Ford 450 vs Ram 3500

[sd455dan]

Yeah- but it does have the HO Cummins and a 6 speed and 4x4- and that Infinity stereo- I am still smiling when I check the fuel mileage to...:thumbsup:

 

[Wolfy]

6 gears and 4wd sounds like a good time. I have no time on a Cummins, but I have never heard one bad thing about them. Most truckers I know are about half and half, between Cummins and Caterpillar.

 

[sd455dan]

Were cat engines available in any one ton trucks?? I always thought they were used in the big rigs-
everything from logging trucks, large Wreckers and 18 wheelers- and have never heard anything bad about the Cat engines either

 

[Wolfy]

The smallest truck Ive ever seen that used a Cat is the Ford F650. But like 30,000 GVW and up, they were used all the time. I had a Peterbilt with a Cat. In the winter, that engine would belt some heavy duty, nasty smoke. But, even when it was so cold that my Mack would not start, the Pete always always started.

 

[RoMad]

Some large motor homes have Cat engines as well as the many that have Cummins. I have heard, but no experience myself, that the Cats were more expensive to have work done on them.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I have heard that cat's are expensive to work on as well. They did produce a few lemons but I only have 2nd or third hand knowledge about that. There is prolly more cat motors out there than any other commercial motor. (read not automotive) I know we have all of our gas compressors running on big cats (some 16 cylinder ones as well IIRC).


I still dont know how I feel about 15 tons behind an upgraded pickup though. Pretty soon, they are going to have to start adding a full size fifth wheel to them just to handle the weights! Any ideas on what the axle weight capacities are? Last time I looked, I think they were only 12k?

Are pick-ups going to have air brakes soon? lol

 

[PoorMansCat]

I heard about this test as well, IIRC, the Ford had a slight advantaqge as it had better rear end gearing than the Dodge.

 

[Soundguy]

Well that WOULD be an improvement over the CHEAP hard plastic they used on my 03 3500s dash- it has cracked all over, The worst dash plastic I have ever seen...

i think you will find that endemic to ALL dadge ram dash's

My 98 dash spiderwebbed and cracked in badly. every person I konw with a 96+ ram has done that...

 

[PoorMansCat]

The 2nd gen trucks were notorious for the dash cracking. 3rd gens got the dash cracking issue resolved, only to have repeated HVAC blend door issues. Thank goodness for the aftermarket!

 

[JESSE1]

I heard about this test as well, IIRC, the Ford had a slight advantaqge as it had better rear end gearing than the Dodge.

The Dodge had a GCWR of 37,000# compared to the Ford's 33,000#GCWR. Max tow rating of the Ram was 28,000# against the Ford's rating of 24,700#. Seems like the Ram spanked the Ford pretty good in this test, even if the Ford had the advantage of the 4.30 axle ratio. Both trucks were hauling 24,500# of trailer and load. At least Ford's revising the F-450 for '15.