My 3 Biggest Regrets With Buying A Diesel Pickup

Quick summary

The creator (Powerstroke Maintenance) covers their three biggest regrets after buying a diesel pickup and gives practical tips for buyers — especially those who will haul or run a business.

If you’ll haul or run a business, prioritize durability and payload over engine power alone.

Top 3 regrets

Regret #1 — Not researching fuel-system weaknesses sooner

• Diesels of this type can require preventative work soon after purchase (disaster-prevention kit or a DCR swap).
• Typical costs:
  • Disaster prevention kit: roughly $1,000 plus labor.
  • DCR swap: roughly $2,500 plus labor.
• Current precautions the owner uses: installed the disaster prevention kit and runs a fuel additive at every fill-up.
• Recommendation: factor these potential costs into your buying decision or consider a gas truck if you don’t want to immediately “bulletproof” the fuel system.

Regret #2 — Buying a 250 instead of at least a 350

• A 250 (even with a strong diesel engine) has lower payload/chassis/suspension/axle capacity — which limits towing and heavy use.
• While a 250 can pull many trailers (under ~15,000 lb), its payload can put you close to limits (example: nearing a 10,000 lb GVWR).
• For heavy towing, hotshot work, or to fully exploit the Power Stroke 6.7 engine, a 350 (or dual rear wheel) is preferable.
• Recommendation: choose truck class based on payload and towing needs — engine power alone isn’t enough.

Regret #3 — Choosing the short bed (6‘9”) instead of a long bed (8’)

• Short bed limits ability to install fifth-wheel/gooseneck hitches, slide-in campers, or large payload setups.
• Long-bed advantages:
  • Better fit for fifth-wheel/gooseneck and slide-in campers.
  • Potentially higher payload in some configurations.
  • Larger fuel-tank options (owner mentions aftermarket/additional tanks — e.g., a ~70 gal option and scenarios adding ~90 gal flush tanks).
  • Room for flush-mount hitch + extra fuel, important for hotshot or long-haul use.
• Recommendation: if you’ll haul big trailers or want more on-board fuel and payload, get the long bed (or plan truck configuration to match intended use).

Practical buying and usage tips

• Do your homework: research known weak points (fuel system, payload limits, bed-size implications) before buying.
• If buying for work/hotshotting: reliability and repair costs materially affect profit margins — prioritize durability and appropriate GVWR/axles/towing setup.
• If buying for personal use/daily driving: some of these constraints matter less; choose for lifestyle instead.
• Follow technician-recommended maintenance: run additives, install prevention kits, and consult reputable diesel specialists before and after purchase.

Notable mentions

• Channel/speaker: Powerstroke Maintenance (owner recounting personal experience)
• Engine referenced: Power Stroke 6.7 (referred to as “Power Stroke 67” in transcript)
• Products/solutions: disaster prevention kit, DCR swap, fuel additive, aftermarket/flush-mount supplementary fuel tanks (~70–90 gallon capacities)
• Technicians/groups referenced: PTT, A-Rod, BFT
• Towing terms mentioned: 250 vs 350 trucks, single vs dual rear wheel, bumper pull, fifth wheel, gooseneck, hotshotting