Should I Buy a Diesel Truck?

I'm 17 going on 18 with a steadig good paying job, I'm driving a 1995 Silverado on 35's right now as my DD, it averages 8MPG on the Hwy and has 175,000 miles. I live in Southern IL, I can see KY from my house, and am going to Peoria IL for college in a few months. I have had consistent problems out of my truck, to the point I don't trust it out of a 50mile radious of my home, plus the 8MPG. I live on a large farm and my truck is often put thru its paces daily, but I can't really haul heavy load cause its lifted, I'm looking into buying a Diesel 3/4 - 1 Ton NON-Dually Truck, Cummins get the best MPG stock, and Duramax is the most comfortable, but I'm not really worried about that, I wouldn't drive a dirtymax anyway, I like Cummins, I like their History, but I'm a big Ford Diesel Fan, I'm looking into an 06-07 6.0L Powerstroke with low miles, I'd like to drive it for a long time, with a Crew Cab, my trucks a 2Door Long bed and have not cabin space, I'm looking at the Diesel for Fuel Mileage, 18-22, Crew Cab for Space, Longevity of a Diesel saying it's going to be drive'n a lot, and the Power/Torque/Weight for Towing on the Farm, I know the 6.0L Powerstrokes had lots of problems in 03-04-05 but all I've heard is that the 06-07's were great trucks, so give me ya'lls opinion, no descrimination but be honest, want the opinions, thanks ya'll

You want fuel mileage, drop your truck to stock height. If your truck is not reliable, obviosly that is because of the way it is used and maintained. If you abuse a powerstroke, and maintain it like you have your Silverado, it will be garbage in no time. Diesels need better care than gas jobs. Lower your truck to stock, and wait until you grow up before you buy a diesel.
you did say " be honest"

Can you afford the difference between fuel prices the diesel won't do much better in mpg and maintenance is a little more expensive with the diesel

Get an old Toyota or Nissan pickup with low miles on it. I've put over a million miles on 5 of them (all well-used when purchased) and in that time all I've had to replace is belts, hoses and tires. It's a no-brainer

My son bought a gasser when he was 17. He did replace the engine with a 6.2L Chevy diesel. It is a dog, since he has not had time to install the turbo on it. He mostly runs it in the mud since it is very light. He didn't really like it and bought a 1 ton quad cab with a 454 in it that got 10 mpg. He put a second gen Cummins in it. He boxed the frame and put an NV4500 in it too instead of the 700R4. He mostly drives his Dodge 1 ton dually to school and work. He has not had a chance to convert it to 4x4 yet, so he keeps it out of the mud. Both Cummins get right around 20 mpg. My Dodge gasser gets about 14 mpg. He is getting a new Dodge quad cab 1 ton in June when he gets out of school and has a full time job.