Lots of talk about Ford and Dodge trucks lately....sooooo...

[Ram07]

Didn't really read them all, My old dodge in the pic served well, no problems in the 4 yrs I had it, and ya, it was used as a truck!
The question is, I have two boys(men), one got himself a new Ram sport, cool truck (kinda useless to take in the bush if ya ask me)....the other is now buying one, he wants a 3/4 ton Diesel...leaning towards a Ford..guessing it would be a 2014...is this a good choice, I know nothing about Diesels...trucks way too fancy these days for me, but would like to offer some advice.

I do know about the reputations of a Cummings, but have heard bad things about the Ferd....they getting better?

He's not open to buying a real simple truck and rebuilding!

[GOTWING]

my friend that's a mason has had some costly issues with his diesel Ford F-250 4x4 that's out of warranty now..

[Ram07]

The kid will be using it for light duty, towing a boat, maybe a trailer with a scrap car on it every now and then....will definitley hit the bush and do the firewood thing....He would be fine with a 1/2 ton for sure, but...likes to show off!

Are the dependable for lighht use, day to day driving?

I don't get it myself...way more expensive, diesel more expensive than gas, but whatever.

[Mopar440+6]

The kid will be using it for light duty, towing a boat, maybe a trailer with a scrap car on it every now and then....will definitley hit the bush and do the firewood thing....He would be fine with a 1/2 ton for sure, but...likes to show off!

Are the dependable for lighht use, day to day driving?

Ford would not be the way I would go. I've heard/seen too many issues with the 6.0L and 6.4L Powerstrokes (blown injectors, failed headgaskets, DPFs needing replaced at 30K, etc). Even my dad's 5.4L gas truck has major issues already and its an 04 with 40K miles. For comparison, I have a 94 Cummins with 250K and the most I've ever spent on repairs was the new steering system at 210K.

If you want honest information about diesels go here: http://www.competitiondiesel.com/forums/index.php

I don't get it myself...way more expensive, diesel more expensive than gas, but whatever.

Not so much. Yes, the fuel may be more expensive but the increased MPG offsets the cost of the fuel. My 94 Cummins averages 16-17 in town and 20-22 on the highway (depending on how judicious my right foot is) and that is with LT285 mud tires. My friends with gasser Rams can't even get close to those numbers and are still spending more on fuel even if they run low grade. Personally, I'll never own another gas truck...

[Wicked72]

love my 7.3 but im looking for a new truck and want a cummins and need a mega cab. mine is for sale btw. 6speed man trans 7.3 low miles. beautiful truck and one hell of a truck to show off! didnt know much abt the cummins auto trans till my post. i can say the ford auto trans are junk...  if i could get a cummins with a man trans id spend the money on a good clutch and not worry abt it like my truck now.

[Indygenerallee]

The new Fords are good, they have got past the 6.0! So If he is looking at a 2014 he is good to go. Ford or Dodge just say no to CHEVY DURAJUNK!!!!! 

[charger_fan_4ever]

dodge used the 5.9L cummins from 1989-2007 07 to present 6.7L
ford in that time frame used 7.3L,7.3L turbo,7.3 powerstroke,6L,6.4L, now i think its a 6,7L
Gmc 6.5,6.5 turbo, 6.6L duramax

Enough said

My personal choice any cummins, runner up 7.3L powerstoke, duramax.

I like the duramax, but aluminum heads on a steel v-8 block does not spell long term durability to me. Plus lots of do dads,electronics under the hood.

[Cooter]

I dunno, a buddy just put a "Programmer" thingy on his Duracrap and it'll BOIL BOTH rear tires on that dually.

[Todd Wilson]

dodge used the 5.9L cummins from 1989-2007 07 to present 6.7L
ford in that time frame used 7.3L,7.3L turbo,7.3 powerstroke,6L,6.4L, now i think its a 6,7L
Gmc 6.5,6.5 turbo, 6.6L duramax

You forgot the 6.2..................what a fine POS that engine was!   


Todd

[Fred]

A Cummins diesel would be my choice.

[lukedukem]

A Cummins diesel would be my choice.

luke

[charger_fan_4ever]

dodge used the 5.9L cummins from 1989-2007 07 to present 6.7L
ford in that time frame used 7.3L,7.3L turbo,7.3 powerstroke,6L,6.4L, now i think its a 6,7L
Gmc 6.5,6.5 turbo, 6.6L duramax

You forgot the 6.2..................what a fine POS that engine was!  


Todd

Opps I thought by 89 they were all 6.5 non turbos.

I dunno, a buddy just put a "Programmer" thingy on his Duracrap and it'll BOIL BOTH rear tires on that dually.

Guy in town had a 98 QCSB cummins 4x4 stock auto. Edge juice with attitude chip is all it had and would roast the tires and do donughts all day long. Those boxes that add fuel are around 150hp :O

[chargerboy69]

I am a Ford truck guy, so I am biased just so you know. To be honest, before I bought my first Ford truck, I was looking for a Ram.  I read a lot of truck forums and I looked at who was driving what, and how they were using it.  I noticed ( in this part of Indiana anyway) the Chevys were nothing more than suburban guys just using them as daily drivers. Maybe getting mulch for their lawn every once in a while. Many of the Dodges locally are driven by kids with programmers, exhaust and love black smoke.  They have 18" chrome wheels, and basically a "show" truck.  Now you go out into the country and see what the farmers are using. I see what the transport guys are driving when they deliver RV campers to my dealership, I look what the construction companys and lawn services are using. Around here, they are Fords.  To me that says a lot.

If your buddy is buying a 2014 I would not even think twice about buying a new F-350.  From everything I have heard the new 6.7 has been a great engine.  The new Rams are a good looking truck too, but still plagued by weak front ends and poor transmissions.  If you buddy is pulling, and working the truck, then Ford is the way to go.  If he is just using it to go to the mall or get some ice cream the Dodge will work just fine. 

[41husk]

I have a 96 cummins and love it

[DC_1]

Ram and Cummins for me.....I may be bias about the body brand but as far the engine, nothing better IMO. I once wanted to buy a aftermarket exhaust manifold for my 06 Ram 3500 with a cummins. I found a guy local to me who was big into tractor pull competition and had what I was looking for. When I drove out to his farm and garage I saw 8 or 9 Dodge ram trucks of various years. Some stock, some built for competition. When the guy came out to meet me I said, I see your a big Dodge guy, he replied - I have been racing diesels for 25 years and built or worked on every brand out there. I could care less about the sheet metal, Through experience I have grown to be a Cummings man! Nothing better as far a reliability in extreme conditions like tractor pull and much easier to work on than V8. Also very easy to get more power out of and push without failure.

[Ram07]

Thanks for the replies. Can aways count on advice here.

He's getting the Ford, he's not a big fan of the Dodge    He never even considered the Chebby!

Gotta say, the Ford is a very nice truck! It won't be abused or worked that hard, but it will be put to work...light towing (boat, camper etc)...and a lot of firewood.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Lots of superduty's out my way used by contractors, work trucks. Here price plays a big part. In used trucks the dodges pull atleast 30% more retail value than the other two. Fords are the most numerous and also the cheapest around here. the cummins truck engines were used on generators running wide open all day and in farm machinery. Enough said

[Todd Wilson]

Lots of superduty's out my way used by contractors, work trucks. Here price plays a big part. In used trucks the dodges pull atleast 30% more retail value than the other two. Fords are the most numerous and also the cheapest around here. the cummins truck engines were used on generators running wide open all day and in farm machinery. Enough said

There are a lot of SuperDoodys out there being used.  Fords crew cab was a tad bigger then Dodges original crew cab and that probably hurt them when someone was making a decision on what truck to buy. The biggest reason though is the Ford and Chevy generally had a weight rating that was a few hundred lbs more then the Dodge and when companies/corporations are buying/leasing work trucks due to regulations and insurance/liability they go with the heavier rated truck. They really dont care what brand it is. In Kansas here the farmers will either have really old Ford 7.3's  or Old 1st gen 12 valve Dodges or the newer Dodge diesels. We can add all the programmers and fancy intakes and make em fast but the true test of a truck is how long it lasts and how well it does its job in all kinds of weather. The truck busting a snow drift when its 10 outside pulling a feed trailer to the field so the cattle can eat and then go to town for coffee day in and day out for years and years is a much  better test then the fancy wheels blowin black smoke I got a chip with 100hp injectors crowd could ever dream of!

Todd

[Silver R/T]

Love my 01 CTD Ram, don't need another truck, this one should last me lifetime if I take care of it.

[Indygenerallee]

Ive seen plenty of "FUMMINS" (Cummins swapped into a 6.0 Ford) But you will NEVER see a Powerstroke swapped into a Ram.

[Chryco Psycho]

I will not go Near a furd , the last one I drove [2011 Stupid duty] , not mine / company truck had 6 Major failures in the first 12,000 miles from new  & tried to kill me at least 4 times , averaged 6 mpg , total complete friggin JUNK , stay away , far away !!
what are the stats , 90% of all furd trucks built are still on the road today ? .......



yup only 10% made it home

[1970Moparmann]

In my opinion, the perfect truck would be a Ford body, Cummins engine with an Allison trans. 

Had them all more less and positive and negatives on all.  I now have a 2010 F150 and I am shocked how versatile it is for a half ton!  I'll probably won't ever go back to a 3/4 ton.  Towed a 24' enclosed surprisingly well. .  I get 22 mpg on the expressway empty....

[Indygenerallee]

In my opinion, the perfect truck would be a Ford body, Cummins engine with an Allison trans. 

[charger_fan_4ever]

Alison trans are the best auto behind a stock power truck. My dad's neighbor has a duramax pushing around 600hp. He just put the 3rd Alison trans in it. Second one was an upgraded trans and it took a dump after a year. Last one was guaranteed to 900hp and cost $6500 just for the transmission.

Once you go beyond stock power the Alison is as vulnerable as the others.

[Cooter]

Alison trans are the best auto behind a stock power truck. My dad's neighbor has a duramax pushing around 600hp. He just put the 3rd Alison trans in it. Second one was an upgraded trans and it took a dump after a year. Last one was guaranteed to 900hp and cost $6500 just for the transmission.

Once you go beyond stock power the Alison is as vulnerable as the others.

Amen. People give to Dodge/Mercedes 4WD auto's a ahrd time and tout the older 727's, yet put 700HP through a basically stock 727, tow 15K lbs with it and see how long your beloved 727 lasts.....How mnay trans' right here on the forums haven't been flushed/serviced, or even had the fluid even checked in over 100K miles? I see it everyday. Owners b*tching bout reliability, when they themselves abuse the trans'.

[Silver R/T]

I'd go with Dodge w/Cummins in it. You have to remember Cummins is in a lot of semi trucks. Do you see any with Duramax or Powerstroke? You won't find any, they just don't last as long as Cummins does.

[Green71R/T]

If he really needs  a diesel then it doesn't really matter what he chooses. The problem is most people don't use them properly. No short trips. Only let them idle or a few minutes at start up and shut down. no on board compressors or cranes unless you get a pre emission  diesel.they are meant to work. i have one customer who recently went to V10s at 3 MPG because they are cheaper to operate if you include downtime than 11 mpg diesels. They needed 6 trucks to fulfill their 5 truck fleet.they lost $2500/day whenever one was in the shop usually 2 weeks at at time. 

[Chryco Psycho]

I actually drove a 10 ton  flat deck International for a while , I remember popping the hood to check oil & coolant etc the first morning .... darn near fell over backwards , 5.9 with the inline pump & a 8 or 13 spd Fuller behind it , no power house but it ran strong & could easily be tuned for more LOL .
Now all I need to do is swap in the 8 spd fuller into the Ram !!

[Green71R/T]

I actually drove a 10 ton  flat deck International for a while , I remember popping the hood to check oil & coolant etc the first morning .... darn near fell over backwards , 5.9 with the inline pump & a 8 or 13 spd Fuller behind it , no power house but it ran strong & could easily be tuned for more LOL .
Now all I need to do is swap in the 8 spd fuller into the Ram !!

I bought a 93 IH last summer when I wrecked my Kenworth.Completely mechanical DT360 It runs great but doesn't have enough power to drive a sharp stick up a dead dog's as.Thank god I only had to use it for 4 months.