OT Saying Goodbye to an old Friend (truck)

Galen Houk · Oct 18, 2016

I have owned the Red 7.3 for 14 years and it has been a wonderful truck. I decided I wanted a dually for the heavy loads I haul so I bought the Black one on the trailer. It is a year newer and 135,000 less miles. Rust free, which is the only way I want them. I feel like I am selling out an old friend. We have been all over the USA together and it never let me down.

chuck machinist · Oct 18, 2016

I feel your pain in giving up your older truck. she has served you well with many good memories. You have done the right thing by replacing her. You are not replacing her, you are simply moving on. Fond memories you have, not a hefty continued repair bill. You will soon enjoy the new used truck that serves you well! Enjoy Chuck
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Buddy · Oct 18, 2016

Ok, why not keep it ? Everybody needs several trucks/pickups. GRIN..

Dune Country · Oct 18, 2016

I've got a '99 with a 7.3, 218,000 mi not a major problem and still going, love my truck.

showcrop · Oct 18, 2016

What model is the red one? My SRW 350 squats very little with a lot more load.

RBoots · Oct 18, 2016

That's a nice truck Galen! It's so odd to see one of that body style that isn't rusted out like most here in MI are.

85burbanator · Oct 18, 2016

I know the feeling, I have my dad's 96 ram 2500 4x4 with 44x,xxx original miles. Stock motor save for a broken valve spring. I learned to drive in it and did some of my first offroad in it. Provided for my family until 2008 when he got a Cummins but the truck still worked at the shop as a plow truck.

Now she sits because she won't start and nothing I've done has helped. Going to set her by the road and wish her well. That is, when I can bring myself to do it haha.

I always liked the late 90's early/mid 2000 ford super dutys.

Galen Houk · Oct 18, 2016

It is a F350. It looks like it is squatting more than it is because of the perspective. It sets pretty level. It also has a factory leveling kit that raises the front so any weight on the back makes the back lower.

Tech 7 · Oct 18, 2016

Wish I lived where the salt won't kill a vehicle in 10 years or less! Nice looking trucks (and I'm a Chev guy)

Galen Houk · Oct 18, 2016

When I got it the right side of the box was smashed in so I bought a new takeoff for $350 on ebay. I never put it on until 3 or 4 years ago so the box is almost new. The main thing if you have a Ford Superduty is to keep water and mud from building up between the bottom of the door and the weatherstrip. It is a very poor design and if you don't keep it cleaned out, the bottoms of the doors rust out. I do a lot of preventive maintenance because I don't want to be broken down on the road. Same with the body, if I see any sign of rust or bare metal, I fix it. The black one wasn't driven in winter so it is rust free too.

Galen Houk · Oct 18, 2016

The red one has 245,000 miles and I wouldn't be afraid to take it anywhere. I planned on keeping it forever. You just need to take care of them.

Galen Houk · Oct 18, 2016

I already tried that line with my wife and got shot down right away. I also have a F350 dump truck and a 1500 Silverado. My son has a F350 that we use when necessary. Wife thinks four trucks are enough, we don't need five. These 7.3 crew cabs are worth pretty good money if taken care of so I need to sell it.

showcrop · Oct 19, 2016

(quoted from post at 19:46:55 10/18/16) When I got it the right side of the box was smashed in so I bought a new takeoff for $350 on ebay. I never put it on until 3 or 4 years ago so the box is almost new. The main thing if you have a Ford Superduty is to keep water and mud from building up between the bottom of the door and the weatherstrip. It is a very poor design and if you don't keep it cleaned out, the bottoms of the doors rust out. I do a lot of preventive maintenance because I don't want to be broken down on the road. Same with the body, if I see any sign of rust or bare metal, I fix it. The black one wasn't driven in winter so it is rust free too.

2X on keeping bottoms of doors clean. You need to regularly drag a screwdriver along the seam to remove rust, loosened paint and dirt and spray WD-40 to get the moisture out.

Married2Allis · Oct 19, 2016

Nice trucks both of them, what do think 'ol Red is worth?

chevytaHOE5674 · Oct 19, 2016

Where are you located?

I've been looking for a crew cab long box 7.3L truck for a long time. I have a ext cab long box 7.3L with 242k miles and climbing and I'd drive it anywhere but I would like that extra backseat room.

Galen Houk · Oct 19, 2016

Hi. You have to pretty much throw the book out on these 7.3s in this kind of condition. I have $18,000 in the black one I just bought. By all of the books the Red one is worth about $4,000 less. Some may think this is high but it is reality. I have seen rust bucket 7.3s sell for $7,000 or more. I bought it at 116,000 miles as a repo. There was no oil in the transfer case so it got a new Ford transfer case. At about 200,000 the torque converter went out so I rebuilt the transmission too. Tires, brakes, belts, hoses, batteries, antifreeze, anything it could need was replaced in the last couple of years. I do a lot of preventive maintenance because I don't want breakdowns on the road.

Galen Houk · Oct 19, 2016

I am in Hutchinson, Mn.

OT Saying Goodbye to an old Friend (truck)

Galen Houk

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chuck machinist

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Buddy

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Dune Country

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showcrop

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RBoots

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85burbanator

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Galen Houk

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Tech 7

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Galen Houk

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Galen Houk

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Galen Houk

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showcrop

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Married2Allis

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chevytaHOE5674

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Galen Houk

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Galen Houk

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