What a nice truck! I should probably be more objective, sorry about that. This 1988 Ford F-250 XLT Lariat 4×4 SuperCab Dually looks perfect in Scarlet Red over (and under) Colonial White and I wouldn’t change a thing, even though it’s showing some fading on the top of the hood. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Parker, Colorado and they’re asking $11,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
This rig checks just about every box for me, but there are a couple of them that weren’t checked when the original owner signed on the dotted line: it doesn’t have a diesel engine and it doesn’t have a manual transmission. Those aren’t an issue for a lot of buyers, but there’s something about the sound of a diesel that gets to me, and I prefer to shift for myself when I can.
Otherwise, a SuperCab is perfect, I don’t need four doors, just some extra room for goodies inside behind the seats, or a passenger or two in a pinch. The eighth-generation F-Series trucks were made from 1986 through 1991 for North America and Venezuela, and a bit longer in other countries. I wonder what it looks like inside the bed? I’m glad you asked, Mr. Gunderson, here it is. It’s a serious tow vehicle as you can see.
The nice 1980s velour fabrics look perfect, as does everything else inside, and as an XLT Lariat, it’s got just about every option. I don’t see a flaw anywhere, other than the faded red paint on the exterior and some wear in the bed. The big armrest would be handy for hiding semi-valuables and even back in 1988, people needed cup holders. How did we survive as a human race before we all needed to carry some drinkable liquid with us every waking moment? I remember drinking out of the hose as a kid or running tap water into a glass, drinking it, and then going back outside again. The little SuperCab area looks as perfect as everything else does inside. At $11,500 this sure seems like a lot of truck for the money.
Speaking of the price, Hagerty is at $17,600 for a #3 good-condition truck and that’s without dual wheels on the back, this is a killer deal. The engine is Ford’s 460-cu.in. OHV V8 with 230 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. Backed by the automatic and transfer case sending power to all four wheels as needed, I would love to own this big beauty. Any thoughts on this one at $11,500?
Well, learn something new again on BF.
Always thought a one ton or more chasis was required for a dual rear wheel setup from the factory.
What a nice condition, comfortable looking interior…and for a truck especially. Thanks Scotty
I’m with Stan on this one…. I always thought for a dually you’d have to have at least an F350, but, here you go. I always learn something new on Barnfinds everyday. It’s in great solid condition too. Especially the interior, that paint might be able to come back with a cut and buff, but if not, I’d leave it alone. Its a great old truck as it. Great find Scotty.
Make no mistake, the 460 in these can definitely pull strong. Lots of torque.
Stan and Driveinstile, I was surprised, too! Especially since a brochure (page 9 and 15) shows it only in a 2WD F-350!
https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1988-Ford-F-Series-.pdf
But, the seller has the VIN detail on their listing, if you click on the “Show VIN Data” highlighted part on the right side it lists the VIN info and it’s an F-250 with 4WD. It’s weird, is it a custom maybe?
@Scotty and Stan. The only thing I can think of is special order. I do remember a lot of “Camper Specials” that were F250’s for 2500 series ( 3/4 ton). Maybe someone else can shed a bit more light on this. They have a gooseneck hitch in the bed. They must’ve towed with it.
Scotty, thanks for posting the link to the brochure. I love it. Thats great!!!
I hope that your employer gives you a gas card, and/or you can write off your fuel usage. Because this rig has a heavy thirst.
A standard F-350 was not a dually. The dually cost a lot more. It’s likely that the reason for the low miles on this one is the 460 gets really bad gas mileage, we’re probably talking 9 to 13 MPG depending on speed, load, and gear ratio. We had one at work that got 11 MPG going down the road loaded or unloaded. I remember that it had 4.11:1 gears.
But they will go 300,000 miles without needing anything but normal maintenance. That is IF you can get to 300K miles and not go broke buying gas for it.
The 6.9 diesel would get 40% more mileage, but when you figure in more cost for diesel maintenance and 30% more cost for fuel, it may or may not be worth it.
One guy I worked with had a 6.9 Ford diesel pickup that got the same gas mileage that my 454 Suburban got, as long as I kept my foot out of it. The Suburban ran even with a 80’s Corvette one time, but I probably spent $10 on gas in a 1/4 mile doing it.
back in the day there was a dual wheel converson kit for a 250
Nice truck. This is a dually conversion. Truck started life as a single rear wheel F-250. Vin code H designates 8,501-9,000 GVW rating. Only F-350 and larger series are available as duallys. Dual rear wheel F-350 has a 10,000 GVW rating in pickup form. Higher if it is a cab and chassis model.
“No” U wouldnt wanna “shift” this one. Nota sports car or ‘off rd-er”. Made 4 haulin’n towin.
Shuck the FE’n diesel it (6.7, best; 6.9,IH idi; or 7.3)’n cam the 460 for a race car.
“…a one ton or more chasis was required for…”
Startin early (ford’s late ‘60s had air, PB, PS, auto. ’73/7 really socked the industry w/‘everything’ luxo) some truck began the craziness we see today:
soccer moms in P/U just becuz. U could ‘get anything’ (ford truck) ‘with anything’. Meanwhile, the same time – the days did seem gone for that in your carz.
Listing update: this ad has been removed, so someone must have grabbed it.
Ford did not make a f350 4×4 pickup with duel wheels in the 80s or early 90s . So ford did a conversion on f250 to make a 4×4 they were factory 4×4 duel wheel f250 .