2 different leagues Jake.  First decide what you want to spend and realize you'll get a newer, lower mileage F150 than you will in an F250.  Sounds like you don't need a 3/4 ton.  If you're pulling small trailers and doing some firewood, an F150 will suffice.  Better fuel mileage and cheaper maintenance to boot.  
If you're pulling big campers, hauling dump trailers or plowing for a business, a 3/4 ton is the way to go.  I couldn't decide so I have an 07 Tundra and an 03 Dodge 2500, but the Tundra is heading down the road  
 
 

I would say a 150 is all you need....

I'm going to be the jerk that says, by a sierra or silverado . They hold their value a little better, and are extremely reliable.  
 
Gear ratios do matter. If you want great power for towing and all around grunt, get the 3.73 / 4.10 or if you want the gas mileage get a 3.42.

Quote from LitFuse on 06/05/10 at 5:10am:

 
I would have considered a GM product except for two things: a) they took a government hand-out which kind of ticked me off and b) they cut my wife's credit limit from $10,000 on her GMAC credit card to $300 . . . simply because she had not used the card for a few months.

I went on the Chevy website, I'm shocked at how many options you choose are "dealer installed", not to mention the lack of choices in options as compared with Ford.

Your talking to wrong guy;I traded my '05 150 StupidCrew 5.4 "three valve" with 3:73 gears on the Toyota because I couldn't get from Lyman to Houlton on a tank(30gal)of fuel:we had to stop in IslandFalls. I routinely make Houlton now and pump 20 to 21 gal in the tank, am good to go to St.Agatha and back to Houlton. Don't talk fuel mileage to me

Quote from TT600 on 06/07/10 at 10:22am:

 
I've always liked Toyotas . . . but part of the reason I'm looking at Ford pick-ups is that I'm pretty disgusted with Toyota right now . . . my 2000 Toyota 4Runner only has 113,715 miles on it and the rear axle/differential has a major leak . . . now that wouldn't upset me too much since I realize that I do have a 10-year old vehicle and Maine roads are pretty salty.
 
What ticks me off though is a) what should be a $200-$300 part in most every other vehicle is $1,000-$1,200 and b) this is a known issue since a friend who has a contact at a local dealership up here called up and the parts guy said they see this all the time . . . as did my mechanic who said he pretty much sees it with Toyotas since the "metal is thinner."
 
As I said . . . I've always liked Toyotas and never minded paying a little extra vs. paying a little less for a domestic vehicle . . . figured I was buying reliability and quality . . . my thinking is changing on this though based on this recent break down. I realize all vehicles break down, but it kind of galls me that this is a known issue and apparently no solution other than buying a $1,000 part is the fix.

I hear ya on the repair parts cost; they (Toyota) do think highly of their pieces. I hope not to have this particular vehicle 10 years down the road, but, who knows. There must be some third members(I'm assuming that is your reference)in the recycling end of the parts business. I don't think I'd throw a $1,000 bill at a 10 year old, 100,000+ mile vehicle, no matter the manufacturer  

Quote from TORCH on 06/16/10 at 2:01pm:

 
I've been doing some reading and it seems like the problem most of the "newer" Ford F-150s are having now is having the sparkplugs break off while changing them due to a two-piece design . . . apparently there is a technical service bulletin out on how to change them and what to do to prevent them from breaking off . . . there is even a special tool out to remove the broken sparkplugs.

Quote from Skidor on 06/17/10 at 10:35am:

 
 
I know they had that problem on the 99 and 00 F-250 V-10's, didn't know it was an issue in the F-150's though.

Quote from TORCH on 06/16/10 at 2:01pm:

 
    Not sure of the year, but a supervisor at work had this happen to his F-150.

Anyone develop an exaust manifold leak in their F-150 at approx. 50,000 miles?