Towing my new 38RSSA

Chuck .. wrote:
This is the single biggest reason I started to look at the Ford's

Well I thought I was going to purchase a new Dodge 350 dually but, after having a hassle trying to going through Dave Smith and other north-west dealers I started looking else were.

Now if the Dodge Dealers would of just give me a little more "Customer Service" I just might be driving a Dodge today. Had a hell of a time getting a price from the Idaho people and they seemed to take their sweet time to get back to me if ever. Some Dodge dealers did not give me a quote after a month or more from Oregon, Idaho, Calorific,Washington and more. I had to contact service managers and higher ups to get a reply in a timely fashion; how about just a phone call. I am talk after a week and half to month to get a simple quote after giving them my specializations.

Maybe Dodge is a much better truck, but I spend a lot of time if too much time researching and after months on the computer,writing, phone calls and visiting dealers. I finally made a choice and it was time to move on with my life. I am sure you all were getting sick of me posting so many request for advice!!!!!!

NorthSide Ford in Portland, Oregon "Pete" got back to me the next day after I walked in Pete's office. Send me a quote and followed up with phone call the very next day. Pete beat several other dealer prices in the area with no hassle at all.

Yes, I did walk out of my home town Ford Dealer after getting the run around about the price when it was time to put the money down.

Ask for Pete at NorthSide Ford in Portland, Oregon.

Again, it’s not a Dodge 350. It’s a Ram 3500, and as I’ve stated in here over the years. I have given Ford a chance , but they didn’t want my business I guess . I owned Chevy pick ups ftom 1975 til 2010. For about 12 yrs, I’ve looked at and test driven Ford F-350 Dually to compare to Chevy and Dodge/Ram, but with Ford, and only Ford, never could work a deal. Got my best pricing from Chevy and Ram.. have never had an issue with service depts with either Chevy or Dodge/Ram. In fact, though I did the online shopping, I got my best deals locally for Chevy or the Ram.. About the only thing I didn’t like about the Ford was the Dually fenders.. other than that a great truck, but they didn’t want my business. I have no issues with my AC like Ron spoke of. I put mine in automatic and it’s good.

Jim

This is the single biggest reason I started to look at the Ford's

Well I thought I was going to purchase a new Dodge 3500 dually but, after having a hassle trying to going through Dave Smith and other north-west dealers I started looking else were.

Now if the Dodge Dealers would of just give me a little more "Customer Service" I just might be driving a Dodge today. Had a hell of a time getting a price from the Idaho people and they seemed to take their sweet time to get back to me if ever. Some Dodge dealers did not give me a quote after a month or more from Oregon, Idaho, Calorific,Washington and more. I had to contact service managers and higher ups to get a reply in a timely fashion; how about just a phone call. I am talk after a week and half to month to get a simple quote after giving them my specializations.

Maybe Dodge is a much better truck, but I spend a lot of time if too much time researching and after months on the computer,writing, phone calls and visiting dealers. I finally made a choice and it was time to move on with my life. I am sure you all were getting sick of me posting so many request for advice!!!!!!

NorthSide Ford in Portland, Oregon "Pete" got back to me the next day after I walked in Pete's office. Send me a quote and followed up with phone call the very next day. Pete beat several other dealer prices in the area with no hassle at all.

Yes, I did walk out of my home town Ford Dealer after getting the run around about the price when it was time to put the money down.

Ask for Pete at NorthSide Ford in Portland, Oregon.

"The Dodge air conditioning blows on your feet and on a hot day does not do so well at all. The air conditioning on the Ford is knee height or a little higher and much better. Second big thing; the ride in the back set of a Ford is a lot more comfortable. The back set in the Dodge bounces you around. The Ford dually rides and handles more like my 2007 Camry."

Interesting, my AC blows out of the console that is centered on the center rear seat and are adjustable.

Back seat bounces you around??? Did you ask the dealer to drop the rear air pressure to 35 on both trucks for a fair comparison? Interesting also our KingRanch friends could not stop talking about how comfortable my back seats are and how nice the truck rides.

I have NEVER bought a truck based on the rear seat, but hey if that is where you have to ride I guess that is the deal maker! :B

NC Hauler wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
NC, your wife must not like pretty rocks like mine does! I am at 27K with my RV empty! With our 36SB3 we were 28-29K.

Vett Racer I would take truck in to dealer and have it flashed if you think it is dropping a gear before it should. I hold 6th on hills towing 33-35K combined but it does down shifts as needed. I will drop a gear before it needs if I see I am coming to a grade that will require the gear drop it just makes it seamless as the computer can't know what's coming.

You guys would have both been just as happy with 3.42's with your loads towing in 5th.

Guess it depends on what you’re use to Ron.. All my Chevys had 3.73s and my Rams have had 4.10’s. I look at GCWR as a real number, and OCD about weights, Remember, I was an Engineer and on this and other forums been called the hated ““weight police”.
Maybe I’d been happy with 3.42s, but I like the way the 4.10’s get me started going up the mountains and maintains the speed. I’m very happy with 4.10, and again purchased with a job in mind.
I agree that the gentleman should get his truck flashed and/or looked at.. NEVER had an issue on “ hills”.

Jim

Reason I said you would both be happy is RAM rates the 3.42's to tow your weights and that's SAE rated. I have towed your weights with my Son's 3.42's and AISIN in his 15 SRW RAM and it got the load rolling easily on grades. Also 5th with 3.42's is basically the same RPM as 4.10's in 6th at 60mph. The 3.42's for the 2015 RAM 4x4 Dually with AISIN is over 29K GCWR.

Not trying to get you to go buy a new truck but like to point out the 3.42's with AISIN are more than capable to haul big loads and then get the bonus of better mpg running solo.

It’s actually a Ram 3500, not a Dodge 350. I ordered my truck early 2016. I also test drove a 2016 Ford King Ranch, F350 Dually. I thought that both the Ram and the Ford were both put together well. I didn’t feel much difference at all, Ford was faster. I got a better deal on my Ram 3500 Longhorn CC, LB, 4X4 with Cummins, Aisin tranny, rear air assist and 4.10. The Chevy 3500 was quieter than both and seemed faster than both, but couldn’t touch the Ram or Ford in the interior scheme of the trucks, just my opinion and not worth much.

Jim

I have a 99 Dodge 2500 Cub Cab 2X4. This truck would only "safety tow 9500 lbs. So I had to get something bigger. Towing around 13,500 dry weight on a 2010 DRV 34 footer.

Well I thought I was going to purchase a new Dodge 350 dually but, after having a hassle trying to going through Dave Smith and other north-west dealers I started looking else were. My 36 year old son and I test drove the Dodge and it seem that Dodge is not put together as well as the Fords. Dodge seemed to be more like a work truck or farm truck, that is my son's thoughts.

Test drove a Ford 350 dually Crew Cab 4X4. Seems like someone actually cared how things were put together and designed. A couple of items are the air conditioning in the rear. The Dodge air conditioning blows on your feet and on a hot day does not do so well at all. The air conditioning on the Ford is knee height or a little higher and much better. Second big thing; the ride in the back set of a Ford is a lot more comfortable. The back set in the Dodge bounces you around. The Ford dually rides and handles more like my 2007 Camry.

Take both for a test drive and look each over. Have the wife ride in the back of each and tell you want she thinks of each one. Better let; you ride in the back and see for your self.

Ordered a 2017 Ford dually Crew cab without the costly sun roof that will bake your head when the sun comes out and no carpeting. Weather-guard/tech for me. Now have to get 1000 miles on it for brake in period, before I tow with it. I got the 4-10 gears also. The new trucks are like space ships with all the computer controls and or information screen. Have someone else play with the screen when your driving and keep your eyes on the road!

PS: North-Side Ford in Portland, Oregon is great to deal with. Ask for Pete.

Vette Racer, ask them about a DEF pump recall. While on our way to Phoenix last March I got a message on the dash "incorrect DEF detected". I had had just filled the DEF tank at LOVES the night before in Amarillo. Dodge garage in Albuquerque determined my DEF pump was on it's way out and NOT bad DEF. He said they had a bulletin on them and he thought Chrysler would be recalling them as he had 5 3500s in at that point for replacements.

Since having the DEF pump replaced I've been using a LOT less DEF. I'd at least ask about "bad" DEF pumps even though you haven't thrown a code on it.

Dan

Cummins12V98 wrote:
NC, your wife must not like pretty rocks like mine does! I am at 27K with my RV empty! With our 36SB3 we were 28-29K.

Vett Racer I would take truck in to dealer and have it flashed if you think it is dropping a gear before it should. I hold 6th on hills towing 33-35K combined but it does down shifts as needed. I will drop a gear before it needs if I see I am coming to a grade that will require the gear drop it just makes it seamless as the computer can't know what's coming.

You guys would have both been just as happy with 3.42's with your loads towing in 5th.

Already took it in and had it reflashed, didn't make any difference, going back again to see if they can find a reason for it. Seems very slow to bring boost up and doesn't have much power until it gets over halfway on the gauge, not to mention it uses DEF like diesel fuel, no codes though.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
NC, your wife must not like pretty rocks like mine does! I am at 27K with my RV empty! With our 36SB3 we were 28-29K.

Vett Racer I would take truck in to dealer and have it flashed if you think it is dropping a gear before it should. I hold 6th on hills towing 33-35K combined but it does down shifts as needed. I will drop a gear before it needs if I see I am coming to a grade that will require the gear drop it just makes it seamless as the computer can't know what's coming.

You guys would have both been just as happy with 3.42's with your loads towing in 5th.

Guess it depends on what you’re use to Ron.. All my Chevys had 3.73s and my Rams have had 4.10’s. I look at GCWR as a real number, and OCD about weights, Remember, I was an Engineer and on this and other forums been called the hated ““weight police”.
Maybe I’d been happy with 3.42s, but I like the way the 4.10’s get me started going up the mountains and maintains the speed. I’m very happy with 4.10, and again purchased with a job in mind.
I agree that the gentleman should get his truck flashed and/or looked at.. NEVER had an issue on “ hills”.

Jim

We have a 2015 38 RSSA. We full time and we are heavy. I have a 6500 Onan, fiberglass roof washer dryer and 4 6 volt batteries I have had Rams with a 3:73 and 4:10. The 4:10 is the way to go if you pull heavy
and climb mountains. Fuel mileage if so minute with a 3:73 go with the 4:10 My next one will be a 4:10 with the air suspension. See my sig