I'm not looking new only I'll gladly buy a lightly used unit. I've heard the 6.4's are quite fast and there also quiet.
Matt
The last time you and I were in a thread together discussing Ford & GM, it got quite heated. I remember some pretty hurtful stuff being said.
I own/operate a GMC3500 in work conditions everyday, so I believe I have a good deal of credibility.
Just like the Ford was previously mentioned to have better towing capacity numbers, the GM has better HP/torque & drivetrain package.
If you look at the performance of both trucks, the DMAX makes considerably more torque at lower RPM than the 6.4L (and much more than the 6L)-even with its' twin turbos. If you want to move a load off the line,
high torque at low RPM is what does the job. Both the 6L & 6.4L diesels like to rev higher than the dmax to make torque and that causes more wear on the engine and more fuel consumption. The nice thing about the dmax is it does it with a simpler, single turbo engine. Ford's 6.4L with twins can't match dmax's performance & grunt torque with a single turbo.
*That's not a brand warfare opinion, that's a fact any objective trucker or mechanic will tell you about any diesel engine comparison. They will tell you that a diesel powered truck is better when it makes more torque at lower RPMs and has been my real life experience with small & larger diesel trucks I own/operate.
As far as the transmission, the GM has advantages over the Ford & 68RE dodge transmissions. GM & Dodge has 6 gears over Ford's 5. Anytime you can add an additional gear, it keeps the ratios between gears tighter. Ever notice that most (not all) trucks as they get bigger have more gears in their transmissions? Ever wonder why? The simple reason is that it keeps the engine in it's powerband better and lessens fuel consumption because the RPMs are kept lower. Look at GM's reverse gear sometime compared to Ford's and see how much stronger it feels when backing a trailer though dirt & mud. Add to that the manual shift feature and the 100,000 mile warranty and the Allison name and I really don't see how the others could be better than GM.
*Again, not a brand warfare opinion, just a common sense "diesel trucker" logic applied to comparing these transmissions.
The rear axle in the GM is another place to compare to Ford & Dodge. Ford 's SRW has a 10.5" axle. GM's is 11.5". Forget the brands for a moment. Which size would you rather have? 11.5" or 10.5"? Dodges is 11.5", but doesn't have the G-80 locker. The G-80 locker must be owned & used to be appreciated. Pavement queens don't ever really need a locker, but once you step off the pavement, this thing is nothing short of amazing compared to a traditional Ford limited slip rear.
* Once again, not brand bashing or anything emotional-just a comparison of size and feature 11.5" is bigger than 10.5". A true locker lasts longer and locks better than clutch packs. Ask a real dump trucker if he'd rather have a bigger rear ring & pinion or a smaller one in the rear axle. Then ask him if he'd rather have clutch packs rear or a locker.
I also like gauges have a wire that goes to an actual sending unit over dummy lights found on the Ford, especially the transmission gauge. Just like a bigger Allison found in a concrete mixer, the smaller ally has a real proportional gauge & sender. Ford doesn't. In bigger trucks, sending units are favored over dummy lights, like found in a car and Ford trucks-don't know about Dodge.
I know this is a Ford dominated website, but that's my take on it. Ford does have heavier spring packs and that's a legitimate advantage, but since the tires are the limiting factor in most cases, is it really that big an advantage? Ford may have heavier GVWR's, but most of the extra capacity is in the front axle, not the rear axle. GM's front axle is typically rated at 5,000 lbs. Ford's is more like 6,000 lbs. That's where the bulk of their payload superiority is found. Other than a snowplow, how much payload goes on your front axle? Most goes on the rear axle where GM is fairly close in rear axle capacity. Ford's SRW is rated at 11,200lbs. GM is 9,900 lbs. Apparently a big advantage to ford, but most of Ford's capacity advantage is in the 1,000lb difference in front axle rating. That leaves only ~300lb advantage in the rear axle. Remember that Fords weigh ~500lbs more than GM, so those advantages may actually be even less!
If you bought a GM, I bet you'd love it. Brand loyalty is a strong emotion that keeps people in trucks. The big 3 know it and depend on it for sales. I was Ford brand loyal for 15 years and decided to open my eyes back in '07 and see what the GM guys were so proud of and now I know. In '07, IMO, GM built a better truck and still does right now. That may change and the next truck I buy, I will compare all 3 and buy the truck that I feel is the best. Brand loyalty is so stupid, but it's good for business and really keeps the websites busy with all the arguing over which truck/tractor/widget is better.
