will not harm sorry about that  

THANK YOU dgcummins and needpower, I test drove a 2008 2500 ram mega-cab and the ride was not a big improvement over my 99 FORD F-250 but I have ELDERLBROCK shocks. My next test drive will be CHEVY/GM but I don't like the LOOK'S or the IFS, but I have to be non-bias and give them a chance. I will leave FORD for last.  

ok... the Chevy has a very very bouncy ride... its just natural... the newer duramax is very quick and the interiors are nice

I actually work at a ford dealership and drive around 08 super duty's every day, the "flame thrower" problem was solved very quickly. We have had one destroyed 6.4 in the 4 months ive been there and it was because the guy drove his F-450 into a lake(probably to get rid of it :P ) and hydrolocked the engine. Now the interior on the 08 SD is really really nice, if you do get it look at the King Ranch. (it will be incredibly out of your budget though at at least $45,000!) the ride is solid and you dont bounce going down the high way, the exterior is very nice but i am not a fan of the headlights.

Personally i drive a 99 dodge ram 1500, the transmission problems you heard about were from the earlier models not the latest generation. I love my dodge and love the ride, where i feel a bump for about a second because the shocks absorb it(still on the stock ones at 113K) The 6.7L cummins is a bored and stroked 5.9L and does have the DPF... now with the ULSD the mileage is going to be bad period. I also really like the functional interior on the new rams.

OK now down to reality... If you wife is only letting you spend 37K... then you need to look at a used truck. Now also is there any reason for you to even need a diesel? If your not hauling or towing and in miami traffic there is no need for a large truck like that. I would say consider the 08/09 dodge ram 1500 with the HEMI. it will get solid mileage. Now i know i might get a negative reaction from this but if you dont need the power and you arent racing it wouldnt be more smarter or more economical to get a lighter duty truck?  But if you need to meet your cap with a diesel... Definately... 2006/7 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 MEGACAB 4x4 with the 5.9L...  

HI txcharger07, Thank you for the reply !! Reason (1)That I want a 3/4 or 1 ton truck is not for towing, pulling,or racing. I want a machine that in case of an accident, it will be strong and heavy enough that I will walk away. (2) A diesel will give more MPG than any gas V8. (3)Will break-down less than a gas engine (4) Will get more mileage out of the diesel engine, than a gas engine, It's rare for a gas engine to reach 150K, but diesel engines will go over 300K. By the way can a 1500 hemi give me 22 MPG'S ?  

txcharger is right, but a 1/2 pick up will hold up just fine too if you do crash,a friend of mine rolled his 04 f-150 and he walked away. yes diesels last longer but if you take care of a gas engine just right they can last too, i have a 94 jeep with almost 300,000 on it mainly used for wheeling now but it runs great, getting 22mpg with a hemi is possible do an intake and exhaust swap and dont hot rod i hate to say it but a 1/2 is better suited for yours needs  

cause 37,000 is alot of money to spend  

HI needpower, Thanks for your answer, Did that jeep ever get a rebuilt? If not VERY RARE for a gas engine to reach over 200K without any major work done to the engine. True 37K is alot of $$$ for a truck !!! But I will keep it for at least 7 years.  

here is what i would do
1. find an 03-05 f350  6spd mid to high miles
2. ditch the motor drop a cummins in
3. enjoy

quite possibly best truck/motor combo
if you want to go without all that work get a dodge
good motor good truck for what you want and decent mpgs  

i got hit in may going 45 and jeep cherokee pulled into me, i tore off all of the grill, bumper, lights and everything... not much damage to my truck but still took the body shop awhile to fix it.

Also almost no truck is going to get you 22mpg... Especially after the ULSD... Now i get 22mpg on regular on very long road trips... I also have a manual tranny in a 5.2L V8. And for the amount of price difference between Gas and Diesel i really think its more of an advantage in your case to drive a gasser... my truck has also been owned my myself or my dad since it came off the truck in 1998(will be 10 years old this OCT), like i said it has 113K and have had 0 problems with the engine... We have had a new clutch and tranny put it... The tranny was because the dealer didnt reseal it properly and it fried while we were towing a trailer.

Also the 5.7L HEMI has been on Ward's top 10 best engines since 2003, the odds of it breaking down under normal driving are incredibly slim.

I love diesels to death but i really dont have a need for one... They are incredibly fun to hot rod though!!
and have terrific sound... and the smoke whoo smoke is cool lol

Look around and drive a 06 cummins and then go compare it to a new Ram, F-150 or whatever... but get what you really think is going to be best for your needs. And dont be biases towards gas :P

Also please dont even think about going near a turd dealership, whoops i mean toyota  

HI 2001f350psd, After the nightmare 79transam1 went thur putting a just rebuilt DURAMAX in his truck. NO-WAY.  

HEY txcharger07, While I was test-driving the 2008 2500 ram, the salesman told me that DODGE has a LIFETIME warranty on their gas engines, and I don't buy *** crap !!! If HILARY becomes PRESIDENT and destroys our economy, I'm going to be stuck with this truck a long while, maybe a LIFETIME !!!!!  

funny txcharger is that im getting anywhere from 20-24 mpg with my powerstroke using the ULSD,granted thats when i baby the little skinny peddle. oh and gunman my jeep has had nothing done to engine cept oil changes plugs and stuff like that, its the 4.0 I6, great little offroad toy now. i see where your coming from wanting a 3/4 or 1 ton truck to survive a crash, instead of looking at the size of a truck id be looking that the crash ratings, so far ive heard the new f-150 are the best with the ram right behind it.  

Hey needpower, Crash ratings are for like size and weight. If you get a 5-star rated small car and you smash into a 3-star 3/4 ton truck. WHO do you think is going to walk away !! You can't compare a 2300 pound car to a 7000 pound truck. You are lucky to have a gas engine that has lasted so long without a rebuilt !! 300,000 miles is un-heard of. Right now, I drive like JEFF GORDON #24, always rushing doing 65-75 mph and I only get 15.2 to 15.7 city driving, on my 99 F-250 7.3  

your getting that mpg cause your racing around in that traffic, and yes your are right about the size and weight rating, but ive seen people walk away from roll overs in tiny car and big trucks yet ive seen a guy in a dmax get hit by a little chine made junk car in the driver dorr and he ended up with 2 broken legs guy in the little car walked away(dont ask me how it happened all i know is what i saw). plus if your gonna be racing around like that its better to get a gasser just cause with them being lighter(heavier the truck more fuel it will use to move it). yeah im lucky with that jeep as long as you take care of the car it will last.  

wow i think i gotta slow down when i type