I sold my 99 cummins and picked up a '00 7.3 F350. I can honestly say the Ford is a MUCH better truck all around.

 

how would you compare reliability and towing abilities with respect to handling going up steep grades and higher elevations between those two?

 

I will be towing with it in two weeks, so I will report back. But, I can already tell you that everything about the Ford feels better. It's all around more comfortable and more practical. Power feels better, steering is much better, and the SRW is nice.

 

2012 Nissan Armada SL with tow package for me. Towing with it for first time this weekend.

 

Update:
The Armada did great towing the evo to my first event. Towed it from Nashville, Tn to Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville GA. Averaged 12.5-13 mpg the whole way with it in tow mode, and that included going through alot of hills and steep inclines. Two thumbs up for the Armada, if any of you guys are looking for a dual function tow vehicle/family hauler.

 

I almost just picked one up but opted for an 06 Yukon Denali with some mods to beat up on for a while. Glad you like Nissan, they're built tough.

 

Fords are BUILT TOUGH. F'ing newb.

 

The new (to me) 7.3 F350 pulled my 24' enclosed trailer with my track car so flawlessly. Felt so much better than the cummins did.

Forgot to calculate gas mileage, but I will on the way to NJMP.

 

I looked at an 07 (newer body style) Yukon Denali, and loved it....really nice ride. Just couldnt justify the price difference with the Armada. I paid the same for my fully loaded 2012 Armada that I would have for a 2007 denali with 60k plus on it. Granted....it was a hellacious deal with my Dad's employee discount (15k below invoice with all the year end incentives) Hope you like the Denali....did you get the 6.2 ltr?

 

Interestingly I had the new body style in '07 (Tahoe), and I always liked the old one more. The Armada is solid, especially with that kind of discount! My Denali is Penske-spec with a 6.0 and built 4spd. I'm not a fan of the 6.2 (though I like the 6spd!) as I can use 87 without issue which is about a $10/tank difference with virtually no benefit and I drive a lot! Lights are all upgraded, have the Autoride on all 4 corners with auto leveling and all options. If I could borrow one feature from the Armada it would be fold away seats. GM really missed that boat.

 

Over the weekend, I towed my 24' enclosed trailer with my sub 3000lb Evo to NJMP and back from NH. Averaged 14mpg in cruise at 70mph. Lots of hills through NY and CT, but I never had an issue.

Love this truck so much more than my Cummins.

 

^^^traitor

 

Much better truck all around.

 

That's actually kind of impressive, I might have to take another look at Fords. What's your normal highway mpg?

I use a Toyota Tacoma (2nd gen, v6, 4wd), and I was quite happy with it. I can get 22 MPG highway without towing anything. Towing my VR-4 (Which is almost 1000 lbs heavier than an Evo, I think), I got 14~ MPG. Had to slow down to 60 up some of the steeper hills, though, the engine was having a hard time on some of them, and I didn't want to keep high revving it.

 

Haven't had the chance to run a full tank unloaded, as I only use the truck for towing, but it's up there!

I used to own several VR4's; heavy bastards! LOL.