We agree on that one. The Ford 300CI 6 was a great truck engine, they ran forever and got good mileage ( over 20 hwy).
Must be ford thought they were too good because they quit making them.
My idea of the perfect SUV type vehicle would be a Ford one ton, 4x4 cargo van with rear seats that could be easily added or removed for storage space or adding beds.
Add a HD Reese hitch, inside overhead fishing rod/gun rack and a small propane heater.
I think you can still get the 300 CID I-6 as an industrial engine.
IMO, it was one of the best engines Ford ever made. As long as a guy treated it right, it would run foooooreveer.
I’ve seen a bunch of them powering irrigation pumps, converted to propane. Ford used to put them in the F-250/350 back when they built pickups for work instead of soccer moms.