I feel certain that among the many Curbevore owners of older – and longer owned – daily drivers there are some who “relate” to their vehicles on a level that may be considered a bonding, a feeling of care-taking, a member of the family kind of thing. I’ll take care of you and you will take care of me. The vehicle does exactly what you want it to do. The depths of personification are being mined to a new level of irrationality. Once in a while, when just driving along, you feel happy for no particular reason except perhaps for the continuing confirmation that you finally, years ago, made the really right choice and the feel-good-dividends are still rolling in.
I’ve got a very bad case of it. If there were a cure I would be in complete denial.
For more than eighteen years it’s been my daily driver. We’ve been on some very long trips together. We’ve commuted to work some very short distances – hardly long enough to get to operating temperature. We’ve worked together and retired together. It’s taken me places to which I thought I would never go.
(from Wikipedia)
It was sometime after 5 PM on a weekday late in the first week of October, 2000. I was driving my then five-week old pick-up truck on the first of a two-leg trip from Houston, TX, to the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The sun was beginning to set and I was traveling due west on I-40 in New Mexico somewhere near Santa Rosa, buttes and tall cactus presenting scenery that only New Mexico can. Glancing in my rear view mirror, I was surprised to see that no vehicles were in sight behind me.
Ahead, the setting sun was very low and very bright in a cloudless sky and I could clearly see that there were no vehicles in front of me in either the westbound or eastbound lanes. I was apparently totally and magically alone on an interstate highway in one of the most beautiful places in our country. I turned off the stereo, rolled down all the windows, and took in the fresh air and the sound of the diesel engine. It was at that moment that I knew that my truck and I were going to get along very well together for as long as we wanted to.
The second day of my two day trip began by turning North on US 550 and enjoying its’ long slow climb into Colorado. Turn left at Durango, right at Cortez, through Delores, Rico, and Ames and stop where Route 145 forms a “T”. You must turn right. Yes, you have a choice but you must turn right. When you do, the San Miguel River is your companion in this scenic and deep valley until, after a couple of miles, you drop over a rise and, as Route 145 becomes West Colorado Avenue, a small town is revealed – nestled in the narrowing box canyon ending in a 12,500 foot high snow covered mountain – that was obviously dropped from the sky after having been perfectly made. The absolute scenic magic of Telluride, CO, makes it perhaps the most beautiful small town in the US. My new truck had taken me to a magic place two days in a row.
My truck turned 18 years of age on August 15, 2018. Born in Louisville, KY, as one of the first model year 2001s built in 2000, it was shipped to Alvin, TX, to the then fifth largest multi-brand dealership on planet earth. Alvin is a small community (2016 population of 26,164) located in Brazoria County south of Houston and west of League City. It is best known as the hometown of Ryan Nolan who excelled at the game of baseball.
I had flown from North Carolina (home) to Alvin (OK, actually Houston) using a one-way ticket as I was unsure how long the consulting work that I was doing for the several dealerships in Alvin would take. Three weeks later things began to conclude and I made one of the biggest impulse decisions I’ve ever made. I decided to drive home, a distance of 1,189 miles…… but first I was going to buy something new to drive..
In front of the Ford store in which I was presently working there were new Super Duty Ford pickup trucks parked three long rows deep. Most were extended cab, a few were regular cab, and several were crew cab models, beds both long and short. For the 2001 models, 9 exterior colors were available: the ones I remember among the on-the-ground inventory were Oxford White, Black Clearcoat, Red Clearcoat, Harvest Gold, and maybe Island Blue Clearcoat. Engine choices were 5.4 liter gas V8 and 7.3 liter diesel. I had made up my mind to pick one, buy it, and drive home. My choice was a 2001 Lariat Crew Cab, black on tan leather, 7.3 liter diesel, 61/2 foot bed and, intentionally, 2 wheel drive with the anti-spin differential.
I thought I knew a lot about cars and something about trucks. Pick-up trucks have always been of interest to me relative to style and utility. On that very hot, clear September day in Alvin, TX, I had no idea what I didn’t know. I just got very, very lucky.
What I didn’t know then that I found out along the way:
I did know that the 7.3 liter Navistar diesel V8 was a good solid engine with a good reputation. I didn’t know that it was then and still remains highly preferred for diesel pick-up truck lovers and that, if fastidiously maintained, would last for about 500,000 miles. During the first couple of years of ownership, I heard “nice truck” a lot. It was common to be approached at gas stations and be asked “where did you buy that truck”. As recently as two years ago, I had a perfect stranger walk to my truck from his large “service” truck in a bar-b-que joint parking lot in Burlington, NC, to ask me if mine was a two wheel drive 7.3 liter with an anti-spin differential. When I answered “yes” to his several questions he stated “don’t ever sell that truck”.
I didn’t know then that it has neither timing belt nor chain but timing gears, takes 15 quarts of 15W-40 oil per oil change, and has a turbocharger the size of a small torque convertor that redefines turbo lag as an event for which one plans rather than just a random inconvenience.
I didn’t know that diesel engines produce far less vacuum than gasoline engines and, because of this, the power brakes have no vacuum assist. The brakes are powered by the power steering pump.
I didn’t know how comfortable the front seats would be on very long trips – like sitting on a nicely bolstered dining room chair. I didn’t know that the engine could be heated electrically during a very cold night providing for quick and warm starts on very, very cold mornings.
I didn’t know that an F-250 is not just a larger F-150 but that it is a whole different truck that is the beginning point of the Super Duty line of trucks that go all the way from 250 to, seemingly, 1.3 million.
I didn’t know that I would eventually be getting 21+ miles per gallon at highway speeds (it took awhile for the engine to “break in” and loosen up). I didn’t know that 18 years into ownership it would have no squeaks or rattles.
I didn’t know that it would be as hard to park in standard parking lots as it is. There’s a reason that one sees pick-up trucks parked together usually 100 yards or so from the big box point of entry. Mine has a 156” wheelbase (yes, that’s 13 feet) and overhangs front and rear which yield an overall length of 20 feet. You don’t back it out of a tight space without making a 12 point turn.
Repairs have been few given the number of years and, presently, just over 165,000 miles. I’ve replaced the original water pump, a cam position sensor (under recall), a rear pinion seal, a tensioner pulley, the original A/C compressor, batteries four times (it takes 2), had the interior overhead console information system repaired by Module Masters (a great little outfit in Moscow, Idaho), replaced two windshields, a broken parking brake cable, the original alternator, and a very pesky-to-replace turbo pedestal back pressure actuator gasket that was allowing oil to leak from that part of the system.
Oil changes are done every 3,500 miles (my choice). Fuel filter is changed every 7,000. It tends to go through rather expensive “E” weight rated tires (I run Michelins) sooner than than the tire manufacturers think it should even though they are rotated on schedule, wear evenly and pressures are checked regularly.
Oh, and it rides like a – well – truck. If you like that kind of ride, then you and I will get along just fine. My wife thinks it’s great and two of my three children are anticipating my eventual demise so they may fight over truck inheritance.
What it doesn’t have that’s OK with me: It doesn’t have adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning sirens, blind spot intruder radar, those things that tap the brakes if the computer thinks you’re over or under steering, remote start, heated and cooled everything, cameras that show me what I’m backing into, heads-up display, tailgate opening dampers, push button start (my father’s 1946 Plymouth had push button start so, for me, it’s nothing new), or one of those big LED screen things in the center of the dashboard that provides un-needed web-based information and hours of very attractive distraction (AAA provides me with nicely detailed paper maps that require no batteries).
What it does have that I like: An engine sound (cacophony) that, once you get used to it, instills a great deal of confidence, a boatload of torque which will keep the truck in overdrive even while, for example, driving up Black Mountain (NC) on I-40 at a seriously enforced 55 mph while all the other pickup trucks are down shifting like crazy, 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, clear lines of sight out of the cab in all directions, a really big trunk, a really very nice quality factory stereo, and the ability to go almost anywhere while taking almost anything with me.
Do I ever tow anything? No. I could tow my house across the street if I wanted to, but I’ve never had a reason to tow anything.
Am I going to keep it a while longer? Yes. I’m a believer in buying what you really want, taking good care of it, keeping it completely stock, and keeping it as long as possible. It seems to like me and I sure do like it. Not uncharacteristically, I do have a back-up car and it’s 47 years old.
A story for another time.
Author’s Note: In the interest of clarity, no acronyms (except T.O.A.L) have been used in this offering. As well, no peaceful, loving and relatively helpless nouns have been turned, against their will, into present tense or past tense verbs. I took all the pictures and I’ll get off my own lawn now.
Great story! I know that stretch of I-40 all too well, though I have managed to never get ticketed through there headed downhill to Old Fort.
This is extremely well written. You have a terrific style that is both entertaining and to the point. You knew what you wanted to say, and said it.
Many of us have reached a point where we no longer need to purchase a vehicle regularly. Our children have reached adult proportions. We know what we need. We have witnessed the limits of auto marketing. We want a good vehicle. While we have enjoyed the pleasure of a new vehicle, we have discovered that the pleasure of having a good one can be as enjoyable.
There is pride to be found in auto maintenance. There is pride in conservation. There is enjoyment in driving the oldest vehicle down the block. There is strength in knowing that you are independent from the fashions, fads and frivolities running amok around us.
Thank you for your excellent story.
Thank you, VanillaDude. And your comment concerning pride in conservation, enjoyment and independence is a precise summary of my feelings and station in life. Again, my thanks.
I bought an 03 4×4 Excursion 4×4 with the 7.3 and 235k on it last year as a winter beater/camping vehicle. It uses no oil between changes, and is also rattle and squeak free. Ford really got it right with these.
Eighteen years, that is admirable. Don’t ever sell it. You don’t need a cure for your attachment to this truck, if we all could form one we’d save a ton of money. And bankrupt the auto manufacturers, but still…
And I wholeheartedly agree with the missing techno-bauble features being a significant positive feature.
I used a 2003 F350 for work, and I’m not sure if it had the 7.3 or 6.0 Powerstroke, as I believe it changed midway through that model year. I will, however, agree with your impressions of this engine family. It indeed created a cacophony, which i didn’t like–the constant rattle at any and all rpms was fatiguing to me and felt that a 6,000 pound truck wouldn’t be hurt by a hundred pounds of sound insulation on the firewall. The turbo lag required scheduling your passes on a calendar. Ours also returned about 20mpg unladen on the highway which is astounding and towed the heavy trailer quite well. It also puffed soot on downshifts and would fume out the parking lot when idling, so I’m grateful for current emissions controls every time I’m near a modern turbodiesel at a stoplight.
That truck had great seats, very supportive and properly shaped.
Side note–Just yesterday I saw a newly-crippled F250 of this generation crawling down the shoulder while pouring a lot of pale tannish smoke from the tailpipe. It was a late run of this generation and undoubtedly had the 6.0 Powerstroke. Anyone know what the malady might have been?
Petrichor – guessing what you saw was a failed injector or perhaps two on the 6.0L diesel.
Ask me how I know; I have a submission coming regarding my own 2003.
I loved all the didn’t know anecdotes woven all throughout. Your writing style is so easy to read and absorb.
Well done, in the writing, and in the buying and keeping of your wonderful truck.
Two brother in laws of mine are pickup owners. One had an F-250 of your year, which lasted through several years of heavy use, the other has an F-150, about 2010, that takes him everywhere, including lots of camping and trailering.
Enjoy your truck, and if it’s that clean after all these years I am envious. Salt here in the Great White North eats our cars inside and out over the years.
Thank you for a well written and insightful article. The only truck I’ve ever owned was a 1997 F150 with the 4.6 V8/AOD combination. This vehicle certainly had its good points; the seats were comfortable, even for all day driving, even with two wheel drive one had a feeling that the vehicle was unstoppable and it was solidly built. Unfortunately, for me, it had its not so good points as well; in town driving returned 11-12 MPG with 15-16 on the highway, the truck was hard to park in many situations, it barely fit into my garage and getting into my assigned spot at work required much backing and filling. It was my driver for four years and the utility of the truck came in handy at times, especially when we moved house, I made countless trips across town with stuff accumulated in the decade plus we had lived in the old home. Finally, after some serious soul searching, I realized that 99% of the time all I was carrying in the bed was air and it was time to move on. Fortunately for those two or three times a year when I really need to haul something my brother (and his Silverado) are only a phone call away.
I admire your ability to stick with the same vehicle for so long. My longest ownership for any vehicle is seven years plus, which I have accomplished on two occasions. My current driver is a Mustang convertible which I plan on keeping forever or until I can no longer get into or out of the driver’s seat, whichever comes first.
Great writeup and turns out in retrospect, 18 years later, good vehicle choice, too! I come from a Ford truck family and they’ve been very good to us.
Many happy miles ahead to you both!
I enjoyed the experience you have shared. My brother in law farms and has owned more than one Super Duty of this era, all with the 7.3. Your location avoids one of the big problems with these, rust in multiple areas of the pickup bed. You have kept yours looking beautiful.
Ford was funny around that time. So much of their car (and minivan) lines were dreary cost-cutter specials, but here at the high end of their trucks they built an appealing vehicle that I would be happy to own myself. The interior looks especially nice.
These trucks really are the modern equiv of the big cars I grew up with. Width is the one thing modern cars have lost, but these pickups bring it all back. I hope to read about your 47 year old wheels some time soon.
A fantastically well-written TOAL. I’m hoping to see more from you.
You chose well in color and options and it really seems to be paying off. With just 165k on the odometer, you barely have it broken in.
Week before last I was at an auto auction with units from the electric company being sold. One was a flatbed 2002 F-550 crew cab with the 7.3 and just under 50,000 miles. It was quite plain and sold for $14,750.
Excellent write up. The truck was exactly what you wanted and it’s served you well.
I have seen many of this generation exceeding 300,000 miles and several over 500,000 miles with very few issues. They are an extremely robust engine and transmission. We use several 2001 gas engine models as snow plow trucks at our business and they stand up to the constant abuse quite well with 10′ blades on the front and sanders in the back.
It’s unusual for us in Canada to see 2WD versions. When I’m in the southern US states it’s something I notice regularly, whereas here in BC I see maybe one or two in a given year. Great looking truck and it’s in fantastic shape!
PS – Although most people can’t stand the extra noise, modifying these with a 5 or 6 inch exhaust and aftermarket intake can return 26-28 mpg with little effort. But you can hear it coming long before you see it.
Ah the joys of the F large series. We as a family are just now without a truck at all for the first time in 20 or so years. We just sold our ’06 F350 Four door long box 4wd 6.0 and couldn’t be happier. Well, my dear wife went thru mourning for a good 15 minutes or so, but we are now a one vehicle family again. The white beast was a generally decent truck, that we had for 85K Kilometers or so, and did ok after 5 years of ownership, getting 85% of what we paid for it all those years ago. Now to some reflections gained after reading the posters love and joys and of my own mostly positive findings:
– If the 7.3 is actually a better motor than a well maintained 6/6.4/6.7 is irrelevant ( and the newer 6.7 is, FWIW). The fact is, the market clientele looking for this vintage used PowerStroke BELIEVES it to be the case, regardless.
– The worst thing about selling our truck, had to be the “I know it alls” who adamantly refused to look at it unless it was “bulletproofed” IE: EGR deleted, head studs done, chipped, and full open exhaust. Never mind the piles of blown 6.0’s from poor maintenance, pooched injectors from the EGR delete etc.. Their mindset rivalled and likely exceeded VW TDI fruitbats who would wax on forever about this or that and waste your time.
– the 6.0 makes one hell of a lot of grunt to tow or go. Surprising how fast 7500 lbs of truck can be, once the turbo spools up.
– The later ones had the Torque Shift trans, which was actually the best part of the truck.
-The later ones went to a coil front end and would actually turn quite sharply, vs the leaf sprung older versions.
-The rear discs were always a pain in the butt, eating calipers like crazy with one or another of the caliper pistons busted or seized, rear backing plates rusting, inner surfaces of the rear discs getting corroded, etc. GIve me a rear drum any day.
-There is a sweet spot driving them, certainly not in town, but on the open road where they can eat miles like crazy, although our 16.5 MPG average was not what you got with yours.
-If you could keep it from throwing check codes, and use full synthetic oil, your likely good to go the long haul, as crap oil / too long between changes will cause no end in injector hell, and they are not cheap.
-This truck was a living hell as a target for thieves, and the insurance rates to cover and likewise the resale values reflect the known future chance for theft.
If, I could do it all again, I would have the 5.9 Cummins bolted to the Allison or the Ford TorqueShift in the GM chassis.
I worked with a guy who has a 1998 F250 with the 7.3L International (Navistar, but most people still refer to it as an International) and manual transmission that has passed the 1,000,000 mark. Corrosion will take that truck off the road before a driveline failure.
I’ve also worked with several guys who run a secondary biodiesel tank for the 7.3L. On their travels these guys generously relieve the local restaurants of their used oil and then cart it home to be cleaned in a centrifuge before filling up the biodiesel tank. Regular #2 diesel is still used for startup and shutown so as not to foul the injectors; but usage is so low they’re getting ~250+ miles/gallon of #2, burning fryer oil the rest of the time. Awesome.
Glad so many others have an appreciation for these. We have a ’98 v10 extended cab with leather interior and love it. Gas kind of hurts but still runs like a dream and so much power. Only weird thing is the radio has a ton of AM interference from the engine, they must have fixed that by 2001.
Andy, Very well written and interesting to read. I’ve known you for over 50 years and have a clear vision of your love of automobiles and, especially, your truck. I allow very few people to drive my vehicles but if needed, you would be on top of the list I would even consider driving one of my cars. I remember the day you purchased your “back up car”, 47 years ago, and always admired how much effort you devoted to maintaining that car, but your dedication to keeping the pick up in pristine condition is remarkable. Even though we live miles apart from each other, I’ve had the pleasure of riding in your pick up and could see the smile on your face just driving down the road going nowhere in particular. Many happy miles to you!
This is exceptionally well-written. I can’t wait until I find my forever car. But my propensity toward finicky European cars probably precludes that. I wouldn’t want to be left holding the bag on a 760Li and its expensive twin-turbo V12 at 150,000 miles.
What a great read and a wonderful truck too. It is nice to see someone that keeps a vehicle for a long time and takes excellent car of it. This seems to be less and less common these days. You’re lucky to live in an area that isn’t exposed to harsh winters, that makes keeping your vehicle nice so much easier.
I have driven lots of 7.3L Navistar engines and they rank up their with some of my all time favorites diesels. Although this body style lasted up until just recently, these early Super Duty’s were by far the best looking. By the end of this generation they just looked so gargantuan and ugly in comparison. Your particular truck with the black and tan interior is one of the nicest colour combos I have seen. A friend of mine had a 2002 F-250 Super Cab 4×4 with a 6.5 foot box. That truck was still going strong with 300K miles on it, but the body was completely shot. He still got good money for it when it sold, even though it likely would only ever be able to be used as a parts truck.
Hang on to that truck, seems you live where corrosion is not an issue, so another 17 years should be no problem keeping her on the road. Only truck I bought new (3rd pickup) is now going on fifteen years, but under 17k miles and still looks nearly new. The ’04 Titan should easily outlast me as long as it avoids theft/major collision pitfalls. So far only needed a battery and cable, and fluid/filter changes, tires are in its near future. Looking forward to the story of your 47 year backup car.
How many other 18 year old vehicles with 165k miles would sell for any significant amount? KBB suggests that truck is worth about $11k, I’d say that in a private sale it would easily be $20k.
A little late, but wanted to say I enjoyed your TOAL. I owned a (late, intercooled) ’99 F-250 for a few years prior to getting my ’15 RAM 2500, and loved the grunt. I towed an 8,000lb. skid steer home to do some excavating, and that truck could accelerate uphill with it! Loved the styling of this gen truck, too.
Unfortunately, the truck had numerous electrical glitches and the heat/air would only blow out the defrost vents. I chased vacuum tube leaks for months and finally gave up. It was also starting to get some rust perforation, so when a friend who runs a landscaping/snow plowing business asked if I’d sell it, it was fairly easy to say yes. I always had this nagging worry that I’d have a really expensive diesel engine issue, and went back to a gasoline engine with the RAM.
“Don’t ever get rid of that truck”
My mother’s husband traded his ’99 F250 4×4 Diesel (“supercab”, long bed) for a Toyota Tacoma crew cab 2 years ago and still laments having done so. It was originally purchased to carry a slide-in camper all over the country, through most of the National Parks. After 18 years of annual migrations between their places in Colorado and Florida, several of my own household moves, pulling a 26′ boat, carrying landscaping materials and so on, it was deemed impractical when their wanderlust slowed down and years of hard winter use was taking its toll on door skins and quarter panels. They briefly considered having some expensive body work done, as my mother finally declared it unfit to be seen in, but he grudgingly decided to let it go.
He’d be among the first to tell you if he saw you, “Don’t ever get rid of that truck”.
Fantastic article. I’ve never owned a truck but have yearned for one on and off over many years. Your writing style is captivating and has induced that old yearning again… thanks for the great work and long live your truck and the great relationship you have with it.
Making me all warm and fuzzy for the golden age of pre-emissions diesel.
7.3 IH ranks up there with the older 1.9 TDIs, 5.9 Cummins, 3406E Cat and early Series 60 as wonderful unstressed motors that can run forever if cared for.
Great read and an awesome truck.