Secondly, and I think perhaps even more importantly is the fact that GM and Dodge had better non diesel engine options on their heavy duty trucks. While I'll admit that the V10 in the Ford was a great engine, a lot of people were scared (probably unnecessarily) about feeding 10 cylinders worth of fuel. The 5.4 V8 is a great half ton truck engine, but it's a lousy 3/4 and 1 ton truck engine, especially when you've got the heaviest rolling chassis on the market. I'm not saying that the 6.0 V8 in the GM's or the 5.7 Hemi are awesome in heavy duty pickups but they are in my opinion at least adequate whereas the 5.4 is not, and I say this as someone who has spent a lot of time driving each of those gas motors. So when you consider that Ford didn't even make a lot of V10's and the 5.4 is pretty underpowered in the Super Duties (especially the 2v motors) then you're pretty much left with owning a diesel if you want to get a Super Duty, which unquestionably led the pack in heavy duty pickups for a long time.
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No real data here.. but at the same time I have owned and could drive and compair all of the following though have recently shed the dodge.
2000 yukon 1500 5.3 ( the long one) 4wd, if it decides to work uh. some 3.x rear, don't remember
1998 dodge ram 5.9(longbed Single cab) 4wd, uh? some 3.x rear don't remember
2004 f250 6.psd (crewcab)4wd 3.73 rear
1999 F450 crew cab DRW 7.3psd cab/chassie with towing bed, 2wd 4.88rear
1999 f350 crew cab DRW 4wd 4.10rear
driving and pulling with all those here are my opinions.
bottom of the pile.. the yukon and it's 5.3 it's not pepy.. don't accelerate fast.. yeah I know it's like driving a house down the raod even without a trailer. to it's credit.. it has a good ride when pulling a tandem bmper pull.. better than the dodge.. not better than any of the larger ones. not horrible on fuel.. not economical either..
next was the dodge. had more engine 'feel' to it..ok pep.. respectable..up to 55-60mph speeds but ran out at top end onthe interstate if pulling heavy trailers. empty long bed got a lil squirly sometimes on a heavy trailer.. though a pallet of sod int he bed and the trailer made for a good feleing pull.. but ate power, and turned it's only so so fuel economy pretty dismal..
for what I sold it for.. I shoulda kept it for a farm truck. 4wd shift ont he floor and long bed with gooseneck adapter and working ac and radio were ok.. dash and interior shot..
f250, most pepy of them all. the kind of pep you could blow donuts in parking lots and fling trailers to the side of the road as you pull out and pass traffic in the accel lane entering the interstate, and blow past the vehicles already traveling at hiway speed. middle of the road on fuel.. 14 city unloaded.. 11 highway loaded.. for non real heavy hauling.. it's what I would consider an every day driver truck. feels much better than a 1/2 ton. has that jaded 6.0psd history.. and not sure the engine is designed to go 300k or 500k like I will want it to? just don't know?
99 f450 . pulls awesome.. has air bag suspension.. bumper, gooseneck or 5th wheel. lots of fuel capacity.. pulls up to cdl limits effortlessly .. as long as you don't need to go over 70. that 4.88 rear end pretty much makes you a 70mph vehicle.. the 7.3 an't an acceleration demon...but i get the engine is going to go many, many miles from what I hear about the 7.3's if she had been 4wd, i would not have looked for an f350.
f350. good compromise on the rar with a 4.1 meaning I can ACtUALLY travel with traffic on the interstate.. and yet still haul a decent trailer payload.. bumper or gooseneck. same as the 450. no speed demon. does make ya feel safe in that big truck. was at a light a few months back.. a f150 tapped me in the rear.. left a cut in the bumper pad.. and a ding in the bumper.. ruined the front of the f150.. broke the hood, front cowl.. lamps.. pushed stuff into his tires.. felt bad about the guy.. asked the cop to not give him a ticket. i left with my ding int he bumper and went to work. he had to pry fenders up off his tires to pull into the jiffy store next door. the 450 was immaculate and cared for.. the 350 looked like it was owned by a contractor
that's ok.. I paid a price simialr to it's condition.. was ok deal to me. nearing 200k now
