I'll be pulling my 1990 Suburban trail rig that weighs about 7000lbs and my bumper pull trailer weighs about 2300lbs. I plan on getting a cabover camper eventually. I've heard they weigh from 2K to 3K. Right now I have my eye on a 2wd Dodge Dually but I haven't bought anything yet. I don't want to buy something I have to modify. So what are the pro and cons of the different rigs?
The Dodge has the Cummins but also has a teeny tiny backseat, the Chevy has a super plush interior but also has IFS and you can't get a manual trans, the Ford has arguably the best frame and running gear and the highest GVWR (important for you with the weight you'll be hauling, especially with a slide-in camper), but has a very truckish interior that many don't like and also has the red-headed stepchild of the deisel engine world with the 6 liter PSD.
I agree on the Dodge, small back seat is one of the main things that put me off it when I bought my GM. And Ford interior just didn't "fit". Both lost point on the auto options as well, but strong aftermarket upgrades are available. What do you mean no manual, you can get a manual... On the IFS, I think that is one of the bigger benefits of GM for a tow rig. It's pure hell if your gonna put lift, big tires and try to offroad it, but if your gona tow, and use the 4WD for snow/ice, camp access, fire roads to get to the trail head/fishin' hole or whatever, there is nothing in the world wrong with it. And the HUGE up side is that it drives and tracks loaded or unloaded WAY better than the Ford or the Dodge 4wd. You just can't get variable geometry with the solid front axle like you can with IFS, and they last a LONG time with little or no expense as long as you don't start lifting or "crankin' the bars". There are guys out there doing stalled 4WD 1/4 mile sub 13 second runs on stock IFS trucks, and then they tow the support trailer with the "real" race car home after the drags...
I'm not too worried about the small back seat in the Dodge. I'm only 5'8" on a good day, my wife is about an inch shorter, and my kids are 6 and 11 years old. I really don't think they're going to be too tall and I won't have the front seat pushed back too far. I also forgot to meantion that one of my wife's realitives said he could get me the friends and family discount because he works for the Dodge plant in Michigan.imp: It's something like 5% under dealer cost.
Oh sorry, you can get a manual with a flywheel that's so weak the engine has to be detuned bu 80hp or so, and the thing will still fry itself by 20k miles. BUT, you can't get the manual with that gem of a flywheel in a truck that has the LS interior, since lord knows nobody would want leather AND a stick.
Sounds like Dodge may get the nod then. No doubt they do make a good truck, and a lot less than the GM, plus they have a new front suspension that is *supposed* to eliminate a lot of the vague steering and wandering (mostly the problem was the panhard from what I've read). If you pick one of the "big 3" that fits your needs and budget, you can't go wrong with any of them I think... But with me at 6' even and my 17 yo son at over 6'1, I needed the back seat. The IFS, comforatable interior that "fits" me, and Allison took me away from Ford, even though at the time the DMax was new and the 'Stroke nearly ballanced it out due to my concerns over a "new" engine, especially with GMs track record on screwing up diesels. Just giving an idea of the thought processes that led me to GM...
Ahh, now that I can generally agree on. That flywheel is a joke and would need upgrade pretty much immediately, much like the autos of the other manufacturers. And no, I'm not trying to get that arguement dredged up here either... Not offering the manual on the LS is kinda silly. But if I wanted it, it really wouldn't matter, since I prefer not having leather. Mine has it only because that is what was on the lot with all the stuff I wanted and I was getting the "clear the lot for new models" incentives on top of "GM Employee" pricing. waytogo
You won't get any argument from me since I agree 100%. I got myself a nice fully loaded truck with a manual trans (and a nice single mass flywheel).waytogo Autos are for old ladies and parapalegics, but I'm not going to start that argument here either.:stir: rotfl
Well since Russ has a plastic knee and I have had mine completly rebuilt using stock body parts just not in the normal application (acl and mcl torn acl replaced with patella tendon and mcl screwed back on), I guess we almost fit that description. Besides we all know that Russ drives his truggy like that little old lady, and I only like to tow mine around to look cool for the chicks.rotfl
So, the Chevy's got the best ride quality and the Dodge has the best price, what about the most torque?
Here's how I look at it. The Dodge still has the best engine hands down but with not nearly the best transmission options. The 48RE auto is a decent tranny but the new 6 spd manual has barely hit the streets and is untested in the real world. I'm still undecided if going over to AAM running gear from good 'ol Dana Spicer was a good thing. The GM is nice if you tow on the weekend and your wife is a soccer mom during the week while you are at work. :stir: I'm not a fan of the IFS front end because it is expensive to work on when it does eventually need some work done, which probably wouldn't be for a long time though. THe Allison is a good transmission from what I have heard and seen, can't go wrong there. THe manual tranny in the GM's is a joke. The new Duramax engine is a good engine too, can't go wrong there either. I like the GM's interior but I can't stand their exterior one bit. The GM is a little too "light duty" for my taste, yes, because of their front end. The Ford is a damn solid truck. I like their new front suspension and new heavier duty D60. Good brakes and a good frame from Ford. I think the bugs have been worked out of the 6.0 PSD and is a good engine these days, the torque shift auto isn't bad either from my first hand experience. THe exterior of the new Ford is really nice, I like it probably the most out of all three current trucks but the interior is too boring for me. If I was going to buy a brand new truck it would be a toss up between a new Ford or Dodge. Regardless it would be an auto for me, I like being able to take full advantage of the power of todays diesels from 0-60 and I have better things to do than shift all day long.
Hmmm, other than our classic disagreement about the IFS, I find I don't dissagree with most of your points, at least not "violently disagree", though there is room for debate. I better go back and reread that, musta missed something... rotfl
Holy smokes I agree with everything RJF said too... Except about the Torqueshift on the Ford, it's already having issues and I've heard complaints about it. I think the only auto worth a whole lot at this point is the Allison, luckily that means that each brand has one solid trans available in it.waytogo
Ok, can't resist. :doah: Cummins is not "hands down" the winner. It has good points in many areas, but the DMax and PS beat it in others. I do agree about the transmissions. Obviously disagree on the IFS comments. I do hate the "angry chinaman" front on the new Chevy trucks. I really don't think I could stand to own one. GMC still looks good though, for now. Can't stand the new Dodge either, but I like it better than Chevy. New for top body style would be between the Ford SD and the GMC HD. Not yet convinced on the 6.0 having the bugs out, but I would hope so. Some of it's problems were pretty fundamental from what I recall, but I don't remember the details (getting old)... So, if I could stand the Ford interior, and convince myself the 6.0 was "good" (like I did with the DMax when it was new), then it would be between GMC and Ford SD for me... I just couldn't let it stand agreeing with Bobby on that many things. rotfl
You pretty much nailed my thought process leading up to ordering my truck on the head. I have to say of all the engines I first wanted the Cummins, but after looking into the D-Max I started to be a bit torn. The Dodge was not an option though after I realized that it had such a small back seat. No way a rear facing baby seat can fit back there, and that's an issue for me. The Chevy was out since I dislike the front end, although the HD front ends for '05 are much better with the more bulgy front edge on the hood. So for me it did come down to the GMC and the Ford SD. It was about a 6 week process to decide, and I still am not convinced that I made the right choice, mainly because of the 6.0L PSD. If the Ford engine had a better reputation then there would have been no contest, I like the exterior way better and actually prefer the interior too. The GM interiors are too carlike for me, I know that I'm in the minority with that opinion, but I'm a funny dude. I also really wanted a manual trans and there was no chance that I was going to get stuck with that abortion of a flywheel in the GMs.
