Test drove a Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Today

[Raspy]

Yeah, it would takes some adjustment of thinking from the public.

I have an Isuzu NPR with a cabover, tilt design and just love to walk up the the engine and front suspension and go to work. The big rig style hood tilt will probably be the way it goes for pickups if they can work out the issues you mentioned. I'd love it! It might make damage much easier to deal with too. Just unplug, pull a couple of pins and off it comes. Paint a new one and pop it on.

 

[transferred]

To clear up a few errors in this thread, the High Output version of the Cummins was 305bhp and 555lb/ft. It was the 610 which had 325bhp and 610lbs and was introduced for MY2005.

Also, the rear axle is the AAM1150 like GM used on their HD pickups, not Dana.

My take on the current trucks are that the new for 2011 GMs are tremendous, with the SRW 1 ton rated at 11,500lbs GVWR and the Dually at 13k. Strengthening of the Duramax and Allison internals plus bigger brakes, exhaust brake and all new frame put them to the top of my list.

I currently drive an 08 F450 pickup, 4x4 Lariat trim and 78,000 miles since new. Love the truck and regularly tow my backhoe meaning I'm just a hair below the 33k GCWR. My complaint is the 6.4 lacks the low end guts (peak tq is 2000rpm) of the dmax (1600rpm) and cummins (1500rpm)while a 6th gear on the Torqshift would be great on the highway. Ford improved the powertrain for MY11 and if it proves reliable I may get another ford but I'm totally put off that to get a true F450 I'll need to order a Chassis cab and build it up. The MY11 F450 is now just a rebadged F350 with a widetrack front end.

My Dodge was great, but it's disappointing to see the Cummins so far behind as regards torque and a factory retune is in order. That said, I'll dependability over speed but the THE number one issue their trucks have is the GVWR. Dodge is stock at 10,100 for the 3500SRW vs 11,500 for the Ford and GM while the Dodge dually is only 11,400 vs 13k of the Ford and GM. This is unacceptable to me as even if we use our site 379 to tote the backhoe my regular utility trailer plus tools will put me over.

Sorry for the ramble. To the thread starter, a 3/4 ton would be a HUGE upgrade from your half ton. Half tons are right at their weight limits when filled with passengers and that's with an empty bed. The brakes, frames and weight ratings have always made me useless to me, and I'd recommend always having "too much truck" rather than being at the limit. If you get a gas and want a smooth ride any of the 3/4tons will do, Ford's 6.2 gas is the pick. If you go diesel then make sure to get a one ton single rear wheels. Rides basically the same but you have that extra legal capacity for if you ever get a bigger trailer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

To clear up a few errors in this thread, the High Output version of the Cummins was 305bhp and 555lb/ft. It was the 610 which had 325bhp and 610lbs and was introduced for MY2005.

Also, the rear axle is the AAM1150 like GM used on their HD pickups, not Dana.

My take on the current trucks are that the new for 2011 GMs are tremendous, with the SRW 1 ton rated at 11,500lbs GVWR and the Dually at 13k. Strengthening of the Duramax and Allison internals plus bigger brakes, exhaust brake and all new frame put them to the top of my list.

I currently drive an 08 F450 pickup, 4x4 Lariat trim and 78,000 miles since new. Love the truck and regularly tow my backhoe meaning I'm just a hair below the 33k GCWR. My complaint is the 6.4 lacks the low end guts (peak tq is 2000rpm) of the dmax (1600rpm) and cummins (1500rpm)while a 6th gear on the Torqshift would be great on the highway. Ford improved the powertrain for MY11 and if it proves reliable I may get another ford but I'm totally put off that to get a true F450 I'll need to order a Chassis cab and build it up. The MY11 F450 is now just a rebadged F350 with a widetrack front end.

My Dodge was great, but it's disappointing to see the Cummins so far behind as regards torque and a factory retune is in order. That said, I'll dependability over speed but the THE number one issue their trucks have is the GVWR. Dodge is stock at 10,100 for the 3500SRW vs 11,500 for the Ford and GM while the Dodge dually is only 11,400 vs 13k of the Ford and GM. This is unacceptable to me as even if we use our site 379 to tote the backhoe my regular utility trailer plus tools will put me over.

Sorry for the ramble. To the thread starter, a 3/4 ton would be a HUGE upgrade from your half ton. Half tons are right at their weight limits when filled with passengers and that's with an empty bed. The brakes, frames and weight ratings have always made me useless to me, and I'd recommend always having "too much truck" rather than being at the limit. If you get a gas and want a smooth ride any of the 3/4tons will do, Ford's 6.2 gas is the pick. If you go diesel then make sure to get a one ton single rear wheels. Rides basically the same but you have that extra legal capacity for if you ever get a bigger trailer.

Very good post. You hit the nail on the head and see things the way I do. 1 ton SRW trucks are the best thing going. I have a 06 F-350 SRW with 11,500# GVWR and its a beast compared to the 05 Dmax SRW 3500 I had with 9,900# GVWR and the 04 F-250 with 10,000# GVWR.

GM right now has a edge on Ford in the diesel for the 2011 and later since they fixed the frame and brakes. I still do not like the torsion front end but that is what they stuck with. Dodge is just too far behind right now with GVWR's and HP/TQ to keep up with the other two this year. I expect to see big changes from them for either a 2011.5 or 2012 model year.

As for the gas offering I really do not like any of them. I was a fan of the Ford V-10 and the 8.1 GM but neither of them are around anymore. These new gas engines just rev too high and do not have the grunt on the low end like the big blocks had. I guess the nod would have to go to Ford on this one with the 6.2 right now.

Chris

 

[Dmace]

Dodge dually is only 11,400 vs 13k of the Ford and GM.

Speaking of clearing up errors, Dodge dually GVWR is 12,200.

 

[Dargo]

1 ton SRW trucks are the best thing going.

Not for me. I run between 2500 to 4000 pounds weight on my GN ball. Depending on what I'm hauling, even more weight with my pintle hitch trailer. SRW trucks just won't work for me unless I want to run solid rear tires.

 

[transferred]

Speaking of clearing up errors, Dodge dually GVWR is 12,200.

:thumbsup:My ol' memories not was it was it seems. BUT, remember Megacab's are only 10,500 (well they were until 09, not sure about 10s) which leaves about 1500lbs of payload once you got a couple of guys aboard, heck may as well buy a 5-series/E-Class Touring w/awd...

 

[Diamondpilot]

Not for me. I run between 2500 to 4000 pounds weight on my GN ball. Depending on what I'm hauling, even more weight with my pintle hitch trailer. SRW trucks just won't work for me unless I want to run solid rear tires.

If I were not in the snow belt and hauled only on paved roads I would have a dually. I had a dually in the late 90's, a GMC. I hated it in the snow and every dually around here seems to have some type of fender damage. I would say in my area there are as many 1 ton SRW trucks as there are 3/4 tons. Guys figured out they can have the best of both worlds with them. You see lots of Dodges and Fords but the GM 1 ton SRW is few and far between. The only two I have ever seen are my 05 and my neighbors 07.

As for load on a SRW 1 ton, I used to pull my 25,000# GN with my 7.3L F-350 SRW all the time with no issues loaded down. I did not take it far, maybe 75 miles at a time but i did fine.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Speaking of clearing up errors, Dodge dually GVWR is 12,200.

Still behind the competition. I expect to see be changes later this year or next year to the Dodge lineup. Once they get the GWVR's and HP/TQ in check with the others they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Chris

 

[transferred]

Not for me. I run between 2500 to 4000 pounds weight on my GN ball. Depending on what I'm hauling, even more weight with my pintle hitch trailer. SRW trucks just won't work for me unless I want to run solid rear tires.

:laughing: I hear ya, but the SRW tires now are darn stout, not a problem to load up the rear with 4500lbs of payload and be legal on the stock GM/Ford 1 ton SRW tires, just got to make sure they're at 70psi which isn't too bad.

That's not to say if you tow often (weekly) at big weight a dually's extra stability and blowout insurance is great to have. However now I'm not expected to lug the backhoe around I'm really considering returning to the 1 ton SRW fold. I can get a short box and thread my way down hunting trails a lot easier than in my dually, where I've taken up walking like never before since getting it

Chris- 06 is a fine vintage for the 6.0. That combined with the weight rating and 4x4 means you have a truck that gone go anywhere and tow or carry just about anything. Plus being pre-emissions is always nice so you're not swetting bullets when idling. GM incorporated the emissions BS the best, and though I like the idea of a less-polluting oil burner, the decreased mileage and sporadic issues are a real pita. That said, I'm with you on the fact a "HD" truck needs to come with a diesel. Winding up a peaky motor to 4,000rpm just to get moving is not for me, but I can see the benefit of saving the best part of $10k for those who don't tow but want hauling capacity.

 

[Dargo]

If I were not in the snow belt and hauled only on paved roads I would have a dually. I had a dually in the late 90's, a GMC. I hated it in the snow and every dually around here seems to have some type of fender damage. I would say in my area there are as many 1 ton SRW trucks as there are 3/4 tons. Guys figured out they can have the best of both worlds with them. You see lots of Dodges and Fords but the GM 1 ton SRW is few and far between. The only two I have ever seen are my 05 and my neighbors 07.

As for load on a SRW 1 ton, I used to pull my 25,000# GN with my 7.3L F-350 SRW all the time with no issues loaded down. I did not take it far, maybe 75 miles at a time but i did fine.

Chris

I suppose it varies with the area. Dealers in my area generally don't even stock any SRW 1 ton pickups. Where I live a guy generally has too much weight on the back of the truck for only 2 rear wheels when they are in use. And with the duallys, they are almost all 4X4. The dual rear wheels provide a lot better resistance to sinking when off in a field and loaded, but they sure don't do worth a hoot without 4X4. It's rather rare to find any aggressive off road tires for a dually. I would have been stuck about half the times I've pulled off road if not for 4X4; especially trying to back up a loaded trailer around a turn.