Ok, please give me your thoughts of the following two trucks.
Looking at upgrading only for reasons of towing.
Current truck is still great condition and second guessing not keeping it.

1997 Ford Crew Cab long box 4x4 SRWB
170,000 for $11,000 white with red interior

2000 Chev Extended cab long box, NO third door
less then 70,000 4x4 with a 7.4 gas motor
Dually with brand new tires all around. $14,000
Great condition as it came from MO. Is it true that MO DOT does not use much road salt in the winter?
This truck was used by a older couple for a Fifth wheel trailer.

What kind of gas mileage with a 7.4 Vortec?

Or keep the current truck and maybe replace the tranny this year for 2 grand and get another 2 years out of it.
BTW, it is a 1998 Dodge Ram Quad cab. 360. 4x4 that will touch 200,000 miles by monday.

BTW, if I buy this truck I will NOT have the $$ to do everything I want to the boat. Such as props and stereo.
I have to add a new trim tab no matter what.

I have a 2500 Suburban in the classifieds

It's got the 7.4 engine. I'm not sure how much different that mileage would be, but mine gets 10-11mpg around town and very close to 15mpg on the road.

# 1 Replace tranny and get two more years and make changes/additions you want with the boat....

# 2 Chevy Should be able to get for 11, 500 to 12, 000.

# 3 Ford -- I dont' think with year and miles the Ford would put you ahead....

Not in that order, but rather, most desirable to least....

Tell me about it Thrill.... I purchased a new GMC 2500 Duamax, loaded, last spring, because the price was more reasonable than gas. It wasn't but a few weeks after the purchase the price began to rise. What luck..... But your right, the pulling power is incredible. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Truck wise that is....

normally it goes in cycles, and the warmer months of the year diesel drops lower than gas, and the opposite is true in colder months

We sold a 1998 dodge 360 4x4 with 45k and the tranny was already bad!!!
Consider that with the current truck you might not be able to use the boat for a stretch this summer while the drive train is being replace....again.

With 200,000 miles, it's worth more to you than anyone else. Spend the money for the trannie if/when needed, and start making "truck payments" into your savings account. Later, when you have to replace the truck, go with diesel.

MO usually only gets a few times a winter where salt needs to be applied, and that is only for a few days. Most of the winter it is dry. Odds are the older couple did not trailer their 5th wheel through the salt anyway.

I'm with Chart. I guess I've been lucky with my Dodge's. I've had a 94 with 177,00 miles and the tranny never gave me any trouble. My 98 has nearly 134,000 miles and other than a bad sensor in the valve body (replaced under warranty) I've had no issues with this tranny either. I fully plan on paying this vehicle off (as I did with the last) and "pocketing" the payment.