Ford truck

Depending on where you live, check the value on one of the three automotive valuation sources. Kelley Blue Book for the west, NADA for the midwest or Black book for the east. NADA is the book I use when determining automobile values for lending purposes in the midwest.

$4,000 sounds like a very fair price.

Dug

in my own experience, when you try to find an actual really for sale vehicle at their "prices", you get your eyes opened real fast, same experience with trying to get a dealer to pay their "trade-in values"

maybe I just keep meeting up with bandits

I recently traded a 1992 Grand Marquis on a 2004 Chrysler Stratus. The Stratus was priced at KKB and the lot at $14,800. My smoking GM was worth maybe $1000, trade differance $10,400. On the sales sheet it showed sales price of $14,800 - $4,400 (trade) = $10,400 Cash. Reported to KKD as a $14,800 sale, but trade values of 12 year old Grand Marquis isn't adjusted up to $4,400.

Greg

casey in SD

I have 185,000 on it and have pulled 24' tri-axle flatbed with a LIGHT load of equipment. Driving what I consider a safe speed for such a small pickup, I get about 12 mpg at around 50 mph in 4th.

Also have pulled a light built cattle/horse 20' gooseneck. I was able to pull this up to 70 mph in 4th getting around 11 mpg.

It is a good strong engine. It does like its fuel, and won't go very fast, but it will get the job done. I won't sell mine, as was my first new vehicle, and is worth more to me then it is to anyone else.

However, if you want a good puller for cheap price that is what I'd look for. I will agree a chevy 4.3 v-6 will pull faster, but it will drop down to 10 mpg or worse. My '92 out pulls (mpg wise) then my brother's '99 chevy 4.3 1500 2 wheel drive automatic.

Have a cousin that has a 92 4x4 1500 with 4.3 with 350,000+ miles and has pulled a lot of farm equipment/trailers. Has standard transmission, short box, and extended cab. I still beat him in mileage when pulling.

Now I have F350 6.0L diesel, dually, manual 5 speed,long box extended cab, 4x4...pulling same 20' gooseneck, get 12 mpg when empty...better when loaded. But, lot nicer to drive...less stress on long trips.

That"s a decent price, but you might be able to get one for under $4K. If you provide a few more details like condition, # of doors, 2WD or 4WD, we could do a better job checking the price.

The price seems a little high for a 2WD of that year also - but condition could be the differance.

The 300 I6 (4.9L) was too long for the new (in 97) body style and was having problems meeting the increasingly strict emissions standards. One problem the Ford F150 with a 300 I6 has is the manual 5 speed, it's a Mazda designed (and built?) transmission that has a tendency to fail. The construction company I work at had seven 1996 F150s with 5 speeds, three had the transmissions replaced by 90K. These pickups never saw much towing or hauling but were driven pretty hard (hired hands driving someone else's vehicle). I know there's a lot of others with "0" problems but ask any trannie shop and they'll just smile.

Don't know anything about that engine.

Already having a pulling truck and looking for an economy truck. I'd go with a F250(ideally--higher resale)/F150 4x4 manual hubs,302 5speed(not the Mazda), if I were'nt going to tow a thing 3.08(?) rear if I were going to tow a light load 3.55. You will get 17-20 mpg on the highway. Around town it'll be low teens. Probably be an early 90's truck. The inline 6 is great engine. It just does not do as well fuel wise and when you alreay have a F350 and just want an economy truck ...

Check over at>Link

Buying a used truck. I'd want to take a serious look at it starting with the wheels,brakes,rearend,clutch and going forward. $$ add up quick. Know that from past experiences.