Best Rig for 18-20k??

It depends on what you can come up with. My neighbor has a '97 with the V10 with every bolt on performance part available. It does get up and move with good towing power but I would doubt, even after his mods, that it would keep up with a 24v in the hills loaded. It sucks gas like crazy, he gets single digit mileage. :doah: BUT....since you plan on putting hardly any mileage on it I would definantly consider the V10. The overall fuel savings with a diesel would probably not be significant with that little mileage anyway. Also something that could be added is the maintance cost, with the amount of mileage planned you will have to change your oil mainly because of oil age, rather than wearing it out from mileage. The diesel will go longer on an oil change but if you aren't going to rack up more miles than what a V10 oil service limit in a say "6 month" period than you are changing oil simply because of old age. Changing 5-6 quarts and a small filter is a lot cheaper than 11 quarts and a larger, more expensive filter.

Regardless, I think Dodge is going to be the best bang for the buck. They, in my opinion, had the best drivetrain throughout the 90's and had GREAT manual transmissions. I'm not scared at all of the autos, especially if you aren't going to rack up miles, but if all you are going to do is tow and the truck won't see city driving where an auto is nice, than I see no reason not to go with a manual rig regardless of brand you do eventually purchase.

 

V10

I have a 2001 F250 XLT, Supercab, V10, lB, 4X4, for sale, $21,000, only 37,000 miles, very clean, never off-road, 33" BFG's, alloys, no lift, power, cd, tows very good, only suffers a little on steep grades when towing over 8,000 lbs. Las Vegas area, if interested give me a pm, or call 702-451-1113. Yes diesels are better, but for a gas this is set up great, 4:30 geras, rear Firestone airbags.