UPDATE, well I did it! I Traded my 2001 f250 ext. cab 4X4 V10 with 102,000 miles for a late 2003 powerstroke lairet 4X4 crew cab. Man this thing seems huge! I love it. My good friend is a mechanic at the place that I got it at (ford dealer in Kenesaw, Neb.), and he went all through it and everything is good. They are real nice people there, I highly recommend that place. Anyways this 03 has 89,000 miles on it and its nicccceee...we will see how all of this pans out over time. Thanks for all of the info.
Headed to Cali at 4am to "work," be back in a week and a half or so....enjoy the COLD!!