[dmahr]

Hey all, new to the forum. I have a question that has been keeping me on the edge of buying a new (to me) truck for the past few weeks.

I am currently looking at a 2012 F350 Lariat 6.7L CC 4x4 DRW with 125k miles. Good shape, the bed isn't coated, and it was used for hauling a 5er for pretty much the whole time.

The second truck I'm looking at is a 2013 F350 XLT 6.7L CC 4x4 DRW with 102k miles. Ok shape, both mirrors have ran into things and broke plastic pieces off, bed has a lot of scratches and dents on the outside, one dent on a door, bed also isn't coated, and was used for hauling a 5er the whole time.

Both are within about nine hundred dollars of each other (2012 is more $$$).

The truck will be used for landscaping. Hauling a 15k or 20k dump trailer, a bobcat or two, an enclosed trailer with mowers and other stuff in it. I'd say about 75% of the time it will have at least 10k-15k in tow.

Would it be worth buying the 2013 for the hill start assist, extra 700lb GVWR, and 15% brake increase?

I'm really leaning toward the 2012 due to the PO taking good care of it. Plus the lariat convenience features are a plus. But I don't want to regret not having the better brakes and hill start assist, along with any other big changes that I'm unaware of.

What would you choose? Am I sweating it over something really small and insignificant?

 

[ASarsano]

2012 in my opinion sounds like it was better taken care of, which would lead me to believe better chance of proper maitance taken on the engine. Maintance is key on any diesel motor.
Then to look at the lariate is a much much nicer ride to have. may only be leather interior and some bells and wistles but it is a diffrent feeling riding in the lariate vs the XLT.

and the changes you meantion:
hill start assis is on all the 6.7 to my knowledge my 2011 i had b4 my 2015 had it. you are talking about where it wont roll backwards on an incle right? if ur talking about the hill disention control (used going donw hills) thats only on FX4 trucks.
I also was under the impression the upgrades to brakes were in the 2015 not the 2013s.

 

[dmahr]

2012 in my opinion sounds like it was better taken care of, which would lead me to believe better chance of proper maitance taken on the engine. Maintance is key on any diesel motor.
Then to look at the lariate is a much much nicer ride to have. may only be leather interior and some bells and wistles but it is a diffrent feeling riding in the lariate vs the XLT.

and the changes you meantion:
hill start assis is on all the 6.7 to my knowledge my 2011 i had b4 my 2015 had it. you are talking about where it wont roll backwards on an incle right? if ur talking about the hill disention control (used going donw hills) thats only on FX4 trucks.
I also was under the impression the upgrades to brakes were in the 2015 not the 2013s.

Yea I am referring to where it doesn't roll on inclines. Where it holds the brake for two seconds when switching to the accelerator.

I've been reading mixed things about what years have it, so I guess I'll have to find a hill with the 2012 and test it out. Thanks for the input.

 

[scoutcamper]

I would go for the 2012. It sounds much better taken care of, and on this motor maintenance matters more than anything else. I would buy a well taken care of 2011 XL before a 2015 abused not maintained platinum all day long, I buy trucks for longevity, features can be added after(keep in mind I own my vehicles for 15+years).....

 

[jimmy]

I don't know that I have ever talked to anyone that has mentioned how nice hill assist is but I have talked to several that dislike the pause before it goes if you ever are quick to the accel pedal.

 

[dmahr]

I would go for the 2012. It sounds much better taken care of, and on this motor maintenance matters more than anything else. I would buy a well taken care of 2011 XL before a 2015 abused not maintained platinum all day long, I buy trucks for longevity, features can be added after(keep in mind I own my vehicles for 15+years).....

I also drive my vehicles much longer than the norm. Didn't even think about the adding features later.. Will definitely look into a few things, like if the OEM nav is just plug and play. Would like to add that at a later date since both are without.

I'm planning on a 'one and done' truck, until I'm ready to move up to a 550, but will also keep whichever 350 dually I end up with.

Thanks for the advise.

 

[dmahr]

I don't know that I have ever talked to anyone that has mentioned how nice hill assist is but I have talked to several that dislike the pause before it goes if you ever are quick to the accel pedal.

Thanks, haven't considered the pause that would be associated with the hill hold. Will have to keep that in mind as well. I'm still pretty young so reflexes are pretty good as far as switching pedals and whatnot. My daily driver currently is a manual Subaru, so I should be able to handle the quick pedal changes.

I'll be heading up to look at the 2012 tomorrow. It's a 2 hour drive each way so I figured I would turn to you guys before making the trip to see it and feeling the want to buy, especially if I were to miss out on something huge with the 2013.


I appreciate all the advise/help. Any more input from others is welcome!

 

[clev]

I tend to use my vehicles less than most. For instance, my '99 E350 7.3 PowerStroke that I ordered in '98, is 17 years old and has 130,000 miles, my wife's '09 Rogue is 6 years old has 65,000, and my 12 F350 6.7 has 22,000. So when I read that a vehicle that is 3 ~ 4 years old has over 100,000, I think that is a severely used vehicle, especially if it's been towing heavy loads. I read where these powerstrokes are good for over 200,000 miles, but with heavy, hard towing and use in the first few years, I'd be very cautious of either one.

 

[ASarsano]

i never really noticed a pause on the hill assist but then again i have a lead foot so prolly compensated for it. it does come in handy where i live in TN coming to lights on halls or even stops at the lights i can release the break and the truck stays putt no rolling back that i had on previous trucks and cars then i just hit the gass and im off.

 

[texascyclist]

I'd be with Clev if the majority of both vehicles miles is dragging a 5'er and you don't want to be working on it all the time I'd keep searching. 200K with average use is probably realistic, average use on these trucks is likely something more on the 10% trailer towing vs 90% unladen. If you found one that had been doing the same and was SPOTLESS, might be worth the risk. Doesn't sound like either falls in that catagory.