Chevy vs Ford Diesel Shootout

[powerstroke444e]

To start with I am a ford guy that feels the till this last round of new ford and chevy motors the only reliable truck was a dodge. I feel that most of the owners of these trucks don't need that much power or truck but it's nice to have. I would agree that my old 7.3L or 5.9L (have had many of both) may not handle a mountain as well but in IL its flat and I have seen the 5.9L and 7.3L with over 400K in my driveway on several trucks. If you have 50K pluse to spend and need a race truck buy the fastest one up the hill.

If you need reliable way to haul 40,000lbs up a mountain get a big truck not a race truck.

I have drove the new dodge and the new ford and really like the new ford and think for the first time in years they have a good truck and motor. The dodge seems like good truck other than all the emissions junk. FYI I could not bring my self to spend the money on either.

 

[Builder]

To start with I am a ford guy that feels the till this last round of new ford and chevy motors the only reliable truck was a dodge. I feel that most of the owners of these trucks don't need that much power or truck but it's nice to have. I would agree that my old 7.3L or 5.9L (have had many of both) may not handle a mountain as well but in IL its flat and I have seen the 5.9L and 7.3L with over 400K in my driveway on several trucks. If you have 50K pluse to spend and need a race truck buy the fastest one up the hill.

If you need reliable way to haul 40,000lbs up a mountain get a big truck not a race truck.

I have drove the new dodge and the new ford and really like the new ford and think for the first time in years they have a good truck and motor. The dodge seems like good truck other than all the emissions junk. FYI I could not bring my self to spend the money on either.

I used to feel the same way, but changed my thinking after having to haul heavy loads behind my dumptruck. What a miserable way to haul, unless you had a "luxury" big hauler. You take a pounding, have to row gears and can't see as well as in a smaller, stouter hauler.
I always thought it would be much more comfy doing it from a dually pickup IF they had 1. The power to pull the load, 2. the brakes & exhaust brake to stop the load, 3. The suspension to handle a heavy load, 4. The manufacturer to "bless" and therfore warranty the truck to be used to handle such loads.
Up until lately, this was not available. Now it is.

 

[W7XYZ]

I would still like to see an entry level, or "small block" diesel, less power, with lots more fuel mileage... Don't need 400hp/650tq for my 27' 5th wheel.

This may not be the block for the towing world, but why doesn't Dodge use the popular B3.9L 4 cylinder Cummins diesel as an entry level choice?

 

[Diamondpilot]

It's coming, just hold on to your Dodge for another year or two at most and you'll be able to replace it with a new RAM 2500 with a V8 5.0l Cummins diesel rumored to produce around 325hp/500lb.ft. or a V6 4.2l making 370hp/420 lb.ft. I bet it will easily see 25-30 mpg's and 18-20 towing. :thumbsup:

New Cummins V6 and V8 Diesel Engines - Exclusive Preview - Diesel Power Magazine

Update 1: Chrysler and Cummins Continue to Explore Light-Duty Diesel - PickupTrucks.com News

I would really consider either one of them in a 1/2 ton. My only real hang up on the Dodge 1/2 truck itself is the coil spring rear end and question of the transmission of choice.

Chris

 

[ChevyHDGert]

I'm sure no manufacturer would think or even consider doing it now, but in years past they would hop up an engine before entering it in performance tests. The engine would appear completely stock but would put out more horsepower and torque than the ones sold to the public. Unless the vehicle was put on a dyno no one could know the difference. Not saying this was done but I don't think GM would have done the tests unless they were absolutely sure of the outcome. If they hadn't won they would really have had egg on their face. I know the article said the trucks had to have been bought right off the sales lot but who knows?

Each truck was bought off a dealer's lot in Michigan and driven to Colorado.

BTW, the Chevy got better MPG on the trip from Michigan to Colorado too.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I used to feel the same way, but changed my thinking after having to haul heavy loads behind my dumtruck. What a miserable way to haul, unless you had a "luxury" big hauler. You take a pounding, have to row gears and can't see as well as in a smaller, stouter hauler.
I always thought it would be much more comfy doing it from a dually pickup IF they had 1. The power to pull the load, 2. the brakes & exhaust brake to stop the load, 3. The suspension to handle a heavy load, 4. The manufacturer to "bless" and therfore warranty the truck to be used to handle such loads.
Up until lately, this was not available. Now it is.

I agree that is why most of the equipment we use on a daily bases can be pulled with a 3500/350 or 450. But most of these purchasers of these are for basic transportation needs not for hauling.

I just think all of the major players in the 10,000gvw to 20,000 gvw trucks have great trucks but only GM Dodge and Ford have engines runing on the max setting get a interational volvo or frieghtliner it is running on a much lower setting and if you need that much power they put a larger engine in it.
Just emagine that if the New ford was scaled back to make it last for 500,000 miles, what kind of milage would it get then?

I do like the fact that the you don't need to work them over as it is done by the manufacturer. Now I need is someone to put 150,000 miles on one so I can afford one.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I would really consider either one of them in a 1/2 ton. My only real hang up on the Dodge 1/2 truck itself is the coil spring rear end and question of the transmission of choice.
Chris

you and i both:thumbsup:

 

[jcmseven]

I do not think any of the big three has its diesel turned up to the max. Since there are tuners out there with HP ratings over 2x the factory settings in pulling and drag applications. It seems as though in inline 6 configuration is a solid performer in those settings, but we all know that no manufacturer right now can afford having a frankly unreliable truck in these markets. We all speak of the good ol' days when trucks were so much better. My first diesel, a 7.3L power stroke, was a good engine. It had 250/525 from the factory and I added a Banks Power Pack and Six Gun tuner to it and probably added 120 hp and about 220 lb. ft. additional torque to a rough total of 370/700-750ish. The truck got 18 empty and about 11 pulling 10000 pounds, both before and after the modifications. My GMC gets about 19-20 on the highway, 18 in combo unloaded driving and 12-14 pulling similar loads and has as much or more power and much more comfort and drivability than did my old 7.3L Point here is that as much as we look back at the old days and wish for an underpowered, high-mileage diesel engine, we are benefitted that we can have 400 hp diesels that do as well as--or better than--lower powered diesels of years past on fuel. True, perhaps it has gotten out of hand, but I look at these articles and most of the rest of us do to and that is the reason these trucks sell, despite their cost.

John M

 

[timswi]

I do not think any of the big three has its diesel turned up to the max. Since there are tuners out there with HP ratings over 2x the factory settings in pulling and drag applications. It seems as though in inline 6 configuration is a solid performer in those settings, but we all know that no manufacturer right now can afford having a frankly unreliable truck in these markets. We all speak of the good ol' days when trucks were so much better. My first diesel, a 7.3L power stroke, was a good engine. It had 250/525 from the factory and I added a Banks Power Pack and Six Gun tuner to it and probably added 120 hp and about 220 lb. ft. additional torque to a rough total of 370/700-750ish. The truck got 18 empty and about 11 pulling 10000 pounds, both before and after the modifications. My GMC gets about 19-20 on the highway, 18 in combo unloaded driving and 12-14 pulling similar loads and has as much or more power and much more comfort and drivability than did my old 7.3L Point here is that as much as we look back at the old days and wish for an underpowered, high-mileage diesel engine, we are benefitted that we can have 400 hp diesels that do as well as--or better than--lower powered diesels of years past on fuel. True, perhaps it has gotten out of hand, but I look at these articles and most of the rest of us do to and that is the reason these trucks sell, despite their cost.

John M

Amen brother.

 

[RayCo]

It's a good thing Chevy didn't challenge Ford to an ugliness contest, because it would have been a severe tie.