Project F-250: We Bought a Truck

We've had our share of tow vehicles over the years, most recently a 2006 Ford E-250 van, which we dubbed the Super Van. And while we turned that van into an amazing machine, one that could tow a car to the track and then provide a home and workshop for the weekend, we knew we'd eventually go back to the drawing board. Buying a larger trailer–and a heavier car–meant that we were towing at the van's limit, and we grew tired of crouching over when camping in the van on longer trips. We also got the van stuck a few times (when we're not racing, we're big fans of off-pavement adventures), meaning we wanted four-wheel-drive, too. 

So we started shopping, poking and prodding the used truck market to figure out what was available and what we could afford. We briefly considered a car payment and a new half-ton truck, too, but after talking to friends towing with them, decided that we'd be more comfortable with an older, heavier-duty pickup. A wishlist started coming together:

• Four-wheel-drive.
• Two solid axles, because we're fans of fewer moving parts, and don't mind the bad ride quality in a truck we won't drive every day.
• A manual transmission, so we wouldn't have to worry about transmission temperatures while towing.
• A gasoline engine, because we're better at working on them, gas is way cheaper in our area, and the price premium for diesel trucks is ludicrous. 
• Six seats, but not all of them need to be comfortable (we just wanted to be able to take everybody on the crew to dinner). 
• A bed long enough to sleep in, meaning at least six feet. 
• An overall length no longer than our extended-body van, since anything bigger wouldn't fit in our garage. 
• Power windows, locks, cruise-control and carpet. We're not looking for a Cadillac, but wanted some creature comforts for long hauls.
• The ability to occasionally tow two cars at once, meaning at least a 10,000-pound towing capacity and a gooseneck ball.
• A Ford badge, both because of family history and because of the Super Van's 256,000 completely trouble-free miles. 
• And, last but not least, salvageable paint and a careful previous owner, since it's always cheaper to start with something that doesn't need bodywork or major repairs. 

Wish list in hand, we started cruising Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Flexibility and patience are the keys to getting a good deal, and we casually shopped for about a year before finding our truck. We looked at all shapes, sizes, and conditions along the way, knowing we'd never be able to hit all of our requirements, but hoping to meet as many as possible. Eventually we stumbled across this truck on Facebook Marketplace, drove three hours to look at it despite only seeing three low-res photos, and ended up buying it.

What We Bought

We paid $3300, and bought this 2001 Ford F-250 XLT V10 5-speed 4x4 SuperCab Standard Bed pickup truck with 173,000 miles. Rated towing capacity? 10,700 lbs., and up to 13,700 lbs. if the final drive ratio wasn't as highway-friendly as ours. This truck meets every single one of our criteria except for the gooseneck ball, which we can easily add later. We've never seen a similarly-optioned truck before. It's also got shiny paint (save for the roof and tailgate), a spotless carfax, and a rust-free underside. We pieced together its prior life, too: It was purchased new in Oregon, where the original owner used it to support his adventures outdoors. That original owner sold it to the current seller a year ago, who hitched up his 35-foot travel trailer, hauled his entire life cross-country, bought a house here in Florida, then listed the truck for sale because he was done with it. That makes us the third owner.

The F-250 came with some extras, too: The seller threw in the original wheels with fairly-decent tires, and the truck was already equipped with Air Lift air springs and a toolbox in the bed.

Of course, it came with problems, too: There's tons of tire noise from those mud tires, the transmission has a few worn synchros, the power locks don't work, the roof needs to be repainted, the tailgate is smashed, the trailer wiring is a mess, the driver's seat is ripped, the back window won't close all the way, the headlights are cloudy, the interior is gross, and we didn't get many service records. 

Fortunately, that's nothing we can't fix. We'll turn this truck into the perfect tow vehicle, turning a small budget into an awesome adventure machine.

 

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