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Ford versus Dodge truck for towing 40 foot 5th wheel

emscopter
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2009 F250 right now and we just purchased a 2012 40 foot Alpine fifth wheel. I am wondering if we should get a dually truck and if we should go with a Ford or Dodge. I have had real good luck with this Ford except we had to replace the transmission due to putting on a tuner which I was told made the transmission go out faster. My truck has 86,000 miles on it. We are looking at getting a fairly new used one. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.
96 REPLIES 96

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Water-Bug wrote:
All the OP has to do is take a short drive from Illinois to the Elkhart, Indiana area, and see what the drivers that deliver 5ers for a living are driving. At the motel where I stayed , 17 out of 20 were RAM Cummins duallys, 2 were Chevy DuraMax duallys and one was a Ford.


I have been saying that for years. Used to be Ford #2 and GM #3.

Same goes with full time RVers.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Me Again wrote:
Dashboard cracks is a great argument why Dodges are a POS! I guess when mine cracks I should junk it rather than spend a few hundred for a new dash. But in twelve and a half years I see no sign off cracks.

Next problem! Chris


Mine is 16 years old and not one crack!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

FishOnOne
Nomad
Nomad
Water-Bug wrote:
All the OP has to do is take a short drive from Illinois to the Elkhart, Indiana area, and see what the drivers that deliver 5ers for a living are driving. At the motel where I stayed , 17 out of 20 were RAM Cummins duallys, 2 were Chevy DuraMax duallys and one was a Ford.


I live just down the road from Holiday World and Camper World and I see 2:1 Ford and RAM trucks towing trailers in and out of these facilities. I'm sure this activity is a combination of customers and delivery trucks.

In addition in the last two years I noticed the oil field equipment companies are now mostly using Ford F350's for pulling serious oil field equipment on goosenecks down to south Texas. The oil business is south Texas is on! :B

Also there are hot shotters that are getting in on the oil field business right now, and I agree these guys mostly ran Dodge trucks with manual tranny's for years, but again since the new Fords are getting better fuel mileage with auto tranny's there has been more and more Fords now popping up in this industry as well.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"

FishOnOne
Nomad
Nomad
rhagfo wrote:
45Ricochet wrote:
Me Again wrote:
Dashboard cracks is a great argument why Dodges are a POS! I guess when my cracks I should junk it rather than spend a few hundred for a new dash. But in twelve and a half years I see no sign off cracks.

Next problem! Chris


Lets discuss "Block 53" for Larry or the early version of the VP 44 pump way back in 2001. Didn't mean to interrupt your " I Love Lucy " shows Larry :W


Let's discuss, Cummins replaced many of the cracked 53 blocks, and gave assistance to many after normal warranty period.

VP$$, issues were more poor lift pump design, and low primary pressure, upgraded Lift Pump prevents most failures, you still didn't blow an engine, and even dealer repair was only about $3,000. If you can turn a wrench, a good rebuilt IP can be purchased for about $1,000.

The real issue with the Ram pickup, I need to shell out about $165 to have the drives seat cushion and cloth side panel replaced, at a measly 268,000 miles, still in better shape than my old Ford F250 at 148,000 miles. Maybe I should file a claim with Chrysler for defective materials! :B


Perhaps you should :W Just last year I had to cut a check to replace the drivers seat for a 05 Dodge because the frame/rear seat tilt broke and yes the seat material was looking kind of bad with a little over 120k miles. The same type of work is done with a 02 Super Duty for all it's life and it has all original seats and materials. :W

Do to other needed repairs that I'm aware of (cracked exhaust manifold and 4x4 doesn't work) the truck will most likely be sold and we're actively looking for another used truck to replace it just after a little over a year of purchasing this truck which has been very disappointing. As matter of fact this Dodge replaced an '89 Ford diesel that I thought was junk, it needed the dashboard screws tighten every year to keep the dashboard intack, but the Dodge will go down as a lesson learned.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"

45Ricochet
Explorer
Explorer
Water-Bug wrote:
All the OP has to do is take a short drive from Illinois to the Elkhart, Indiana area, and see what the drivers that deliver 5ers for a living are driving. At the motel where I stayed , 17 out of 20 were RAM Cummins duallys, 2 were Chevy DuraMax duallys and one was a Ford.


:B Let's not mix in fact's here buddy. And what, no 2500's :W
2015 Tiffin Phaeton Cummins ISL, Allison 3000, 45K GCWR
10KW Onan, Magnum Pure Sine Wave Inverter
2015 GMC Canyon Toad

Previous camping rig
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
06 Grand Junction 15500 GVWR 3200 pin

Me_Again
Explorer III
Explorer III
Water-Bug wrote:
All the OP has to do is take a short drive from Illinois to the Elkhart, Indiana area, and see what the drivers that deliver 5ers for a living are driving. At the motel where I stayed , 17 out of 20 were RAM Cummins duallys, 2 were Chevy DuraMax duallys and one was a Ford.


Their was a group of other owners staying their also, however their trucks were down the street at the blue oval service department. Chris
2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021

Water-Bug
Explorer
Explorer
All the OP has to do is take a short drive from Illinois to the Elkhart, Indiana area, and see what the drivers that deliver 5ers for a living are driving. At the motel where I stayed , 17 out of 20 were RAM Cummins duallys, 2 were Chevy DuraMax duallys and one was a Ford.

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
45Ricochet wrote:
Me Again wrote:
Dashboard cracks is a great argument why Dodges are a POS! I guess when my cracks I should junk it rather than spend a few hundred for a new dash. But in twelve and a half years I see no sign off cracks.

Next problem! Chris


Lets discuss "Block 53" for Larry or the early version of the VP 44 pump way back in 2001. Didn't mean to interrupt your " I Love Lucy " shows Larry :W


Let's discuss, Cummins replaced many of the cracked 53 blocks, and gave assistance to many after normal warranty period.

VP$$, issues were more poor lift pump design, and low primary pressure, upgraded Lift Pump prevents most failures, you still didn't blow an engine, and even dealer repair was only about $3,000. If you can turn a wrench, a good rebuilt IP can be purchased for about $1,000.

The real issue with the Ram pickup, I need to shell out about $165 to have the drives seat cushion and cloth side panel replaced, at a measly 268,000 miles, still in better shape than my old Ford F250 at 148,000 miles. Maybe I should file a claim with Chrysler for defective materials! :B
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

45Ricochet
Explorer
Explorer
Me Again wrote:
Dashboard cracks is a great argument why Dodges are a POS! I guess when my cracks I should junk it rather than spend a few hundred for a new dash. But in twelve and a half years I see no sign off cracks.

Next problem! Chris


Lets discuss "Block 53" for Larry or the early version of the VP 44 pump way back in 2001. Didn't mean to interrupt your " I Love Lucy " shows Larry :W
2015 Tiffin Phaeton Cummins ISL, Allison 3000, 45K GCWR
10KW Onan, Magnum Pure Sine Wave Inverter
2015 GMC Canyon Toad

Previous camping rig
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
06 Grand Junction 15500 GVWR 3200 pin

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
larry barnhart wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
biljo99 wrote:
I should get one of those Dodge RAM trucks with all that pulling power.


Yes you should as Ford needs to put a F450 up to a Ram 3500 and still gets beat! I gave up the Blue Kool Aid three years ago never have never regretted it!


If the Ram can carry and pull what is listed for them maybe it isn't a one ton anymore.

chevman


Maybe Ram just redefined the 3500/350 load range, and towing capacity. I think for years, they under rated their trucks.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

Me_Again
Explorer III
Explorer III
Dashboard cracks is a great argument why Dodges are a POS! I guess when mine cracks I should junk it rather than spend a few hundred for a new dash. But in twelve and a half years I see no sign off cracks.

Next problem! Chris
2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Explorer
rhagfo wrote:
biljo99 wrote:
I should get one of those Dodge RAM trucks with all that pulling power.


Yes you should as Ford needs to put a F450 up to a Ram 3500 and still gets beat! I gave up the Blue Kool Aid three years ago never have never regretted it!


If the Ram can carry and pull what is listed for them maybe it isn't a one ton anymore.

chevman
chevman
2019 rockwood 34 ft fifth wheel sold
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy



KSH 55 inbed fuel tank

scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
TST tire monitors
FMCA # F479110

45Ricochet
Explorer
Explorer
I think they corrected the problem dash by 2006. Not sure though cause my dashmatt has never been off since 06 :B
2015 Tiffin Phaeton Cummins ISL, Allison 3000, 45K GCWR
10KW Onan, Magnum Pure Sine Wave Inverter
2015 GMC Canyon Toad

Previous camping rig
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
06 Grand Junction 15500 GVWR 3200 pin

hbensley
Explorer
Explorer
rhagfo wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
bigcitypopo wrote:
Does anyone tow with the short bed CTD... I've always wondered how that truck handled. I love the power plant.

If I could put a Cummins in a ford shell with an Allison or aisin trans and a ford rear end.... Man! That'd be a great rig


Well 268,000, and no rattles, truck is still solid, not new by any means. Pulls our 32 footer just fine.
The 2013, Ram was winner of King of the Hill, just because the Cummins is a six, doesn't mean it can't pull a load. Ram has gotten a bad wrap for years. I was a Ford man for years, but next truck will be a Ram Cummins.


Ahhhh yeah.... Dodge Dashboard Cracks :R


Well. Cracked dash is a whole lot cheaper and easier to repair than a blown engine.

If that post is current the truck is Seven years old about four years beyond a manufacture warranty.


I had an 06 with the dashmatt to cover it when I lived in Florida.It never cracked on my truck.
Hank Bensley
2014 Voltage 3895 Toy Hauler
2014 RAM 3500 Mega Cab 4X4 Dually AISIN 4:10 gears
2012 Screamin Eagle Street Glide

hbensley@yahoo.com