Chevy vs Dodge - Montana Owners Club

rames14 · 10-06-2012, 09:59 AM

As a Chevy owner, I've been very happy with my last two Silverados. If I hadn't ridden in Al's new Longhorn edition, I'd probably be looking at only Chevy/GMC. So, 2012 or 2013, any advantage? Real life Chevy and Dodge mileage - what are your experiences? How about the Dodge tranny? I see a lot of Ram trucks, what do I need to know? Thanks.

Paddler · 10-06-2012, 10:19 AM

If you decide to go with the Ram, make sure you get the 4.10 rear, or you will have the towing capacity of a 2500 Chevy!

CountryGuy · 10-06-2012, 10:20 AM

Ron,

If you liked my 2012 wait to you see the improvements Dodge made in the 2013 Rams.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/09...003500-hd.html

Al

Tfthorp · 10-06-2012, 10:31 AM

Go with a Ford

**DQDick** · 10-06-2012, 11:24 AM

I'm sure they are all good. That being said we love our Dodge. 11.5 on average towing the Monty and the Mega Cab gives us the inside room we wanted. Plenty of fun toys also, but I imagine they all have those.

oldelmer1 · 10-06-2012, 11:36 AM

The 2013 RAM will have a DEF tank, the current ones do not. Is this good?? I don't know, but the www.cumminsforum.com are saying this is good and that the RAM will get better mileage.

My non High Output 6.7 with 3.73 rear pulls my 14K trailer without a problem. The new HO 6.7 have a different transmission in them to support the 800 foot pounds of torque, mine only has 650, but does the job just fine.

Here Is a link to the RAM site, you can look at the towing capacity, but of the 2012's, 13's are not out yet.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/?section=heavy

mhs4771 · 10-06-2012, 12:24 PM

What is this, Ford, Chevy, Dodge stuff, go with the Gasser Toyota Tundra 1/2 ton, can tow any 5er out there. Oh, wait a minute, that's a different Forum where they say that all the time.

jwedell · 10-06-2012, 12:48 PM

I drive Fords at work and own a GMC 3500 dually D/A. They will all do the job they are set up to do. I would suggest you test drive them all. I prefer the steering responce and the duramax/allison combination of the chevy over the ford but that is only a personal preference. I have plenty of friends who tow with fords and dodges and like them better. Ultimately the decision is yours. don't even ask about the color (lol). Good luck, John

mlh · 10-06-2012, 01:43 PM

I agree with jwedell. Go drive them all several times, check out the specks. Then decide which one YOU like. What I like or someone else likes doesn't matter. We all wont something different. Don't make the mistake of not getting the best vehicle for you.
Lynwood

ALSAN · 10-06-2012, 01:48 PM

Well you opened a can of worms here

I am on my third dodge in 13 years and the power that that cummings engine puts out is amazing and I have noticed that as I moved up thur the years that the ride and fit and finish has improved, with the changes coming on the 2013 model should improve the mpg if I had not bought a new truck a year ago I would be buying a 2013

Montana Sky · 10-06-2012, 01:54 PM

I have now owned all 3 HD diesels on the market with my current being the 2011 3500HD Ram. I really like the interior of the Ram over the current Silverado, and my 2010 F350 King Ranch I dumped as a lemon and have no plan to ever go back to Ford due to Fords actions in how they handled all the problems I had. I am toying with the idea of trading my 11 in for a 13 for reason beyond this thread. That being said, I am leaning towards going back to Chevy. I love how the Duramax and Allison work in unison. Plus looking at the towing capacity, the Silverado out tows the Ram by 2500 lbs and has a higher payload capacity. To each their own, but I would highly suggest looking hard at the GM diesel.

rames14 · 10-06-2012, 03:35 PM

I knew that I would get interesting comments and appreciate the insight. I made a promise over 25 years ago to never buy a new Ford, so for personal reasons, I've kept that promise to Ford. I have not owned a new Dodge vehicle in my life because of real or perceived reliability issues. No one can argue that Dodge's styling has been great over the years. And, their Cummins engine was good but noisy. The new Dodge styling on Al's truck was really a wow for a Chevy owner. The interior today in the Chevy isn't much different from twenty years ago. The Duramax/Allison combo sold me on my last two Chevies. But, now Dodge is going to put in the Aisin six speed tranny behind the Cummins. Looks like a new chassis and further refinements coming. Buying a GM/Chevy is akin to buying my 2008 again with no miles on it. It's been a great truck, but the styling is getting old. If I could put a Dodge mega cab on a Chevy chassis with the Duramax/Allison or get the Cummins in front of an Allison it would be a no brainer. I look forward to more great comments.

rames14 · 10-06-2012, 04:00 PM

One negative Terrie found is the passenger seat is not adjustable for height or tilt on the Dodge. Anyone find a solution for this?

PackerFan · 10-06-2012, 04:31 PM

I am on my second Dodge and I really love them both. Both had the Cummins engine. The first one was a 1999, 2500 with 4:10 gears & 5.9 24 valve engine. It got approx. 21 mpg running empty and 13.5 towing our previous Montana 2980RL. Current one is a 2009, 3500 with 3:73 gears & the 6.7 engine. Current one gets approx. 20 mpg running empty and 12 mpg pulling our current Montana 3100RL which is bigger than previous one. I have wished several times I had 4:10 gears in this one also, I would recommend them to you. I would love to trade for one of the newer ones and but I can't swing it right now.

I am sure there are many good things about each make and there are many opinions too! To bad you can't try each one out pulling our Montana's, that would be a great true test!

Good Luck and Good Hunting.
Scott

Emmel · 10-06-2012, 04:37 PM

With the interior Al has, you need to get the Denali to compare. I didn't want to pay the extra $7k over the SLT interior.
You have to drive them both, but make sure you drive comparably equiped trucks to make a deciesion.

CountryGuy · 10-06-2012, 05:24 PM

Ron,

The 2013 Mega Cab is slated to be offered in a long bed - Now it is only offered in a short bed. Might just fit your needs!

Al

ALSAN · 10-06-2012, 05:30 PM

One thing I should have said on the farm here I have all three of the big three from Detriot and with 9 differant trailers and other Implments it is the dodge is my pulling truck , also out of all the trucks and cars I/we have owned my wife is the most comfortable sitting in the 2011 Dodge ( bad arthritis in the hips) Maybe she should not have told me this as now I some times will pull five to six hundred mile day if in a hurry

On the TDR forum it is also noted that Dodge/Ram will release the tow rating for the new trucks in Jan 2013 and they are rumored to be higher than any other make ,seeing that all the tests are supose to be standard now it will be intresting to see the outcome

Sinterior · 10-06-2012, 09:27 PM

Ron, I'm GM loyal, and I can tell you, an '11+ GM/Chevy HD other than looks, and yes I agree it's aging, is a much different beast underneath than your '08.
In 2011 GM greatly beefed up the frame, brakes and suspension, plus added trailer sway control and an exhaust brake on the Duramax.
For a 1 ton SRW, GVWR went from 9900lbs, to 11500lbs, dually went from 11400lbs, to 13000lbs.

I can only speak for myself, but my 0'11 SRW tows Monty generally much better and easier than my 0'6 dually. Driving in windy conditions is hard to judge, but the dually may have been a little better, but its hard to say because of the much bigger tires and the built in sway control of the '11.

IMHO any of the HD trucks are very capable if the weight ratings match the trailer.

I admit the Ram is one good looking truck, the Cummins has proved itself, and the new Ford 6.7 has to prove itself for a few years for me to consider it.
The Duramax/Allison combo is probably the most reliable match since they were new in 2001, other than injector problems in the early ones ( I had an '03 with none) and some overheating issues in the early LLY generation.

To me, the most important thing is not looks, but performance to meet my needs and I have to also like the truck!

H. John Kohl · 10-07-2012, 01:19 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by rames14

As a Chevy owner, I've been very happy with my last two Silverados. If I hadn't ridden in Al's new Longhorn edition, I'd probably be looking at only Chevy/GMC. So, 2012 or 2013, any advantage? Real life Chevy and Dodge mileage - what are your experiences? How about the Dodge tranny? I see a lot of Ram trucks, what do I need to know? Thanks.

Ron,
I like my Dodge 2012 with the 4:10 rear end. It pulls the hills well and the OEM exhaust brake and transmission works well too. I bought a Cummins wrapped in a Dodge.
I have 11.5K miles on mine so far and 8K are pulling the Monty. I have a total average of 10.4 mpg and saw 9.81 pulling from WV to NY with some good rolling hills. I think it is starting to get broke in.

MIMF · 10-07-2012, 03:09 AM

I know that I don't use my truck as hard as most of you do but, the old Chevy "takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'". Other than a heater temperature control issue that has occured over this weekend, it is going to be around for a while! For 3 reasons. It runs as efficiently or better than most of the new models, it does what I need it to do and, I'm trying to get the wife retired. A new truck just ain't in the budget until we have a taste for exactly how retirement income is going. But, when we do get ready to shop for a new truck, I will need to test drive all 3 makes.

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