I just read a diesel review in Truckin' magazine, and the Dodge came in dead last. The only thing they could say was that the Dodge had the best interior. It was the second slowest unloaded, and it was the slowest in loaded acceleration. The Chevy came in first. It was the fastest loaded and unloaded and got the best mpg. Dodge got the worst.

Thoughts?

 

I am sure Four Wheeler, Truckin', Hot Rod, etc all have thier merits... but to really go to them for your primary source of information is the act of a wishful thinking 14 year old.

I read all of the above mags, so I definately am not bashing them (or MemiMan). But you have to take thier reviews with a grain of salt.

 

What load configuration and weight, What size engines?

 

Dodge had the 5.9 Cummins, 325hp and 610tq. Ford had the 6.0 Powerstroke, 325hp and 570tq, and Chevy had the 6.6 Duramax, 360hp and 650tq. Dodge had the 4-speed auto, Chevy the 6-speed auto, and Ford the 5-speed auto.

Dodge was a Megacab 3500 Dualie, Chevy was 3500 CC Dualie, and Ford the same as Chevy.

The Dodge was 2WD while the Chevy and Ford were 4x4. The Ram was also the worst in braking with a trailer. It doesn't say how big the trailer was, but it still shouldn't be an excuse.

EDIT: They didn't say exactly how much it was, but they said almost 10k pounds.

 

While the Dodge unloaded wasn't horrible in acceleration (0-60 in 9.6 and quarter of 17.1) (Duramax=0-60 in 8.7 and quarter of 16.8), it fell behind when with a trailer (0-60 in 22.94 and quarter in 23.24) (Duramax=0-60 in 18.98 and quarter in 21.82) (Powerstroke=0-60 in 22.15 and quarter in 22.98).

 

A lot depends on the gearing. Automakers have a bad habit of putting a "sleeper" vehicle up for evaluation. The really reputable reviewers go out on the open market and pick up the vehicles to be tested in the blind.

The Cummins Turbo Diesel seems to have by far the best reputation for duribility. The Ford 6.0 Diesel has been a disaster, especially the early 6.0 diesels. I know a number of companies that traded them off after two years because of the time spent in the shop. The GMC diesels have a real problem with duribility if the engines EVER get hot. The AL heads are Junk once they are even moderately overheated. Even if the dealer fixes it, when the truck is "Working" you don't want in the shop 4 months out of the first 12 in one case I know of, and 6 weeks down time for another in the first 9 months for the Fords, The GMC/Chevy's seem to have a lot of routine maintaince problems with their diesels. The Dodge Diesels seem to be quit a bit more reliable. That said, Dodge really screwed up with the placement of the role-over vent line in 2006.

I checked on the mileage with a lot of diesel one ton dualie owners before I picked up my Dodge CTD. the Dodge come up the best by about 20%. Perhaps things have been changed for 2006, but everything goes back to ground "0" with the 2007's. I intend on keeping my 98 12 Valve a LOOOOONG time, and will probably pick up two 1997/1998 extended cab one ton 12 Valve CTD dualies next year if my business keeps growing.

Ralph

 

One second slower in a quarter full loaded, I see that as an equil run on all of them.


How about a test where they take a full load up Black Monutain.

 

the ford would blow a head gasket, the chevy would warp a head from the heat, the cummins would be crawling, but it would make it

 

the chevy also had 3.73 gears in the rear end to help with mpg and quater mile time, and the others only had around 275 rwh and the chevy had 3oo, just saying. But I do agree with the reliablity of the cummins

 

The Chevy had 3.73, so did the Dodge, but the Ford had a 4.30 gear. Dodge made 289rwhp and chevy made like 310 or something and ford made like 270.