Thinking about it...

[HAULN-SS]

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but wouldn't be sad if someone else got it. Appears to be a pretty decent deal on an older tow vehicle if you lowballed a couple grand off him especially. You guys probably think it's too old though.

[Dave]

price is a bit high, but mileage is really low for a diesle and would probably make for a decent tow vehicle. I don't know what engine is in it, but if I were you, I'd look into a different air filter very quickly. Yeah, the K&N flows more air, but it also lets a lot more dirt in; dirt in your diesel engine is far more lethal than a gasser.

The only thing I would say is that unless it is going to become a DD, that price is a bit higher than I'd want to pay.

[.RJ]

If you need a truck, I'm selling the F150 soon - it'll have new tires and fresh oil change next week.

[HAULN-SS]

I do need a truck, just not sure how much I want to spend, and how much gas mileage needs to factor. What kind of mileage your F150 get? These suburbans get about 18mpg all day long from what I've been reading

[.RJ]

12-14 city, 16-17 highway.

[Dave]

I do need a truck, just not sure how much I want to spend, and how much gas mileage needs to factor. What kind of mileage your F150 get? These suburbans get about 18mpg all day long from what I've been reading

Don't count on it. I thought I'd see that on a regular basis in mine and I haven't seen it yet. I would be the only way you will ever see 18 mpg in that is if it is 2wd, you never have anything in it, and you drive like a grandma ALL of the time.

[HAULN-SS]

Well, this is a 6.6L not a 7.3. The reviews I read were pretty consistent with the EPA's numbers.

Either way, far better than it's gas counterparts, considering it's towing advantage.

[.RJ]

What are you going to be towing? I'm a big fan of towing overkill... but most 1/2 ton trucks will haul a car on an open trailer just fine. A pickup will be a little more useful for getting stuff for the house from home despot - and you'll fit right in out in WV

[HAULN-SS]

Well, I'd like to get a covered trailer eventually, and both the cars I have to tow right now are heavy. And I have more than one car, so one day there may be a need to tow more than one car? I guess I'm putting the carriage before the horse so to speak, but I need a truck for house stuff anyway, so I figured I'd go ahead and set myself up with a keeper instead of needing to swap trucks again later

edit: and seeing all these sweet trucks out here with stacks and other goodies is kind of making me jealous

[.RJ]

A 40' enclosed trailer to haul 2 cars isnt exactly cheap - and you'll need a F250/F350 Dually to haul it. I wouldnt go down that road until you really need to

[HAULN-SS]

You don't think a spring upgrade on a single wheel truck would do it? I thought I had seen some ton trucks with SRWs? I pretty much hate the look of duallys

[.RJ]

You could probably get it done with SRW and a 5th wheel... but that doesnt change the cost of the truck or trailer really.

You know you want it:

[HAULN-SS]

haha..i might would consider it depending on cost/timing, sure. I'm mostly window shopping at this point, which is why I said I didn't care if someone else got that suburban. It's more utility for a family guy anyway, I really probably need an open bed at this point

[.RJ]

I think Silverados are good trucks too - at least the newer models with the LSx based engines.

[HAULN-SS]

Just as an interesting side note - You can find pretty cheap diesel F150s/250s from 2002 - 2005 pretty much all day long. Extended cabs, loaded, etc. But hardly any GM/Silverados relatively speaking. I heard that those years of ford trucks had bad injectors or something that caused them to be int he shop a lot. I personally know a guy who had to get new injectors 3 times while under warranty, and it happened again after warranty and he sold it and got a dodge.

[.RJ]

If you read too far into it, you'll think that owning any diesel truck means the sky is falling and your shit is going to blow up at any moment. They're all pretty good, have their strong points and flaws - just do your research. I've heard a lot of good things about the 7.3L turbo in the ford F-250/F-350/Excursions.

F150 never came with a diesel, or else I'd have bought one of those

[Dave]

The PSD 7.3 offered in the 1999-early 2003 is nearly indestructible and I believe is essentially the same as the PSD 7.3 offered in the 95-99 Fords. The 6.0, created due to stricter emissions requirements, was offered from late 03 through 07 and were absolute junk, prone to leaking oil, faulty injectors, hydrolock (from fuel dumping into the crankcase) amongst other things. That is why you can find those so cheaply - you're pretty much guaranteed to have problems. I could have gotten an 05 6.0 for the price paid for my 00 7.3, but I chose the reliable one.

I'd also point out that a big-ass diesel truck is overkill for a one-car trailer. The ONLY reason that I got mine is because I know that I intend on having a two-car trailer for Linds' and my track cars, hopefully within the next year or so.
Otherwise, I would have been looking for a late-model F150 or similar. I have towed with RJ's F150, Pete's F150, John Chapin's Lightning, my old 83 GMC, and my F250. All of them were competent and did the job, but if I were looking for one to drive on a regular basis and not have an impending NEED for towing two cars, I'd definitely go with the smaller gasser. It's easier and cheaper to find 89 octane, you don't have to learn the intracacies of a diesel or the other maintenance habits, and it will be easier to find used parts in the long run. Not to mention, the truck itself will be easier to drive and have a lower initial cost.

[Dave]

I'm also with RJ, a small truck with a diesel V6 would be bad ass.

A friend back home has a diesel Silverado (2000?) and really likes it. His only complaints that I know of are that it doesn't have a block heater and is a pain in the ass to get warm sometimes and that it hunts for idle sometimes. You seem to be a Chebby guy, so that might be a good thing for you to look into when you have a need for it.
I still contend that you don't need anything over a F150 or comparable. It's not that big of a deal to sell and upgrade when you need something bigger. Might be something even nicer out there by the time you get there...

[HAULN-SS]

good points.

My other motivation for wanting a diesel is they seem to have a better resale, and last longer. I do quite a bit of driving, and I think I'm going to sell my car and drive a truck full time. A diesel v6 might not be too bad of an idea, come to think of it. Might be cheaper too.

[Feersty]

So you are going to commute with a truck?