OP here:
Going to be used to tow a mini excavator and trailer... probably around a 15000lb load. Prioritizing reliability and lowest maintenance costs.

What years are you comparing?

I pretty much immediately dismiss anything Chevy or GM as they just aren't up to the task of heavy work with their wimpy front end.

As for Dodge and Ford. The pre emissions 5.9L engines are hard to beat. I believe they started putting emissions crap on them in 06-07 on the common rail engines. Before that the 24v were damn good, and the 12v are known to be epic in their reliability.

The old 7.3 superduties and older are good work horses. Bit more electronics, sensors, and wiring to go fucky, but really not that complicated once you figure out how they work.

Whatever you do get a standard transmission as autotragics are just awful.

If you're looking at newer than that, I'm not going to be any help here. I don't know anything about the newer shit.

I'm 100% a ford guy, but my wife has a pretty nice 06 dodge with one of the last 5.9 common rail engines pre emissions bullshit and a 6 speed transmission.

>>2947567
How often are you going to tow this combo? What kind of terrain and grades will you be towing up? Don't dismiss gas engines either. They are reliable and cost of maintenance is much cheaper. I wouldn't want to tow mountain passes with one every day, but occasionally towing something is no big deal.

>>2947568
Models need to be less than 5 years old. 2021 and newer.

>>2947569
Daily. Mostly on normal roads and highways. Relatively flat terrain, not much elevation change. Construction sites too. No off-roading.

>>2947565
Go with the Allison transmission option. All new diesels are kinda finicky. I have a ram and just put 10k$ into a new transmission at 85k miles, but out of warranty because the truck is 7 years old. I pull a trailer full of tools with mine.

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>>2947567
>15k combination for commercial use
you know thats well into cdl territory and all the bureaucracy that goes along with it?

You want the most retarded to tune, get a 6.6 Duramax. A tuned and deleted 6.6 will scare tf out of you