Im looking at getting a 250 to pull a 18ft trailer with. I deliver hay and haul tractors and 4wheelers. The heaviest that I'll probably ever have is 150 bales of hay (50lb each) 7,500 + 2,500lb trailer = 10K, which probably wont happen too often, i like to stick with 100 bales, but anyways, I'm looking at 2 trucks, both 7.3 diesels (non turbo), 88 250, std cab, long bed, manual snow plow, 217k mi, its been a farm truck all its life and the injection pump is starting to weaken ($1300 to rebuild or find another one), it also has rust in the normal places, but i can get for probably 8-900 bucks, truck #2 is a 1990 f250 lariat ext cab long bed, PW PS PL A/C auto O/D, the tranny code is E which i found to be a E4OD ( i dont think is going to be heavy enough for my needs, but idk) and has 4.10LS diff, the guy wants 2,800 w/o inspec but i would offer him 2,200 or 2,300 and see what he says. So in your expert opinions, which one would tow better? Thanks

 

Neither without a turbo kit. The old IDIs were real dogs, even with a 5spd. The E4OD in stock form is not strong, but can be built bulletproof for about $4k. For an F250 of that age look at the frame up around the leaf mounts. Over a long life they like to crack due to the craptastic suspension design. Does the 88 have 4.10 gears or is it a 3.55 or 3.73? The 4.10s will make towing that kind of load possible, anything less and you're going to hate life. You're going to need to keep that engine wound up to have the power to pull hills around your area.

 

Yeah, but the turbo kits are as much as the 90 truck, alos, theres no way i can dump 4k into a tranny and now im using my 96 150 4.9 5spd with 3.55ls and going up mountains on interstate im down to 55, and the 7.3s are supposed to have 100ft/lb more torque, i also just found rebuilt pumps for $400 (with core return) and 24$ injectors

 

I'd get the first one (the '88) and just search wrecking yards till I found a banks sidewinder turbo kit and get it for a fraction of the price.

while towing that much weight the 4.10's will probably improve your mileage

compared to what you have now you'll be pulling alot faster and safer with either truck.

FYI: we put an ebay CAI ($40 after shipping)for a dodge 360 on my friends entirely stock 6.9 diesel and it really improved the powerband and mileage.

 

If i were you i would try to find an early turbo-ed 7.3, doesn't even have to be a powerstroke. my buddy's dad uses a 1993 F-250 (converted to a 450) turboed 7.3 that will pull grain wagons like they're not even there. It is a 5spd manual and can get about 17 mpg. not sure on gearing