It is a case of “horses for courses” regarding tow vehicles. Owners don’t need anything radical if hauling a light load, but a larger trailer demands a vehicle with muscle. That could be the best term to describe this 1996 Ford F350 XLT Crew Cab. It presents exceptionally well and is loaded with luxury options, but its turbo diesel V8 produces enough power and torque to rotate the planet on its axis. The seller has listed this gentle giant here on eBay in Tacoma, Washington. The bidding sits at $6,700 in a No Reserve auction.
This F350 is undeniably a giant vehicle that would attract attention. However, if its sheer size isn’t enough to turn heads, its presentation should seal the deal. Its original premium two-tone Oxford White and Saddle paint combination looks classy, and its condition is equally impressive. It wears none of the significant scratches or marks often seen in vehicles of this type, and the bed shows scratches but no evidence of abuse. The panels are as straight as an arrow, while the underside shots confirm this is a rust-free survivor. The tinted glass and trim are flawless, and the sparkling wheels further enhance this classic’s stunning presentation. However, it isn’t all about looks with this Ford because it has the muscle to utilize its hitch receiver effectively.
Life inside this F350 would be pretty pleasant, courtesy of its factory options. The original owner ordered it with the optional XLT package, which brought air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power seats, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player to the party. Throw in luxurious cloth trim, and any long journey would feel like a special occasion aboard this beauty. It appears the F350 has been a cherished family member because its interior condition is difficult to fault. There are no signs of wear or abuse on the upholstered surfaces and carpet, with the dash and pad appearing perfect. Every factory optional feature works as it should, with no functional faults or issues. Nobody has performed significant modifications, but the decision to fit an aftermarket trailer brake controller is probably wise, considering the loads it could shift.
Tow vehicles require muscle to haul heavy loads, and this F350 delivers courtesy of its 7.3-liter “Power Stroke” turbo diesel powerhouse. It produces 210hp and a whopping 425 ft/lbs of torque. The Ford sends that muscle to the road via a four-speed automatic transmission. Buyers received power assistance for the steering and brakes as standard equipment on the ’96 Ford F350. With maximum torque delivery occurring low in the engine’s rev range, this truck should effortlessly carry a bed-load while it would hardly notice a trailer hooked to its hitch. The seller indicates it is a turnkey proposition, running and driving perfectly. They suggest it has a genuine 50,500 miles on the clock, which is in the ballpark for a vehicle of this type and age. They don’t mention supporting evidence, but if the claim is verifiable, this gentle giant should offer years of reliable service before requiring any significant mechanical work.
This 1996 Ford F350 XLT Crew Cab ticks many of the right boxes for potential buyers, offering power, presentation, and luxury. Therefore, I am surprised by the modest auction action to this point. It has only attracted eleven bids, which is far fewer than I expected. It is possible that some people are playing their cards close to their chest and will only show their hands in the final minutes of the auction. If that isn’t the case and the price stays within its current range, this F350 could be one of the bargains of 2023.
I had a 97 for 5 years and loved it but it was too big to fir in many campgrounds while pulling a 34 ft fifthwheel, downsized both and the little f150 with 5,4 keeps us smiling and is cheaper to run … this rig is beautiful
Nice rig and tempting to get it, I could then sell my 93 F150 to recoup some of the money I would gain more room more pulling power and lower miles I would loose on having to buy more tires and higher fuel costs but taken care of it would be the last truck I ever had to buy. I’m going to watch this one and decide if it doesn’t get crazy on the bidding like other lower mileage diesel trucks do.
I wish your editor(s) would learn how to express torque. It’s not foot/pounds, it’s pounds/feet. If you’re going to write for the world to see don’t show your ignorance.
We aren’t that stuffy here, and we all knew what Adam meant. Ironically, your comment doesn’t take into account, different regions may tell a story differently, and “down under”, ft/lbs may be just fine. I’ve been here almost 10 years, and the thing that confuses me the most, is people put effort into such nonsense, trivial matters, mostly, and nothing about the vehicle itself. “Our” writers do a great job, and I’ll not hear of you trashing them.
It is true that lb-ft is the correct usage when describing a unit of torque. And, should be listed when referring to an engine’s torque rating as foot-pound is a measurement of work. (Although many engineers prefer newton-meter as a more precise measurement.)
However, Howard’s larger point is appropriate. Writers are human and may, occasionally, make a mistake. Pointing out an error is fine; being nasty and mean about it is not.
Another “Cowboy Continental.” We had lots of these run through the shop back in the day. That was one tough engine. You could push them up to 300+ hp and they just kept coming back for more. Of course that automatic transmission might start objecting, especially when you hung a 36 foot RV on the back and headed for the mountains. Very popular with the rodeo crowd. Hitch up the horse trailer with living quarters in the front, horses, tack, feed and head for that place where your brains disappear, and sometimes your truck as well. But enough succeeded because they kept fixing them and buying new ones.
But then Navistar’s brains fell out. They replaced the 7.3 with a rather anemic 6 Liter engine that was already approaching Nuclear Meltdown idling at a stop light. People chipped those to death and soon 6.0 Liter engines were being replaced by the six pack. A half-hearted bandaid for a gushing wound in the form of the 6.4 which wasn’t much better. Ford finally got its own 6.7 engine out there and it was almost as tough as the 7.3. Problem solved, at least until some idiot in power declared that everyone needs to drive Electrolux vacuum cleaners. But that’s a topic for another forum…
I’ve always used foot pounds, not sure there’s that much difference. It reminds me of the engine/motor debate we all love chime in about.
Okay then, one would think this is a smokin’ deal for this, and it is for what you are getting, however, the market has gone kaput on these older units, in favor of more “modern” features. This truck had a slide in camper and clearly someones baby. While I think the “horsey set” has calmed down some, RV sales are booming, and many being pulled by trucks(?) like this. Thing is with that, generally, the RV crowd, like the horsey crowd, is a “cost no object” group, and I see quite a few out here now, one bigger than the last and not ONE, being pulled by anything less than the newest Silverado/F250. I mean, going into hock with a $100,000 trailer, you going to pull it with an old beater truck? Not likely, For it’s time, this was the top of the line in pickup trucks, but still has archaic features compared to new ones. Just have to have that heated gas pedal and adjustable suspension, and what no info screen or backup cameras? How will they know what’s what? I guess now that I mention it, this is outdated, but still a nice truck for us not so rich.
all i can say is i love barnfinds!!!! i read it every morning. it is about cars and i love all of howards comments!!! great job and keep it up to those that are greatful to the staff of barnfinds. yay!!!
How do you contact the seller, or, bid on the vehicle?
Follow the ebay link