Requesting info/advice on 08 250 King Ranch - Diesel Forum

FaFaFooey · 05-25-2008, 07:14 PM

So I've been in the market for a 1/2 ton truck and planned on purchasing in November after I got married.

Well a buddy of mine threw a wrench in the works and offered me his 08 250 KR 6.4 for dirt cheap in the off-season. So now I have research to do on the truck. I know it's way more truck than I need but I would be crazy to pass up the offer.

After doing so much research on a Nissan Titan, an F250 6.4 is a completely different animal and I'm totally lost.

Where is the best place to learn about the F250, message boards, websites, etc.?

Can I get some guidance as to what a diesel engine is all about, particularly the 6.4. Seems the reading I've been doing adding the typical exhaust, intake & tuner isn't the best route with this engine?

Also, could I be pointed into the right direction for suspension companies, and who to stay away from. I see Rize seems to be a favorite. I wouldn't be doing any hardcore offroading, I live in Southern Cal so it's mostly Desert and dunes. Looking for a well priced, well put together kit.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

Thanks!
Jeremy

Airforce · 05-26-2008, 11:20 AM

Well you have found a good site. There are other sites that you can find and read what people are writing down. I have been reading for about a year now. What I maintain. What kind of driving are you doing this is the big one. Diesels are better at long distance driving then hop in and roar into town. To have an engine last longer more care in starting and stopping is nessecary with the prices of fuel going up and maintance is expensive who every vehicle you have. Get one of the brochures from Ford.They are online as well. Good luck.

FaFaFooey · 05-27-2008, 10:18 AM

Well I put about 18k or so miles a year on my Xterra right now with mixed driving. I live in San Diego so I hop on the freeway quite a bit, make trips to the desert and mountains often, my commute a day is about 50 miles. So it's probably a little more longer drives than I do short ones around town.

I have been trying to do as much research as possible lately, but it's tough when you're not familiar with this truck/engine to search for things, when you don't know what you're searching for.

Can you tell me how the maintenance is expensive? I'll be getting this truck with less than 10k miles on it.

trapit · 05-29-2008, 07:19 PM

You can not get a better truck. 10K on a diesel ain't nothing. We have 5 6.4 and all are flawless. PM me for specific questions

OMCUSNR · 05-30-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaFaFooey

So I've been in the market for a 1/2 ton truck and planned on purchasing in November after I got married.

Well a buddy of mine threw a wrench in the works and offered me his 08 250 KR 6.4 for dirt cheap in the off-season. So now I have research to do on the truck. I know it's way more truck than I need but I would be crazy to pass up the offer.

After doing so much research on a Nissan Titan, an F250 6.4 is a completely different animal and I'm totally lost.

Where is the best place to learn about the F250, message boards, websites, etc.?

Can I get some guidance as to what a diesel engine is all about, particularly the 6.4. Seems the reading I've been doing adding the typical exhaust, intake & tuner isn't the best route with this engine?

Also, could I be pointed into the right direction for suspension companies, and who to stay away from. I see Rize seems to be a favorite. I wouldn't be doing any hardcore offroading, I live in Southern Cal so it's mostly Desert and dunes. Looking for a well priced, well put together kit.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

Thanks!
Jeremy

I'm going to rain on your parade a bit.

Why do you NEED a truck, and a turbo diesel at that? The F-250 will be a commercial vehicle tag in CA, and insurance will be more too. Fuel is roughly $0.80/g higher than gas. The Titan is a good truck, and you fuel economy will be about the same. It takes 4 GALLONS of oil, not 4 quarts for an oil change, and filters are more expensive too. Why is your friend willing to give you such a good deal on a 1 yr old $55k truck? Can he no longer afford the payments, or is there something wrong with the truck?

I got from your post that you are newly married or just about so. What would happen if you took the money you're thinking of spending on a new truck, and save it for a down payment on a house? There are alot of considerations here.

Now, if you NEED a turbo charged diesel - you'll be hauling a ton & half in the bed, you'll be towing a 10k+ trailer, you'll be climbing 5k mountains at 6% grades, you'll be on the highway 90% of the time, then you can't find a better truck than a PSD. This is personal opinion, but God, I can think of a whole bunch of other ways to spend money than on a King Ranch package. Its a pickup truck for God's sake, not a luxury liner. Unless you're a retired full time RV'er spending 200 to 400 miles a day in your rig, the King Ranch is ego all the way.

Really look at what your needs are. If you need the truck get it, but getting started with a new family money goes fast.

OMC

FaFaFooey · 05-30-2008, 12:46 PM

You're not raining on my parade, I appreciate your opinion and your candor. It's the reason I came here asking about the truck. I didn't realize about the commerical tag or 4 GALLONS required of an oil change. Those are the little details I was hoping to find out here.

The deal is my buddy is a starting QB in the NFL. He makes a ton of money and giving a friend a truck for dirt cheap....most likely under $20k, instead of trading it into the dealer for an 09' is not a big deal to him.

I'm perfectly fine buying a Titan as I really like the truck, but if I can get a truck that has a whole lot more to offer (4x4, navi, leather, sunroof, etc.) and for less than what I was going to pay on a Titan, seemed like a good deal to me.

I could definately use a truck, don't need one as big as an F250 but thats why I came here to see if it's worth buying from him or not. I am getting married but not starting a family, we don't want kids so I don't have to worry about those expenses or responsibilities. The truck would be my daily driver and living in San Diego I'm on the freeways often. MPG would be better on the F250 than the Titan. Once you lift a Titan on 35's you're lucky to get 11mpg out of the thing. Yes I would be lifting the F250 on 37's. I'm a truck guy that likes to mod my vehicles. Hopefully one day soon I would be able to purchase a WW and wouldnt have to get the smallest one hoping my 1/2 ton could pull it.

Having a larger truck would be nice, but not a neccessesity. I really am not sure what I wanna do yet......it's why I'm here.

OMCUSNR · 05-30-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaFaFooey

You're not raining on my parade, I appreciate your opinion and your candor. It's the reason I came here asking about the truck. I didn't realize about the commerical tag or 4 GALLONS required of an oil change. Those are the little details I was hoping to find out here.

The deal is my buddy is a starting QB in the NFL. He makes a ton of money and giving a friend a truck for dirt cheap....most likely under $20k, instead of trading it into the dealer for an 09' is not a big deal to him.

I'm perfectly fine buying a Titan as I really like the truck, but if I can get a truck that has a whole lot more to offer (4x4, navi, leather, sunroof, etc.) and for less than what I was going to pay on a Titan, seemed like a good deal to me.

I could definately use a truck, don't need one as big as an F250 but thats why I came here to see if it's worth buying from him or not. I am getting married but not starting a family, we don't want kids so I don't have to worry about those expenses or responsibilities. The truck would be my daily driver and living in San Diego I'm on the freeways often. MPG would be better on the F250 than the Titan. Once you lift a Titan on 35's you're lucky to get 11mpg out of the thing. Yes I would be lifting the F250 on 37's. I'm a truck guy that likes to mod my vehicles. Hopefully one day soon I would be able to purchase a WW and wouldnt have to get the smallest one hoping my 1/2 ton could pull it.

Having a larger truck would be nice, but not a neccessesity. I really am not sure what I wanna do yet......it's why I'm here.

From what I've seen here, the mileage is going to be just about a wash. If your buddy is going to give you that good a deal, it'd be hard to pass up. That's a $55k rig for less than half. An oil change costs about $60 w/ std oil for one of these.

When you start shopping trailers, shop the truck too. The Nissan has a good tow rating, but a decent sized toy hauler is going to max a F-350 pretty quick, let alone a 250. Look closely at the GVWR not the GCVWR. The limiter is basically how much pin weight you can put in or on the truck. Its not the towing capacity, its the HAULING capacity (what the truck weighs, + what you put into it, including fuel, tools, passengers, stuff, & the trailer hitch weight). There are MANY, MANY RVer's out there that are severely under trucked because they listened to the trailer salesman and didn't do any research before they bought too much trailer.

One other thing, the lift might look good, but you are going to pay & pay & pay for it. Lift's kill fuel economy, and put a major strain on the trans & drive train. A lifted 08 PSD F-250 will be lucky to see 10 combined. It's also going to affect the trailer handling, and may limit you in your selection of 5th wheels. You'll need a drop hitch for a Tag trailer, and that can cause sway problems as well.

Hope this helps.
OMC

FordF350Newbie · 05-31-2008, 11:34 PM

Hello, I've got a F350 King Ranch and I am absolutely NOT happy with the excessive fuel consumption this truck has. If I would be served with a 1/2 ton truck I'd be in the market for either a Toyota Tundra or a Nissan Titan. American truck producers must first learn ho to build engines that can compete in a high-price-fuel market with their asian counterparts. The Dodge Ram might be the exception from the (American-) rule.

Turn down the F250 and save your money!

canadian king · 06-02-2008, 08:12 PM

If you need a 250 get a 250. I have friends with the Tundra crew max trucks and their mileage empty is maybe 1mpg better but towing is a joke. One friend had to add air bags to his rear dif to stop the sagging with a single place car trailer carrying a 1972 chev longbox truck.Also his mileage took a serious tumble with the load and his truck is rated for 10200 pounds. Nissan have had issues with their front dif, but a new replacement centre section is under 1000 dollars plus install. I hooked my travel trailer to my f-350 for the first time this weekend and could not believe how well it behaved. Way better than my previous ones.

FaFaFooey · 06-03-2008, 09:52 AM

I don't NEED an F250, but it was offered up to me. I could USE a 1/2 ton which I think I'm going to go with. Suits my lifestyle much better than a truck the size of an F250 Crew, although it would sure be nice to have it.

Also, the Nissan Titan has never had issues with their front diff. It was the rear and it was on their first year production. They have done a good job getting all the kinks out since then. I've done a lot of research on that truck, probably the best all around buy when it comes to a 1/2 ton.

MDarrough · 06-03-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaFaFooey

most likely under $20k

Man, I would jump on that right now!!

Here's the WORST thing that could happen...
2 months, 6 months, a year down the road you decide that this truck doesn't fit your needs. If you got it for under $20K, you could sell it cheap and still make a little profit!!

Jump on it!!

Mark

canadian king · 06-03-2008, 01:23 PM

I guess the parts manager at the local dealership must be confused about the front versus rear dif. I hope he did not order too many of the wrong ones. I have also done some reading about the truck and it was supposed to have a diesel and now it does not and there is rumors of the truck not being built in the future.