There are some very good points made here. Yes, the 7.3 Powerstoke is a great diesel and will last a long time. Yes, the injectors are expensive and I wouldn't change them. Have them done. Yes, the 4R100 is a possible weak link, but you ever wonder why it has hung around for so long. Its a Great tranny. My next 4R100 will be one of those bullet proof one. Yes, the 2-3 shift is hard, but I just let off the pedal a little when its about to shift.
Yes, mine is chipped, (DP Tuner), cold air, mapp fooler, big exhaust, tranny cooler, Deep sump tranny, dual oil filters (Amsoil), all the gauges, and the funniest thing is it runs like a monster with that 16,700 pound fiver on the back.
The major thing you can't change are the brakes. The truck will pull the 41' fiver all day long, but it won't stop coming down a 8% grade. I had to hunt down and get a F450. I found a 2002 F450 7.3L Powerstroke, and completed all the same mods on it. I was paid more for my F350 than it cost me for the F450. The F350 had 187,000 miles when it was sold, and the F450 had 90k when purchased.
Buy the F350, do some mods, and enjoy it. Keep the weight down on the fiver. Good luck
