My powerstroke is a 95! Ive had the Auto replaced and a vacume pump. Its got 150000 hard ash miles on it. The older trannys do suck but my new commercial tranny is awesome! I pull hard and always tow in overdrive on the freeway! I love the sound of the turbo so I drive it very hard all the time! Im gonna be the true tester to see what these trucks are capible of!
As far as lots of maintence...Who ever said that has no clue what there talking about!
My truck is a 95 with 150000, I change the oil every 7 to 10 thousand and the fuel filter every other! I do run unleaded once in a while to clean it and I get almost 21 on the freeway if Im extremely nice! Keep in mind mine has 3.70 gear ratio. I spin 1900 rpms at 70mph. Get a 1 ton and your stuck with 4.10s and 16 miles to the gallon. I get that with 6000 pounds behind it!(If Im nice)
You will also spin 2400 to 2500 at 70! Everyone I know is stuck doing 55 to 60 if they want 20 out of there 1 ton and a decent life of the motor. Also the 1 tons handle and drive crappy compared to the 250's. The front solid axle isnt as forgiving as the twin I beam. And the steering is not even as responsive! My truck was beefed in the suspension and drive train. It was a custom factory order. Its almost a 1 ton but more than a heavy duty! It gets 20 to 21 on the freeway if Im nice!
The blue book is still 17,000 on it with those miles! If it was a gas truck it would be about 10000. Ill never own a gas pig!
Also I saw a post about the trannys for the powerstrokes were made by CAT! I do heating and air conditioning for Cat Construction and logging equip. and know the company VERY well.
THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE BIG 3.

The new Dodges are ok. By ok I mean there good but the lowest in power!
The 2000's and below have weak flexible frames. They had a demo at Emerald downs and the Dodges were terrible! Dont believe me! Pull yours up on a 2 foot ramp leaving the other side on the ground and see if you can open your doors!
Also notice your bed is almost touching or is touching your cab! And your 3rd and 4th doors probably leak or squeek now! And pre the new body style around 90, had even worse frames that cracked all the time!
Best frame was the new Chevy, followed close by Ford!
Ive been watching the chevy Duromax closely as my good fishin bud works for Grey Chev in Port Orchard and there selling the crap out of the new desiels. Then there coming back with torque converter bolt problems and head problems!
So Ill keep my old Ford for now and probably forever as no one would want this truck when I get done with it!

Travis, you buy that V10...Ill see ya when you finally make it past all those gas stations, or you could leave a hour early! And are those miles per gallons obtained when your wifes driving it? JK.
Every V-10 owner I know wishes they would have bought a "D".

I've went 557 on one fill up! 34 gallons of fuel!
Thats a 16.38 mpg avarage! God I must have been sleeping at the wheel! I can get 20 to 21 but I need a rev limiter...

Hope this helps!

Bob D