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?

[bmanning]

Are the 2015 GM HDs out yet?

If they are, drive all 3 and decide.

If they aren't, when they become available, drive all 3 then decide.

Unless a brand cheerleader is buying the truck for you, it's your money and you should buy the one you like.

IMO it's kind of a win/win/win. They are all really, really nice trucks.

[rhagfo]

DannyA wrote:
Just look around a campground and I think you will see Ford more than 2 to 1. There must be a reason!
I was looking for a truck and decided to see what others had bought. I quickly found that it was Ford.
Just my thoughts.

Well just because they are popular, doesn't mean they are the best!

Last King of the Hill Ford needed to use the F450 to match the Ram 3500, and it still lost!

Ram/Dodge never re-branded the Cummins, very proud the the engine choice they made and worked out in the 80's.
I went from Ford to Dodge/Ram after 45 years, next truck will be another RAM, just need to wear this one first! Currently only at 268,000 may be several more years!!

[parkersdad]

I have a Hemi three-quarter ton Dodge and I love it. Mine is the 2013 model. I drove all of the Big three and to me Ram makes a better truck than anyone right now. Just my two cents

[Me_Again]

That is the problem, those 2600's were real oddball rigs. Not very many were made! And 'yuor' local dealer is a real problem to boot! Chris

[larry_barnhart]

lly-zf6 wrote:
Just remember that any of them are only as good as yuor local dealer.

After GM ran our local dealer into bankrupcy, I was forced to go to the next closest dealer to buy my current '11 Chevy 2600 D/A. The ownership experience has been such a nightmare that I've already replaced both my wife and daughters cars with other brands. The truck is next.

the reason for us buying GM products. The service better than our local Chrysler and ford dealer or maybe because we had lots of problems from both of them for repairs. Now time has gone by and it could be better if I was to try a different brand.

chevman

[lly-zf6]

Just remember that any of them are only as good as yuor local dealer.

After GM ran our local dealer into bankrupcy, I was forced to go to the next closest dealer to buy my current '11 Chevy 2600 D/A. The ownership experience has been such a nightmare that I've already replaced both my wife and daughters cars with other brands. The truck is next.

[jerem0621]

Go 4x4..... I was a hard nose 2wd guy. Till I got my 2wd Dually. And got stuck in the grass in my yard!!

[ricatic]

DannyA wrote:
Just look around a campground and I think you will see Ford more than 2 to 1. There must be a reason!
I was looking for a truck and decided to see what others had bought. I quickly found that it was Ford.
Just my thoughts.

...so does that mean that McDonalds sells the best hamburgers:B

On another note, my brother delivers trailers as a supplement to his income. He has been a Ford devotee all his life...he is as bad a Blue KoolAid drinker as I used to be...just last week we were at my mom's for a birthday. The talk inevitably turned to trucks. I was shocked when he said that he had to admit that after two years of running trailers and talking with Ram owner operators, he admitted that he understood why the Ram Cummins trucks were far and away the most popular trucks among the guy's that really work them...and his dispatch depot parking lot was most prominently populated with Ram/Cummins trucks...

After owning a POS 6.7 Ford, I would only advise that one goes Ram or GM...My stepson is driving a 2015 GM 3500 Dually DuraMax Extended Cab 4x4 at work right now...and he is quite happy with the truck...

Regards

[GBuilders]

All three would tow your rig very comfortably. I like the looks and interior of the Ford and Dodge over the GM's. I haven't really seen the 2015 GM though but I hear it's really nice. I test drove a 2013 Dodge MC dully with the Aisin tranny in the Laramie trim last week and wow what a truck. I'm comparing it to my 07 Dodge MC which I love but night and day difference. The sticker on that truck was $64K which is crazy but all three will be around that price. To me the Cummins/Aisin is the best on the market today but I would test drive all three and go from there. $5000 off MSRP is too high priced. You can do better then that.

[N-Trouble]

DannyA wrote:
Just look around a campground and I think you will see Ford more than 2 to 1. There must be a reason!
I was looking for a truck and decided to see what others had bought. I quickly found that it was Ford.
Just my thoughts.

Just because more people drive them does not mean they are any better...

I have had several friends burned by Ford diesels and just could not bring myself to buy one after hearing their experiences. Been very happy with my 2012 Duramax.

All have their positives and negatives. Buyers just need to make a list of whats important to them in a tow truck and go from there.

[Alley_Fox]

Veebyes wrote:
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.

The new Fiat trucks with the Cummins motor and Aisin trans are hard to beat, if I were buying today that's what I'd get. Allison was top of the heap in the mid 2000s but Dodge finally got tired of repairing junk automatic transmissions and fixed the issue. They are all good, some are better. I would opt for 4wd, if you have ever gotten stuck on slippery grass while trying to maneuver into a remote spot, you'll be glad. Besides, I use my truck a lot in the winter, pickup trucks don't get good traction on slippery streets.

[YnotTurbo]

Get the Dodge and don't look back. The Ram 3500 just beat the F450 in the tow test...

[DannyA]

Just look around a campground and I think you will see Ford more than 2 to 1. There must be a reason!
I was looking for a truck and decided to see what others had bought. I quickly found that it was Ford.
Just my thoughts.

[Me_Again]

Veebyes wrote:
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.

Why would you want to downgrade from the Aisin transmission to a Allison 1000? Maybe a 3000 Ally, but the 1000 was built for lighter duty service. The Aisin is a medium duty truck transmission. Chris

[ScottG]

Veebyes wrote:
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.

You haven't looked at new truck recently have you!
You don't wan't the Ally behind a Cummins. Both the Ford and Ram have better trans - they just don't have a "name". But they're both stronger and more positive shifting and use much more modern technology.
Interiors and suspensions have changed a lot too.