Faults:
One of the fuel pumps burnt out -- if you have dual tanks, you can't run one of the tanks dry without damaging the pump in the tank. That's just poor design, but I was able to get the dealer to pay for it, which made me feel better.
Transmission had some odd shifting problems, which took a while to track down and fix.
4x4 also had problems shifting, which again took a while to get fixed.
Some minor fit and finish problems.
General Comments:
I inherited this truck from my father. It was pretty much his dream truck -- huge engine, 4x4, big tires, extended cab, all the options, etc, etc... He was a farmer, and this was exactly what he needed. He had nothing but good things to say about it in the time he had it.
However, I'm a 5' woman, and not a farmer. This is way more truck than I'd ever need. However, I'm sentimental, so I hang on to it.
From the standpoint of someone who actually needs a huge truck, it's great. It'll tow an amazing amount, and carry a whole bunch in the bed, too. I recently towed home about 5 tons of landscaping stone, and that big engine hardly noticed. And of course, all my friends call me when it comes time to move, which is always a good excuse for pizza and beer!
It also comes in handy when it snows 2 feet and the roads drift shut. As long as you use your head, the beast is unstoppable. I truly love cruising around in it during blizzards and pulling people out of ditches and such.
Gas mileage is terrible, as you'd expect. It drives like, well, a big huge truck. At my size, the cabin ergonomics are poor, and not all that comfortable. But I could say much the same for any large truck, I suppose.
Overall, it's way too big for me, and I don't much enjoy driving something that large. But it has come in handy from time to time. If you need a big, serious truck, an F-250 of one form or another is something I'd recomend.
24th Mar 2015, 05:18
As for the comment regarding the fuel pumps, it should be noted that it is not recommended to run ANY fuel pump dry. It does state in the operator's manuals to not run either tank below 1/4 before switching to the alternate tank (dual tank models).
The fuel pump in any fuel injected vehicle will suffer damage if it is run dry.