I found this truck local to me. I'm in need of a work truck and thought this MAY be worth the gamble..... I don't know squat about diesels though. http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=261546372927&alt=web
Look for something else. A 6.0 that is running bad now is just going to cost you big bucks to repair.
Zertrider is correct. 6.0 Ford diesels are unreliable. Ford diesels are decent with the 7.3 motor, essentially 1999 to certain 2003 models. Dodge, anything prior to 2007 is good for the Cummins. Manual transmissions are coveted. Automatics are "ok" if they have a recent rebuild on them. Chevy/GMC...well...let's not go there.
Trucks are stupid expensive, even the small ones. A new Tacoma crew cab is $30-35k, and even the used ones are ridiculous. I'm looking to pay cash, under $10k, for something used. I can't find shit that doesn't have 200k miles on it. Argh.
I've looked at the Chevy express and ford e series vans. I'm cool with the van idea but I still cantn stomach paying $10k for a van with 120k miles. It makes me want to gamble on a $2k clunker instead.
I had an '03 F350 with the 6.0 that I always towed with and it had a custom tune on the SCT handheld. 220k miles when I got rid of it and no problems. It had factory head studs, but EGR was deleted. Put ARP studs, EGR delete, oil cooler delete, and a programmer and it will last you a long time.
But this one already has problems, so your experience may not reflect what may be in store with the one he was looking at.
If you're looking at diesels that cheap I would just find a clean 7.3 ford. it's your best option IMO or a van. 7.3 is not going to get great gas mileage but they are reliable and 200k is nothing on them.
I don't even "need" a diesel per se, I just want a workhorse. That said, I found this one near me after y'all recommended the 7.3l. http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/cto/4582702243.html
Build yourself a cummins truck Shane! It's gotten so popular now that all the parts are readily available. Not feasible if you need a work truck immediately though. I have a cummins engine sitting at the house now, down the road I'll pick up a 5.4 f250 or something similar and start swapping. Or you could just buy this one: SUV but it's already done! http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/4581983302.html
V10 in the fords is good as well up to about a 10klb trailer, then you might want to go diesel. I wouldn't get a diesel for anything other than pulling a heavy trailer. If you want a cargo hauler, get a 3/4 ton or larger van.
Ill side step the "6.0 is a bad engine" arguments because the folks that typically make such claims do not earn a living with their trucks. That being said the ecoboost trucks might be worth looking out for. Just a quick search showed this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-F-150-...e8fa7f421&item=131259167777&pt=US_Cars_Trucks but there are XL trim trucks with that motor that should be much cheaper. Maybe look at DOT auctions or super large construction companies. Still above your $10k budget but you are also getting a much later model vehicle that is more than capable of towing/working. I have a vehicle budget to buy something that works 20+ days a month... aint no way Im buying another diesel platform in the near future. I certainly would not buy any used diesel without extensive service logs & a thorough mechanical inspection.
CEL was due to the damn emissions shit. Now that stuff is removed and not only is the CEL gone, but im getting 16-17mpg in the city and almost 22mpg on the interstate, even driving like an asshole. I got over 18mpg pulling my 6x10 trailer with 2 bikes. I have never gotten those mpg figures out of any gas truck, loaded or unloaded. Strong enough to pull a 41' toy hauler any speed I want, quicker/faster than just about any car, while getting better mpg than anything I have ever driven and can safely go 8-10k between oil changes (some guys go as far as 25k, but I won't). Can't beat that.