First of all, let me introduce myself. I am a 14 year Air Force service member and I am returning to the states from a 4 year tour overseas with my family in mid-June. The plan currently is to fly into the Baltimore area, buy a truck and then drive it to my next base in New Mexico, stopping to see some family along the way.

I am looking at a used diesel 3/4 ton and want to know what you think is going to be the best for my $$. Here are my criteria.
- budget is below $40k
- I am not brand loyal, I used to love my 2000 ford superduty and loved it, but don't want to go that old again unless it is a really low mileage truck.
- 4 door, 4 wheel drive, comfortable ride (it will also be my daily driver)
-I will be using it to tow my rockcrawler, sometimes long distances, it is around 9k lbs with tools/parts/trailer.
- i have been out of the diesel scene and away from advertisements for 4 years now. I have no idea how these trucks have been holding up, making power, and competing against each other.
-I only have a few days to look/buy so I need to know what to look for as soon as I step off the plane, my wife/kid/dogs will be waiting patiently in a hotel for as long as it takes to purchase.

So, what would you buy?

 

What years are you wanting? Do you want a manual or an auto? Do you want a truck that has been modified or is bone stock? Your budget is pretty high so you could buy a bone stock truck then modify it the way you want to save some money. No need to use all of that $40k if you dont have to. Do you know if you will be able to do emissions removal (a DPF and EGR delete) in New Mexico or is it going to be tagged in your home state? After 14 years probably just going to tag it in New Mexico haha If you are looking for a roomy 4 door then Dodge is mostly out unless you get a Mega Cab. Chevy and Fords crew cabs are nice and roomy. Chevy has the Allison auto which is alot better than Ford or Dodges auto but you can build up the others to make them as good if not better then the Allison with a little bit of coin. If you are wanting a confortable ride out of a 3/4 diesel truck then I dont know what to tell you. The best riding truck is Chevy. The independent front suspension is alot smoother than a straight axle but it has alot more weakness's too. The 6.0 Ford is a decent truck. You will need headstuds and a few other things right off the bat but once those are done its not a bad truck. There are a couple of 6.0 owners on here that get their panties in a bunch when you talk bad about them. The 6.4 Ford is a good motor if you do the EGR and DPF deletes. IF you dont you are looking at 10-13 MPG unloaded. Once you do those deletes though you are only a Spartan tune away from 500hp. Now with the Dodges, the only four door I would look at is the Mega cab. With a wife, kids, and dogs the more room the better. The 3rd Gen Dodges (03-Current) dont have the paint problems like the 94-98s did. The let down of the Dodges is the plain jane interior and a 4 speed auto that isnt the greatest. But I am a Dodge guy so if it was me I would go with a Mega Cab with a 6 Speed manual. If you can do the DPF and EGR deletes then you could get a 6.7 Cummins. If you cant then I would find a 5.9 one. But if that ride is real important and you want an auto the a Duramax will be your best route.