Looking for a new work vehicle, and I’ve pretty much set my mind on an E-350 cutaway, 12′ box with 4 external boxes per side. Questions that need an opinion are:
1. Gas or Diesel. Diesel gets better mpg, and resale is far better, but gas is better than 5 large cheaper up front. I intend to have the vehicle for awhile, and figure the payback period for the upfront cost could take 3-4 years, possibly longer.
2. Trademaster of Workport body? I’ve looked at both, and lean toward Trademaster for a variety of small and inconsequential reasons (although both rely on too much caulking, imo.) Long term maintenance costs and how each can take abuse would be a major factor.
Any ideas, thoughts, or opinions? Thanks.
I never met a tool I didn’t like!
Replies
Nick
I have a Supreme body on an E 350 gas, which is very similar to what your looking for.The vehicle I bought was closer to $7000 cheaper than a diesel(7.3 at the time.) and this swayed me quite a bit.No doubt you will never win any races with the gas,but it will do 65 with no problem.Maintenance costs are a lot less,starting in the winter will be easier, and it is quiet.
Gas mileage is 10 miles to the gallon, little less in the winter.The storage area is incredible, and my knees keep saying thank you.I had ladder racks put on, along with the master locking system.It is one pain to lock and unlock all those boxes individually, and they do freeze in the winter.Go with a masterlocking system.
Even though I am just a framer, I work on a lot of odd buildings,requiring a myriad of hangers, bolts, flashing etc., its easy to carry all of these extra items.
You know what happens when you stuff a normal van with to much stuff. Broken tools and you can never find anything when you want it.I love the van, although it takes some time getting use to driving it. I would do a little research on the ford diesel before I jumped in. Check out the Diesel Stop website, this is a ford site, and these guys tell it like it is. Good luck Greg in central Connecticut.
Thanks for the quick response. Why are maintenance costs cheaper with the gas? I know a dsl uses much more oil, so the oil changes run about $100, give or take. And there are 2 batteries. And the block may need to be heated during really cold weather. Hmmm, I might be catching on here. Thanks for the tip on the web site, I'll check into it.
BTW, what part of Conn? New London county here.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
I have two of them. One is on a 3/4 ton chassis and one on a 1 ton. Both are Supreme (Spartan) and are 12 footers. We tried a regular van but the only thing you could carry were tools. With these units we can carry about anything in the way of tools and a ton of material too. Stays dry, secure.
I get about 10MPG with the 1 ton and 12 with the 3/4 ton. Around here you can buy the one ton Chevy for 27k and the 3/4 ton of 25.5k new with air. And I think a master lock system would be great but we don't have them on ours.
I would go gas. I don't think you would ever get you money back on a diesel. If you were doing a bunch of highway great but for local and a little highway driving I wouldn't spend the money myself. A stocking dealer will always be cheaper . Around here we have dealer in Columbus that buys them 10 at a time and is a much better price than an ordered unit from a regular dealer. DanT
We had to drive 2 hours to Plymouth Mass. to find a dealer with more than 2. Interesting take on the gas vs. dsl question. I'm glad I asked. The dealer had me sold on the dsl, though I went in wanting just the gas. Five grand is a lot of change that can best be spent elsewhere, like a tool store.
The unit I drove and have my eye on has the master lock levers in the bed, so I wouldn't have to fuss with the whole key routine, which gets annoying in the rain. The gas 12 footer was quoted to me at about $27k, the dsl at 32. And since these are '04 units, I have to take what I can get. (They come with rebates to get them off the lots.)
Thanks for the reply.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Wellllll,
you know I'm gonna say to go diesel! But in all fairness I think that in your case the diesel may not pay out. I drive diesels because of three main reasons. The first is that I pull a trailer and a diesel is better suited than the V8 or even the V10 gas engines are. The second is that I push a plow in the winter. You probably won't be doing either of those things with your cut-away, so those "plusses" don't help you.
But one thing to consider is that the diesel motors average about a 300,000 mile lifespan as opposed to 150,000 on a gasoline engine. (my third reason) Something to think about if you're on the highway much or plan on driving this thing till it's dead.
FWIW, the 15 quart oil changes run about $75 at the dealership and $65 at a "quickie change" type place. Fuel filters will cost you about $20 and are easy to swap out. Also, I live in MA, and the past two winters have had some horrible cold snaps with two seperate weeks that I can recall averaging just about 0 degrees. Never found it necessary to use the block heater. I do, however, throw in a bottle of diesel winterizing "anti-gelling" stuff every other tank or so in the winter. I average almost 19mpg when all is well (without the trailer of course!). For the record, I have the 2000 7.3 liter and you're probably looking at the newer 6 liter so your mileage may vary...so to speak. I can also plow med/wet snow for 23hrs straight at about 15-20mph on one tank (36 gal).
I looked into buying a Utilimaster Tradesman (same as a Supreme) last fall on an E-350 chassis. I absolutely fell in love with those vehicles, but couldn't get enough on my trade-in at the time to justify it. Decided to run my 2000 F-350 until it's dead and bought a trailer instead. Next time around though, I'm getting one of those babies!
The 12' Tradesman is what I covet, as well. I've seen the Workport that some dealers stock, and they just seem to be lower quality, but that's just my opinion.
You're right though, I won't be doing any plowing, nor any trailer hauling. It will be heavily loaded though.
I appreciate the feedback. I'd love the dsl, but the upfront bucks are a wall I'm have trouble climbing over. But the thought of mpg twice or better than 7 (my current) is really tempting. 20 mpg? I can only dream...
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Nick, I live in Hartford County, but work mostly in Litchfield county. I would buy a copy of Truck Trader and look through there. When I was looking, there were at least 30 every week, all over Connecticut. I would try Monaco in Glastonbury, they usually have some, and deal with the truck people, not a regular sales person.
I think september is model change month, so the 05 are heading to the lots now.Don't get to anxious, these don't sell that well, and the 04's somehow keep showing up on dealer lots, well into december. Go to dealer with financing in hand, you'll probably swing a better deal.Always deal with a truck sales person, they know the product, know what the bottom line is, and don't waste your time. good luck greg
One other thought on the truck body. The Spartan is made of fiberglass coated wood. I really like it. All the steel body units guys have bought around here start to rust in about 3 years. I think the body manufacture just don't have the sophisticated rust control the big 3 do so the truck body simply out lasts the bed in appearance anyway.
And I do like diesels also. I have a diesel PU. I use it to haul our dump trailer, insulator trailer and our camper. But for around the area work vehical 5k buys a lot of fuel. And they have the tune up thing down to every 30k, sometimes more. My wifes vehical is every 100k! Hard to believe. DanT
Nick,
I bought a new E250 cargo van about a year and a half ago. My dream machine would include 4x4, diesel, nice interior up front, limited slip differential, winch, System One racks, custom metal bins, KEYLESS ENTRY!!, and the extended body.
After weighing all the costs, the length of time to recoup some of the initial investment, insurance, vehicle use, depreciation for taxes, I settled for:
E250 Cargo 2WD, stock interior, 5.4L Gas, limited slip, cheap metal bins, NO KEYLESS ENTRY, standard body and tow package. I bought the racks myself. I saved about 10G, my payments are low, in 5 yrs (3yrs now) I'll trade it in for another brand new one. It does the job I need it to do very well and I took the 10G and invested it in a super nice P.U.
Diesel comes in handy if you need all that torque for towing heavy loads, and long drives with little stop and go. ( I put less than 20K per yr on my work vehicle) fuel mileage if and when gas goes up like it did last spring. Diesel at one point was $0.24 per gal. cheaper here. I was having second thoughts untill I did the math. 20k miles at 14 mpg is 1428 gals. @ 1.89 is $2698.00 per yr. For the diesel: 20k @ let say 18 mpg is 1111. gals @ $1.65 is $1833.00 for a difference of $865.00. It would take me 6 or more yrs to pay for it at that rate and at present fuel is only pennies less per gal. Take into account the maintence costs and gas is much cheaper but man! a diesel engine sure sounds and smells great! If you got the money go for it!
kcoyner
I drive a '99 F350 7.3 diesel. I get 18 MPG always. I have 95G on the odometer. If it was gas I would be thinking about a new one at this point. I figure I'll get another 4 years out of mine.
I found a place that changes the oil for $55.
Ford gives a 100,000 mile warrantee on every Diesel motor. I dont know if the same is true for gas.
Also in Ct, New haven county. The best diesel mechanic around is in Watertown at Crestwood Ford