Looking to get a newer diesel in the next couple of years, most likely a 2013 or up. Are most people leaving these stock, or are the deletes are as common as it appears? I'd prefer to leave stock but it seems everywhere you look people are talking about deleting their EGR and DPF. I'm wondering if it's because it's only people with issues who post online and enthusiasts looking for performance, and those who never have an issue aren't as inclined to post anything. What experiences are you guys having with yours?

Stay with the trucks that have the DEF system, those trucks get better mileage and put up with light use a lot better.

It is not a dodge but my company truck is a 2011 F350 with the 6.7 power stroke it has a def system. It is a retired route truck so it pulled a 14,000lb trailer for the first 160K of its life and it still does on a pretty regular basis when needed as a spare. At almost 200K miles the only emissions problems we have had with it has been EGT sensors and the heater in the def tank went bad. We ended up on the hook for one of the EGT sensors but the next one was covered under an extended warranty ford did up to 180K. Like i said not a dodge but an example of good luck with the emission systems. We would have a dodge but the newer 14000gvw puts us with a licensing problem.

What you read about online on forums is the enthusiast market. the guy who leaves his truck stock and works the snot out of it, isn't posting about what he's done to it online.

and the vast majority of the truck owners have left them bone stock.

I've heard that about the DEF trucks, gonna try and get as new of one as budget allows. It's going to replace my '12 2500 with the 5.7. Use it to pull my camper, hemi does ok but planning on longer hauls once the kids get older.

What bad340 said.... I work on them and am currently looking for a 13-15 3500 single wheel long bed crew cab. 90% of the "delete" stuff you hear is related to the late 07-12 6.7 trucks. If you're looking at something in that era, and don't emission test, delete would be the FIRST thing I'd do. Hindsight being what it is, the DEF equipped trucks (13 up) have had little to no issues. They do indeed "tolerate" light duty driving a lot better, get better mpg, extended oil change life, and have two fuel filters which is something they've probably needed since 03 when the common rail came out. One thing though.... they like tires. You'll be lucky to get 30K out of a set... most get changed at 20-25K.

That's about the year range I've been looking at. Our trips with the travel trailer will be getting longer once the youngest gets a little older and I have a feeling I'll appreciate the extra power of the diesel once we start hitting some mountains and the extra fuel mileage on the long stretches. It will get driven unloaded but not often since I have my cheap Caliber for running around in. And it takes 20 minutes of highway driving to get anywhere from where I live out in the country.

Mine is a 3500 Dodge with the DEF

Has 45k on it now and only one O2 changed under warranty

The mileage is not great 14 mpg around town, but then again it is a heavy truck 8900lbs unloaded.

on the high way it gets a little better mileage even with a loaded trailer

noted Tom's truck is a "cab/chassis"... bit of a different animal.

I would stay away from the deletes. If your jurisdiction ever moves to inspection, replacing those components the last guy tossed would be pricey.