Diesel pickup: Ford or Dodge?

[Todd Wilson]

From personal experience, my truck will beat you to death on all but the best roads. It seems to be better with weight on it though. I would contribute some of that too worn shocks and bushings so maybe mine isn't the best example. The seats certainly don't feel all that comfortable to me. My cousin swears his 2500 4x4 rides better than any of the Fords or Chevys he's been in (and he's a country boy so everyone has a truck). I haven't ridden for any length of time in any of the other big trucks but my 1984 Suburban rides better than all the rest of mine. It may be tough to match the comfort of the Navigator in anything with a high towing capacity.

Troy

A 2500 or 3500 truck will not ride soft. They all have stiffer suspensions for the weight. If its a problem you better stay in your air ride escalade. All the newer trucks are more comfortable then the old trucks. The 2003 and newer trucks are very comfortable compared to the 1st gen new body style rams. I have 2 friends with the new body style trucks both 4x4 Cummins trucks and they ride way better then the 95 or the 97 Cummins I been in.

25398287208707571   is right about the 4x4. If its going to be a fair weather good road driving truck then a 2wd will work but if you plan to use it in bad weather or dirt/field/junk yard conditions with a trailer the 4x4 is needed.

We can argue about the older auto transmissions not being the best design  but as long as you follow the owners manual and use your head when it comes to pulling weight the old 4 speed auto's are just fine with a Cummins. They are like any other tranny. Upgrade HP or Tork into a stock tranny and you will have problems. Car or truck. The owners manuals clearly state  to SHUT OD OFF when pulling but 99% of the drivers never do. The Cummins has enough tork to keep right on moving and thats what eats the auto tranny. Its also not a race when you are pulling heavy loads. We often get caught up in the Big 3 shoot outs in the magazines. Who can run the 1/4 mile in the faster time with a 10000lb trailer. So we think we got to stick our foot to the floor when taking off at a light to show how manly our truck is.





Todd

[Chryco Psycho]

The Problem with the Dodge Autos is the torque converter , it had a single disc lock up clutch & the engine can simply Chew it to bits & then flush all the clutch through the trans to cause the whole unit to fail , replace the Torque converter with a upgraded multi disc lock up clutch & the trans will be Ok   

[Orange_Crush]

Psycho is correct.  The aftermarket has taken care of the Auto tranny issue.

The '04 and up trannies are still significantly upgraded but, as long as you're not an idiot about it, the pre '04 trannies should be fine.  An extra measure of safety (as with any Dodge Auto truck) can be had if you are extremely diligent about servicing the trans.

My '05 Dually rides MUCH more comfortably and is WAY quieter than my '99 Dually.  The comfort factor might also have something to do with a longer wheelbase (my '05 is a club cab, my '99 was a regular cab).

Incidentally, just for your information, my truck was purchased in February.  It was an '05 with 9,000 (yep, nine thousand) miles on the odometer and I got it for 29,000 dollars.  New, it was a 40,000 dollar truck.  In other words, depending on how much you want to spend, there are some deals to be had out there.  I purchased mine from a reputable dealership (if there is such a thing) with all factory warranties.

I've attached a pic of my new truck, and just for kicks, a pic of my old truck post-wreck.

[Todd Wilson]

The Problem with the Dodge Autos is the torque converter , it had a single disc lock up clutch & the engine can simply Chew it to bits & then flush all the clutch through the trans to cause the whole unit to fail , replace the Torque converter with a upgraded multi disc lock up clutch & the trans will be Ok   

Wouldnt that be avoided by shutting OD off? Lock up doesnt accure with OD off, right?


Todd

[69 charger man]

my next truck will be a cummins for sure.. heres a pic i found on the web a wile ago..
-ray

[Orange_Crush]

my next truck will be a cummins for sure.. heres a pic i found on the web a wile ago..
-ray

It's a great marketing display but it really means nothing.

A 6 cylinder piston and rod (given the same amount of power and torque in an engine of similar displacement) will see about 20% more stress than an 8-cylinder piston and rod, so they have to be larger and heavier.

[SirNik73]

How long do you plan to keep the truck? are you buying it for busseness or personal use? My dad bought an 88 F350 years ago for personal use, and is still using it. this comes into play when it comes to maintaining the truck. my dad and other ford owners have complained about the engine and the way the truck is built. it is hard to get to the glow plugs when the turbo charger is mounted on top of the engine, and the engine becomes impossable to start after 3 or more glow plugs are out. my dad was telling me that the newest generation of ford trucks will require you to remove the cab inorder to service the turbo because the turbo is located such that the firwall covers it, and it is under the dash.

I personaly own a mercedes diesel, and i can tell you that if you treat the diesel engine right it will run forever. but with these newer trucks it is almost impossable to maintain. i've heard great things from the guys i know with dodges. they are able to do alot of their own work. so if the truck is a personal investment, and you plan on keeping it a good while, don't be in the situation my dad is in, and cursing ford every time a glow plug goes out.... just buy the dodge!

[Todd Wilson]

How long do you plan to keep the truck? are you buying it for busseness or personal use? My dad bought an 88 F350 years ago for personal use, and is still using it. this comes into play when it comes to maintaining the truck. my dad and other ford owners have complained about the engine and the way the truck is built. it is hard to get to the glow plugs when the turbo charger is mounted on top of the engine, and the engine becomes impossable to start after 3 or more glow plugs are out. my dad was telling me that the newest generation of ford trucks will require you to remove the cab inorder to service the turbo because the turbo is located such that the firwall covers it, and it is under the dash.

I personaly own a mercedes diesel, and i can tell you that if you treat the diesel engine right it will run forever. but with these newer trucks it is almost impossable to maintain. i've heard great things from the guys i know with dodges. they are able to do alot of their own work. so if the truck is a personal investment, and you plan on keeping it a good while, don't be in the situation my dad is in, and cursing ford every time a glow plug goes out.... just buy the dodge!

Go look at all 3 of the diesels. The Cummins is plain and simply compared to the other 2.


Todd

[Silver R/T]

my uncle just got a new 3500 flat bed truck after his F250 started giving him problems. We'll see how this one lasts.

[69charger2002]

i love my 99 cummins 5 speed manual 3500 dually. it pulls ungodly, gets 22 mpg empty, 18 mpg pulling a single trailer with charger on it, and 13 mpg with my 3 car hauler loaded with 3 chargers(18000 lbs).. i will answer one of your other concerns though, the back seat DOES SUCK. it is pretty narrow.. baby seat doesn't fit right, no one sits behind me or i can't put the seat back where i like it.. but overall the truck is great.. a good one with decent miles can be had for 10-15000 too.. remember 98+ is when they started the "4 doors".. 97 and back is just extended cab
side note: i had ONE ford dually diesel. 94 model. had the turbo 7.3. bought it with 142k miles on it.. it got 15 mpg empty, and 10 pulling the 2 car hauler loaded.. also a 5 speed truck. had 4 real doors, so it felt bigger, but that was about the only plus. i hated it, and the motor lost compression on 2 cylinders at 147k and no mechanic could give me a logical explanation why.. but i wasn't spending $2500 on a new 7.3 long block. so i let the stupid truck go for $1500.. never again
cummins or nothing
trav

[dukeboy_318]

Go for the dodge 3500, better at pulling since thats what you will be using it for.  I drive a cummins, my grandfather has 2 of them.  One has 327,000 miles and id say 98 percent of those miles are towing, never have taken a wrench to the thing expect for a new clutch at 200,000 and a new battery last fall.  if you dont believe me go to the  truck pulls and watch the street class closely, cummins have swept the top 3 spots in all 5 that ive gone to this year.  Get a manual though unless youre going with the new 6 spd auto, dont get the 4 spd auto though.  i get 20 mpg average and 17 towing with my stock 4x4 cummins 4spd auto and i have a heavy foot,  Grandfather gets 18 towing and 22 mpg with the manual and 4.10s

[skip68]

I'd give up fuel millage for comfort any day of the week.  I love my 5speed O/D  7.3 turbo with the edge box And if I was buying used(like I do) I wouldn't get anything with an Automatic unless it was a rebuilt tranny.  Anything over 120k on an auto is living on barrowed time.  I would love to have the Cummins diesel but I need the room of the ford. I think that the Cummins diesel is a better motor but my furd 7.3 will pull anything I need.      Chuck............

[dukeboy_318]

dont know but that mega cab has a ton of room too

[Guns N Rotors]

I'm going to hold off until 2009.

That's when it's rumored Toyota will unleash the 3/4 and one ton Tundra with
the Caterpillar C6.6 ACERT diesel. 

That truck should last me for the next 15 years.

[waroc]

   check this out... should leave you with no doubt....    http://youtube.com/watch?v=xTj7JSsFkGs   

[Orange_Crush]

I'm going to hold off until 2009.

That's when it's rumored Toyota will unleash the 3/4 and one ton Tundra with
the Caterpillar C6.6 ACERT diesel. 

That truck should last me for the next 15 years.

2009 is also when Dodge is unleashing the all-new Rams.  Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING...all the rumors that have floated about this truck say that it will blow the truck market wide open.  With the 6.7 Cummins engine, it should be interesting to see what happens.  Remembar that the 68RFE transmission is rated to handle over 1,000FtLbs of torque.

[Silver R/T]

If U.S. knows how to build something it's a truck. No import builder has so much experience building trucks

[ChargerRT440]

We have a Ferd LimpStroke at work and it had the diesel rebuilt at 320,000 kms. Theres Cummins out there that have over a million miles on them.

[ChargerRT440]

I forgot to mention. The Limpstroke is only at about 450,000 kms and it already needs a rebuild.

[dukeboy_318]

GO FOR THE CUMMINS MAN, you wont regret it.  motor will outlast the sheetmetal(and you )

[ChargerRT440]

I forgot to mention. The Limpstroke is only at about 450,000 kms and it already needs a rebuild.

oh and aparently our limpstroke just chewed the tranny up(cracked the case, and chewed a bunch of internals up.

[Steve P.]

i personally don't mind a truck that rides like an old hay wagon...in my eyes a truck isn't supposed to be too "comfy"

I tend to agree but years ago I fell two stories and broke my back in 4 or 5 places as well as my neck.  Yep, a plain miracle that I'm here and also that I'm not a quad and bedridden like Superman was or in a chair.
Later I had a motorcycle wreck and messed up my hip and hurt my back more. Now I have chronic back and hip pain and disk troubles and can't sit for long on hard or bumpy things. That was part of why I got rid of the Ramcharger and got the luxury boat. Damn I miss that truck and the Navigator isn't a real truck but then again I'm not what I used to be either. 

You ought to see me after day of boating 

Nope, if I expect to drive for very long and then get out and walk I need something at least a little comfy. I don't really need air bags but then I really don't need a rock hard ride either. Something in between.

I feel your pain.. I also broke my back. 3 blown out discs. 2 surgeries and blew out the same ones again trying to prove I could go back to work..  I know the everyday pain. Sleepless nights and the need for major comfort in the driver...

That being said, I too have been looking for a diesel for all the same reasons. I own a 2002' F-250 Super Duty Crew cab... It is the most comfortable pick up I could find. I looked for a long time and drove them all. The only truck that had a nicer ride was an F-350 supercrew with the KING RANCH package... All the Dodge trucks I drove including the owner of a Dodge dealer's personal truck, (it was a mac daddy loaded 3500 dually long bed), rode like a lumber wagon empty.  I did ride in Firefighter's 2005 3500 diesel dually and thought it was a pretty good ride, but I was not in the drivers seat navigating pedals and steering..

As far as power and fuel mileage it has to be the Dodge. I have heard of a few 6.0L Fords that got good mileage, but even the owners of those trucks were stunned as all they had heard was poor mileage from other like owners...

I agree with everyone else on the 2005 or newer in Dodge. Same reasons...

I have heard many horror stories from the Ford world on the NEW Power Stroke already...  I did however hear that the mileage and the turbo lag have both gotten much better on the new Ford...

I know some guys with the GMC Duramax. 2 of them have the Allison for sure. I don't know on the other one. All of them are happy with them except for the complaint about them loosing so much if they were to sell them now.. I guess they don't hold the value as well as Ford and Dodge..

From what I have seen the Fords interiors stay nice much longer. (It's a Florida sun thing)..

As I said in another topic, if DODGE would use a better seat I would own one NOW... I also have plenty of family that I cart around. The Ford back seat is bigger and more comfortable, BUT if I were buying a Dodge it would HAVE to be a MEGGGGGGGA-CAB. The back seats are more comfortable than the front....