Ram dually vs Ford dually Frame Flex Comparison

I heard noise and saw bed flex, also the tailgate wasn't working with the Ford at the extreme angle.

Dodge seemed fine.

If I was buying....I would go with the Dodge, after seeing that test.

One thing I noticed about the new stiff hydroformed chassis when going form my '95, '98 and '01 C channel Cummins powered 2500HD's and my '03 and '05 Hydroformed Chassis rams is that the ultra hard chassis resonates vibrations more like a tuning fork. That's when all these vibration dampeners started showing up at various locations on the chassis and hydraulic cab mounts came to be trying to quiet it back down. The thick heavy C channel chassis on my F250 feels heavy and less jittery. Unless I start driving over offset ramps as part of our traveling and camping adventures, I don't look forward to when Ford opts for the cheaper to manufacture hydroformed chassis. Like HFCS verses cane sugar, it's not about being better. It's about being cheaper.

rtz549 wrote:
I'd like to see the test done again with a 4,000+ lb truck camper in the bed.

Maybe, maybe not.

Looks like he could have used a bit of that "Ford Frame Flex" now known as "FFF".

Adam R wrote:
Has anyone noticed that the 4500 and 5500 Ram's use an open C channel just like the Superduty's do?

Must work just fine for heavy duty applications for both companies, just like it does for the OTR industry.

After seeing how well my Toyota boxed frame does when it comes to rusting from the inside out, I wouldn't mind have a proven C channel frame that has worked for 5 million plus Fords.

Haven't noticed that. Good point!

rtz549 wrote:
I'd like to see the test done again with a 4,000+ lb truck camper in the bed.

Here ya go, only its a 5k Truck Camper. Scroll down the page to the 13th and 14th pictures. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26168392.cfm

Has anyone noticed that the 4500 and 5500 Ram's use an open C channel just like the Superduty's do?

Must work just fine for heavy duty applications for both companies, just like it does for the OTR industry.

After seeing how well my Toyota boxed frame does when it comes to rusting from the inside out, I wouldn't mind have a proven C channel frame that has worked for 5 million plus Fords.

spoon059 wrote:

BenK wrote:
Pure 'good' pavement rigs will never need a stiff frame, nor will their owners
ever understand why

Yet because the Tundra frame isn't as rigid, some (I think even you Ben, though not 100% sure) remark that it is pure junk.

First, I'm a foreign badge person. Detroit lost me in the late 60's and
early 70's..for cars

Was a die-hard Detroit iron teen (first Ford, then Dodge, then Chevy)
Wrenched buddies from middle school through college. Dad got mad at the
mess out on the driveway and that convinced him to allow me to build a
three car, cinder block garage out back with a 12 foot, 10 Ga steel topped
work bench for heavy stuff. An one ton over head hoist. 220 service for
the welders and a 100 amp service (now updated to 200 amp) when still
in high school

Toss up between beautiful Kathy Wilson and her mom's Morgan. Wrenched
it and her dad's buddies soon took their Jag's, Vette's, MG's, Triumph's, etc
for me to fix

That was junior year and the clincher was when I bought my first car,
a well used 64' MGB and that Detroit iron was stuck in the past with
their offerings...shoulder belted and could NOT reach anything.

Loved my Toyota FJ40, but engaged and she didn't like it, nor could
drive a clutch...should'a tossed her and kept the FJ40...she is now
the 'ex'...and miss the FJ40 to this day...

Datsun is my fav and would own a Nissan truck if they made a +8K GVWR
that met my likings. Why been saying the Big Three has left the door
wide open to have their lunches eaten, again, by foreign badges.

Meaning when foreign badges comes out with decent, full sized +8K GVWR
trucks and SUVs...Detroit will have their lunches eaten again...

The WWII Jeep had lots of frame flex. The FJ40 and K5 did NOT. Had to
weld the frame of the Jeep in about 10 spots because the flexing cracked
the flanges

Innately understood why and filled in the missing data points in college
strength of materials, processes, etc classes

It really boils down to how you drive, how you have setup your rig,
where you drive and a host of other attributes

As for seeing utility trucks, police, fire, municipality, government, etc
with XYZ badge...note that they typically purchase the low bidder and/or
the OEM which gives them the best deal. Not always price either

Similar to seeing lots of semi's parked in a drive-in...must be really
good...not necessarily so...just maybe it is the easiest to park and/or
get into and out of

On that, note that I detest being part of any herd...especially if it
is driven by the fashion statement crowd...I'll take spec/performance
over looks...although looks is important 'enough' to me too

Cummins12V98 wrote:
It shows a stark difference between a modern frame design and one that dates back to 1999. I will bet the F350 will perform exactly as the RAM when they update their dated frame.

Kinda like the new Power Stroke compared to that old Cummins tractor engine. (Gale Banks said that not me!)

Fact is I only see F350, F450, F550 utility trucks working in the ditches or contruction sites and very rare do I see a Chevy or RAM with their high tech frames. :R

It shows a stark difference between a modern frame design and one that dates back to 1999. I will bet the F350 will perform exactly as the RAM when they update their dated frame.