[Bench Racer]

I can't speak for the alternatives but I have worked as a Paramedic for 25+ years and have saw 454's, 460's and ford diesel engines used and abused. The one thing I know for sure is the reason ford put the tow hooks on the new 6.0 diesels is they will get used and may need a second set due to use. We run 16 diesel units daily and have some spare units for when trucks are in the shop. The 7.3's were pretty bullet proof except for the auto transmissions. The 6.0's have been trouble from day one. You may park the unit at headquarters with it running fine, then when you go back later to start it, it won't crank. Many of our trucks have been towed multiple times for the same problems. The 6.0 diesel is the biggest lemon I have ever heard of. Ford pretty much has the ambulance market sewed up in the f350 and f450 size trucks due to ford making ambulance specific chassis for the EMS market. Ambulance builders can build a ambulance cheaper by not having to modify electrical, heating, cooling, or other factory items that would alter the factory warranty . Dodge and Chevy do not offer as good of a warranty as Ford when the truck is used as an ambulance, so the Fords are still more cost effective for us in the long run. I certainly would not want to rely on one if I was traveling and paying the bills out of my pocket. Other than the engine, the f450 is a good truck. Every E.M.S. service in the country is echoing the same message. Don Jackson