IM HAVING A PROBLEM. im looking at buying a used deisel truck. right now i have a jeep and love going out on the trails and through the woods. my delima is that im between is a ford f-250 with a 7.3 (years 1999-2003) or a dodge 2500 with the 5.9 between the same years. im looking for a truck that will stand u to abuse off road and future towing duties as well and give me a long and reliable life. which has the best overall track reacord and ability to modify?  

do you preffer auto or man. tranny  

I PREFER MANUAL BUT HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A DEISEL MANUAL TRANNY. I LIKE THE FACT THAT I DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LINE PRESSURES AND FILTER CHANGES VERSUS JUST A CLUTCH CHANGE EVERY NOW AND THEN. I WANT THE BEST OVERALL TRUCK IF ITS A STRONG AND DURABLE AUTO ILL TAKE IT IF THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS KICK ASS WITH MY OTHER NEEDS.  

trust me diesel with a manual is the easiest manual you will ever drive low,1st,2nd,3rd,4th,and 5th you can take off uphill in 2nd gear almost on idle no more putt putt 4cyl,V6,or V8 gasser. 4R100 auto on the ford is a good tranny but I really do not know how well the dodge autos hold up to power mods and off-road but I do know that dodges 6-speed are stout. The ford auto needs the a good cooler up grade and some thing that will keep the tranny shifting firm for off-road and towing if you get the auto. Both makes I would go with a 2000 model or better. seeing as there is 15hp difference between 99 and 99 1/2 ford trucks the 99 has more choke points for the dodges stay away from the killer dowel pin years. Both 6-speeds for both trucks are great they weigh a 100 lbs. more than the autos. The dodges wiegh less than the fords if wieght is a prodlem. Both should be good for off-road use and towing. Now as far as modifing lift kits run about the same,some chips have different features than others for the two have fun  

by a powerstroke  

WHICH IS A STRONGER TRUCK OVERALL...( ENGINE, TRANNY, AXLES, OVERALL BODY BUILD FOR ABUSE...) I KNOW THAT THE CUMMINS IS A BETTER ENGINE FOR MODDING, BUT WILL THE DODGE FRAME HOLD UP? I HEARD THAT IT WAS JUST UPGRADED SPRING RATES THAT MAKE IT AN HD, AND THE FORD IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FRAME AND BODY. CAN YOU GET A MANUAL WITH THE 7.3L THATS 4x4 AND EXTENDED CAB OR 4 DOOR OR IS IT LIMITED TO AUTOS ONLY? THERES JUST A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE ME UNDECIDED STILL. I LOVE OFF-ROADING AND I WANNA BE ABLE TO TOW AND MOD AND HAVE FUN WITH MY TRUCK.  

ENGINES-I think that the 7.3 is a good motor if you want good everyday power put a banks powerpak you won't be disappointed at all and if you need to add a little more power to it stack the sixgun on top of it. With the 5.9 the aftermarket is great turbos,chips,exhaust,intercoolers,and injectors it just seams endless for the little straight six.
TRANNY-Ford and dodge manual 6-speeds are built stout.Dodge's auto can not stand the abuse the ford auto can. I hear alot of bad from the dodge autos
AXLES-fords have 10.5 in the rear and the dana 50 or 60 in the front the ford 10.5 is the big brother of the ford 9" the dana 50 is generally on the f-250 but some 60s did slip out the dana 60 is on f-350.dodges have dana 70 or 80 in the rear and the dana 44 or 60 mostly the 60 on diesels 44 is on gassers the dana 70 is generally 2500 and 80 on 3500.Axle upgrades go with detroit locker in the rear electric locker on the front for best off-road use
BODY/FRAME-Ford has an aluminum skin(not the whole truck)it is thick and the frame is HD. Dodges have a little bit thicker frame than the dodge 1500 the body is steel so if you get a deep scratch it will rust the ford won't
MY OPINION they are both good trucks but I think the ford is a much better looking truck than the dodge. If I had to choose I would go with the ford  

OK THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT. I AGREE WITH YOU 100% ABOUT THE LOOKS OF THE FORD.JUST A FEW LAST QUESTIONS..... ARE THE 4X4 SYSTEMS COMPARABLE IN DURABILITY? WHICH YEARS OF THE FORD HAVE DANA 60s, HOW EASY IS IT TO FIND THE FORD 6 SPEED IN AN F-250, F-350(NON- DUALIE) 4x4 WITH 4 DOORS, AND LAST WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO LOOK TO FIND GOOD PRICES ON GOOD QUALITY TRUCKS?
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR INSIGHT ON THIS MATTER.  

wel by now u more than likly have made your choice, if you are thinking about a dodge, get 2004.5 or newer depending on your wallet. Thats when the HO (high output) were standard! Trust me!! I have a 2003, and there is a horsepower differnce!!!!!!!  

Get a Duramax or Cummins what ever u do don't get a ford