Ram 3500 max tow vs F450

[ib516]

This will be an interesting report to read.

King of Beasts on the Road

"Our two tow testers for this run are a 2013 Ford F-450 Super Duty Platinum edition and 2013 Ram 3500 HD Laramie Longhorn edition, each with the maximum tow packages. We'll be hauling some heavy loads with our specially made Load Max flatbed air suspended gooseneck trailers, each capable of hauling 28,000 pounds."

[BigToe]

The following quote caught my eye:

The Mad Norsky wrote:
"One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes."

I don't think the Ford is unique from any of the competition on this count. All vehicles work best when starting down hill in a lower speed. Physics dictates that the Ford is no different than a Volkswagon in that regard.

Starting down a hill slow and in low gear helps save the brakes regardless of vehicle brand or transmission type... whether with stick shift or with fancy electronic shift strategies.

[Travlingman]

The Mad Norsky wrote:

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.

Mine does a great job in the mountains too. Put in 3rd and it holds below 55 MPH with no problem. Came through Sams Gap last week with 14.5K fiver, had to give a little throttle coming down into Tenn. as it slowed to much for me. Most don't realize that you have to get the RPM's over 3000 for the turbo brake to kick in. Next time towing watch you boost gage, and you can see the boost go up once it hits 3000.

[NC_Hauler]

Alright Larry........:B

[larry_barnhart]

NC Hauler wrote:

The Mad Norsky wrote:

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.

I've done the same thing that you have for years when traveling roads that I'm familiar with. I top the mountain at a slower speed when heading down.

Something else I've done since I've owned the Ram trucks, and it does work VERY well, is when I get to the top of a mountain and head down, I'm in cruise control, in T/H of course, with the EB on...the Ram trucks really hold back my 16,000# 5er, it's RARE I have to touch the brake....if not in cruise, I actually have to give throttle to speed up...Now with the 2013, you have 2 Settings with the EB and I have noticed that "Setting 1" where icon is "orange" in color seems to me to be more aggressive than was on my 10' or 12' Ram( they only had one setting)...second Setting, icon turns a green color and underneath say's "auto"...less aggressive and used more when one is in cruise control, haven't tried this new truck towing, but with the Aisin tranny and what seems to me to be an even better EB than was in the 10 and 12', the 10 was great to tow with, the 12 was a little better, I can only imagine the 13' will be even better ..

Plus NC knows the exact day the 2014 model will be on the market.

chevman;)

[NC_Hauler]

The Mad Norsky wrote:

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.

I've done the same thing that you have for years when traveling roads that I'm familiar with. I top the mountain at a slower speed when heading down.

Something else I've done since I've owned the Ram trucks, and it does work VERY well, is when I get to the top of a mountain and head down, I'm in cruise control, in T/H of course, with the EB on...the Ram trucks really hold back my 16,000# 5er, it's RARE I have to touch the brake....if not in cruise, I actually have to give throttle to speed up...Now with the 2013, you have 2 Settings with the EB and I have noticed that "Setting 1" where icon is "orange" in color seems to me to be more aggressive than was on my 10' or 12' Ram( they only had one setting)...second Setting, icon turns a green color and underneath say's "auto"...less aggressive and used more when one is in cruise control, haven't tried this new truck towing, but with the Aisin tranny and what seems to me to be an even better EB than was in the 10 and 12', the 10 was great to tow with, the 12 was a little better, I can only imagine the 13' will be even better ..

[The_Mad_Norsky]

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.

[gmcsmoke]

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

[buc1980]

I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

[Stefonius]

carringb wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
Is this Ford the one you have to remove the mounts and Jack up the cab to change a turbo?

None of the Fords require this. But it is an option that can save time for some repairs.

I don't know about the 2013 Fords, but on my 2003 F450 most of the major engine service procedures begin with "Step One: Remove Cab".

[carringb]

06Fargo wrote:
Is this Ford the one you have to remove the mounts and Jack up the cab to change a turbo?

None of the Fords require this. But it is an option that can save time for some repairs.

[noteven]

Is this Ford the one you have to remove the mounts and Jack up the cab to change a turbo?

[Cummins12V98]

The Ford will make it to the top sooner (lower gear ratio) and the Ford will make it to the bottom sooner (poor exhaust brake).

These tests are a joke because they never seem to have trucks equally outfitted.

[Cummins12V98]

I find it interesting that Ram has really stepped it up and they are not doing a apples to apples test this model year with equally equipped 3500 duallys and waiting until next year.

[Tankcar]

Hi. All.

I would like to see the comparison of the 4500, and 5500 series for each truck manufacture.

[Hillbilly_Campe]

hammer21661 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

hammer21661 wrote:

Hillbilly Camper wrote:
Wow, I haven't read ALL the posts here but have read the last few. I have a '97 Ford F350 7.3 Diesel dually that has pulled a mobile home before, and also has pulled a semi out of a ditch. Personally, that is all the pulling power I would need, especially if it comes to hauling something lighter like a camper.

Just sayin'.... We are not pulling airplanes here lol. Also, I don't need a brand NEW truck, just one I can depend on.

Yeah yeah yeah my 7.3 gets 30 mpg can pull a freight train and is faster then a Ferrari. Don't you 7.3 guys get tired of spouting that crap. If they were sooooooo great why don't they make them anymore? I am not saying they are junk but they are not that great.

The 7.3 was/still is a great engine...heck they don't make the 8.1 496 Chevy engine anymore and it was AWESOME!!( I had one:)). Doesn't mean anything was wrong with them. I'm a Ram guy now, but there are still some good, "older" engines out there, just because they're not being "made" anymore doesn't take away from how good some of them were and still are. They're not putting the 5.9 Cummins in trucks anymore..doesn't mean there was anything wrong with it..

I've only been a "Dodge/Ram" owner for a little over three years and I see how a lot like to "gang up" on us, especially when Ram has come out with the new 13's and the newer tow ratings...a bunch are just setting out there HOPING that Rams new trucks will fail. Let's not act like some of those who bash and slam on Ram owners every chance they get by bashing on others...Hillbilly Camper is not one of them, he just made a statement, no big deal...not everyone is out to slam us:)

I don't wanna gang up on anyone or bash anything It is just the attitude that some 7.3 owners have. When I had my 350 with a 6.0 Everyone had tuners and we all went to the Buck. the sled told the truth the 7.3 didn't have the power the 6.0 had, although it had it's issues. Not while I owned it. I really liked the 6.0 only reason I got my 03 ram was the dog took up too much room in the standard cab. In a long winded way I have gotten tired of some making the 7.3 out to be the greatest engine ever built. There wasn't anything wrong with them as a whole (as I basically said in the first post)but you don't have an out of body experience when you drive one. To clear every thing up the best engine ever made was the 6-71 Detroit/GM.

Never said it was the GREATEST engine out there, just happens to be the one I own and we love it. I'm sure there are some sweet trucks that will tow the moon out there, I just don't own them.

"...but you don't have an out of body experience when you drive one..." - This was funny though, I liked that! Good stuff.