Ford or Dodge ?

[Riverbottom]

I "might" be in the market in the next year or year and 1/2 for a new pick-up truck. I have narrowed it down to either a Dodge 2500 or Ford F-250. I have only had Ford before and only in 1/2 ton truck. I am in need of a 3/4 or ton (not dulley though). I am going to stay with a gas engine. I do way to much stopping and going to warrent/afford the deisel.

What is your folks opinion on the power end of things between these two? As I said, I do not want a deisel but do want a powerful pulling truck.

[CannedHeat]

I "might" be in the market in the next year or year and 1/2 for a new pick-up truck. I have narrowed it down to either a Dodge 2500 or Ford F-250. I have only had Ford before and only in 1/2 ton truck. I am in need of a 3/4 or ton (not dulley though). I am going to stay with a gas engine. I do way to much stopping and going to warrent/afford the deisel.

What is your folks opinion on the power end of things between these two? As I said, I do not want a deisel but do want a powerful pulling truck.

I would've said GMC, but that's not an option. This will spark debates like any other question, but I've seen more things go wrong with the Dodge line than the Fords. The best way to look into that is to hit both Dodge and Ford Forum sites and see what issues current (and former)owners have had.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

http://www.dodgetrucks.org/forums/index.php

I can say that the Fords have caught my eye in recent years. We had a couple Rams as work trucks and had various tranny, ball joint, and other suspension issues. Don't know if that's been addressed or not. I'm sure you'll get plenty of answers...

[Riverbottom]

I have read some good things about the GMC trucks but to be honest I have never really liked their design or style. I think they are great trucks but for some reason I just really don't like them?? Not sure why. As I said, I have always been a Ford guy but a relative of mine has a new Dodge and I really like this truck. Pull for pull are they about the same as the Fords??

[MUSTHNT]

Dodge has a lifetime warranty (granted you have to follow the guidlines) but i have a friend who just bought a 2500 with the 5.7 hemi and 4 full doors, it is a nice truck, plunty of room and rides much softer than my dad's chevy 2500 they both get about 14 toolin around town.

[buckgitter]

Dodge has a lifetime warranty (granted you have to follow the guidlines) but i have a friend who just bought a 2500 with the 5.7 hemi and 4 full doors, it is a nice truck, plunty of room and rides much softer than my dad's chevy 2500 they both get about 14 toolin around town.

I agree I have a 2007 4 door with the Hemi. Plenty of power and no problems so far.....

[mtswampfox]

my 2001 f250 has done ok after the initial carrier bearing problem. 5.4 does good on road @15 mpg hwy 75 mph with the air cond. running. towing is another thing lucky to get 10 mpg not using cruise control and staying in od most of time. that is pulling 12x7 enclosed tandem trailer with my soft-tail and 250 honda atv on board. same with 6.5x10 landscape trailer with same payload. only have 51 k miles looks and drives great. next will be f250 4x4 diesel to tow 32ft. 5th wheel toy box maybe later this spring or next fall.

[d2huffman]

Based on comments that I have got from a couple sources that have experience with both under harsh conditions - heavy loads and lots of powerline type roads, the Fords hold up better than Dodge (the GM trucks were 3rd here). Issues were tranny and suspension. People that I know that drive them under "normal" condtions, mostly on paved roads with occasional off road and heavy loads find that both perform well and they tend to be "happy". I think you will probably get more hotrod horsepower with the Dodge if that is a goal. One compaint that I heard was that the Dodge didn't have heavy enough tranny for the power.

[vizslas]

I'm just gonna throw this out there and you can throw it right back if you want.....

Buy a Chevy or better yet, aTacoma! Save yourself the embarrassment of your truck breaking down in front of your hunting buddies on the way to . Save the cost of putting in new motors, transmissions and all the other stuff you hear disgruntled Ford/Dodge owners taking about

First
On
Repair
Deck

Dodges..."Ram tough to sell!"

Josh...come on give me some support here!

Totally jokin you guys, just having some fun, so don't get alll bent out of shape and write a nasty post back.

[Lodiman]

Dodge has more power, they supposedly are hard on tranny's that is what the stock haulers around here say. Ford, a little tougher overall with longer lasting bodies. Also what the farmers around here say. I have an old chevy deisel which was a good truck but is now having a few probs(230,000 miles) Chevy is good though as well. Can't beat the Dmax and allison but you don't want a diesel. As to the foriegn garbage, stay away from it. I think as americans we have an obligation to support american companies and american workers. I know toyota makes a good product, and the trucks are built here but the majrity of their products are still produced overseas and that is where most of the profits go as well. They also underpay their workers here and with less fringes. My .02 worth. If we care about our country we have a duty to support it.

[vizslas]

Dodge has more power, they supposedly are hard on tranny's that is what the stock haulers around here say. Ford, a little tougher overall with longer lasting bodies. Also what the farmers around here say. I have an old chevy deisel which was a good truck but is now having a few probs(230,000 miles) Chevy is good though as well. Can't beat the Dmax and allison but you don't want a diesel. As to the foriegn garbage, stay away from it. I think as americans we have an obligation to support american companies and american workers. I know toyota makes a good product, and the trucks are built here but the majrity of their products are still produced overseas and that is where most of the profits go as well. They also underpay their workers here and with less fringes. My .02 worth. If we care about our country we have a duty to support it.

Now, if anyone can show me how they're not supporting "over there" by buying gas, clothes, electronics...I will more than happily jump on that band wagon. But the pure fact remains, when you buy your gas, somehow, someway, it's going over there. And just for curiousity, next time you go and buy some sort of soft-good, or hard-good for that matter, check where it's made...bet it isn't the good ol United States of America. Granted some are, but most are "over there"
I love the fact that people want to do that whole support your country thing, but that fact is that American companies take their business overseas for that very reason....it's cheaper to make. Cheaper to build= more money in pocket before and after it's sold.
I am all for supporting the US, but the fact remains that it would be dang hard to survive on strictly American made products. Let's face it, this world is about money and no one in their right mind is going to pay 20 dollars to have it made here...when they can pay 7 and have it made "over there". It's a sad reality, but we need to face it. We can do our best to support our country, but it only goes so far.
Underpaying wages...okay, look at this then. All the clothesthat you're wearing right now(whoevers reading this)...were probably made by and underpayed worker.."over there". So why did you support them and not your country? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO, thats why! You need clothes, so you don't check the label to see where it's from, because it is a necesity in life. It is the simple fact that this is how the world works now...foreign automakers are not the only one's "underpaying" their workers.

Not an attack on you Rog, just giving my two cents.

[OhioDeerHunter]

I prefer Chevy myself, my dad and I have always had them and never had major problems, and they were always 5-15 years old when we got them.
Anyway, I'd look into Dodge simply for their "unlimited" warranty, I haven't looked into it, but if it is truly unlimited, then won't matter much if something breaks.

[MUSTHNT]

I must admit my dads chevy hold up pretty well considering he beats the **** out of them hauling veneer with fifth wheel and puts 100,000 miles on in just under two years. Even though the suspension is stiff it holds up to the rough dirt road punishment. The 6.oL has a ton of power.

[dubyam]

There's a Toyota Engine Plant here in Huntsville, AL, and the line for jobs (when they're hiring) is a mile long. They pay better than most jobs, and offer good benefits, from what I hear. I'm in sales, so I don't know much about factory work, other than a short stint at a testing facility affiliated with a Dunlop Tire plant (now closed), but I can tell you that there are plenty of folks around here who want those jobs at whatever wage they're paying. It sure beats the crap out of what a lot of folks are making. Not to throw mud at anybody, but it seems to me that GM is offering buyouts to all of it's current contract workers so they can (under the new contract with the UAW) hire new workers at an affordable rate. I'm not saying don't get what you can from your employer, I'm saying there's a fine line between ultra-high wages and unemployment in this day and age. That Dunlop plant? They were paying people $17 an hour (ten years ago) to stand and watch tires fall off a line and then push the cart out for a tow motor to get. All the while, the union kept making bigger and bigger demands, and yet the entire time the plant was open, it never once made production quota nor cost containment goals. Management was crap, for sure, but the union did a lot of damage, too. Every time there was a renegotiation, the union would threaten strike, or strike outright, and management was too stupid to do anything but give in. Eventually, after Dunlop was bought by Sumitomo, then sold to Goodyear, the plant got closed due to a "lack of productivity" and "cost containment measures." Now all those folks (1250 or so) had to find new jobs, and many of them couldn't find jobs making the kind of wages they had been, which hit some families pretty hard. I understand, but then again, the workforce sort of screwed themselves. I also noticed, throughout the whole affair, that the union bosses (from the steelworkers union) were driving some mighty nice cars, and seemed to have cubic money to throw around. I'm just saying, hmmmm.......

[nitro901]

I have a 2004 F-250 supercab fx4 with a shortbed. Although I like the truck , I had it since new the only thing I regret is not getting a super crew. With the supercab the rancho suspension gives it a choppy ride .

[Todd G.]

Ford, Chevy, Dodge... Which one has more power?????

First, let me start by saying power is all relative. When you purchase your truck, how much power it has will be a function of which engine, which transmission, and what gearing you order. Hemi, SS, Lightning, whatever! Hemi is simply a marketing ploy. Everyone has been through hemispherical heads. The term Hemi is simply for us old guys to reminess about the old days of 426 Hemis and the like.

If you intend to buy a truck to pull, do yourself a favor and order a truck that comes with all the right pieces. Proper gearing, heavy hitches, tranny coolers, etc. Then, remember that pulling heavy loads is more about braking than it is about acceleration. Decide whether its a Chevy, Dodge, or Ford by cost, looks, and comfort.

Now, with all that being said, I will tell you I work for a company that runs about 250 pickups. We WORK our trucks. The majority of them are GMC/Chevy due to their better resale and a few nice features. However, we have more than a few Dodge and Fords. We have both gasoline and diesel engines.

90% of the people who own pickups have no idea of how much they will pull. So, understand right off the bat that a 1/2 ton truck will pull far more than most people know. However, it seems everyone wants a heavy duty so they look tough. My current work pickup is a 2006 Chevy 1/2 ton extended cab. I regularly pull a trailer down the interstate that weighs in excess of 8,000 lbs. When we run our 1 tons, they have a combined weight of over 34,000 lbs. So, decide what you really NEED and then buy the best deal.

As for reliability, they all have their issues. BUT, there is a reason why we have more GMC/Chevy than the others. Main reason is they are less costly to fix.

[d2huffman]

Some good points on the trucks and there performance. Getting the right gearing is real important and does not usually effect the price. Don't go for those "highway" gears unless you plan to drive empty without hills. I got a real lesson in this on my first new truck many years ago - the rearend gears turned out to be different than the invoice papers said. I had to "prove" to the dealer and they ended up changing out the gears for me at their expense. Once they actually checked the tag on the rearend they were good to me on it and actually put some lower gears than listed and threw in some other items.

[Riverbottom]

I am not what you would call non-mechanically inclined ( I do have some experiance and knowlege on this but not on specs). What am I looking for as far gears and ratio to have a heavy duty truck for pulling yet still in the 250-2500 class and non-deisel??? I guess I need numbers and terms to though around..

Thanks!!

[d2huffman]

With a 5 speed auto, I like the 4:10 gears in 4x4 that will be used on road and off road and towing or hauling. Your milage goes down at higher speeds (over 65).

[HOGWILD]

DODGE CUMMINS or Toyota Tundra, Fords not an option!!

[ptwyz]

I have a 2007 1500 Dodge Ram Megacab 4X4 with a 5.7L Hemi. I love it. It is like having an SUV and a truck all in one, and I don't mean like an SUT. Plenty of power to go around. I have had no issues with it. I think it is solid.

[narrowway]

I personally like Chevy. the newer gas engines tend to get better mpg than ford or dodge. I also see more chevys with a 180,000-220,000 miles on them to.

[headoftheholler]

For a while the 2500 Dodges were having trouble with weak transmissions, I don't know about the new ones but I am personally saving up for a 2500 Cummins with the six speed manual.

[MUSTHNT]

That six speed manual is awesome. I looked at a POWER WAGON with it the other day WHAT A TRUCK! i wouldnt mind having a Rubicon with it either. Not sure if you can get the new JK 4-door rubicon with the 6 or not. i think so

[Riverbottom]

What makes the "Heavy Duty" modles heady duty?? What is the difference between the standard and heavy duty models?? I do know I want the Heavy Duty - but what are the changes that make this up??

[luke46]

I had to pick I would go with the Dodge, my bro has one with 240,000 miles on it. It only need a clutch and a couple sets of brakes. But the Chevy with the 8.1 big block would be the ultimate.

[CannedHeat]

What makes the "Heavy Duty" modles heady duty?? What is the difference between the standard and heavy duty models?? I do know I want the Heavy Duty - but what are the changes that make this up??

Bigger, beefier frames on most. Often times a bigger, stronger motor and/or braking system. Usually, but not always, bigger tires. Payload and towing capacities are larger.
Often times people will go the way of the medium duty or light truck (like my GMC Sierra Crew Cab SLT) and will try to implement that as a work truck, hauling or carrying things that are way past the limits of what the standard 1/2 ton pickup was designed for. This generally adds major wear on the vehicle if it's done full-time in that manner, mileage, brake systems, tire wear, tranny and motor wear and framework/chassis are all affected when used as a heavy duty truck. Alot of people that have them probably don't need them, but then there's alot of people that need them and don't have them.

[JimT]

Dodge has more power, they supposedly are hard on tranny's that is what the stock haulers around here say. Ford, a little tougher overall with longer lasting bodies. Also what the farmers around here say. I have an old chevy deisel which was a good truck but is now having a few probs(230,000 miles) Chevy is good though as well. Can't beat the Dmax and allison but you don't want a diesel. As to the foriegn garbage, stay away from it. I think as americans we have an obligation to support american companies and american workers. I know toyota makes a good product, and the trucks are built here but the majrity of their products are still produced overseas and that is where most of the profits go as well. They also underpay their workers here and with less fringes. My .02 worth. If we care about our country we have a duty to support it.

My next truck will be a Toyota Tundra, because it is a better product. Buy USA? There is not a truck that is 100% American. Walk around any house and I bet 90% of everything in it came from another country. While I find this as disturbing as the next guy, it is true. Blame it on the already rich American that decided he could make more money by sending our jobs overseas. That being said, I feel the Ford is a better all around truck then the Dodge. Unless you plan to buy new running gear for the Dodge. Ford builds an all around good truck.

[GreatWhiteNorth517]

My old '99 Ram required a tranny rebuild to the tune of $2900, luckily still under warranty. My 2005 with a Hemi has had no problems.

[Grond]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a Ford if the price was $1. EVERY Ford truck that my parents have owned (4 so far) has needed the front ball joint assy. replaced...and always after the warranty has expired. My parents don't buy the small trucks, either. The last one that they bought (and still own AFTER the ball joint replacement) is the 350 1 ton with the Deisel.

Ford is junk...engineered to break down. If that wasn't hte case, then why would EVERY new ball joint that has been installed have a grease fitting in it, while the one's that had to be replaced didn't? I'll tell you why...bad engineering!

As far as "buy American"...as soon as the UAW comes back down to earth and the "Big Three" get their engineering, QC, and Developement departments up to the level that Toyota and Nissan are, then I'll start considering it.

By the way...have you heard about the new truck from Toyota that is coming out next fall?? 30+ MPG with the same towing capacity as the Silverado. It's a hybrid!!

Just my $.02

[.358 MAN]

I "might" be in the market in the next year or year and 1/2 for a new pick-up truck. I have narrowed it down to either a Dodge 2500 or Ford F-250. I have only had Ford before and only in 1/2 ton truck. I am in need of a 3/4 or ton (not dulley though). I am going to stay with a gas engine. I do way to much stopping and going to warrent/afford the deisel.

What is your folks opinion on the power end of things between these two? As I said, I do not want a deisel but do want a powerful pulling truck.

Both will do the same job..

[airborne]

I have an 2002 F250 diesel and my son has a 2005 Dodge 3/4 gas. I know you dont want diesel but the extra mileage per gal was worth the cost. I have had to replace two control arms in the front and I have around 110,000 miles on it. My son has replaced both universals, a rear pinion seal, and one front wheel bearing at 48,000. It sucks fuel like an ardvark at an ant farm. Hope this helps.

[kyredneck1911]

Just got rid of my F250 4X4 it rode as rough as a loggin' wagon!!! Got a Dodge and have never looked back.

[Rut-N-Strut]

2008 lifted Ford F250. I mean I like dodge but I'll never get rid of my truck.

[kfrog]

Dodge all the way I have had 2 fords and had to put a new trans in the first 25,000 miles.
ford found on road dead and that is for real.

[H2O Dog]

Riverbottom;

You’ve chosen to tackle a tough subject. Asking truck preference is like asking who make the best rifle. Having said that, I own an ’07 Ram 2500 with the hemi engine. I traded in a ’99 Ford F-250 and I traded a ’92 Toyota for the Ford.

Wit the exception of a few minor problems; each of these truck was very reliable for the five year I owned them. In my opinion, after five years and roughly 100,000 miles I don’t know if you can safely bet the farm on any vehicles performance. Each of the brands has their own group of loyal supporters.

Right now all manufactures have good incentives to purchase and you might consider striking while the iron is hot. I bought my Dodge because I liked the lines, the lifetime power train warranty, and the stiffer truck ride as opposed to the Ford, Chevy, or Toyota. They’re all solid product so I don’t think you can go wrong on either choice.

H2O Dog

[varmintcaller]

After I load my Quad, Generator, Extra gas, diesel fuel and emergency equipment I hook up my 23 foot travel trailer and head for an uphill 5 hour drive to the mountains to my hunting camp. Had this truck since 2003 and never had a problem with it. Cummins Diesel.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m225/varmintcaller/truckone.jpg

[JimT]

Dodge was just rated worst in quality again. One would think they would try and turn that around some day huh...

[Curlewdogbanger]

2006 Ford F 150 4x4 supercrew is what I have. Zero problems. Very nice riding truck. Not a 250 but it works.

[jpfishmaster]

I've owned a 00 Ford with the 7.3; an 04 Ford with the 6.0; I now drive an 03 Ram with the 5.9; the Ram is truly a hauler. Everybody hears of different problems with different trucks; The 04 Ford had 10,000 mis on it when it required a complete new tranny (under warranty) and not even hauling heavy loads. The Ram has gotten a bad rap with the 47RE and 48RE trannies as not being able to hold up the the power of the Cummins that rests in front of it. I've got 108,000 miles on mine with zero problems. I know that the newer Rams out there with the new 6 speed trannies are even better. Time will tell. If I were in the market right now for a brand new diesel, it would be a very hard decision. All 3 have some pluses in one way or another. Good luck.

[claq]

F.O.R.D. (.) Period. No Question.

[crcejka]

I use to be a hard core Ford fan but in the past 3 or four years I have become a big Dodge Ram fan. I even dumped my f150 for a ram1500 and couldn't be happier. I like everything about my ram better than the f150. I will most likley be buying a new one in a year or so and be handing down my current one to my boy when he starts driving in a year. One big thing I have noticed about ford trucks recently is that they are getting way to fu fu, plush and girly, for my taste. Trucks are just not supposed to be like that.

[Oldtrader3]

I have been a Ford truck fan since I traded my 1967, Chevy, 283 in for a 1969 Ford, long bed, F150, 360 V-8. Fords don't break! I have trashed the chamber plates on S-10 Blazers 6 or 7 times, replaced wheel bearings and U-joints like candy on fullsized Jimmy's. Bent the frames on both! My son who runs a garage in a small logging town were everybody drives a 4-wheel drive, says "friends don't let friend's drive Chevy's or Jimmy's.

Dodges are ok. The new ones almost match the new ford frames for toughness. Dodges don't hold their value as well as Fords and there is a reason, survival of the fitest. Especially on trade in value. I do have to give Toyota their due. Toyota makes a terrific, tough, rugged 4-wheel drive track (their real trucks) not the other RAV junk that their marketing pimps call SUV's).

[dubyam]

I currently own a Dodge Ram (2006 Quad Cab 1500), and won't own another one. Overall, nice truck. But it's having a number of little issues, and has since I got it. So far, I've avoided having to pay for any repairs, but now I'm out of warranty and will be footing the bill for things so ridiculous as a new ignition switch (because mine keeps locking up and leaves me unable to start the truck) and a new AC/Heater blower fan, because I drove over a railroad track after stopping at the stop sign, and the 'bump' of going over the tracks at 5mph caused my fan to break. There have been seatbelt problems, small electrical issues, a problem with the interior that ended up getting all the seat covers replaced, and a pinion seal leak on the rearend that required full replacement. I've owned this truck for three years, and have about 45k miles on it. In contrast, I've put a combined 160k plus miles on three Ford trucks over the past 15yrs, without having to pay for any repairs. I am about to have my first repair - the rear air on my wife's Expedition (currently with 65k mi). So I'm pretty happy with Ford, and pretty irked with Dodge. Oh, and I also had a Dodge Grand Caravan lose the front pump on the transmission at 41k mi. That was an expensive lesson. Thank heaven it was a company car and I didn't have to pay for it. If it were mine, It would have been a Ford! No more Chrysler for me, for sure.

[Oldtrader3]

Dodge vans blow power steering pumps too.

Take a Dodge or GM to the Escalante Mountains of southern Utah and follow a sheep trail up to 10.000 feet going over boulders that are 4 feet in diameter and weigh more than your truck each and every yard of the way. Go elk hunting. Then come back down the same torn-up trail and see if you have all four wheels still, complete with camber plates, oil pan and power steering, plus no broken axels or cracked wheel bearings. If so. do ths each day for the entire (10) day elk season.

Then tell me if you have a off-road-truck! Some Dodges will make it, most Chevies won't. See if you can drive the truck home after this treatment for a week with all four wheels pointing in the same direction.

[H2O Dog]

Riverbottom;

Asking opinions about trucks is nearly as “dangerous” as best rifle manufacture or tastiest light beer. I believe most new trucks (although there are exceptions) will be worry-free for the first fifty to sixty thousand miles. How you dive, where you drive, and maintenance are a few factors that will determine the longevity of any truck.

Don’t listen to that crap about “buy American”. I have a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Mega-Cab with the 5.7 Hemi. Best truck I ever owned! The truck was built in Mexico. My 2002 Ford F-250 was built in Canada. My wife has a new Subaru Outback; which was built in Indiana. I think more American workers benefited from me buying the Subaru. Look at were the truck was built and not on solely the name on the side!

The best advice anyone can give is to shop around and try them all. Go with the best quality at the price you can afford. Take care of it, do the recommended maintenance, and you should have it for a good long time.

H2O Dog

[aussie21]

Wars Have Been Started With Questions Like This. Go With The Ford!!! Dodges Are For Girls!!!

[.300weatherby15]

(Sorry IF this is random)

If ANYBODY would like to join my team on the Deer Hunting Contest, in the Big Game Section, then please post that you would like to join .300bees Army, and you will be admitted.

Please do this fast if your a trophy Deer hunter... theres a limited time. Please make up your mind FAST!!! Or otherwise known as ASAP!!!

Thanks!!!

.300 Weatherby.