Age old debate, which truck & motor

[radman1]

Builder

The Ford forum you referred to is 3 years old. Do you know if this applies to the current Ford SD models? Also, I believe many manufactures use senders that are delayed in how they display their information. Not only for transmission temps but also, fuel, water temp etc. This keeps the owner from reacting to any brief change in the sender/gauge.

 

[aczlan]

Builder

The Ford forum you referred to is 3 years old. Do you know if this applies to the current Ford SD models? Also, I believe many manufactures use senders that are delayed in how they display their information. Not only for transmission temps but also, fuel, water temp etc. This keeps the owner from reacting to any brief change in the sender/gauge.

if it is like the temp gauge in my Volvo (which does have an actual temp sensor in the coolant) it is a "Compensated" gauge, so straight up is a temperature band that is "safe" as opposed to a live readout.

Aaron Z

 

[RobertN]

Yo can get 6' duallies on some Fords. And Dodge Mega Cabs.
Kyle

The OP said he is looking at campers. And a growing family. A short bed is not gonna hold a sizeable camper for a family of four. You're looking at a 9.5-11' camper. That will not fit a shortbed...

I ran 11', and later a 9.5' camper on my my old truck. The 11' camper was a bit heavy on a 3/4 ton... Niether camper would have fit a shortbed.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I should have been more specific. I'm looking at trailers not slide in campers.

Matt

 

[RobertN]

I should have been more specific. I'm looking at trailers not slide in campers.
Matt

I would still go with a long bed. If you consider a couple of kids, bicycles, ect, you'll want room to put stuff in the truck too. Been there, done that. We're active in Scouting; when we go camping the back of my truck is always filled up. That, even when we pull the Troop trailer. It is full of tents, cook boxes ect. So, the rest goes in my truck. And, the overflow from the other parents, who cant fit the stuff in thier short beds...

I've had both. Ya, my long bed is harder to park, but that extra room comes in handy too often to give it up...

 

[Cat_Driver]

Bottom line short bed and camper does not work, add in the family of four in that combo, well that's make it impossible.

I had a camper on a 350o Single rear wheel and it was passable, I changed to a dual rear wheel and it was night and day. Both 3500 GM products a year apart but the Dual Rear wheel made for a much safer vehicle.

Don't get me wrong Ive seen it all, heck I've seen a camper on a half ton, but if you are about safety do it right.

Check out camper eights and trucks that can safely handle that load and don't for get the things you will put in that camper that adds another 500- 1000 lbs. then add the 4 people another 600 plus pounds.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I have spent some time in new crew cabs from Chevy, Ford and Dodge. The Dodge megaCab is nice but their regular crew cab is pretty tight in the back. It would be fine for small kids though. The interior is better designed in the Chevy and Ford though.
I had 2 chevys before I got my F350 crew and I found the off-center (to the steering wheel) position of the chevys to be uncomfortable on long trips. Other folks don't seem to notice though.

Eliminating drive trains from the discussion, I found the Ford to better designed than the others, especially the Dodge. They just seemed to think of everything. They also seem to fixed problems from earlier designs. I really like the ergonomics of the Ford. I also like the electronics. Every time I found a feature I didn't like, I found that they gave me a way of changing or over riding it. Some luxury cars could stand to learn that trick.

I would stick with diesel, but then even my commute car is a diesel. I have a B20 tank at my house... so I am partial.

 

[Marlowe]

I own an F250 with the V-10. It's a great truck and gets reasonable mileage. It will tow anything I need to tow. That being said though, the company truck is a GMC with the Duramax/Allison combination. That thing is a beast when it comes to power, but I don't like the ride or interior compared to my Ford. I like the Dodge interior better than the GM, and I really like the Cummins diesel, but Dodge transmissions are weak. My ideal truck would be the Ford with the Duramax/Allison drive train. Is that too much to ask? And while I'm dreaming, would it be OK to go back to the days when diesels actually got good mileage and the fuel cost less than gasoline?

 

[Builder]

I own an F250 with the V-10. It's a great truck and gets reasonable mileage. It will tow anything I need to tow. That being said though, the company truck is a GMC with the Duramax/Allison combination. That thing is a beast when it comes to power, but I don't like the ride or interior compared to my Ford. I like the Dodge interior better than the GM, and I really like the Cummins diesel, but Dodge transmissions are weak. My ideal truck would be the Ford with the Duramax/Allison drive train. Is that too much to ask? And while I'm dreaming, would it be OK to go back to the days when diesels actually got good mileage and the fuel cost less than gasoline?

Well, you can get a Ford with an Allison in it, but you gotta buy an F-650/750 before you get an Allison.

 

[Builder]

Eliminating drive trains from the discussion,

I hate to seem objectionable, but why in the name of heck would you "eliminate drivetrains from the discussion"?

Isn't the drivetrain the most important component of any vehicle?