I really like the earlier diesels. The 5.9 is great in either the 12 or 24 valve, some good years of the Duramax as well. I drove my 7.3 Powerstorke everywhere all the time. My dads 2000 Dodge would get 20-21mpg on the highway and pulling the airstream would drop down to around 14-15. My Powerstroke was about the same, I'd say average of 17-18, best of 21.
We took a 1 ton, gas, crew cab to SEMA a few years back hauling a 30' enclosed, what a pig. Glad I wasn't paying for fuel.
My wife's Jeep gets 14mpg, can't haul or tow as much and doesn't have the interior space. We just bought a 1500 Crewcab Chevrolet, I'm not really diggin it yet, I miss my diesel.
