Let's open a can of worms...

downtheroad wrote:
Today while driving the interstate here in beautiful Northwest I noticed that all of the for hire drivers were pulling with a 3500 Duramax DRW.

The guys in beautiful Alabama had freight whereas the guys in the Northwest were looking to be hired.

spud1957 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I have been saying this for years and always get the "that's not what I see around here" comment. I just recently saw a very nice looking F450 car hauler in PalmSprings but that was the first one since leaving NW WA a couple months ago. Every single car/RV hauler this trip was a RAM.

RAM has always been #1 then ford then GM but in recent years the GM is behind RAM and the Fords are now WAY behind. These are independently owned haulers.

Heck they can't seem to find a Ford to haul to the ford dealers.

And of course you have a link/reference to these sales numbers to back this right?

I don't know how you would ever get a link or reference on who buys what truck for what use. You would certainly have to spend an awful lot time on the highways to ever come up with some kind of idea on this subject. A person goes and buys a truck, from there who knows what it will be used for.

It stands to reason the Cummins would be the most popular because of its reputation. The Ram it appears is becoming increasingly more popular .


Cummins, I could probably find some value in another one of your campground surveys, if it was not for so much biased on the Ram truck. I would find it very difficult to survey the opposite side of the freeway to what brand is towing what, little own being able to see if it was in reality a transport or just another guy towing a fifth wheel. To argue this is futile , without some stats, and campground surveys do not get it.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I have been saying this for years and always get the "that's not what I see around here" comment. I just recently saw a very nice looking F450 car hauler in PalmSprings but that was the first one since leaving NW WA a couple months ago. Every single car/RV hauler this trip was a RAM.

RAM has always been #1 then ford then GM but in recent years the GM is behind RAM and the Fords are now WAY behind. These are independently owned haulers.

Heck they can't seem to find a Ford to haul to the ford dealers.

And of course you have a link/reference to these sales numbers to back this right?

HD Pickup sales mid-year

Based on these numbers, it's just about mathematically impossible for Ram over Ford. And even less possible for GM to be ahead of Ford.

Again Mr. Cummins, I'll will recant my comments when you can prove your stats.

I have been saying this for years and always get the "that's not what I see around here" comment. I just recently saw a very nice looking F450 car hauler in PalmSprings but that was the first one since leaving NW WA a couple months ago. Every single car/RV hauler this trip was a RAM.

RAM has always been #1 then ford then GM but in recent years the GM is behind RAM and the Fords are now WAY behind. These are independently owned haulers.

Heck they can't seem to find a Ford to haul to the ford dealers.

eichacsj wrote:
Curious how much RAM offering a standard trans plays into it. Are they mostly automatics or standard tranny's. To me the driving force will be Cummins and standard trans.

I haven't seen the take rate on the manual lately, but when I last did see it, it was in the low single digit percentage.

I was very happy with my 03 standard transmission. But I don't miss it at all. It used to be that in order to get a HO engine, and a higher tow rating, you had to go with the manual. Now the opposite is true - the RAM with a manual transmission has a lower tow rating and is limited to 650 ft/lb of torque vs the 900 with the Aisin.

My guess is very few of the HotShots run a standard tranny.

Curious how much RAM offering a standard trans plays into it. Are they mostly automatics or standard tranny's. To me the driving force will be Cummins and standard trans.

Google Says:
LISTED BY STATE

When I lived in Texas in the 60s and 70s I saw alot of F150 trucks... We would drive with both hands on top of the steering wheel and would wave at everyone we passed with one hand...

Roy Ken

Must be a Big Bam thing. Is not that way in IL. :h

Adam R wrote:


For a pure work truck, I'd probably consider a Ram if I was hauling stuff. For a daily driver, I'd prefer a Ford for the comfort, smoothness, ride and power. It has more bells and whistles, but some of them are really nice.

For the HOTSHOTS, their work truck is the daily driver. They look for the best of ALL worlds. Dependable enough for the job, comfortable enough to make the job worth doing. Anyone who spends 11 hours a day driving, will not give up one for the other. Bells & Whistles do NOT make your butt comfortable. Functionability, durability, and comfort must all work hand in hand.

OP must be seeing the guys/gals who found that RAM provides what they look for.

Halmfamily wrote:
...............I even talked with gentleman a month or so back who was also hauling with a Ram 3500 DRW and said he loved his truck but also commented how he would love to have a GMC like mine.

So, why is it they all seem to use RAM 3500 DRW? ..................
Just curious.................

So why didn't you ask him why he was hauling with a Ram 3500 DRW instead of the GMC he would love to have? :R

Unless you get the answer for the haulers themselves, all you get from posters on this site is all speculation.