I think some people would buy it but overall I am unsure if that is the best idea. If a 150 has much more power or pulling capability, would the chassis be strong enough to utilize it? Is the rest of the smaller 150 able to do much more then current engines allow?

 

This is a very good point. The current engine line up is pushing the boundary of what is safe to haul/tow with a half ton. I cringe everytime I see a 150 overloaded, or the daily threads on if it's ok to haul a 13,000lb camper all over the country with an F-150. A power diesel would only further blend the lines between 1/2 and 3/4 ton. Thus I think a powerful diesel is a bad idea for a half ton.

Now a 1/2 ton diesel that isn't any more powerful than the current line up and set up for optimal MPG, sure. What would be really nice is if the Ford Ranger Thunder could be purchased state-side.

 

Exactly. People buy halfs and try to do a job that they should really be doing with a 3/4 ton. If you look, their have actually been more accidents with halfs pulling heavy loads versus the 3/4 tons pulling the same amount of loads. Its not safe and DPS doesn't really enforce the legal limits like they should. People today also believe that having a high horse engine means they can pull more but it really doesn't. Something like a 200 horse diesel half is all that is really needed (that's what the HD engines were putting out about 15 years ago) that maybe makes 400 lb-ft is more than enough to get 26 mpg and a 10,000 load rolling with ease, not that you should. Plus, then there doesn't have to be a 3/4 ton tranny or axles to handle the torque. I'm planning a diesel swap and I don't even think I'll be able to get the 4 cylinder past 180hp cause it will be making 400lb-ft at that point, about as much as the stock drivetrain can handle and the engine is easily capable of 350hp and 600lb-ft.