Only ford in the lot

[57_Panhead]

As I sit here in Goshen IN waiting for Jayco to fix our fiver Jayco is putting me up for the week. The motel I'm in is where many RV haulers stay when they are laying over here. What I noticed today surprised me, most of the pickups used by the haulers are Ram pickups with a few GMCs and Chevys. Only a couple of Fords here tonight. (One of them being mine) Seems to me that ford has done a pretty good job of ruining their name in the RV hauler industry.

Steve

[6_7_tow_rig]

Golden_HVAC wrote:

6.7 tow rig wrote:
I was a Ford guy through and through until I bought that POS 6.4. It was just too unreliable and the thought of driving it without warranty was too scary. I still love Ford gas engines and wouldnt ever hesitate to buy one, but they will never get my business with their diesel. In what planet was it ever a good design idea to require the removal of the cab for engine work. This is still the reason no matter how good the 6.7 Ford is, I will never buy it.

Even Ford stopped buying the POS INternational engines.

So what is the big problem with lifting the cab off the truck, takes only a hour or so to give wonderful access to the engine, saving more than an hour time while servicing the systems. Makes it really easy on the mechanic's back too.

Many new cars it is really easy to drop the whole engine and transmission from below.










The big deal is the average do it yourselfer mechanic can't fix his own truck anymore because they don't have a lift in their garage. Plus when mine was worked on it was four hours off four hours on for a total of $720.00 before the problem was even addressed. Yeah that's a stupid design.

There is even a 1950's delivery van that was designed around the engine, and it's ability to remove the the entire engine, front sub-frame, and transmission in about 15 minutes. So if the delivery van was loaded, it took less time to change out a power unit and get the van on the road than it would take to replace a defective battery.

It's to bad that Ford had such a un-reliable engine that it become necasary to find a quick and easy way to repair the engines. Now that has changed.

Fred.

[Vulcaneer]

Sounds to me like Fords are making big gains. So the Ford guys will say their growth rate among Hotshotters is class leading.

See this thread where NO fords were seen in the Hotel parking lot. No there are two. That thread was only a couple months ago.

Just for curiosity, I wonder how many of the trucks you see are 2011 and newer. When I was in that area I saw no hotshotters that had a truck newer than 2010. Or older than 2006. Who in the business would own a Ford diesel in those model years? A 6.0 or 6.4L? OK there might have been some. But they probably are not in business today. Can't handle the expenses, and downtime.

Think about it.

While you are there try the Rise N' Shine bakery. You're only a couple miles away. On the way to Shipshewanna. Pastry's to die for.

[Tvov]

I'm not really surprised at the original post. When we first started tent camping at RV parks about 15 years ago, easily 3/4 of the trucks were Fords (back in the 7.3 days). Asking around, everyone seemed to prefer Ford for pulling campers. The last 5 years or so Chevy and Dodge are starting to out number Ford.

Ford absolutely blew their reputation with how they responded (or more importantly, didn't respond) to problems with the newer diesels. I am not sure what they should have done, except that they should have done something different.

[transamz9]

Golden_HVAC wrote:

6.7 tow rig wrote:
I was a Ford guy through and through until I bought that POS 6.4. It was just too unreliable and the thought of driving it without warranty was too scary. I still love Ford gas engines and wouldnt ever hesitate to buy one, but they will never get my business with their diesel. In what planet was it ever a good design idea to require the removal of the cab for engine work. This is still the reason no matter how good the 6.7 Ford is, I will never buy it.

Even Ford stopped buying the POS INternational engines.

So what is the big problem with lifting the cab off the truck, takes only a hour or so to give wonderful access to the engine, saving more than an hour time while servicing the systems. Makes it really easy on the mechanic's back too.

Many new cars it is really easy to drop the whole engine and transmission from below.

There is even a 1950's delivery van that was designed around the engine, and it's ability to remove the the entire engine, front sub-frame, and transmission in about 15 minutes. So if the delivery van was loaded, it took less time to change out a power unit and get the van on the road than it would take to replace a defective battery.

It's to bad that Ford had such a un-reliable engine that it become necasary to find a quick and easy way to repair the engines. Now that has changed.

Fred.

The problem with removing the cab is that you open up a lot of un-needed potential of other problems like loose wiring, connectors, A/C problems, brake problems and so on. Just to do a little engine work.

[whsk]

I bought the ram for the CUMMINS!-I will take a shot of blue koolaid and take cover now!-whsk

[greenenvy1]

45Ricochet wrote:
LOL
Back in the 6.0 days they just flat out wouldn't hire one. It didn't get any better in the 6.4 days either :B
Yes I agree, keep a daily log for all of us. It's noteworthy what the pro's run.
Maybe the average year of the TV would be nice also. Just my gut feeling..... but I bet you see a TON of 2002-2007 5.9 Cummins Ram DRW TV :R

On edit before I'm flamed HERE IS A HOT SHOT SITE

YMMV

You are 100% correct. 3rd gen Ram is by far the most common truck used in this industry. I run an 03 and see so many I lose count. Relatively cheap, easy to repair, and reliable. Also see a lot od 2000-2002s still hauling RVs.

[Cummins12V98]

I have noticed this for years.

Ram has always been #1

Ford used to be #2 now GM is #2 with Ford far behind.

Same with the RV parks where full timers stay.

[Golden_HVAC]

6.7 tow rig wrote:
I was a Ford guy through and through until I bought that POS 6.4. It was just too unreliable and the thought of driving it without warranty was too scary. I still love Ford gas engines and wouldnt ever hesitate to buy one, but they will never get my business with their diesel. In what planet was it ever a good design idea to require the removal of the cab for engine work. This is still the reason no matter how good the 6.7 Ford is, I will never buy it.

Even Ford stopped buying the POS INternational engines.

So what is the big problem with lifting the cab off the truck, takes only a hour or so to give wonderful access to the engine, saving more than an hour time while servicing the systems. Makes it really easy on the mechanic's back too.

Many new cars it is really easy to drop the whole engine and transmission from below.

There is even a 1950's delivery van that was designed around the engine, and it's ability to remove the the entire engine, front sub-frame, and transmission in about 15 minutes. So if the delivery van was loaded, it took less time to change out a power unit and get the van on the road than it would take to replace a defective battery.

It's to bad that Ford had such a un-reliable engine that it become necasary to find a quick and easy way to repair the engines. Now that has changed.

Fred.

[rhagfo]

6.7 tow rig wrote:
I was a Ford guy through and through until I bought that POS 6.4. It was just too unreliable and the thought of driving it without warranty was too scary. I still love Ford gas engines and wouldnt ever hesitate to buy one, but they will never get my business with their diesel. In what planet was it ever a good design idea to require the removal of the cab for engine work. This is still the reason no matter how good the 6.7 Ford is, I will never buy it.

X2

I skipped the 6.0/6.4 and went straight to Ram/Cummins. I was a little worried about the Ram, not the Cummins. The Ram has proven to be a good truck for me.

[45Ricochet]

LOL
Back in the 6.0 days they just flat out wouldn't hire one. It didn't get any better in the 6.4 days either :B
Yes I agree, keep a daily log for all of us. It's noteworthy what the pro's run.
Maybe the average year of the TV would be nice also. Just my gut feeling..... but I bet you see a TON of 2002-2007 5.9 Cummins Ram DRW TV :R

On edit before I'm flamed HERE IS A HOT SHOT SITE

YMMV

[BB_TX]

Seems to be very regional. In this area Ford far outnumbers the other 2, especially in the 250/2500 and 350/3500.
And as mentioned above, check regularly. There are days when I see more GMs and/or Rams on the road and you may get the impression they may be the leader, but over the long haul there will be far more Fords seen in this area.

[Davidlatham2012]

dodge, chevy, ford...all have service bays at the dealerships!!!

[6_7_tow_rig]

I was a Ford guy through and through until I bought that POS 6.4. It was just too unreliable and the thought of driving it without warranty was too scary. I still love Ford gas engines and wouldnt ever hesitate to buy one, but they will never get my business with their diesel. In what planet was it ever a good design idea to require the removal of the cab for engine work. This is still the reason no matter how good the 6.7 Ford is, I will never buy it.

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

Since you are there for a week, take inventory each day and report back please !!

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

GM duramax and cummins have proved to be less likely of leaving you on side of the road. Don't have to take the body off those trucks to work on them !! still see plenty of fords considering !