New Rig Advice

[Jgallo1]

Looking for some real world advice.
I am no stranger to full size rigs but I have been having some bad truck luck lately.
I mostly have been a Ford guy but things have not been going well.
I sold my 2019 6.7 b/c the miles were getting high.
I thought I would try a Ram. I found a low miles 2018 3500 HO with the Asin, nothing but trouble. I gave up on it after 8 months of ownership and bi-monthly trips to the mechanic.
I went back to Ford. I found a clean very low miles 2023 6.7. I am 3 months in and 3 trips to Ford ( sensor issues). Every time they say it is replaced or fixed and then right back where I started. It has around a year left on the warranty and I am thinking to get out of the truck before the warranty is over.

Here is where I stand. I need a full size for work. The truck will also be used for an adventure rig.
I do around 30k a year with about 10-15k off-road ranch roads, blm, & forest roads. I tow a horse trailer on and off not everyday but a few times a month. We have a slide in camper that I put on / off for trips .
I thought about going back in time and getting a less completed diesel ( 7.3 or 5.9 ). I have owned one before and yes they are awesome but they come with their own set of head-aches.
Now I am thinking of going new (definitely more than I would like to spend). I have not been hearing good things about any of the 25-26 trucks. I am hesitant.
Let me know what you think and what you have been good luck with
Thanks

 

[highboy4x4]

In my experience, I would buy a used steel bodied Ford F250/350 and forget those newer Aluma-duty years. I would also not buy a 6.4 Diesel. I would not buy a 2010-2013 Super Duty 6.7 unless you like plastic ball bearings in the turbo. So I found a used 2014 F350 CCSB. It had 232k on it when I bought it in 2019. I got stiffed by the used car experience and blew the motor. $19k later, I had basically a new truck. 70k miles in and I will be buried in this thing as I love it. Yes I do 95% of all my own repairs/maintenance but not all can.

Here is the crutch, if you can't do 80% of the work on your own, expect to pay someone. I agree that it's an awful price to pay but we can't run these beasts while looking at the $ signs.....FYI: I hate dealerships so I would find someone that you can trust that works on the engine. The rest of the repairs are gravy with forscan and a OBD reader. IMHO.

 

[Jgallo1]

I have always liked the steel bodies. I think they are some of the best looking modern super duty's . You still get the 6.7 .

 

[highboy4x4]

I have always liked the steel bodies. I think they are some of the best looking modern super duty's . You still get the 6.7 .

Yup, it’s a 2019 6.7L short block due to a high pressure oil pump detonation. It even took out the fuel system and turbo. I yanked out the CP4 and got a S&S Diesel high pressure fuel pump, new frame rail pump and S&B 56 gallon tank with custom skid plate! Its a 10k lb, 650hp rocket!

 

[CATCOP]

I won't spend the rest of my evening explaining the advantages, but find a 2018-24 F-150, 4x4, 5.0 10 speed automatic, super cab, 6 ft bed, then build what you want out of it.

 

[MidOH]

The most reliable trucks in our fleet are the gas XL Super Duties.

But we dont buy used basket cases.

The AL bodies are solid gold, and look weird having brand new looking bodies, with well worn rusty looking service boxes. Our next batch of work trucks will most likely have aluminum boxes added. (The right rear crane box will still have to be steel)

Modern diesels are a big mistake. As you found out. And find the most rural dealer you can. In rural settings, you have an increased chance of getting a technician that loves trucks.

With the powersystems, marine systems, data center, HVAC, boom that we're in, only an absolute moron would pick being an auto technician. Or maybe someone that loves trucks. At best your odds of finding that one good tech, is 25/75. More like 1/100.

Id recommend an F350XL+, 6.8l or 7.3l gas engine, 4.30 axle gear, CC, Fx4 or Tremor with Elocker.

XL+ off road edition, just came out. 35" tires. New Tremors, are available long bed now.

Many SD owners wished they waited to buy, til this year. And the '23+ bugs are mostly worked out, now. I dont recommend used trucks right now. The market is flooded with lemons that people are desperate to dump.

AEV and CJC have everything you could ever want to add. I use Stage3 often, as well.