2500 Chevy Duramax vs 2500 Ram Cummins on the Ike Gauntlet

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

TravelinDog wrote:
Almost all of the comments here come down to the same old Chevy vs Ram debate.
There are millions of these trucks out there towing trailers with no problems and nearly identical results so it still comes down to a matter of brand preference.

That being said I see no reason to put a 10 speed trans behind the Cummins engine because it works just fine the way it is.

More gears is in the Rams future. Like it or not.


I STRONGLY suspect that the Ram proponents will then sing its praises . Until then.....Dissing those that have it now, just sounds like a child refusing to admit that a classmate has a better toy.

It's only the stubborn "Ram proponents" who's mantra of "whatever I currently have is the best", while wearing blinders, who can't see the benefits of more forward gears behind the Cummins.

I’d bet anyone $1000 that when (not if) RAM adds gears that the new tranny will be proclaimed by some as the best ever available in a HD.

Heck, I remember individuals signing the praises of the 68RFE (which for the record I don’t think is terrible, but it is far from the best).

Whatever RAM does I am sure the trans will be a dependable unit. I have seen people for SEVERAL years proclaim RAM needs more gears. Not sure why as real world experience says it's not needed. We will see if RAM succumbs to "gotta have the next best thing".

I don't think you will find any trans of the big three more dependable (Fish ZIP it) than the AISIN.

My 68REF with 3.42's was awesome to 65k at trade. I towed at least 1/2 the miles at 29k combined West Coast.

Here is the pan just before trade. Fluid had over 50k.

IdaD wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

IdaD wrote:

ksss wrote:
I had thought that Ram and GM use the same rear axle.

I thought so too, 11.5" AAM.

They do...or did anyways. I can't speak to the last couple years, but Ram does offer a larger axle in their dooleys and maybe 3500 srws. 11.8 ring gear, maybe a 12" model. And Ram went to a different/larger bolt pattern on the dooleys...
Now there's at least 4 different bolt patterns out there for current model 8 lug light duty trucks.

I don't follow it real close but I've not heard of a 12". I thought the 11.8" version was just on the HO models.

Grit dog wrote:

IdaD wrote:

ksss wrote:
I had thought that Ram and GM use the same rear axle.

I thought so too, 11.5" AAM.

They do...or did anyways. I can't speak to the last couple years, but Ram does offer a larger axle in their dooleys and maybe 3500 srws. 11.8 ring gear, maybe a 12" model. And Ram went to a different/larger bolt pattern on the dooleys...
Now there's at least 4 different bolt patterns out there for current model 8 lug light duty trucks.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

cptqueeg wrote:
Payload was much different and somehow it was overlooked in the recap.

They did touch on the difference in payload, that the Ram was a true 3/4 ton the Chevy was a one ton labeled as a 3/4 ton with a GVWR of 11,300# if I heard correctly. The Chevy was also 500# heavier than the Ram.

The 500 LBS is mostly due to it being a higher trim level.... Which will actually work against it in the performance attributes of this test.

What about the higher trim would add 500# ?

I di not say it accounted for all of it. But there are many differences, and they add up.

I will ask again what would add SIGNIFICANT weight because of a higher trim level?

IdaD wrote:

ksss wrote:
I had thought that Ram and GM use the same rear axle.

I thought so too, 11.5" AAM.

Bionic Man wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

TravelinDog wrote:
Almost all of the comments here come down to the same old Chevy vs Ram debate.
There are millions of these trucks out there towing trailers with no problems and nearly identical results so it still comes down to a matter of brand preference.

That being said I see no reason to put a 10 speed trans behind the Cummins engine because it works just fine the way it is.

More gears is in the Rams future. Like it or not.


I STRONGLY suspect that the Ram proponents will then sing its praises . Until then.....Dissing those that have it now, just sounds like a child refusing to admit that a classmate has a better toy.

It's only the stubborn "Ram proponents" who's mantra of "whatever I currently have is the best", while wearing blinders, who can't see the benefits of more forward gears behind the Cummins.

I’d bet anyone $1000 that when (not if) RAM adds gears that the new tranny will be proclaimed by some as the best ever available in a HD.

Heck, I remember individuals signing the praises of the 68RFE (which for the record I don’t think is terrible, but it is far from the best).

RCMAN46 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
My take is with this small camper the 6 speed/Cummins combo was a good fit. Go to 30k lbs and I believe you'll see a different outcome or different varying size slopes/hills.

The inline 6 does JUST FINE with the 6 speed. Higher revving V8 diesels may do better with more gears.

High revving V8 diesels??

The Durmax makes it peak Horsepower of 445 at 2800 rpm The same rpm that the Cummins makes 420 peak Horsepower. And the ford makes its peak horsepower of 475 at 2600 rpm.

Grit dog wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

TravelinDog wrote:
Almost all of the comments here come down to the same old Chevy vs Ram debate.
There are millions of these trucks out there towing trailers with no problems and nearly identical results so it still comes down to a matter of brand preference.

That being said I see no reason to put a 10 speed trans behind the Cummins engine because it works just fine the way it is.

More gears is in the Rams future. Like it or not.


I STRONGLY suspect that the Ram proponents will then sing its praises . Until then.....Dissing those that have it now, just sounds like a child refusing to admit that a classmate has a better toy.

It's only the stubborn "Ram proponents" who's mantra of "whatever I currently have is the best", while wearing blinders, who can't see the benefits of more forward gears behind the Cummins.

ksss wrote:
I had thought that Ram and GM use the same rear axle.