I think it really depends on how much those 6 extra cab inches are worth to you, when you can get something like this: '07 CTD longbed $21k

 

FYI: I had a 2006 Ford F-150 5.4, with 20's and 3.55 rear end. That truck was the Biggest dog anyone could have driven. After I got an Edge it made it a little better but if your looking at milage I wouldnt' look at a Ford. I had the truck for 2 years put 19,000 miles on and I averaged 11.5, without towing and being programmed for mileage. The new fords are around here are saying about 16mpg for an average "hearsay". None the less I went to a 2004 Dodge Hemi, and I have more power and better mileage.

 

I'd take the 7.3 Ford or the 5.9 CTD over the new ford or new 6.7 any day. My dad has an 01 f350 turbo diesel 7.3l... Supercab long bed (just the extended cab) with a 6-speed manual trans... he gets 15-17 around town and 22 highway (not towing) ... He towed a 2200 lb trailer and a 6,000lb truck to vermont from nj (about 350) miles and averaged 17.6 mpg... The older 7.3's (02-03) can be found in a quad cab with a long bed... but finding one low mileage is going to be harder.
Good Luck.

 

I have had a lot of experience with truck fleets with diesels. This would include pre-emission, DPF, and SCR. I have had great success and some that have been so bad that it went to litigation. I know this is a Dodge forum and it's mostly pro Dodge but you are absolutely crazy if you go with anything else other than firstly the 5.9L Cummins and then next the Cummins 6.7L. Yes, Ford make good looking trucks and the configuration of a Ford may suit your needs better, but you are asking for problems if you buy a Ford with a diesel. Yes the 7.3 powerstroke is Fords best diesel but it's not that great of an engine. It's just not worth the gamble going with a Ford unless it's a gasser! I know of several occasions where guy's have dumped $8-$15,000 in their Ford diesel. Ford actually filed a law suit against Navistar because their motors were killing Ford on their warranty claims. So Ford now decides to make their own engine....good luck with that!

Think of it this way, if you look at farm tractors, medium and heavy highway trucks, contruction equipment..etc. About 95% of those diesel's have an in line configuration (like an in line 6 cylinder). Hardly any run a V-8 configuration. In most cases it just doesn't work well in diesel's period! You have to remember that the new diesel's these day's are so complex in order for them to meet emmision standards, they're a disaster waiting to happen. For example, Caterpillar stopped making engine's for heavy trucks because it was so tough to meet the emission standard they pulled the plug all together.

The 5.9L Cummins is a great motor. I currently have a 6.7L SCR Cummins in a Kenworth T-370 that I own and it's an awesome motor. Then again if your buying a diesel pick up, your going to be paying more for that truck vs. the gas version. Would you really burn the difference in gas to make the cost difference in the diesel?

 

Found this completely by accident the other day: longbedmegacab.com