46,243 miles isn’t a lot for a rig that could have easily been driven that much every year over the last 29 years. The story goes that this 1997 Ford F-350 XLT dually was bought in order to go camping, and we don’t know if it was pulling a trailer (there is no fifth-wheel hub in the bed) or with a camper on the back. It’s listed here on eBay in Artesia, California; there is no reserve, and the current bid is $10,800.
I don’t know if there’s a better finish/color/tone for a Southern California vehicle than white, Oxford White in this case. Most vehicles there seem to be black for some masochistic reason. Hey, let’s live in the desert southwest and have a black vehicle! I know it’s about personal preference, and everyone has air-conditioning, so maybe it isn’t an issue. We all know that the “color” white reflects the hot sun rather than soaking it in. As they say, black is the new black (I just made that up).
Speaking of the southwest, you’ll notice Arizona plates. The seller says the owners have it registered in Arizona, even though they live in California, in case you were wondering. The photos are outstanding, truly a fine job by the seller. Pretty much everything is shown inside and out, and also underneath, where it looks as solid and nice as can be. I know you can put a trailer hitch on this truck, but I expected to see a fifth-wheel connection or a ball hitch in the bed. I don’t see either. Maybe this one had a camper on the back? We don’t know.
As with the exterior, the interior of this ninth-generation F-series, in one-ton form, looks almost like new. I see the steering wheel cover, but I don’t see tint on the windows, or the pitch-black tint that most vehicles have these days. They really took care of this one. No dash pad either, maybe they used a sun shield, although that’s rare to see. Do any of you use a sun shield when you park outside in the sun? I do 100% of the time. The SuperCab configuration is my favorite; it gives more than enough room inside for occasional adult passengers, yet it seems a bit more secure than having four doors. I’m probably wrong on that, since there are still windows in the back. This one has the optional “cloth front captain’s chairs” in front and a cloth bench seat in back, a nice upgrade.
This one isn’t a diesel, and there’s no manual transmission, but the powertrain is Ford’s 7.5-liter (460-cu.in.) OHV V8, which was rated at 245 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The 460 was standard on the 2WD F-350 with dual rear wheels. Backed by an optional four-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says this one runs great, but it has been in storage a lot over the last few years, and the air-conditioning isn’t blowing cold. It also needs new tires, as these are from the glory years when it was regularly used for camping. Tires and an AC service won’t be inexpensive, but given the overall condition of this beautiful truck, this looks like a winner to me. Any thoughts on this F-350?
While we all have different opinions, some more vocal than others( cough), but I think we can all agree, there is no rhyme or reason today, this is a heck of a truck for what now,? $10grand? I don’t like to question the author, that sets off a chain of “oh yeah?”, :),, but for the sake of all,,I don’t think this hardly ever pulled a camper. No, I think what this was, is somebody’s country club/Walmart cruiser with lots of garage time. It’s just too clean. $10grand? Seems pretty cheap for what I’d call a real “drivers truck”. This was no cheap truck. I read, new a fully loaded F350 dually could go as high as $30 grand, or almost double a F150. If you can afford the fuel, which should be no concern, you won’t do better than this, ten dash four.
Nice truck for sure. Ford had the formula pretty much nailed down by this stage in the game. I do find it strange to open the hood and find a gas pot in that engine bay; out in the Chinook Belt, it was diesel power all the way.
460s weren’t bad engines. I rebuilt a couple of carbureted versions and they ran very well. Of course I installed a few non-emission-compliant pieces on the insides, plus a real functioning carburetor on top. Bottom line, I could make them pull along with a warmed-over 454 Chevy. However, if you really wanted them to get out and dangle, I strongly feel that you could do a lot more with the Rat Motor.
This truck looks like a good buy overall. Just a general freshening up and it will take you to the next gas station with a minimum of effort…
The trencher dealer I worked for, had these trucks as the salesman’s trucks. The 1st ones were the older ones with the non-turbo 7.3(?), a worthless, smokey thing, then they got 2 new trucks with the Power Stroke and 5 speeds, and did a little better, but I wasn’t impressed by any of them. I’m surprised not many more went with the 460. The diesels did rack up a lot of miles though.
I always wished Ford would have used the Cummins. A motor that runs forever.
Drove a friends f250 4wd w the 460 and 3sp autoloader few times Howard. Really enjoyed it. Good stack of firewood in the bed, moved along very well. MPG close whether loaded or empty he told me.
A lot of debate over why Ford never offered a Cummins diesel in its lighter trucks. Well, here’s the version I heard the most:
Skuttlebutt says that Chrysler had an airtight exclusivity contract with Cummins from day one. No doubt Iaccoca realized that having that kind of a contract was Dodge’s ace in the hole.
Ford (and to some extent, GM) tried to find a way to cut through that contract and Iacocca, with his experience from working for Ford, therefore knowing a lot of deep dark secrets, had hammered out an ironclad contract, something in the neighborhood of 25 years, where any trucks under 24K GVW and powered by Cummins, would be built by Chrysler.
It was a lifesaver for Chrysler because if Ford was able to install Cummins engines in its 3/4 ton and up trucks, Chrysler would’ve lost, miserably. If GM could’ve joined in Chrysler would’ve been reduced to an inkstain on some line.
I might add that I’ve worked on a lot of Ford and GM trucks that have been personally converted to Cummins and they are well done, like they were made that way…
This is a great hardly worked survivor.. It will make a retired couple a great truck to pull a camper or a slide in. As Howard said probably to too log trips as with todays fuel prices being a killer. Not to mention at being 30 years old you will fit in nicely at Cars and Coffee…
Wow!!! This is literally brand new. I’m going to go with Geomechs, by the late 90’s any time you saw a Ford Dually 99.987% of the time it had a Powerstroke in it . I think tires are going to be around 300 a pop, not including mounting and balancing etc. But once you get them, you’ll be set for a while. There’s no tell tale signs visible of a frame mount hitch, and don’t know if theres any holes in the bed under that mat for a gooseneck ball. This truck looks like it came straight from sitting on a used Ford dealer lot in 1998. I think Howard’s right, this was definitely garage kept. Incredible find Scotty. (Aren’t you in the market for a truck???)
Anybody have an Idea what it would cost to ship this truck to Chicago? Totally new to this……HELP!
At today’s gas prices it might be cheaper to ship it than attempt to drive it…
Contact Gail at Nationwide Autogistics for a quick shipping quote you can text or call her @tel (702) 773-3871. Mention myself Brian owner of the F350 for the best quote, pickup zip code is : 90701
Honestly it would be cheaper to just fly out and drive it home two drivers you can knock it out in a weekend, two tanks about 200 miles on one tank and another 150/180 on the other once out of California the gas prices will drop by a couple dollars a gallon. And if you really want to try something jump on Craigslist or U ship and look for someone needing a trailer hauled from California to a destination you may pass through on the way might be able to get part of the trip paid by someone else
Go to the Big Mack Trucks website and they have a transportation section of their discussion forums.
I’d plan on no less than $2grand for shipping. While technically, it may be a tad cheaper to fly and drive, please, don’t do it. With everything that can happen on a trip like that, it makes much more sense to hire a DECENT carrier, and 2 days later, BAM, it’s at your front door. Good luck, hope you get the truck!
It had a piggyback camper top at one time; the tip off is the camper top tie down anchors on the outside front and back sides of bed. Nice looking truck with a great 460 V8 Engine!
Great tow pig but it loves eating the gas.
Good write-up SG. As others have noted, just do the needed routine maintenance (though it will cost a few thousand dollars) and you will be set up for years of service.
It must have had a slide in camper, the tiedowns are clearly visible on front of box
Rick those slide ins can weigh alot. Surprisingly so.
I’ve had several Ford F350 dualies. All 460 engines. I had upgraded the size of my 5th wheel and sold my old 19 foot to a guy I was selling a new 1/2 ton GMC to. The deal was to get the new truck all set up with trailer brakes and hitch and drive it once or twice to make sure that the brakes were adjusted correctly. (Only one time needed for that) Driving the GMC home for the test drive and climbing the hill out of Carson City, the truck just scampered up the hill that the Ford labored with. Since the Ford was only used for trailer duties AND I don’t like slowing down for hills (or corners for that matter) I put in an upgraded camshaft in the 460. It made a huge difference and the fuel economy was a actually slightly better. (My guess was that I was not foot to the floor as much.) I started with a “super cab” like this one. But as the kids got more adult size it was upgraded to a crew cab. As much as I would have preferred having a GMC, The fact that it was strictly a part time vehicle and I could pick them up cheap made the purchase decision easy.
Don’t plan on driving it home any distance. Better to get it trucked, than have to keep on fixing stupid things on the way home
And one of the main reasons is the age/condition of the tires!
I used to (before retiring) ship (1/2 ton to medium duty) trucks and vans all over the country. By the time I paid for driver transport back home, meals, lodging and fuel. The cost to drive vs transporting was virtually the same. But, that is with new vehicles less likely to have a problem/breakdown. Having an issue on the road is extremely expensive. The reason that most of my customers preferred to have their vehicles driven to them was it was quicker, and less likely to get damaged from off and on several carriers when making their way across country. (Which always seemed to be an issue.)
Just trying to set expectations here.
I have a 96 Ford with a 460 that’s been my DD since 2001. These are great trucks, they kind of bridge the gap between “cool old truck” and newer truck with more modern features like FI, AC and cruise control. The 460 is torquey and, while not a MPG champion, it’s not as bad as people think. I get 11 in town & 14 on the highway. It’s been as reliable as gravity for 25 years now.
Somebody got a screaming deal. Auction ended at $12.7K
For Sure!!!!!!!!
Yes they did. That’s why if I was selling an expensive item I’d either start an auction at the minimum price I’d accept or have a reserve. Better you, list a big ticket item like this truck for a set price (BIN), the market is too unsettled right now, I’d want to protect my interests as a seller.
Steve R
I got a call at work from a neighbor letting me know that a wildfire was headed towards our subdivision. I quickly ran out to my 460 dually to race home as fast as possible as we had pets at home. I quickly found out that my truck would only go 88 mph into a 50 mph head wind. There were other Ford trucks doing the same thing I was and they couldn’t go any faster than me.