Thanks. The mileage may end up being the biggest factor in my decision. Any horsepower that may comes along with that will be greatly appreciated. I've still got quite a bit of time on my hands to make my final cut, but this is what I'm leaning towards at the moment.

 

I use my trucks for heavy towing when it comes to reliability ford doesn't doesn't even compare to the dodge. We had a 97 powerstroke that got lemmoned (thank god) had a 99 that got 5 transmissions in 75,000 miles and the ball joints and stearing was absoulty shot. Our 05 6.0 well other then puking coolent,fuel pump, and the total lack of power and wanting to over heat when pulling it is a nice truck. the 05 just turned 52,000 miles my 06 dodge was traded at 100K and I already have 7,500 on my 2010 dodge when you tow and have a Ford and Dodge parked in the driveway you will learn in a hurry which one is the better!

On the older dodge transmissions spend $2K on a valve body Tq converter and a little other internal stuff. The transmission will be tuff enough to handel the cummins.

If you want fuel economy you don't want a ford the cummins will do 2 mpg better then a ford towing or driving empty.

I will say the 7.3 for the most part is a reliable motor but it is definetly not a power house and towing milage on our 99 was 3 mpg less then a 2000 dodge.

 

I'll play along. I'd be looking for something with at least a year of warranty on it still as I'll be rebuilding the wife's 71' maverick before any real fun stuff goes on with a new truck. Mostly just a tune and anything else small and cheap at first. Which dodges should i be looking at for comparison reasons? No monster cabs and must not have the extended beds. My brother has one of those, and I don't know why he bothers driving it.

 

My early 99 tows well and as far as hp/tq it is still bone stock. with an estimated 230hp Torque I have no clue. my rear gearing is 3.73. Mine pulls just fine not any major problems with it either. But then again I am meticulous with my maintenance! If your the same way your truck will out last the rest of them no matter what brand. Unless you truly get a lemon.

 

Never had a issue with 10k+ behind my 06 stock. Set the cruise in the interstate and blow along at 80. Stock tune truck has a little over 55k. The dodge has a great motor. Stock for stock they don't match the ford. Tuned... I still take my ford. I can tune just about evry part of the pcm/tcm etc with 1 tuner. Run high 13's and still pull 20k. The ride is nice. The interior dosent rattle or fall apart. It is a solid all around good truck. My 04 had 123k and had no squeaks or rattles, the interior looked nearly brand new except for the driver seat on the outer edge. I averages 14-15 in town on both trucks with finess I could get almost 19 out of the 04. I've gotten 17 out of the 06. Both truck cc swb 4x4 both 6.0 trucks. Plenty of power... Point and click. Btw if you ever get a crew cab you won't want a excab. My wife and I can pack for a week, throw in the laptop, coats blankets a cooler (90 can cooler) and not have to put a single thing in the bed of the truck. Might not sound like much till it rains. I will admit the 2010 redesigned ram is starting to actually look like something I would own but compared to the ford offerings... It would be a very hard decision.

 

dont let this guy fool ya. mine is a 7.3 with only a chip, and not a very good one as of now... and i got a buddy with a 6.6 dirtymax with more mods then just a chip and he wanted to race and it didnt turn out to well for him. i also have a to other buddys that have a 5.3 chevy and a 6.0 chevy and i raced both of them as well.. smoked em by well over three truck lengths on the highway. yea 7.3s dont get the best mileage thats true but as far as reliability and a all around truck its the way to go. we got 5 ford 7.3 trucks, a chevy, and a 6.7 cummins.. all are ranch trucks with a hard life.. and guess which two get worked almost monthly.. and guess which five havent been worked on (besides glow plugs,oil changes, and other maintaince) in the last three years

 

There is another option for those who prefer Fords for the TRUCK and Chevys for Transmissions and Dodge for the Cummins.. There is a kit that can run about $12k if you have the Ford F250/350. You can but a Cummins with and Allision Trans and install in your Ford. Id have someone who knows what theya re doing install it unless your good with wrenchs and have the time and fabrication skills for motor mounts.

I tell ya when my 07 F350 Ps 6.0 hits 200k miles Im going Ford Fummins. Destroked!

 

That would be pretty nice. I'll have to remember that option going forward. I'm still months away from actually purchasing but an informed decision is the only one I'm willing to make.

 

another thing i ford to add in reguards to the mpg, the dodge i was talking about earlier is an 07 and never gets above 11 and its really really rare for it to even get 12. the chevy is also an 07 and it averages right at 15.5. the fords, two of them average right at 17 and the others are right at 12-13... thought i would add this because i am around all three brands every day..

 

Thanks again to everyone. It's pretty impressive that I can get all of this information and not even have a diesel yet.

Fuel economy is one, if not the biggest of my concerns. So real world numbers will be needed as much as possible in the weeks leading up to my test drives. If I can get a setup to keep me close to 20mpg I'll do whatever it takes to get it. If that setup produces a little more power, I'll be over-joyed.

I'd really like to stick with the ford, but that whole thing with the cab having to come off throws up red flags. What kind of maintenance would I run into with that cab being an issue?