I have been looking into buying a 1st generation cummins. I have my eyes on two of them, one is a w250 with drw conversions and the other is a d250 srw. The w250 belongs to one of my buddies grandfathers and was a farm truck its whole like so its alittle rough but i know its history. This one is a club cab. Looks like body work has been done in the past and its starting to need some more. Above the windshield is rusted alittle rusty and right behind the drivers door that panel looks like it was repaired and bondo is cracking. The bed is pretty beat up as it was a farm truck its whole life so a steel flat bed would probly be built for it. This trucks odometer stoped working at 160,000 and is estimated to be at a low of 200,000 or even posibly a high of 300,000 miles. More likely thought to be around 200,000. Starts alittle rough in the cold weather but im thinkin maybe just a grid heater problem. This truck has the 5spd in it and 4wd works. Can get this one for $2300 obo.
The d250 i have no idea what the history is but it has a wooden flat bed and cab is in mint condition with no rust. Just a regular cab. 116,000 miles starts fine in -5 degrees F. Has an automatic. $4000 obo thats all i know about that one.
Which one do you think would be a better winter use truck and light summer use truck? Have a 97 powerjoke for hauling in the summer. I like the price of the 1st one and i dont think there are many major issues and like the idea of 4wd for the winter use. What is your opinion on this?

 

2wd's are useless in the winter.

 

I dont know if i would go that far, my buddies 98 2wd drw with an aluminum flat bed and bald tires still gets us places. But i do understand the 4wd would be much better. By the way i describe the 4wd one though is there alot i should be scared of on it that will cost alot to repair?

 

The roof rot is the only thing that scares me. If you want to fix that properly it will be expensive.

 

I'll never own another 2wd...
sounds like the first one would be the better buy, my only concern would be the rust above the windshield..
I have never seen it myself, but understand that the cabs have a problem with rusting from teh inside out in that area and its near impossible to fix correctly...

 

Interesting - I've never gotten stock, run off the road, or even had to think twice about any snow covered road I've driven on in 6.5 years of owning my 2wd. Then again, I take it easy, I have a big anti-lock brake lever (manual shift lever) and clutch pedal, and I keep 400# of sand in the bed in winter. But it's also not a dually. If I bought a dually it would be a 4wd.

 

You don't have any hills.

Mine drives OK, it's getting it to start moving on any sort of incline that is nearly impossible.

 

Yes he does, Wanna. In Illinios, we do have some hills, some pretty big ones too.

I would get the 2wd. I have never gotten stuck except when I was stupid. Plus a near mint cab is better than a rusty one.

Jon

 

sell the piece of crap ford and buy both

 

actually i did give some though to buying the one with the rougher body and swapping the 5.9 into the 350 but to much time and money tied up in that. Id rather just have the cummins on the side for fun.

 

And also on wet grass and a slight incline

 

Sounds like some kind of affair--the CTD deserves better than that

 

i guess you people in the warm parts of the world will just have to learn how to drive in Manitoba where it is -40 right now about 30% of the trucks are 4x4 and those are driven in the city

 

Mine did just fine last week in the ice storm we got. Hardest part was getting in and out of the g/f's grandparents' driveway (have to get a run at it, then a sudden 75* turn, or hit a good size tree). I had about 800# of firewood in the bed, and actually did better than most empty 1/2T 4x4s. Snow, with its traction something to bite into, is a dream.

But, I still want a 4x4. Where is the one located? I'd drive 8hrs or so to get it.

Daniel

 

I'd buy the rust free truck. Unless I was me...then I'd have to bang my head against concrete at the idea of a 2x4. When the weather turns winter like or deep spring thaws hit...I'd like to see a 2x4 get to my house from the pavement....and it's not that far a drive.... I have seen it stop open differential 4x4's with a 40 mph run at it many times.

Yesterday afternoon my Mom spent 45 min in low case 4x4 with her 1 ton suburban to get herself from my house to the hyw...and it's downhill.

NoRM
who would also buy them both lol