Truck decision among the top three

[Devildog]

It is finally time for me to start looking for a new truck. Current truck in signature has served me very well. Wife wanted me to not consider anything other than a GM 3500. But in shopping around at the dealers lots over the past couple of weeks, we have both fallen in love with the 350 king ranch, and the Laramie Longhorn Ram dually. I have looked at threads over the past weeks concerning everything that I can get my hands on.
That is what I am asking of this MOC field. Not even considering the styling or price (that is a personal choice and I like them both), but in the mechanics/pulling/all around of the vehicle- F350 with 3.73 or the Ram 4.10 (thought the lower gear would be a plus); fuel economy of the two, or the one that you currently have (must be last two models years 2011 or 2012), noticed problems or experiences, etc..
I like the styling of the 350 SRW, but also am drawn to the 3500 ram DRW for payload, cummins engine, engine brake. Ford drive was fantastic, driving the ram this week. Have heard issues with Ram fuel efficiency, have heard issues with the ford fuel pump, and all others.
Still very much like the GM heavy duty, but styling is starting to suffer. Doesn't look like a HD truck anymore.
Not a brand war meant at all. Looking for your pro's and con's of your own vehicle. Not comparisons to others.
Thanks up front! Merry Christmas to all!
Semper Fi!

[mlh]

Not comparing. I think all of them have advantages, and disadvantages. The best thing for you to do is go drive all three several times then pick out the one you like the best. We all bought the best truck, because we all wonted something different.
Lynwood

[cjohnson]

Bought the 2011 Dodge 4WD Laramie Longhorn 3500 dually w/410 front and rear ends. I will say it pulls our 3100RL like a dream. Does not require DEF, and does not require the cab to be pulled off as Ford does for engine repair. with one 7500 mile trip and a total of 15000 miles as of now, we get +- 9-10 MPG pulling average. Added an ATI aux 41 gal tank so we can pass a few station before stopping. ;>) with the six speed trans, engine brake and cruise control, it will almost drive itself, up or down. Would buy it again without question.
However as mlh said all have +&-'s

[Devildog]

You are right, pick out the one that is best. But the origianl posting was, what are your likes or dislikes of those that own comparable models. I see them in all the signatures.
Js gas mileage all that you expected? Is ride quality what you thought? Would you change your gear ratio or would youwant to go lower?
Those are the types of responses I am looking for. Sort of like talking to a good friend that will tell you what he would keep or change.

[pineranch]

I would be proud to drive any of the 3, went with the Ford because of the creature comforts. I also use 3 of the upfitter switches.
Mike

[kab449]

For me the decision came down to the fact that Ford did not take any government bailout funds.

[drsmart]

Just a thought.
Do you really need a 4.10 rear nowadays with all 3 close to 800lb/ft of torque?

Dave

[DQDick]

We get 11-12 pulling our 3665RE. Of course ours is a 2500HD and SRW. Not sure that makes much difference on fuel mileage though.

[Devildog]

And that is a good thought about whether the 4.10 is needed with all the torque these engines produce. I can see an advantage qhen starting to pull forward in hilly terrain, streets while traveling. Course 0-60 means nothing when we are pulling our campers, just good pickup.
Those with the mega cab ram, is the rails for the 5ver hitch hard to locate? I am using a reese signature slider and may convert to a 5th airborne pin box.

[cjohnson]

drsmart - the way I understand, 373 or 410 either would pull our rigs, physically.
On our 2011 (4WD, DRW) Dodge, 3.73 was rated at 21000 GVW (truck & trailer)and for the 4.10 it was rated at 24000 GVW. We were at 21600 on our last trip, according to scales at Pilot. So we were in legal limits.

[mobil]

We have 23,000 mi on our 2011 Ram, not one problem so far. With 4:10's (the 4:10's turn about the same rpm's as 3:73's used to. The auto tranny has double OD) we got 9-10 coming thru the mountains of WV and Virginia, coming from Ohio to Florida. Flatlands we're getting 11-12. We travel 62-65mph. We're loaded at 23500+ combined. For me, the stability of the dually was a BIG deal. The performance and user control of the exhaust brake really sealed the deal. The 2012's have improved the IBC to have settings for trailer weights and for disc brakes(elec over hyd). The creature comforts are pretty nice too. The heated steering wheel makes arther feel better on colder mornings. Any of the big 3 will pull comfortably all day long. Your decision, your priorities, have fun testing them all out. By the way, when ours was new, we got 13-14 mpg EMPTY, highway. Started improving after 10,000 mi. Now we're getting 16.5 empty if we keep it under 65mph. Local mixed driving we're getting 13-14.

[Ren]

An F-450 will give you the lower gear (4.30 rear). Plus the creature comforts. Plus a sharper turning raidus than the F-350.

F-450 specs
24500 5er towing capacity
33000 gcwr

F-350 specs
21500 5er towing capacity
30000 gcwr

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...ng/default.asp

They all have thier pluses and minues. Id drive them both and make some u-turns and look at the turning radius of both.

[DQDick]

To answer the question about the hitch, we have a 15K reese slider base with a 20K head added and don't have any problem hitching up. I did convert the tailgate to a 5th wheel gate and moved the camera to that gate, but that doesn't have anything to do with the actual hitching. The DW can raise the seat for a better view if she wants and then if you just hit the unlock button on her key fob everything goes back to her setting. Hit the unlock on mine and everything goes back for me. Speaking of creature comforts, I'm sure they all do this, but there's nothing like hitting the remote start on a day like today and getting in to find the window clear, the heated steering wheel on and the heated seat on. It does that based on the outside temp. We love this truck, and the extra room from the Maxi Cab is a wonderful thing. Trying to find a place to park in some older neighborhoods in big cities can be an issue, however.

[Red939]

GM: Allison 1000 bullet proof trans, been improving the Duramax for 10 years...styling???

Dodge: Cummins, say no more, trans only 'okay', interior, don't know.

Ford: Engine problems in all recent diesels, 6.0, 6.4, don't know about 6.7. Trans only 'okay', interior great.

Comments: Don't need 4.10 rear end. Get a four door dually. Ford engine problems rule out Ford, get the GM or Dodge.

JMHO!

[Fire5er]

Do a google search and you will find problems with all three to include Allison 1000 transmissions, Cummins engines, and of course Ford's PDS engines. I have had three Ford PSD - 7.3, 6.0, and the 6.7 now. None of them left me stranded on the side of the road and all towed great. So if you pick any of the big three you should be happy. Just make sure to get a big enough truck. Going from the SRW to the DRW was the best thing I ever did as far as towing comfort.

[TAKPAK]

Ford man all my life. Then tried Dodge, and now GMC. Currently, really like the Duramax/Allison combo, a tried and true one. Getting 11 to 12 MPG with the 3400 behind. Personal choice was to go with the single rear wheels, as the GMC is a daily driver for me, so parking, city driving, etc, factored in as well. Haven't had any problems with the SRW. Any of the big three would be a good choice. Ours was simply that neither of us liked the Dodge styling (in 2008) DW thought the Ford was too "macho" and lacked creature comforts, and both of us liked the GMC styling/comfort options. If I were asked if I would buy the GMC again, I would have to say yes. But it IS a very personal choice, so buy what makes you happy and works best for you.

[drsmart]

quote:Originally posted by cjohnson

drsmart - the way I understand, 373 or 410 either would pull our rigs, physically.
On our 2011 (4WD, DRW) Dodge, 3.73 was rated at 21000 GVW (truck & trailer)and for the 4.10 it was rated at 24000 GVW. We were at 21600 on our last trip, according to scales at Pilot. So we were in legal limits.

Hi Chuck. Didn't Dodge and Cummins bump the torque up in late 2011 to compete with the Ford and GM ratings? I believe the GCWR jumped as well. This is why I'm thinking the 4.10 isn't needed for our purpose. There are some that may want it though.
(Trivia - Our 2004 has 3.73 rear and 555lb/ft and it was rated for 21,000 GCWR.)
http://dodgeram.info/2003/load-tow/3500SRW.html

Dave

[oldelmer1]

Our 3500 DRW is not the HO 800# engine, but ditto on what everyone else has said. The 3.73 rear does just fine, and with 7800 miles on it now, we still get 11MPG pulling the 3150RL and maybe 13 combo driving.

As others have mentioned in previous posts, when starting out with the camper attached, if you pull out a little fast, you almost feel wheel hop, but I'm sure thats not what it is. Also the brake controller is kind of sluggish, but I think thats been fixed on the 2012's.

1 complaint would be, the running boards are too close to the body, so when you get in/out your foot hits the door frame.

The truck is very comfortable, lots of creature comforts, and we've had no problems at all.

[mhs4771]

Another thing to keep in mind, besides towing cap, gross combined, etc. Check the Mfr fine print under all those numbers. GM throws a monkey wrench into the mix on the 3500 with a 3500 Lbs max pin weight on the DRW and 3000 Lbs pin on the SRW. We stayed with GM, have had GM pick-ups all the way back to an 80 S10, V6 w/5 Speed manual and GM cars prior to that including the famous Vega (check the gas and fill up the oil), but it was a fun car.
The only fault I have against the new GM is the fact that the default on the Exhaust is "OFF", have to remember to turn it on everytime you start up. The cruise braking feature is great, set the cruise and drive, come to a steep grade the tranny will down shift like normal, crest the grade and start down the other side, the tranny will down shift again. Came south via I81 to I77 thru West Virginia and Virginia and didn't need to touch the brakes other than to stop for lights.
You will be the one behind the steering wheel so you have to make your decision.

[DQDick]

Basically you have to drive um and make the decision for yourself. By enlarge we all like our trucks or we'd be driving something else, but what works for one isn't right for someone else.