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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2022 11:30pm
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Ive tried to get advice on other forums with no luck. This forum has the most supportive group. I hope putting in the off topic section is ok. (it will be a small mobile cabin!)
Thinking of buying a 2004 ford e350 (gas) with 250,000 miles. Anyone have experience with high mileage e350, things to check, warning signs. It is outfitted with a 12 passenger fiberglass shell, shuttle van. similar to this one as an example.
Thanks
https://www.purplewave.com/auction/180801/item/EI9849/2004-Ford-E350_Super_Duty-Trans it_Vehicles-Bus-Kansas
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ICC
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 12:21am
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Original engine? Those have lower rear axle gear ratios than what would be found in a car or light duty pickup with the same engine. Lower gears means more revolutions turned for the same miles and the greater weight could mean the engine worked harder even with the lower gears. So, in car terms, that bus has more miles on it.
Lots of variables with something that age.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 04:36am
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Dont do it. With 200k+ anything that's original is on its last legs. This means the engine and transmission, with those on there last legs just the transmission alone could cost 2x what that one sold for. Also I should note that any of these Van's with a short hood suck to work on. Everything is way under the cowl.
The body is fiberglass? The rockers are showing rust holes and I doubt the frame of the body is fiberglass.
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Irrigation Guy
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 06:58am
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I would stay away. I have a f250 service body truck of the same era with high miles and it is a POS. There were lots of electrical gremlins in the ford trucks of the early 2000s
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FishHog
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 08:02am
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I don't have any specific info on that vehicle, but having
done my own build of a camper van a couple years ago, there are specific forums out there that may help.
I'm not fan of facebook, but there is one group that might offer some help. Lots of people buying old stuff to convert to a camper.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/faroutride
I tend to shy away from old equipment as well so went with a newer ford transit for my conversion.
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rpe
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 08:11am
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My son works for a company that has many Ford's of that vintage in their fleet. They are cheap to buy, but very high maintenance, often with weird electrical issues as mentioned by Irrigation guy. I'd run the other way.
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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 08:46am
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Thanks everyone. I think my initial reservations were correct.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 10:38am - Edited by: gcrank1
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In 2 years it will be 20yrs old and still aging....and 250K plus miles.
Unless a low milage cream puff Id recommend no more than 10yrs old.
Some years back I bought an older Chev based alum body step-van with a pretty fresh 350 (think p-chip/bread truck) already camper converted, hardware store style, that is, need to fix some camper problem stop at a hardware store, Not a camper rip-off place.
Short hood and engine mostly in the cab Miserable
All truck, low geared, 8-10mpg at 55mph, up it to 60 and 6mpg.
I was always fixing the truck part 'something', not so much the camper part.....
Can say I bought it right, used it about 6yrs and sold it for what I had in it. Got Lucky there!
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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2022 11:44am
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Copy that!
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