We recently sold our Ram 2500 (gas) and bought a new Ram 3500 diesel. I loved the old truck, but in a 20 year old truck you always run the risk of something just breaking. And the new truck is terrific in many ways, BUT:
The one thing I would warn you about is that the beds on the new trucks are SIGNIFICANTLY TALLER than your old truck, which results in problems with a GN trailer. I am having to block the axles on my trailer in order to be able to raise the entire trailer up enough that I won’t crush the bed rails going over a slope. I’ve been told that the Fords arent’ as bad in that respect.
Could you expound on Axel blocking? I just bought a Ram 3500, and the bed is just a little to high. I’m debating how much is too much…
I knew when I purchased a new truck it could be a problem. But since my old truck was quite tall, I had hoped it wouldn’t be too bad. But it is. I can easily drive on nice flat local roads and highways with gradual slopes. But country roads with tight turns and hayfields are going to be out of the question. I can extend my GN coupler a bit to get me more distance from the bed rails, but then the angle of my trailer from nose to tail is too steep. It would be uncomfortable for horses and it places an uneven load on the two trailer axles. My trailer is a 1996 4 Star, so I emailed the folks at 4 Star who recommended “blocking” the axles…basically lifting the trailer 2-4 up from the axles to reduce the slope. It will make the angle of the trailer ramp a little steeper, but I don’t anticipate that will be a problem for my horse.
Another alternative is an airbag suspension for the trailer, that stays low while you load and lifts it up while you drive. Kelderman and STi make those. But between purchase and installation I’d be looking at $5-6K and it’s not worth that sort of investment on a 1996 trailer if I can get away with blocking the axles.
Of course, I could pull my bed entirely and go with a flatbed, but we use the truck for other things, it’s one of the reasons we hunted forever for an 8 foot bed.
We have two 6.7 F-250’s. My dad’s truck doesn’t see much miles since he’s retired but it does do long hauls - 2-day trips to Minnesota for fishing. Zero issues with his. Mine has twice as many miles and has had multiple Def system problems with the tank pump giving up. I’ve done everything to try to keep it running but every 25K miles it would go out and cost $800 to fix. I love everything else on the truck except that. My trainer has the same truck as my dad and has had zero issues as well. I don’t know if mine’s a fluke, but I’ve heard many people complain about it. I would hate to be stranded hauling when your truck goes into limp mode because the def system isn’t working. Now people do delete the Def system and program the truck around it but in some states it’s illegal. So if you’re looking used and it has the emission control, I would check that everything’s intact.
I would go older and find a good diesel mechanic!
PonyApocalypse, What year is your truck vs. your dad’s, are there any other differences for why yours would have trouble and his not?
I have a '96 7.3 diesel F350 and it is awesome. Have heard mostly good things about the 6.7. Would not get the 6.0.
Last year we bought a 2018 F250 diesel, 6.7 automatic and it sure is sweet to drive or haul with. It was on a local dealership lot having come off a fleet lease and it had 24,000 miles on it so the price was very fair. At our age we intend for this to be our last truck purchase. The oil changes are wildly expensive when compared to a gas engine oil change. 
We bought that truck because our F250 '99 V10 had 200,000 miles on it. I was always happy and felt safe hauling with that truck but nothing compares to the 2018 diesel. Night and day difference.
First of all, thanks to everyone for the helpful and thoughtful posts! It really helped in making the decision.
I always enjoy it when posters come back and update, so:
I vetted a 2002 F-250 7.3 w/ 4WD, crew cab, and 6.5 foot bed. My mechanic told me in no uncertain terms to take it back, so I did. I then wound up biting the bullet and got a killer deal on a 2019 F-250 6.7 with everything I wanted (4WD, 8 ft bed, and supercab instead of crew.) Love it so far.
Now I just have to figure out the trailer situation, because the rail height is 59" and I had hoped to buy a used gooseneck! Guess either some blocking/dropping is in my future or I’ll also wind up with a new trailer.
Thanks again!
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