Test drove a Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Today

[Dargo]

I used to have a 2004 Duramax 1 ton with all the bells and whistles. Test drove the 2010 Dodge 1 ton Cummins and inside and out I was very impressed. Loved the back floor storage. Gobs of power. It out rode and out drove the Ford effortlessly. More comfortable too. The Duramax is very nice, but I think the cummins is better. I just wish the Dodge used Allison trannys, then it would be unbeatable. Dodge uses American Axle not Dana, heard they are reliable.

I hadn't heard that Dodge no longer used Dana front and rear axles (mine had Dana, but it was a 1996 12v Cummins 4X4 dually), so I thought I'd look it up on Dodge's site to see what they use. Talk about confusing! I gave up and I still don't know based on looking on their site, which is bad because I like to do some of my preliminary shopping online before I even go test drive. If it doesn't have what I need, I needn't bother test drive it, right?

Even more lame was when you go to Dodge's "compare to competition" link with their pickups. I wanted to compare Dodge, GM and Ford with 4X4 crew cab diesel dual rear wheel pickups. The Dodge lists their 6.7 diesel but will only let you compare to GM and Ford's gas powered models. Man, that's weak! I'd like to see a legit comparison of features and benefits of each right down the line. If someone has a link to such a comparison, please post it. You won't find such a comparison on Dodge's site. But, hey, they say their Cummins has more pulling power than GM or Ford's gas powered 1 ton pickups! LOL

 

[Diamondpilot]

Its too bad we can not make the truck we want. If it were up to me I would have a Ford F-350 chassis, Cummins Engine, and Torque Shift Tranny. Not much I like about GM other than glove box last time I drove all 3 in 07 when I bought my last diesel truck. I do like the new rims on the GM duallys.

As for the comparison I would not trust any manufacture. They are going to put the best they have against the not so best by the others so it sways the test they are doing. I have seen MPG test with one truck using 3.43 gears and another brand using 4.10 gears. That is a no brainier on who will win.

Chris

 

[Dargo]

As for the comparison I would not trust any manufacture. They are going to put the best they have against the not so best by the others so it sways the test they are doing. I have seen MPG test with one truck using 3.43 gears and another brand using 4.10 gears. That is a no brainier on who will win.

Chris

Ya think? LOL! Putting their diesel up against the competitor's gas trucks? What a joke!

 

[Lt CHEG]

Was fuel mileage really that much of a concern when you all went shopping for a full size truck ?

Absolutely. I often use my truck like a car, I don't use it just for truck like things. That and my wife prefers to ride in my truck than in any other vehicle. Where I live currently I don't have the space for a 4th vehicle so it's not like I can have a heavy duty truck just for towing, working, etc. and a car for everything else, so I need to have one vehicle that does as many tasks as possible as well as possible. It's not even a matter of budget, it's very much a matter of space. When I'm in my new house out in the country space won't be as much of a concern and maybe I'll re-evaluate in a couple of years. So since I drive my truck as a general use vehicle too, I consider fuel economy to be very important. Number one, I can't stomach the idea of giving the oil companies and even worse the greedy oil speculators any more of my money than I absolutely have to. And number two I believe our oil and energy needs are very much a matter of national security and since the current government leaders are not likely to allow for more drilling that means that we need to meet our needs from some countries that don't really like us very much. So I think that striving for fuel economy is not only an economically smart thing but also a patriotic thing as well. So to make a long answer shorter, yes fuel economy is one of the most important factors for me in a truck buying decision.

 

[Dmace]

Ya think? LOL! Putting their diesel up against the competitor's gas trucks? What a joke!

Actually, what they are doing is comparing the trucks with the STANDARD AVAILABLE ENGINE which for Dodge is the diesel. But it would be nice to be able to choose the engine in the comparison chart.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Its too bad we can not make the truck we want. If it were up to me I would have a Ford F-350 chassis, Cummins Engine, and Torque Shift Tranny. Not much I like about GM other than glove box last time I drove all 3 in 07 when I bought my last diesel truck. I do like the new rims on the GM duallys.

For me, I'd probably put the Dodge body on a GM or Ford frame with a Cummins diesel engine, Ford axles and Allison Automatic. I know I mentioned it several times in the first post, but I am in LOVE with the looks of the Dodge 2500 HD, and frankly I'm very impressed with its interior as well. The rear seat storage was particularly impressive.

 

[Hawghauler]

I hadn't heard that Dodge no longer used Dana front and rear axles (mine had Dana, but it was a 1996 12v Cummins 4X4 dually), so I thought I'd look it up on Dodge's site to see what they use. Talk about confusing! I gave up and I still don't know based on looking on their site, which is bad because I like to do some of my preliminary shopping online before I even go test drive. If it doesn't have what I need, I needn't bother test drive it, right?

Even more lame was when you go to Dodge's "compare to competition" link with their pickups. I wanted to compare Dodge, GM and Ford with 4X4 crew cab diesel dual rear wheel pickups. The Dodge lists their 6.7 diesel but will only let you compare to GM and Ford's gas powered models. Man, that's weak! I'd like to see a legit comparison of features and benefits of each right down the line. If someone has a link to such a comparison, please post it. You won't find such a comparison on Dodge's site. But, hey, they say their Cummins has more pulling power than GM or Ford's gas powered 1 ton pickups! LOL

I got the axle info from the dealer.

 

[mjncad]

Its too bad we can not make the truck we want. If it were up to me I would have a Ford F-350 chassis, Cummins Engine, and Torque Shift Tranny. Not much I like about GM other than glove box last time I drove all 3 in 07 when I bought my last diesel truck. I do like the new rims on the GM duallys.

Chris

If only Peterbilt and Kenworth made pickup trucks; then we'd have more choice of what gets put on the truck. Unfortunately that would probably make it cost way more than a fully loaded 1-ton from Ford, Dodge and GM. Mack made pickups in the 40's if I recall correctly.

 

[Dargo]

I got the axle info from the dealer.

Oh, I'm not at all saying that I don't believe you. I just was unaware, as I mentioned. I simply got frustrated when each manufacturer makes it nearly impossible to get a proper and accurate comparison from which you can make an educated buying decision.

 

[medicshawn]

I think the problem is it's a moving target. You have to look at what 2-3 items matter most and compare those yourself. They are changing them so fast it's hard to keep up. If towing capacity is your number one criteria that has changed so much they keep one upping each other. Back seat room, torque and Hp numbers, brake controlers, bigger brakes.. The list never ends.