I've already done the 3/4 ton diesel thing and simply cannot live with the ridiculously rough ride.

That's average book price. I'm guessing you can find one even cheaper.

Have you looked at a new SuperCrew? They are massively bigger than the prior bodystyle, and make your SuperCab look like a smart car. I'm 6'1" and can comfortably adjust the front seat to my liking then go sit in back, there's probably at least 12" between my knees and the front seat back. We used ours for a family car (3 kids) for the last year and a half, plenty of room for kids and car seats. They are massive in back.

http://image.trucktrend.com/f/roadte...rear-seats.jpg

I'm negotiating on buying an F-150 right now.....slightly different though!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390332503.jpg

My 2012 Super crew F150 measures 100" from the dash/windshield base to the rear window. It's 6" longer then the 04 F150 s-crew.

Can you not go F250 then toss F150 shocks/springs on it for ride? Many go the other way, but I can't see why it wouldn't work...though I could be wrong. Dropping the stone tires they come with would/should also make a big difference.

Another possibility is an aftermarket setup to suit your needs. I have to believe there is something out there.

Not gonna pop 30K + for a F150 gasser then have to do it all over again in a few years when the diesels are out! Plus, a F150 gasser is still gonna get 10-12 while towing.

I'm intrigued by the new Dodge diesel, but I generally stay far, far away from Dodge products.

A $22K MB is still making sense to me! Especially if I can find one with an extended MB warranty. Would be a great Montana winter SUV.

Maybe the older one ride rougher than mine but I am very happy with the ride. I was pretty shocked when I test drove it. Mine is the FX4 package with Rancho shocks, maybe these have a better ride than the stock ones.

When I pull my boat (6,000 lbs) I don't even notice it. My old F150 had a very hard time pulling the boat and returned 8 mpg doing it.

Whaaa? My last F-250 diesel, (2005), bone stock with good tires rode and drove like a dream. I drove it cross-country and it was like sitting in a 1st class airline seat. Man, I miss that truck. :(

I'd take it over any F-150 8 ways from Sunday. And I frequently drive a loaded 2012 F-150 Supercrew with ecoboost. Doesn't hold a candle to my '05 f-250 in any category.

F-150:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390333939.jpg

My old truck:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390334031.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390334056.jpg

This is the F350 7.3L I still have. I won't brag about getting 20+ mpg, but it has gotten 18.4 to 19.2 on freeway trips w/ Michelin M&S tires. I like the ride compared to other PUs I've ridden in including F150s, although it is more firm. I'd think looking for something comparable to this would be an alternative especially since you
're planning on a small diesel in the fairly near future - that is unless the resale value of a newer F150 would be an advantage.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1390334916.jpg

Sounds like you've made up your mind on the MB. I think an extended warranty would be a big plus.

Interesting. I have not had any trouble towing my ~4000lb trailer+car with my 5.4 but have not towed anything large. Mileage will suck on any truck or SUV esp. while towing so I don't worry about that much. At least the F150 runs on regular gas. I used to tow with our '05 Land Cruiser which did OK as well, but the longer wheelbase of the F150 feels more stable for sure. And the Toyota runs on premium @ 14-16mpg. I would love to consolidate vehicles but I could only see replacing the truck and Land Cruiser with another pickup (F250/F350 diesel) or a really big SUV (Excursion/Suburban) as going smaller would hamper utility to much.

Just a data point relevant to the discussion.

I did my first tow with the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 4x4. 911 race car on an open trailex trailer (figure combined weight somewhere in the 3200lb zone). An incredibly easy tow, averaged about 14mpg with the 5.3 liter engine going into V4 mode at times. This truck rides quieter than my Cadillac CTS V did. Very comfortable.

Wait, you got rid of the Cadillac CTS-V already? The wagon?

might want to find one at Car Max and get their extended warranty:

Why Your Next Unreliable Luxury Car Should Come From CarMax

saw this in another thread

Motion - you may know more about this than I, but I got so spooked reading horror stories about short wheel-base vehicles towing enclosed trailers that I went out and got a long bed F-150.

Then, an associate of mine was towing an enclosed trailer with a 2011 regular Expedition - load leveling and anti-sway bars properly affixed. At 60 mph he passed a semi that was doing about 50. The turbulence pushed the front side of the trailer to such an extent that rear of the truck moved hard left, and the next thing he knew was going backwards down the 10 with the trailer leading the way. He ended up totaling both vehicles. Just something to consider, and obviously YMMV. But this is not rare - also happens in strong cross winds.

(On a side note, he was stone sober and covered in beer - they were headed for the river and the only thing loose in the Expedition were many cases of beer. He had a fun time explaining that to the CHP, but according to him there were so many crushed cans the Chippy just laughed and didn't even test him!)

I put 200K on an ML - it is an amazing vehicle. Amazing turning radius - esp for a 4WD. Stout as hell. Mine had the original boxed ladder frame. It would go anywhere, and I had it all over the fire trails in So Cal, and back and forth on the freeways from the IE to OC for years. I probably would not buy another (not important for this discussion) but it has a very short wheel base. Do as much research as you can!

FWIW, my brther bought a 2012 ML350 Bluetec - amazing torque, and great ride!

If it helps, we have a 2000 Durango with the 318 and it has 186k miles on it now. Back in December '06 I pulled our Cobra replica from CA to WI and averaged 13.5mpg and had no issues climbing any of the mountains. We have had very few issues with it. A new radiator about 6 months ago and a new A/C evaporator (corroded) when we lived in the desert. I am sure the new 1500 with the VM diesel will do much better.

Yeah, and you never came to NYC to take it for a test drive:D I do have automotive ADD. I only owned the V Wagon for 18 months, but in my defense a lot happened in those 18 months:

I bought a 2nd home in the country (about an hour and half from the primary residence)
http://asbury.smugmug.com/Other/Asbu...IMAG0363-L.jpg
You've got to have a pick'em up truck when you have a country house, so I bought this
http://asbury.smugmug.com/Other/F150...IMAG0371-L.jpg

The F150 was "living" out at the country and every week the wife and I drove the V wagon to and from the country house with our two dogs (a 90lb Rottie mix and a 60lb brown mutt). This worked well, but we were a little cramped for space moving things between houses along with the animals.

Then I bought this
http://asbury.smugmug.com/By-Land/Ra...17554749-L.jpg

So...like our OP motion, I decided I needed to simplify (with 5 vehicles in the household). I did a 2 for 1 swap, traded the V Wagon and the F 150 and drove off with a new GMC. One vehicle that serves two purposes better than the two I had before. Better suited for weekly trips to the country than the V Wagon (albeit a bit slower;)) and better for towing the race car than the F150 (which had a pathetic tow rating due to the manual gearbox).

Sorry for the hijack motion...

Motion...any objection to a Tundra?

Jacob, nice going! The house looks great and those new GM trucks are really nice. What is your local race track? Watkins Glen?