Should I buy a 7.3L Ford F-250?

I'm 15, and I'm looking for a 7.3L Powerstroke. I want a 1994-1997, but will take a 1998-2002 if I find a deal that I like. Mainly, the older body because I can find them cheaper and I actually like the square body. I want to start looking now even though I still have another year before I start driving because I have enough money to buy one ($8,000-ish) (which means more left-over money for new parts), to start saving up money for parts I'll need (to know how much I'll need to work to get all of that money before I start driving), and some relatives could sometimes use an extra car/ truck in my family/ my family could use it.

I want a Diesel because I can get better fuel mileage, and boy do I want to stick an MBRP with a straight pipe on it. I'd like to keep the truck that I buy for decades (probably about two or three) before I have to upgrade, as I don't think I'll want a new car a lot. Plus, I will occasionally haul a 8,000 pound camper, and regularly in the Summer haul a light-weight landscaping trailer.

But, should I get one?

(I should mention that I have a steady, minimum wage income as a teen, and a mother who would keep my truck on the road for anything)

No, you should not. Diesel trucks require a lot of very expensive maintenance that people do not figure in when they say "It gets better mileage". At one time, you could save big on diesel, but not any more. Truck maintenance is more expensive than car maintenance in general, but when you move to 3/4 ton and up it gets even more expensive. More than a minimum wage job can handle. Buy an F150 instead, with enough motor to handle your trailer. You ll be better served.

The Powerstrokes are a p*&& poor engine. It is not something that you would want to buy used. If you want a diesel pickup, get one with a Cummins. My son is running 3, two 5.9s and a 6.7. He put new governor springs in one 5.9, a new fuel rod, and turned a screw. He is well over 200 hp. He is running a 5" stack. It will darken the sky when he gets on it. On his 6.7, he did an EGR/O2 delete, run a 5" pipe back from the turbo with a big straight through muffler and is running a tuner. He put in a dual disk clutch and is running about 450 hp. When I'm outside, I can hear him coming home from 3/4 mile away in either truck.

Your reasons for buying diesel are wrong. The only absolute advantage a diesel has is low end torque for towing and going off road. If you want decent fuel economy, a truck/SUV is not the way to go, but at least you are intending to put your truck to work. Maintenance costs for diesels are higher and the truck you are looking at is already 18 years old. I bet it is already starting to deteriorate in areas such as rust and electrical issues. The average person keeps his vehicles 10-15 years tops.