Anyone have a 17 super duty?

[rankrank1]

What didn't you like about the Ram power Train? Did it seem like less power?

It has been a few months ago that I drove the Ram 2500, but it seemed more subdued and the Ram 6.4 did not have that desirable sound at all. I think Ford has hit the nail on the head with their revised 2017 tranny for the gasser (different 1st gear ratio and 6th gear ratio)and the motor enhancements where the torque comes on sooner in the 6.2 powerband will now make it be a motor that works well with the 3.73 ratio. Good towing power when towing and decent mpg for a F250 with the 3.73 when running empty. Prior to the 2017 model the Ford owner 6.2 experts were claiming get the 4.30 rear end ratio due to the power being higher in the power band and the tranny ratios were different too. Course the 4.30 came with an empty mpg penalty but that was a price to live with to get something that worked well together. If only I did not find both the ride and handling so utterly terrible in that 2017 F250...

Back to the 2016 Ram: It felt slow and heavy compared to the 2016 Ram 1500 8 speed Hemi 5.7 we drove the same day just for giggles. In fairness it is much heavier but I was not expecting the slowness factor. I really liked that 8 speed in that Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi - their shifts were almost undetectable. Sadly, No way a Ram 1500 can handle my dump trailer legally with their puny payload capacity. I have my 2003 GMC 1500 enhanced with HD tires and helper springs to borderline do this and it actually does pretty well for an ole 4 speed auto tranny and my sorta rare to be found in a 1500series 4.10 rear end ratio really helps me here. if Ram could come up with a HD variant of that wonderful 8 speed tranny to put in the 2500 series then they would certainly have a winner no doubt with either the base 5.7 or the 6.4 in a 2500. The 2016 Ram rode pretty darned good for a 2500 series truck in my opinion. I could easily live with that ride quality and it handled just fine and more importantly the wife could live with it too. She would beat me with a baseball bat if I brought that lousy Ford F250 ride home and that undesirable steering feeling would have been a deal breaker anyway even with a better ride. The Ram sat up in the air the highest of all the trucks I have driven and I did not necessarily care for that. Sadly the Ram HD tranny that Ram currently uses is more suited for the Cummins powerband - so in my opinion some performance will always be missing with the Ram gasser. If you read a lot of the mag rag shootouts the venerable GM 6.0 actually does quite well against the competition with the dated 6.0 simply because it works so well with their tranny and computer programming. Sadly a GM is out as I no longer comfortably fit in their new body style cabs but the GM ride in older 2500 units I hade ridden in would have been fine for me. as would the handling.

For now my current 2003 GMC 1500 Ext cab with 8 ft bed, 4x4, 5.3, 4 speed auto tranny, and 4.10 rear axle ratio only has 104k miles on it so it is far from worn out and has been paid for well over a decade. Until I find something that substantially outperforms it then I will simply keep what I have. I have driven the new F150 with the 5.0 as well as the Hemi 5.7 and really liked them both but not $45K better than what I have. Sadly if I want another ext cab with an 8 foot bed in a 1500 series then it will have to be either a Ford or a Toyota Tundra as they currently are only manufacturers who still make one in a 1500. At some point, I probably should drive a MAX tow package F150 with the 3.5 eco-boost. Had sorta been waiting for the new 10 speed tranny to arrive which has happened this year.

If I am going to part with $45k of my hard earned money then I am not willing to settle for less than desired in any of my performance based categories and I absolutely do not want a diesel. Otherwise that money can get diverted to some investments that maybe with a little luck will help me retire a year or two sooner than if spent on a truck.

 

[Barnbuilder]

How much can I get for my 2001 with 80,000 miles? I bought it in 2003 with 16,500 miles.

Around here $20k.

 

[TomSeller]

Compared to my '08 F250, the '17 F350 I drove rode smooth as silk. It rode, drove, and steered more like a half ton IMO. I was shocked at the difference from my '08. If I had an extra $40k laying around, I'd have a '17 sitting in my garage. Maybe in 2-3 years...

Good to know. I've always driven Fords so I am used to, and like, the firm suspension. But someday I may want to keep the coffee in the cup.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would go and drive another Ford and Ram and make sure it was not just the trucks you drove that day.

It may also be worthwhile to take a gauge and check the tire pressures. If not set right it will give you the results you saw.

 

[rankrank1]

I would go and drive another Ford and Ram and make sure it was not just the trucks you drove that day.

It may also be worthwhile to take a gauge and check the tire pressures. If not set right it will give you the results you saw.

I really have no complaints on the RAM other than it did not have that sweet motor/tranny feel and sound that I felt the 2017 Ford absolutely did have. As for the Ram no need for me to drive one again as my only real complaint with it was it sits way up in the air. I am definitely holding out hope that Ram offers an 8 speed tranny which would be a better match ratio wise for their gasser engines over the current diesel designed tranny in the next redesign for 2018 or 2019. C'mon Ram give me hope.

As for the Ford; I had plenty of time to walk around it while I was waiting for keys and for them to copy my drivers license. None of the tires were low, and only a low tire would explain the utterly crappy steering feel I experienced about having to fight it to get back to straghtline. Personally I think it is the Ford straight axle design is the cause, but the Ram does not do this even though it is also straight axle. That said, I do agree that overinflated tires could enhance the overly harsh ride I observed, but overinflated tires should have made the steering feel easier and better not worse. Can not have it both ways here. Truck drove perfectly when straight with no pull at all so it was not not like one front was way low and one front was overinflated.

Anyway, the 2017 F250 was more refined and the cab room for a tall guy like me was much better than the 2006 F250 diesel and 5.4 gassers that the wife and I drive back in 2006 - especially legroom for a tall guy is much better now. Back in 2006 I was thinking of buying a new diesel before emissions took effect. Wife did not like any of the diesels but had I bought one it would have been the 2006 Duramax/Allison. I drove 2500 gassers too at that time The GM 2500 ride was easily the best in 2006 but the GM gasser got ruled out due to the whine of the 4L80E tranny. Both I and the wife utterly hated those 2006 F250 which is the reason I went alone this time as she hated the Ford the worst even the gasser model. Have no regrets about leaving her home either this time as it saved me a "Judge Judy Sheindlin" tongue lashing. I actually am thankful the ride was so bad in 2006 or I may have bought a Ford 6.0 diesel. Poor ride may have saved me from owning one of those 6.0 reliability nightmares and taking a financial beating to trade it off.

I may drive another another 2017 F250 again. If I do I will find an XLT with height adjustable seat next time. I will also wait for the dealership to run their March madness promo where if you hit a foul shot they give you $50 cash. Even an ole guy like me that promo was like taking candy from a baby. Drive the 2016 F150 5.0 at that time and it is a very nice truck not $40k better than what I currently have but nice. My dump trailer and equipment trailer would do better behind a 3/4 ton so not really wanting another 1/2 ton though.

Until then C'mon Ram....give me hope on adding an 8 speed to your 2500.....

 

[rustyshakelford]

Good chance the ford had the snow plow prep since your up in the north. It increases the spring capacity on the front. Couple that with the lighter gas engine could explain your complaints. I'm not gonna try to talk to into a ford but would rather talk you out of it. Your going into it clearly thinking its inferior to the ram so I'd say wait for their 8 speed trans. The gas engine 3/4 tons is an unknown world to me. There's a reason I'm going with a ford 450 though over a ram 3500....

Brett

You could try a diesel and see how the ride is. When I test drove a 450, I was extremely pleased with the ride but I have realistic expectations due to many many HD trucks

 

[rankrank1]

Good chance the ford had the snow plow prep since your up in the north. It increases the spring capacity on the front. Couple that with the lighter gas engine could explain your complaints. I'm not gonna try to talk to into a ford but would rather talk you out of it. Your going into it clearly thinking its inferior to the ram so I'd say wait for their 8 speed trans. The gas engine 3/4 tons is an unknown world to me. There's a reason I'm going with a ford 450 though over a ram 3500....

Brett

You could try a diesel and see how the ride is. When I test drove a 450, I was extremely pleased with the ride but I have realistic expectations due to many many HD trucks

Just pulled the sticker up in the internet and it did have the snow plow prep package ($85) option so maybe you are on to something there....I will try to drive an XLT with height adjustable seat and no plow package.

I have no idea where you get the idea I feel the Ram is superior: I easily like the feel of the 2017 Ford motor tranny combo better and have posted that several times compared to the Ram. I have never even owned a Ram (or Dodge). I and am pushing 50 yr old so I am old enough to remember the crapolla trucks Dodge offered all through the 1970's and 1980's. Some of the worst driving trucks I ever experienced and I drove several that luckily did not belong to me. No way would I have owned one. Darned Dodges wondered all over the road even when new - especially crowned back roads. Was not a fan of Ford's twin I-beam front way back then either. That all said the newer Rams are nice and 2016 Ram 2500 I drive rode much nicer than the 2017 Ford F250 I just drove.

If anything I have been more faithful to GM over the years, but after they did what they did to their stockholders I will never buy another brand new one from them, plus I do not fit it in their newest cabs any longer anyways so could not buy one of theirs even if I wanted to. I guess I could buy a 2013 or prior as a used model if the right deal came along but would prefer new. I prefer to buy new and maintain and keep for years. I still have the 1992 C1500 WT1500 4.3 V6 I bought new 25 yrs ago. Been a great light duty truck and better than 2 GM trucks that came after it.

Manufacturers have zero loyalty so why should I. If I am going to spend my hard earned money it will be on something I truly like and feel will be reliable- and feeling every little bump in the road is a deal breaker for me. I am not getting any younger.

Have ZERO interest in a diesel for my needs.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Just pulled the sticker up in the internet and it did have the snow plow prep package ($85) option so maybe you are on to something there....I will try to drive an XLT with height adjustable seat and no plow package.

I have no idea where you get the idea I feel the Ram is superior: I easily like the feel of the 2017 Ford motor tranny better and have posted that several times. I have never even owned a Ram. I and am pushing 50 yr old so I am easily easily old enough to remember the crapolla trucks Dodge offered all through the 1970's and 1980's. Some of the worst driving trucks I ever experienced and I drove several that luckily did not belong to me. No way would I have owned one. Darned Dodges wondered all over the road even when new - especially crowned back roads. Was not a fan of Ford's twin I-beam front way back then either. That all said the newer Rams are nice.

If anything I have been more faithful to GM over the years, but after they did what they did to their stockholders I will never buy another brand new, plus I do not fit it in their newest cabs any longer anyways so could not buy one even if I wanted to. I guess I could buy a 2013 or prior as a used model if the right deal came along.

Manufacturers have zero loyalty so why should I. If I am going to spend my hard earned money it will be on something I truly like - and feeling every little bump is a deal breaker for me. I am not getting any younger.

I gotcha. To me it just read that you liked the ram better and we're trying to convince yourself on the ford. I truly believe the ford is putting out the best product. I have tested them all recently except the 17 duramax and that's just because it isn't out yet or wasn't when I was looking. I have had the big 3 HD trucks and am confident I made the right choice for my needs and will fit the families as well. They all offer an excellent product but I'm partial to the ford. I'd hate to feel like you got talked into something and ended up not being happy. I know the diesel is $8k but test drive it also. Everyone I drove was smooth and I'm sure the extra weight helped up front

Brett

 

[Diamondpilot]

Give the Nissan Titan XD a look. I know a couple guys with them equipped with a Cummins and both said they got them for the price of a Top Line 1/2 ton.

 

[Btown]

Give the Nissan Titan XD a look. I know a couple guys with them equipped with a Cummins and both said they got them for the price of a Top Line 1/2 ton.

That's because it is a 1/2 ton. The Nissan XD cannot do anything a Ford F-150 can do. The F-150 can probably tow more and have a higher payload. The XD is not a 3/4 ton truck. The XD is a nice truck, but the 5.0 L Cummins does not sip fuel. I think the 5.0 is too big to get good fuel economy and the Ram Ecodiesel 3.0 is too small for power. I think a 3.5-3.7L would be about ideal, power and fuel economy. Twin turbo charge it and enjoy. But hey that's just me.