I'm leaving Dodge

C Schomer wrote:
Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. I used to be a bowtie fan and I bought a new 96 Dodge 360 gas auto cuz they were the only one w/o a tow restriction in OD. I had sh!t for luck with the 700r4 in my 91 chevy. My bro had a 92 chev 350/700r4 and we both pulled 5k lb RVs and he burnt up his tran trying to keep up with my Dodge. Then, my last 2 gm cars drove me nuts and broke with electronic problems. I've enjoyed all I can stand of gm's! I was driving a 92 3/4T 8.1 with 42k miles at work and it left me stranded 3 times and it couldn't stay out the shop. A 94 8.1 with 34k miles came up for grabs so I jumped on it. It's been better but neither of those 2 gm trucks can come close to the quality of the 3 dodges I've had/have. Craig

You're right. It must be luck of the draw. I bought a new GMC 1/2 ton in 1982; bought a used GMC 94 1/2 ton in 96 (that replaced the Dodge); bought a new 1/2 ton Silverado in 2004; bought a new 1/2 ton Silverado in 2006; and bought this 3/4 ton Duramax last November. All of those trucks except the 2004 (and of course the 2013) had well over 100,000 miles on them when I got rid of them and none of them were ever in the shop except for routine stuff.

Maybe they didn't give me any trouble because they were all 1/2 tons, but I promise they all earned their keep.

Before all that I had a 66 Biscayne, a 67 Pontiac LeMans, a 66 Chevelle, and a 69 Camaro. Never had a minute's trouble with any of them. I had a 66 Econoline van that was a piece of junk and my ex had an 85 Chrysler K car that was also a piece of junk. What it boils down to is each person's personal experiences and preferences.

Personally, I'm tickled pink people also buy Dodge and Ford. It keeps people working. My brother works for Chrysler and I have a bunch of friends working and retired from Chrysler.

Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. I used to be a bowtie fan and I bought a new 96 Dodge 360 gas auto cuz they were the only one w/o a tow restriction in OD. I had sh!t for luck with the 700r4 in my 91 chevy. My bro had a 92 chev 350/700r4 and we both pulled 5k lb RVs and he burnt up his tran trying to keep up with my Dodge. Then, my last 2 gm cars drove me nuts and broke with electronic problems. I've enjoyed all I can stand of gm's! I was driving a 92 3/4T 8.1 with 42k miles at work and it left me stranded 3 times and it couldn't stay out the shop. A 94 8.1 with 34k miles came up for grabs so I jumped on it. It's been better but neither of those 2 gm trucks can come close to the quality of the 3 dodges I've had/have. Craig

We just got back from a trip through central Kentucky down to Norris Lake in Tennessee pulling our TT. It's not a big camper, just under 6,000 lbs. loaded, but the truck in my signature performed flawlessly. In fact, I hardly knew it was there. My truck doesn't have all the bells and whistles an LTZ package has, but it's plenty comfortable.

I'm retired from GM and I've always owned either GMC or Chevy trucks except for a new 94 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 360 motor. It was a nice truck, except at that time Dodge couldn't touch GM's sound systems. I don't know how they are now. It got 12 mpg whether you drove with your foot in it or was coasting down hill.

All I ever pulled with it was a 10' utility trailer with two motorcycles from Indiana to Virginia and back. About a week after we got back the transmission went out of it. I kept the truck about another year and traded it for another GM.

That doesn't say anything about now, but I never considered Dodge again after that. But...being retired from GM, I'm biased. That being said, as far as diesels go I wouldn't think there's a big difference when it comes to towing.

C Schomer wrote:
What made you get the G56? Does your 13 take DEF? I gave up on underbuilt autos in TVs when I got my 97 CTD and it's been the best decision to this point. My 03 is still more truck than I need (til I retire) but I'm getting the itch for the new autos cuz they're light years ahead of the old ones. I'm also getting the itch for 4wd for off road camping so I'm resisting going near the dealers! Craig

Hi, my last 2 Ford diesels were manual transmissions and I really liked them. When we were looking around for a Ram we got really lucky and stumbled across this truck which was a fully loaded Laramie Megacab dually with the G56. As soon as I drove it I fell in love; the G56 is really easy to drive with the no throttle launch feature and is very smooth to shift.

Yes, my truck takes DEF but I really don't anticipate it to be much of an issue. The DEF tank was not full when I picked up the truck and at 1000 miles it still has 3/4 tank so it certainly does not seem to use much.

Yes I'm sure you would be very surprised if you drove one of the new ones! I went looking and, well, you see what happened to me!

What made you get the G56? Does your 13 take DEF? I gave up on underbuilt autos in TVs when I got my 97 CTD and it's been the best decision to this point. My 03 is still more truck than I need (til I retire) but I'm getting the itch for the new autos cuz they're light years ahead of the old ones. I'm also getting the itch for 4wd for off road camping so I'm resisting going near the dealers! Craig

I just bought the Ram in my signature a couple of months ago after owning Fords for the past 20 years. I can tell you that both my wife and I absolutely love the truck and are enjoying every minute of it. It is super quiet, powerful, and the most comfortable vehicle we have ever owned. It tows our 12,000 lb fifth wheel without effort both up and downhill and the exhaust brake is second to none. To top it off it is beautiful inside and out; I rarely go anywhere that I do not get someone asking me about it.

In our search for a newer truck, we drove 2 2007 model Ram dually trucks and I can tell you that the 2013 that we bought is a completely different truck; light years ahead of the 3rd generation truck. I truly think you owe it to yourself to look at the new Rams because I think you will be very surprised and impressed.

Just my 2 cents worth.

ksss wrote:

Bedlam wrote:

ksss wrote:
Well I am pretty closed minded. Unless something happens that changes my perception or negatively affects my checking account balance, I will continue to buy what I have bought before, and in this case its GM pickups. I have not been given a reason to look at buying anything else. Which makes me just one step above the Ford 6.0 guys that went back and bought another Ford.

Unless Ford and that 6.0 has been good to the owner...

Well ya there is that, but that is so remote as to not even be statistically viable, kinda like Big Foot, Unicorns and so forth.

Yup, that's me, a statistical anomaly. However, it does not mean Ford can work any less harder to get my next purchase.

rvert10 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
No! Dont tell me your running away from your Ram? Blasphemy!
Personally I think you will end up regretting such a decision. 20% more moving parts, higher RPM moving the load down the road that is all on top of such a genearic looking package

Donno: I value your opinion very much, but what I saw just knocked my socks off. There is nothing wrong with my Dodge its been a great vehicle. I just can't resist the temptation of new toys.

That's when I usually go to Home Depot, and buy a new grill, or power tool.

Bedlam wrote:

ksss wrote:
Well I am pretty closed minded. Unless something happens that changes my perception or negatively affects my checking account balance, I will continue to buy what I have bought before, and in this case its GM pickups. I have not been given a reason to look at buying anything else. Which makes me just one step above the Ford 6.0 guys that went back and bought another Ford.

Unless Ford and that 6.0 has been good to the owner...

Well ya there is that, but that is so remote as to not even be statistically viable, kinda like Big Foot, Unicorns and so forth.

rvert10 wrote:
I must be having mid-life crisis, but I saw a 201X Chevrolet 1 ton dually Diesel and I plan on investigating further on the specs and options.
What opinion do you all have on comfort, towing capacity, MPGS and reliability. All I need now is the gorgeous young gal, but my lotus blossom said that is not an option.

thank you

I assume you mean the new 2015's. I've had mine since May 1 and have about 1700 miles on it. It is very comfortable and is the quietest vehicle of any kind that I have ever owned. The new seats are quite a bit more firm than the previous model, which I like. This is my second Duramax, the last was a 2012 3500 srw, and the power and torque are unchanged but my very unscientific opinion is there seems to be a little more oomph to the new one. I have only towed our fiver about 200 miles but it did very well. Our Winslow weighs in at 15,500 with almost 3100 pounds of hitch weight so I am not pushing any weight limits. I averaged right at 11 mpg on the 200 mile trip and so far the best I have gotten empty on the highway is 19.5.

Mine has the forward collision alert and lane change warning system which I have learned to like. It sure lets you know if you drift out of your lane without using your turn signals. It will buzz the side of your seat on the side of your drift as a reminder to get your act together. The wife loves it since she doesn't have to issue her friendly reminders if I happen to stray. Based on my experience with our 2012 having no issues whatsoever, I am expecting the same with this one.