How does it drive?

So my truck will be paid off here in October(almost 3 years early), and as I plan a move to Alaska in the future. I will need a new(or used) 4x4 truck as mine is 2wd.
I will keep my truck for a year or so after it is paid off but will buy a new/used one in Alaska with whatever I get out of this one.

How does the 3rd gen drive compared to the 2nd gen? I love the way this truck drives and honestly wouldn't rid of it if it weren't for Alaska(Fairbanks) winters. I have lived there for 2 years prior just couldn't afford to save... Now that I have had the ability to do so and have equity in a house/cars, I can finally move back.

I am between a 2500 gasser(ford 7.3 or Dodge 6.4) and another tundra that is 4wd(possibly 3rd DC gen 4x4 offroad set up)
EDIT: another candidate would be the custom trail boss with the 6.2 in a DC configuration

 

Do you plan to tow/haul with the truck?

If I was buying a GM 1500 it would be the 3.0 Duramax. Especially since they are now adding the max trailering package(GM refers to it as "NHT") for 2022 and it comes with 3.73 gears and a higher axle rating as well as cooling improvements. If you ever planned on larger tires the 3.73's would be perfect. I know its cold up in Fairbanks, but there are actually 3-4 guys on the Duramax group that live there and have not had any issues. It's not like trying to start a 7.3L Powerstroke. My neighbor also has one and really likes it.

The 7.3L godzilla is a monster. My mother-in-law has one in her Class C E450 motorhome. Its a chassis cab version so its detuned from the Superduty to "just" 350hp and 464 ft-lbs, and has a 6 speed instead of the 10 speed. Its a beast. We live in Utah at 6500' and I drove it for about 4 hours out at the Flaming Gorge and then back home on the freeway. The camper is a 14000 lb GVWR and a curb weight just over 12000 and the motor had zero issue moving that thing at 75mph in a headwind on I-80 at 7000'+ of elevation. up and down 7% grades like nothing.

My point being, a Superduty with the stronger 7.3L, the 10 speed, and 4.30 gears would be a ridiculously stout setup.

Can't comment on the Tundra.

 

Mostly hauling(I do a lot of work out of the bed of the truck).
Not a huge fan of diesels because of the cold start crap and costly repairs/maintenance compared to gas, but I hear what you are saying. I am not a huge ford fan.. but the f250 with the 7.3/10 speed/4.30 is exactly what I am looking at. I may buy a trailer since there are actual places to go stay at up there too!

 

The 7.3L is a game changer in the gas HD world. It's on my short list if I ever decide to move out of my F150 Ecoboost, along with the Tundra and 3.0 Duramax and maybe a Titan XD(if it still exists).

I have heard really good things about the 6.6L GM gas engine with regards to MPG's, but the Silverado HD is just hideous and the 7.3L seems to outperform it by a mile when hooked to a trailer.

As for the 3.0 Duramax, what I hear is that its so refined its basically like having a gas engine. Its aluminum block so it warms up really fast, and everything I have seen says it cold starts really well. I guess the only thing you gotta worry about is fuel gelling.

 

Hmm I may look at that then. Fuel gel shouldn't be an issue there as I believe they put agents in the diesel to stop that issue.
I will have an oil pan/block heater and a battery trickle charger.