I'm tempted to sell my Tacoma and buy something I can tow stuff with (i.e. MR2 on trailer). Considering I'll likely end up getting the same or better fuel economy and be able to drag half of a city block if I felt like it, it's tempting.
I've heard Ford's 7.3 is good. 6.0 is bad. 6.2 is meh. What should I know?
I kinda like the F350 crew cab short beds and do want 4x4.
Damn, that's a big jump from a Tacoma to something like the F350. Ridden in one lately? I have and would never buy one unless I had to tow every day, and it'd better be a house or a 10 place horse trailer...I like my kidneys and fillings too much right where they are.
And even if the mileage is the same as the Tacoma, you're going to spend way more in fuel, given diesel sells for, what.... 30 cents/gal more than reg. gas?
Honestly, I'm wondering why you need a vehicle with something like a 15,000# tow capacity? It's going to be a bitch to ride in empty, esp. if you choose a Ford. Heck, even my little 2003 Silverado has an 8400# tow rating, 3.73 rear end, 5.3L V-8, reg. cab, short box. I'd tow your car and trailer with my truck without a second's hesitation, and we're averaging 19.1 mpg out of it right now.
Oh, and how's the no body rot state? Refreshing to not see every rear bumper on a Toyota not rotted away, isn't it? Got very used to seeing darned near every Toyota pickup and SUV with a rotted bumper while we lived on the Cape, although it wasn't restricted to just Toyotas...it was everything. Hate salt and snow!
Good luck with whatever you end up choosing.