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

[babies_dadeo]

I have pulled my trailer with 2 tow vehicles... The first was a 2011 Ram 3500 Cummins, the current is a 2013 Duramax 2500 Both were crew cab SRW 4x4s...

Honestly the Cummins felt like it had more power (especially after it ummm, lost its dpf filter) and pulled the trailer easier, but it actually made my wife car sick because the thing rode like an old west wagon. The duramax is MUCH more comfortable to ride in, pulls the trailer fine, just without the snap off the line the Ram had, and (this is real world numbers) gets about 4 mpg better mileage with the trailer and almost 6 mpg better when empty. The duramax feels more "refined" and is no where near as loud. Plus it does not make my wife car sick. 🙂

[drillking]

mark5w wrote:
It's simple; neither, get a Ford.

Second that!

[Engineer9860]

DirtyOil wrote:
Once again another thread full of everyone's brand loyalties and biases.


LOL...do as I say not as I do....eh? Too funny!


Either is a capable truck, test drive each, look for comfort, steering and price. No sense in spending more then you have to for very similar trucks. Up here I couldn't see spending thousands more for a GM, seems Cdn govn taxes the hell lights GM. As they are both capable, I saved some hard earned cash and bought the Ram and loving it.

Sorry I didn't spew sunshine all over your loyalty, but there was plenty of that prior to my chiming in.

[JoeTee]

I like the Cummins but I'd get the Duramax of those years, they supposedly get better mpg.

[DirtyOil]

Once again another thread full of everyone's brand loyalties and biases.


LOL...do as I say not as I do....eh? Too funny!


Either is a capable truck, test drive each, look for comfort, steering and price. No sense in spending more then you have to for very similar trucks. Up here I couldn't see spending thousands more for a GM, seems Cdn govn taxes the hell lights GM. As they are both capable, I saved some hard earned cash and bought the Ram and loving it.

[Engineer9860]

Once again another thread full of everyone's brand loyalties and biases.

OP- good luck with your choice. I have owned GMs my whole life. They are not the unreliable non-capable junk that the posters in this thread would have you believe.

The Duramax is on the same plateau as the Cummins. Many on here would have you believe that the Cummins is somehow superior, and that is just not the case.

I'm going to bet that if you choose the Duramax, or the Cummins that the engine will be the last thing you'll have to worry about. Almost without fail anyone on this forum trashing the DMax will be a Cummins owner. I don't know what motivates these guys because the evidence doesn't support any claims.

Where you should be focusing your attention is on the rest of the truck. Things like the HVAC, the front suspension/steering, how will you feel after driving it for 500mi continuous........

In short, the mechanical aspects of the engines are a wash.

[Cummins12V98]

cwboyscooby wrote:
You opened a can of worms didn't you?

As a former mechanic who has spend time taking apart and reprogramming the computers and rebuilding the engines on these trucks,I will give you some insight from a different perspective....

Ford: used to make arguably the best diesel ever made, but have not make one comparable since the 7.3L was replaced by the 6.0L. The 6.0 was horrible, the 6.4 better, but still lacked, and the 6.7 again a step forward, but still not as reliable as it should be.

Dodge: The 5.9L was as durable and bulletproof as the 7.3L and is just a near perfect engine. The 6.7L was a pretty decent replacement, but is heavily hindered by the worthless emissions******that they were forced to add. If you remove the DPF and reprogram it accordingly, it becomes the most reliable and powerful diesel ever put into a non-commercial truck.

Chevy: By far the most comfortable ride of the big three. A very capable truck, but not as reliable as the Dodge or Ford. It's all in the tune. The Dodge has the potential to blow the Duramax off the road, but Dodge instead chose to offer a more reliable tune and not force the Cummins to have to work as hard as the Duramax does. The Allison Tranny.... Is not an Allison and falls quite short of what it should (and overheat often).... but still better than Dodge's continual failure to build a reliable high-torque-capable tranny.

I have always hated Chevy diesels, but they are slowly improving as others are slipping. 1995-2003, Ford Ruled with the 7.3L - 2003-2007, Dodge won hands down with the 5.9L. Since 2007 they are all on a more level playing field (partially thanks to EPA standards), but I would have to put Dodge on top for reliable high mileage towing, or Chevy if you want a more comfortable ride and will not be pulling as much weight for too many miles.

Just a last thought, consider a manual transmission for durability or high altitude pulling.

You pretty much were on track until "but still better than Dodge's continual failure to build a reliable high-torque-capable tranny." The 68RFE has been a very trouble free trans. I have been very impressed for 28K. The trans in my 98 Ram was fine until I threw 300hp and 750tq at it! After a proper build it is fine except for the 3-4 bogg shift but that is the way the 4 sp autos were.

[Cummins12V98]

FishOnOne wrote:

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

No frustration here, never been passed going up a 6% grade by a similar 28K combined load. It's all about dependable power, not interested in drag racing just getting there every time without any problems. 28K and no problems with my 11 and 380K on my 98 12V.

Oh yea it is designed to do it every day in demanding conditions for 350K and the other two 250K. Don't forget it's the "BIG C" that you will find under the hood of the F650.

[DodgeVoltage]

4x4ord wrote:

DodgeVoltage wrote:
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.

I think there must be something wrong with your Chevy. I Don't think I could get either my 03 or 2010 Duramaxs to burn that much fuel non towing nor have I heard of another Duramax incapable of at least 18 mpg running empty.

Now you've heard of 2. My brothers 2005 Chevy 2500 gets 15 to 16 mpg. I've never gotten 18 with any of my diesels- 99 Dodge 3500 auto, 04 Dodge 3500 stick, 10 Dodge 3500 auto and 09 GMC 2500 auto. Luckily, over the years, I never bought any of them for fuel mileage.

[cwboyscooby]

You can get the AS69RC in a 3500, but I rarely see them. I think they have to be special ordered, but I'm not sure about that.

I have seen a Dodge 4500 consistently pulling 20k+ for over 150k miles now with the Aisin, so it may prove to be the missing link for Dodge, but not until they make it standard equipment on all Cummins trucks.

[4x4ord]

Acei wrote:


How would 2013 RAM 3500's Asin transmission fit into this picture?

They all have very similar specs.

[Acei]

cwboyscooby wrote:
You opened a can of worms didn't you?

As a former mechanic who has spend time taking apart and reprogramming the computers and rebuilding the engines on these trucks,I will give you some insight from a different perspective....

Ford: used to make arguably the best diesel ever made, but have not make one comparable since the 7.3L was replaced by the 6.0L. The 6.0 was horrible, the 6.4 better, but still lacked, and the 6.7 again a step forward, but still not as reliable as it should be.

Dodge: The 5.9L was as durable and bulletproof as the 7.3L and is just a near perfect engine. The 6.7L was a pretty decent replacement, but is heavily hindered by the worthless emissions******that they were forced to add. If you remove the DPF and reprogram it accordingly, it becomes the most reliable and powerful diesel ever put into a non-commercial truck.

Chevy: By far the most comfortable ride of the big three. A very capable truck, but not as reliable as the Dodge or Ford. It's all in the tune. The Dodge has the potential to blow the Duramax off the road, but Dodge instead chose to offer a more reliable tune and not force the Cummins to have to work as hard as the Duramax does. The Allison Tranny.... Is not an Allison and falls quite short of what it should (and overheat often).... but still better than Dodge's continual failure to build a reliable high-torque-capable tranny.

I have always hated Chevy diesels, but they are slowly improving as others are slipping. 1995-2003, Ford Ruled with the 7.3L - 2003-2007, Dodge won hands down with the 5.9L. Since 2007 they are all on a more level playing field (partially thanks to EPA standards), but I would have to put Dodge on top for reliable high mileage towing, or Chevy if you want a more comfortable ride and will not be pulling as much weight for too many miles.

Just a last thought, consider a manual transmission for durability or high altitude pulling.

How would 2013 RAM 3500's Asin transmission fit into this picture?

[cwboyscooby]

You opened a can of worms didn't you?

As a former mechanic who has spend time taking apart and reprogramming the computers and rebuilding the engines on these trucks,I will give you some insight from a different perspective....

Ford: used to make arguably the best diesel ever made, but have not make one comparable since the 7.3L was replaced by the 6.0L. The 6.0 was horrible, the 6.4 better, but still lacked, and the 6.7 again a step forward, but still not as reliable as it should be.

Dodge: The 5.9L was as durable and bulletproof as the 7.3L and is just a near perfect engine. The 6.7L was a pretty decent replacement, but is heavily hindered by the worthless emissions******that they were forced to add. If you remove the DPF and reprogram it accordingly, it becomes the most reliable and powerful diesel ever put into a non-commercial truck.

Chevy: By far the most comfortable ride of the big three. A very capable truck, but not as reliable as the Dodge or Ford. It's all in the tune. The Dodge has the potential to blow the Duramax off the road, but Dodge instead chose to offer a more reliable tune and not force the Cummins to have to work as hard as the Duramax does. The Allison Tranny.... Is not an Allison and falls quite short of what it should (and overheat often).... but still better than Dodge's continual failure to build a reliable high-torque-capable tranny.

I have always hated Chevy diesels, but they are slowly improving as others are slipping. 1995-2003, Ford Ruled with the 7.3L - 2003-2007, Dodge won hands down with the 5.9L. Since 2007 they are all on a more level playing field (partially thanks to EPA standards), but I would have to put Dodge on top for reliable high mileage towing, or Chevy if you want a more comfortable ride and will not be pulling as much weight for too many miles.

Just a last thought, consider a manual transmission for durability or high altitude pulling.

[4x4ord]

DodgeVoltage wrote:
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.

I think there must be something wrong with your Chevy. I Don't think I could get either my 03 or 2010 Duramaxs to burn that much fuel non towing nor have I heard of another Duramax incapable of at least 18 mpg running empty.