New to Diesel, which truck to buy?

[Eagles3]

Hey guys! First I've done some reading and I really like this forum, good info here. So I drive a ford gas truck now, 2 door and Have a kid on the way and ready for something 4 door that's reliable that I can use for the new work I'll be doing where a truck will be handy.

Now, I'm looking at all these diesel F250's and want some guidance. Have a lot of ?'s but we'll start here. Big questions I have are about transmission reliability. I know they changed stuff after 2003 tranny and engine both so, terms of reliability and drivability...what's the better combo? I guess the 2003 and older has the 4R100 trans and the newer ones have the 5R110 right? Which will give less problems?

Also, my budget puts me in the "2003-2006 130k milesish" range. That's almost new on these right?
thanks!!

[timmyboy76]

yuor in the 99-03 7.3 section, of the forum, but questioning about getting something with a 6.0...(years you mentioned). If yuor looking for a 7.3..(99-03), and not looking for BIG POWER..(mods, chips..etc), then any year would be good. Reason i say that is because during 01, Ford came out wit hPMR rods, where prior to that, they were forged. The E99 had a smaller turbo, injectors, hpop..etc, so address accordingly. Another thing to consider, sometime in late 00 or REAL early 01, Ford incorporated a "diode" in the trans, which ended up being a real weakspot for the unit. They had away with it late 01....