Range is a legit need. I'm cool with that.

I just can't afford the repair bill mentioned above. Replacing a complete 6.2L is $8000, I can swing that. My fixer upper house eats cash as quick as a Jeep.

 

With the ratings on 1/2 ton these days I'd have to agree with you. I keep seeing a TV ad that has the highest payload, and it is higher than my 2000 F350 has.

This morning at the local convenience store I jumped out of my 7.3 and the sound of the truck by me caught my ear. (yeah, I'm one of those nuts that can tell which diesel it is by the sound) I did a double take and It was a local dirt contractor's service truck and I'll be damn if it was not a 2000ish 7.3 XLT just like mine. But it was not a real truck, had an automatic in it, had that third gauge to keep track of the transmission temp. You don't see many 20 year old service trucks in use at a larger company.....

 

So we are again debating this subject for pages. And again it goes back to how you use the truck and what you are prepared to spend.

I towed with gassers for years before I bought my first diesel. The gassers were very reliable and easy to maintain. One of the reasons I held off on a diesel was cost. More expensive to buy and maintain. When I did buy a diesel it was a 7.3 bought used with a lot of well maintained miles on it. It was a great truck and did what I bought it to do. Next was a 6.0 and when I bought it I had done my research and knew what it would take to make it reliable. Do that and you have a great truck with a strong and reliable engine. I loved its power and ability to tow my big box car hauler cross country.

The 6.7 has proven itself to be a good motor and Ford has improved it's reliability every year since its introduction. I expect my '17 to be a very reliable diesel. So far its been flawless. Sure I could have gotten by with a 6.2. Since my car hauler only weights about 9K lbs I could have gotten away with an F150 Max Tow and an EB 3.5. It would have been cheaper and easier to maintain either of those.

I didn't "need" the 6.7. But I liked the power and its towing ability so much better it was worth the expense. And if I decide to upgrade the trailer or buy a bigger camper, I don't have to wonder if the truck can do the job.

So its your choice. For the time being this is still a free country.

 

I have two jeeps, so I know all too well the reference!!!

 

Not to far off topic as Jeep now offers a diesel in the JL. Also, Cummins has the 2.8 liter 'repower' crate motor, it would fit mighty fine into my '08 JK......

 

The Cummins Repower is actually quite nice.

Too bad that I can build a YJ with 35" MT's, SYE, GM350, and Superduty axles w/Detroit locker front, and Eaton E locker rear for about the cost of just that engine kit.

If they were smart, Cummins would make a plug and play repower kit for 2001-2007 F350's.