Only comparing diesels here. I have a 2012 Ram 3500 dually diesel. 198,000 miles. About 70% of miles hauling and fairly heavy loads. Not unusual to scale around 26,000 truck and trailer combined and sometimes more. Transmission work under warranty at 62,000. No trans issues since. Other than that I have done wheel bearings on all 4 wheels, ball joints upper and lower on both sides once. Replaced oxygen sensor under warranty. And lots of tires. That's about it. No signs of rust anywhere on the truck however in the winter I wash regularly anytime there is salt on the roads. Love the truck, still very little hwy wind noise, and still sounds solid on the road with no creaks or rattles showing up after 7 years of use. Great ride as well. It does seem to eat up tires but I chalk that up to how heavy my loads are. Usually the rears where out just ahead of the fronts. I have a couple of friends with 1 ton fords and I test drove a few as well. My buddy Ron hauls for me and often we are meeting along the highway somewhere to grab a trailer from me or him. The ford diesels are snappier of the line, much better throttle response from a stop than my ram but when it comes to towing heavy I prefer my ram. The fords drag *** under equal loads. The exhaust break on my ram is superior to his ford as well. His ford also beats me to death compared to my truck. If I had to buy again Ram would be my choice however with all three mfg making nice trucks money talks and would take a look at the other two again if the deal was significantly better.
Ford or Dodge?
- Thread starter Granthol
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Also just to clarify when I said his ford drags *** that was not in reference to power (his Ford has plenty) but on the way it sits under load. When I'm sitting level and swap trailers his rear end looks like it need airbags.
RSKY
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I have had a Dodge, now have a Ford. The only thing I can add to the discussion is that the Dodge 3500 had the worst reliability record of any new American build vehicle a couple years ago. I assume they how have the problems fixed and you aren't looking for the heavy duty type anyway.
The last truck I had was a Dodge bought new in 1993 and sold in 2012. I tend to buy new and drive them for years.
RSKY
The last truck I had was a Dodge bought new in 1993 and sold in 2012. I tend to buy new and drive them for years.
RSKY
atsah
Elite Member
Is Ron's Ford a DRW 350? My 350 had no sag at all pulling heavy with gooseneck, my 250 sagged bad..
prof fate
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Yeah, it can vary a LOT.
I had a 13 silverado - 1/2 ton, 4 door 4x4 got it for towing, so equipped for that. Scaled it at 5700 and it was GVWR of 7000 - so 1300 lb payload. I had a few minivans that had hither payload capacity. Put in 4 adults and a dog to go camping and bam, you have maybe 700 lsb left for payload/tongue weight. Pitiful really.
My 05 F350 has a GVWR of 10,500 and I'm guess 6500lb scale weight (haven't done that yet), it's a simple single cab 8' bed 4x4. So that's what, 4,000lb payload? 2 tons!
Talking with a ford owner friend and he's telling me he can carry 2000 in his F150...I said BS, but when you look up the stats on F150's you can get them equipped to haul quite a bit - a lot for a 1/2 ton truck.
If it's gonna be driven empty a lot ride can matter - the silverado was damned near a car (also p rated tires, 4 ply). The F350 has E rated 10 ply...and a lot more suspeension and rides like a truck, bumps/potholes are NOT your friend!
but it's got HUGE brakes compared to the silverado...which makes towing a MUCH less white knuckle experience when stopping.
I had a 13 silverado - 1/2 ton, 4 door 4x4 got it for towing, so equipped for that. Scaled it at 5700 and it was GVWR of 7000 - so 1300 lb payload. I had a few minivans that had hither payload capacity. Put in 4 adults and a dog to go camping and bam, you have maybe 700 lsb left for payload/tongue weight. Pitiful really.
My 05 F350 has a GVWR of 10,500 and I'm guess 6500lb scale weight (haven't done that yet), it's a simple single cab 8' bed 4x4. So that's what, 4,000lb payload? 2 tons!
Talking with a ford owner friend and he's telling me he can carry 2000 in his F150...I said BS, but when you look up the stats on F150's you can get them equipped to haul quite a bit - a lot for a 1/2 ton truck.
If it's gonna be driven empty a lot ride can matter - the silverado was damned near a car (also p rated tires, 4 ply). The F350 has E rated 10 ply...and a lot more suspeension and rides like a truck, bumps/potholes are NOT your friend!
but it's got HUGE brakes compared to the silverado...which makes towing a MUCH less white knuckle experience when stopping.
Yes. Same year as mine. 2012 f350 DRW. His bed also sits much lower than mine. Both stock.
atsah
Elite Member
I hear good things about Fords 6.7. Dodge sits high for sure.
slus
New member
Sounds like you're talking half ton trucks since you mentioned a V6. I don't know your needs, but I hate to be limited on the jobs I can do by the capability of my truck. I'd be looking at base model 3/4 if not 1 ton trucks if I were you. I wish I got a Ram 3500 instead of my 2017 Ram 2500, like someone else mentioned they went to coil springs on the Ram 2500s for better ride at the expense of load capacity.
