GM, Ford or Dodge?

[Hotel_Californi]

Need to upgrade our 2004 Duramax to better tow our new, heavier fifth wheel. Want a one ton, dually, diesel, long bed, 4x4, crew cab with most available options. It would be a 2014 Dodge or Ford or a 2015 GM.

Have any of you gone through this comparison recently and objectively?

Prices (via Costco auto buying program) are all almost identical...dealer cost in all cases, which amounts to about $5,000 off MSRP.

What were the deciding factors in your choice?

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

having just returned to Michigan from Florida - I can't compare the brands, but I sure like the comfy ride, QUIETNESS, power, and "intuitiveness" of our 2011 F-350. It's only 2-wheel drive, but has traction control and anti-yaw safety features built in - we drove through that icy mess in north GA on Tuesday, pulling our #10k trailer and the wheels only briefly slipped a couple of times. Gets 12-13 mpg towing; and up to 22 mpg cruising down the highway without the trailer.

IMO, you need to test drive all 3?

[Boxer_Lovers]

The Cummins engine is hard to beat. I had mechanical and quality control issues with my 2011 Chevy 3500 DRW. Traded for a RAM. 18000 miles and no issues.

Really like it's handling under a good load and it offers better fuel economy.

Also like the colors, trim, and fit compared to Chevy.

[dballentine]

rhagfo wrote:

Hotel California wrote:
Can't forget 4x4. Only have used ours 5 times or so in 10 years, but would have had big problems without it!

X2 to that! I think of it as cheap insurance! There when you need it! Once again personal choice.

X3! At least in the Chevy 3500, 4x4 reduces the maximum 5th wheel weight by only 300 lbs.

[Veebyes]

Can I have a Cummins with an Allison tranny, Chevy ride & maybe Ford interior?
2WD dually would be fine since I am a summer driver & always carry a tow rope so that some big bad guy with his 4X4 can tow me out should I get stuck once every 100,000 miles or so.

[rhagfo]

Hotel California wrote:
Can't forget 4x4. Only have used ours 5 times or so in 10 years, but would have had big problems without it!

X2 to that! I think of it as cheap insurance! There when you need it! Once again personal choice.

[Hotel_Californi]

Can't forget 4x4. Only have used ours 5 times or so in 10 years, but would have had big problems without it!

[mikeh449]

forget 4x4

[mpierce]

At the moment, RAM is at the towing heap top. But, very close. ALL will do fine. I love the Cummins, heaviest duty motor out there, and if you back it up with the Aisin, you will have the heaviest duty tranny too. RAM really upped their game. But, all of them will do fine too.

[ianmac23]

I would look at the ride of the truck, the payload capacity, and I would join the forums like http://www.duramaxforum.com/ and ask what the MPG's people get when towing. I really like the new Sierra's. If I were to get one tomorrow that is what I would get.

[Me_Again]

Dodge with Aisin Transmission option. Fifth wheel/goose neck bed prep. The other two have the not so good Bosch CP4.2 injection pump.

You pick the trim level!

Chris

[YnotTurbo]

Let me make some popcorn for this thread. It will be fun to watch. Go with the Cummins... See what my Cummins tows....