Well I pulled the plug and bought a new, to me, ford f350. 4 door and long bed, with a 7.3 diesel.

It was my brothers company truck. all of the bells and whistles. He used it to pull his 15k lb trlr to the desert. Always maintained to factory specs at company cost. 180k miles.

Actually gets better mileage than my Toyota 6 cyl without the trlr. And the mntns do not affect the mileage or pulling ability.

Purchased it for <than $10k.

Life on the road just got a little easier!

__________________
2002 ford f350, 7.3 diesel
1985 hi-lo funchaser
kb0nai
kd7ctk

Me thinks you'll enjoy it. In spite of the nay-sayers I've had great things from three fords (a 98 F150, an 06 E350 and my current 02 F250 (V10).

Oh, I'm a Honda man, been using them as daily drivers (currently 11 RidgeLine) since the mid 80's.

__________________
2014 Ford F250 6.7 PS
formerly a HiLo TD2401
now an 08 Jayco Eagle

I am on my 3rd diesel truck. First was F250 not my favorite but a good work truck. 2nd a dodge 3500 dually 5.9. Still have for use around the farm. Great truck 17 yrs old and a real work horse. New truck is a 2012 3500 Dodge dually. Pulls my 32 Ft living quarters trailer loaded like it wasn't even there. Our 24 ft Hi-lo is nothing for this truck.

Oh I would love to find a 7.3 in something that still had enough frame, body, etc left on it. Those 7.3s were famous for great mpgs and durability. But I think that 2003 or 2004 were the last years they used them so whatever it is attached to is usually 10 years old at the very least. A friend of mine bought one a couple of years ago- with about 250,000 on it and he is a fair mechanic which he needs to be to keep the rest of the truck functioning. Great find.

Rick

__________________
2201 TL

2010 Nissan Titan king cab SE
4x4

I just have a lowly Nissan Frontier with a gasoline V6. I make up for it with a pair of 270 hp Cummins diesels on my boat.

__________________
Raul

2408T
2010 Nissan Frontier, 4x4, Crew Cab

Nissan is reportedly coming out with a diesel for the Frontier in 2015/16. This could be your lucky year.

__________________
2201 TL

2010 Nissan Titan king cab SE
4x4

This has family history. Plus it lived in the luxury of the So Calif weather.
One small ding and NO rust.
This takes over from my 6 Cyl Toyota. Which is/was a great truck. No leaks, no issues and gave me 215K miles with no problems.
I will miss the Toyota for its simplicity and reliability.
I can only hope and pray that the Ford is as good.

My brother didn't initially want to sell to me. Personal thing about not doing business with family/friends.
But he had all of the documents and knew the truck was RIGHT. Plus I have traveled in it with his family several times.
But S#$& happens sometimes, and I accept that.

If there had been a diesel Toyota available I would have already owned it.
This is the first Ford I have owned since ETS'ing from the Army in 1975 when I bought a 1964 Econoline. I was happy to sell it!

__________________
2002 ford f350, 7.3 diesel
1985 hi-lo funchaser
kb0nai
kd7ctk

ETS'ing, now there's a word? I haven't used in quite awhile. I had 4 or 5 of them, I forget now, but the one in 1990 stuck.

__________________
2014 Ford F250 6.7 PS
formerly a HiLo TD2401
now an 08 Jayco Eagle

Every brand has its issues. I'm sure you will find gremlins in the Ford but I've always been happy with them. However, compared to the Toy I'm sure you'll find the 350 with the diesel much much more of a TRUCK.

__________________
2201 TL

2010 Nissan Titan king cab SE
4x4

I have owned some type of Toyota since 1981 and will continue to own them, but like you, if there was a diesel Toyota available I would have one.

__________________
Fantastic Wife
2005 Toyota Tundra V-8 4.7L
2705T Tow Lite
1999 21T Tow Lite