Truck shopping-Chevy or Dodge

[bighog01]

Who knew picking out a vehicle could be so frustrating? I could get a new 12 or 13 Ram 3500 dually. But now I'm starting to consider used Ram and Chevy duallies from the last few years. I've read that 2010-12 Cummins don't do so well on fuel mileage. How do they compare to the Duramax of the last few years? We're talking 4x4 crew cab duallies here. Thanks

[FishOnOne]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"I would go for the most reliable and proven power in heavy duty towing situations. "

You don't get that from a test a Magazine does. You get that from real world experience.

The Duramax/Alison combo is good, rated at 250K but the Cummins is rated for 350K.

Think about it, all Cummins does is build engines. Less moving parts, you can see both sides of the engine, the in line 6 is the best for delivering torque.

I would pick either way before I would think about a Ford.

Take a new Ram Longhorn for a spin, that will open your eyes to what an improvement Ram has made in the last 3 years.

And it's years of frustration that will make someone respond like this. If the Cummins inline develops the best torque, why does it get its a$$ handed to itself during any pull off comparison. :R
Nobody is buying this nonsense anymore! :W

[vacuumbed]

Of those two choices that you stated I would go with the Ford.

[Cummins12V98]

"I would go for the most reliable and proven power in heavy duty towing situations. "

You don't get that from a test a Magazine does. You get that from real world experience.

The Duramax/Alison combo is good, rated at 250K but the Cummins is rated for 350K.

Think about it, all Cummins does is build engines. Less moving parts, you can see both sides of the engine, the in line 6 is the best for delivering torque.

I would pick either way before I would think about a Ford.

Take a new Ram Longhorn for a spin, that will open your eyes to what an improvement Ram has made in the last 3 years.

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

duramax and Allison have been put to the test, and well beat ford and dodge in real world towing tests. You can say all you want on paper, but if you buy a huge dually truck for the purpose of towing, I would go for the most reliable and proven power in heavy duty towing situations. Mpg would be next important. Duramax in my opinion!

[notruffinit]

I had a GMC Duramax and now have the Dodge Cummins. I am under the impression you buy the one you want and you should be happy. I bought the one I felt was the best price. Both are good trucks and good pullers. The Cummins has awesome torque a power. I am not disappointed at all.

With all of that, I get about 15-18 empty and highway and when I am towing I get 10 in all conditions. That means in the mountains or on the flat, wind or no wind.

[mark5w]

It's simple; neither, get a Ford.

[bmanning]

downtheroad wrote:

bighog01 wrote:
I've read that 2010-12 Cummins don't do so well on fuel mileage. How do they compare to the Duramax of the last few years? We're talking 4x4 crew cab duallies here. Thanks

Are we talking fuel mileage and 3500 dually in the same sentence..??
Are we?

Does one buy a 3500 series truck for mileage? No, but it's still an interesting point of comparison, and though this is an rv site, there are plenty of 1-ton pickups seeing commercial duty and you better believe those guys care about fuel economy...every tenth of a mile per gallon difference costs (or saves) the business money.

[bighog01]

Downtheroad, that's what I'm talking about. I know you don't buy a big dually truck AND worry about fuel mileage, but...I'm a big fan of both trucks and I plan to keep what I buy for awhile. It probably will come down to the one that I think drives the best.

[downtheroad]

bighog01 wrote:
I've read that 2010-12 Cummins don't do so well on fuel mileage. How do they compare to the Duramax of the last few years? We're talking 4x4 crew cab duallies here. Thanks

Are we talking fuel mileage and 3500 dually in the same sentence..??
Are we?

[Huntindog]

ib516 wrote:
If you're buying new, the RAM is class of the field, GM is playing catch up. No doubt GM will introduce a much upgraded 2015 model HD -- there have been plenty of spy shots circulating of them being tested. GM's current interiors are badly outdated, and their powertrain falls short in the TQ department (at least on paper) when compared to the other two. The Duramax still is a good performer though, even when the numbers on paper are the lowest in the field. The Allison is proven and works great. If you like GMs, I'd wait until they update them.

Onto the mpg question and buying used (2010 - 2012), every test I've read has all of the big 3 relatively close mpg wise, but the Ram/Cummins (up to the 12 model) is almost always lowest. It is also outperformed in most performance based tests when compared to the Duramax and Ford diesels. That is why they really upgraded it in the 13 models (up to 385hp/850tq from 350hp/800tq). To put themselves further ahead, in 2014 they are adding air suspension and a new 6.4L Hemi gas engine among other improvements.

The 2013 RAM/Cummins also went to using DEF (as the Ford and GM have since 2011) which, although it adds complexity, does improve the mpg overall.

In the end, I'd suggest buying the one you like after driving them both. It's your money.

Of the big 3, only one dyno tested their motor to SAE standards. GM. That is why the Duramax has been doing so well in all the hill climb tests.
The others have tested to their own standards, IOW, whatever method it takes to produce the highest numbers.
Think about the difference between peak and continuous power.
With todays computer controlled motors, games can be played in testing. A motor can be programmed to produce more power for a short period of time, and then reduce it to level that won't hurt it.

This can produce big dyno numbers, or even short quick burst of acceleration from a stop light, but...

The problem is that I the real world, climbing long steep hills, it readily becomes apparent which motor has the most SUSTAINABLE power.

Having said all that, I haven't heard IF Dodge has tested the new Cummins to SAE specs or not..
I doubt it though, as the previous version was not.

[BeerCan]

I agree with ib516. Any of the big 3 are going to be reliable trucks. Buy the one that is the most comfortable to you after driving it. After all you are the one who has to drive it, not any of us yahoos. 🙂 I will add that I would personally avoid the Ford w/ 6.0 or 6.4 unless they have been updated (proven), but that is jmho. I know you were not considering the Ford but I added my opinion on them for completeness.

[ib516]

If you're buying new, the RAM is class of the field, GM is playing catch up. No doubt GM will introduce a much upgraded 2015 model HD -- there have been plenty of spy shots circulating of them being tested. GM's current interiors are badly outdated, and their powertrain falls short in the TQ department (at least on paper) when compared to the other two. The Duramax still is a good performer though, even when the numbers on paper are the lowest in the field. The Allison is proven and works great. If you like GMs, I'd wait until they update them.

Onto the mpg question and buying used (2010 - 2012), every test I've read has all of the big 3 relatively close mpg wise, but the Ram/Cummins (up to the 12 model) is almost always lowest. It is also outperformed in most performance based tests when compared to the Duramax and Ford diesels. That is why they really upgraded it in the 13 models (up to 385hp/850tq from 350hp/800tq). To put themselves further ahead, in 2014 they are adding air suspension and a new 6.4L Hemi gas engine among other improvements.

The 2013 RAM/Cummins also went to using DEF (as the Ford and GM have since 2011) which, although it adds complexity, does improve the mpg overall.

In the end, I'd suggest buying the one you like after driving them both. It's your money.

[donn0128]

Fuel economy of any of the newer trucks is going to suffer. If you want good economy look for a 5.9L Cummins in the 2005-2007 years. Good power and economy.
If you want newer my 07 6.7L Cummins with 4.10 rear end has gotten as high as 18.0 empty and 12.5 towing my 13,500 pound fiver.

[the_bear_II]

I know MPG is a consideration with today's prices but I'm guessing if you compared 3500s from all 3 manufacturers the fuel mileage will be very close.

To me comfort and build quality plus performance both going and stopping are the most important to consider. I had a chance 2 years ago to test drive over the same test track fully loaded 3500s from Ford, Chevy and Dodge. I found the Chevy to be most comfortable with the best ride and build quality. The Ford had the most power and I would place the Dodge 3rd. The Dodge had the worst ride and felt sluggish.

[DodgeVoltage]

It's not exactly the comparison you are asking, but might give you an idea- my 2010 Ram 3500 dually, 4x4, megacab gets the same mileage as my 2009 GMC 2500 SRW, crew cab, Duramax, 4x4. Both consistanly get 14.5 mpg. Occasionally, my Ram will do better by a mpg, but usually pretty close. Those numbers are empty, not towing.