with a load, then I imagine it’ll just amplify the problem.

It’s your money and truck, so do whatever you feel is right, just wanted to add my experience.

 

Depends on who owned it. I've seen idi Ford's (ya, pretty gutless at under 300hp) with well over half a million and running good. I've also seen clapped out trucks with under 50k miles. I won't lie I've temporarily given up my HD truck search because everything is either a shitbox or priced like it's made of dairy products.

 

I'm a simple guy and I ask simple questions.

All anyone had to reply is: "I feel the 7.3 L IDI is underpowered."

Original question seems to have been answered with "it depends."

 

A lil underpowered, but no piss in the exhaust and they'll run on almost anything that will burn. There is definitely no hate for the old IDI diesel

 

Agree, had a buddy in college with a idi. Slow and not super reliable (maybe because the old owner didn’t care for it well, did have a banks turbo though!). You are better getting a v-10 gasser from the 2000s. 7.3 diesels are now considered gold to people, so they will be out of your price range.

I work in the construction industry in California. Almost all of our subcontractors now have 7.3 Godzilla 350s/450s, easier to replace a motor than a cp4 or DPF system. Most landscapers here are running older v-10s. That is what I would recommend.

 

Tundra wants a rotrex c38 so bad.

 

Yep totally agree. The Godzilla will be my next heavy duty truck. I’ve had a Duramax, power stroke both tuned with built transmissions. But now the Godzilla will tow just as much. I don’t think I’ll ever be over 15 K towing. Gas truck is good enough for me.