Hey Cap'n, I too always considered myself a GM man, but you can't beat the quality of these Ford trucks. I don't much care for much newer stuff so my Ford is older ('87), but it takes everything I throw at it and the gas mileage isn't too bad either. I got it for temporary at a good price when my Chevy crapped out on me and it works so well I can't find anything else to compare. I now am looking for another F150 to step up in options and space since mine is a base model regular cab. One thing I really like about these trucks is the dual tanks, I always have a reserve so I won't be stranded.

 

This F350 truck I'm looking at has dual tanks!!! That is a nice feature no doubt about it.

Yes I'm honestly considering buying a 1 ton truck to pull my car with and other things.

Anyone know the book value of a 1981 F-350???

 

I love the bodystyle of that generation truck, i've always wanted one. But the value of the truck would really vary on the conditions of the truck itself. For example miles, rust, is it still the old origional engine or was it rebuilt, what kind of condition is the frame in. do you have any pictures of it. it would help us to see how much it would be worth.

My truck has dual tanks too. I was pumped when i got stranded, not pumped about that, but the fact that i wasn't paying attention and ran out of gas and was able to have at the flip of a switch a fresh tank.

 

I LOVE my dual tanks, one of them leaks so I am saving up for that, but it is so easy to just use my front tank without worry.
I am not a Ford guy at all, I like old Fords, but when it comes to trucks, there are only 3 options for me that I love all of
Studebaker
Jeep
Ford
every company has had a good truck, but those are the only ones that always produced good trucks (unless Jeep comes out weith a truck again, new Jeeps SUUUUUCK)

 

You want a reason to buy, how about this site. Your looking at a $1500-$2500 truck, last thing you want is to spend $500 the first time it wont start while someone takes guesses on your $. I had a road service and a part time mechanic come look at my 91. Sean is the one who "Fixed it". On this old of a truck it isn't a ford or GM question, it boils down to support. If all of your friends own older GM's and know a lot about them I would go that route. Other wise I would lean strongly for the Ford. I also have a really good ford only junk yard here which is a big reason why I would stick with Ford even though I have owned GM's as well.

 

well since i am only 19 i have owned 2 vehicles so far. the first was a ford escort which was a good car the only thing i replaced on it was a o2 sensor, coil pack and lower radiator hose. now the other one and current is my 2000 5.4 lariat with 64k on it. it is a great truck and very dependable. iam the 2nd owner and i got it at 54K i have replaced a few things but those are things that needed to be changed since it was OE stuff and that was shocks, trans flush, diff service, and soon brake pads. and recently i replaced the IAC valve but that was nothing. this is my experience with fords and im hooked for life. now my grandpa as owned everything and worked on everything from buick to GM to Dodge to oldmobile, cadillac to VW to ford his favorite has always been ford. his only complaint with ford has always been that they cant get their cars/trucks to get good mpg. just remember the f150 has been #1 for 35 yrs and to me it is has the best look overall, inside and out and most reliable.

 

Suggest the value of a 27-year old vehicle in more in the eyes of the buyer and the condition as compared to any blue book.

Offhand, suggest the 1-ton with dual tanks is an adder - the rust and unknown condition of the 400CID is a minus. Suggest the $1000 ballpark, if 4WD- another $500.

 

I paid $600 for my 27 y/o car , 25 y/o when I bought her.
of coursem she has 300,000 miles though

 

I don't think anyone that belongs to a ford forum is going to tell you to get anything else besides a ford so maybe you should try asking on some kind of general truck forum?

 

iv wittnessed serveral times whena chevy let the owner down in the offroading aspect vs the fords. beat the crap out of reposed 93 f250. it was jumped and stuck and unstuck pretty much raped blew up one front accel ujoint and still was locking up chevys are known for there chicken scratching geting stuck . FORD , FIRST ON RACE DAY, FOUND OFF ROAD DRIVEING