Big 3 diesel trucks comparison

[Woodrow]

I may be in the market for a new tow rig in a few months. I have an ‘08 Dodge 3500 Cummins 4x4 that I bought new, but I am tired of fixing/maintaining it. I’d rather be more focused on TJ work. I live out west, so mountains are always involved when I tow. Typically, I’m towing around 8k which is technically well within gas half ton territory but I have been there and done that. The power, stability, and range of a 1T turbo diesel especially on a winding grade at altitude is worth the additional price of entry to me. The question therefore is Superduty, Dodge(I don’t like the ram name), or GM?

For several reasons, power being at the top of the list, I initially favor the Ford. There is a dyno comparison that was done a year or so ago and in raw numbers, the superduty crushed the other 2:

https://www.dieselarmy.com/features/whos-lying-about-horsepower-ford-vs-chevy-vs-ram-dyno-shootout/

I drove a Superduty shortly after the current aluminum body came out in 2017 and again a few days ago (2 different ‘27 Tremor variants). Gotta say I don’t love it. Its hard to believe anything could make my 20yo Dodge feel sporty but the Ford has to be 11/10 on the “drives like a school bus” scale. It felt very under damped and it didn’t take much speed into a on-ramp corner to make those front tires howl and push. One of the new ones I drove also had a drivetrain shudder on hard acceleration that felt like a loose pinion does. The other one (a $110K Platinum FFS!) had a broken mirror adjustment button.

I have yet to drive the new Dodges and GMs. I like the Cummins platform and the new 8spd transmission has gotten good reviews. That combo is also available in a power wagon this year. The IFS in my old ‘94 GMC is far better driving than my dodge so maybe the new GMs will be better road drivers too. But Stellantis just seems to suck all around and GM quality hasn’t been awesome lately either.

Anyone else been through this comparison lately and care to comment?

 

[Woodrow]

Sorry @Chris. I realized I should’ve posted here right after I posted.

 

[Apparition]

I wish we’d have gotten you into mine like we talked about in Utah.

Haven’t driven a ‘27 so can’t compare.

But I pissed off a BMW X5 M series the other day because he couldn’t out run me to an upcoming right turn the other day, he was on my left.

I knew what he was trying to do since he had two failed jumps on timing the light prior to it actually turning green. Sport mode took care of him and I didn’t even launch it in 4x4.

Good luck on your hunt. Hope you find what suits you.

 

[Woodrow]

I wish we’d have gotten you into mine like we talked about in Utah.

Haven’t driven a ‘27 so can’t compare.

But I pissed off a BMW X5 M series the other day because he couldn’t out run me to an upcoming right turn the other day, he was on my left.

I knew what he was trying to do since he had two failed jumps on timing the light prior to it actually turning green. Sport mode took care of him and I didn’t even launch it in 4x4.

Good luck on your hunt. Hope you find what suits you.

Funny. 500whp and 1100ft.lbs to the wheels is hard compete with

 

[Zorba]

There's no way in Hell I'd ever buy a new truck, diesel or otherwise, to replace something like your '08. For a plethora of reasons - but that's me.

 

[Rickyd]

Who has the best emissions equipment warranty and easiest lemon byback right now?

I think that would be one of my highest priorities on something so expensive and failure prone.

Research which issues the 3 have and decide which you want to deal with.

And of course,go drive all of them.

 

[WVJeep304]

I know at least a dozen people that have bought Cummins equipped Rams in the last 4 years. Every. Single. One of them has had major issues, 4 of them traded in on something else immediately. GM certainly has its issues as well. I've actually been diehard GM since birth, and currently own 2 GM trucks. But if I had to buy a new truck today, it would be an F250 powerstroke without any hesitation. Ford definitely has its issues as well. But I like the look the best, I prefer the interior, and trust it more than the alternatives.

 

[MtPockets]

How many miles are on your current truck? Is it possible to put some money into it to keep it going as opposed to starting over?

If you must buy new, I wouldn't buy anything that required DEF so I'd look real hard at one of the newer big gassers.

Otherwise, and I know it seems like a longshot, but if I was looking for a good diesel I'd sit back and watch for an older, low mileage, well taken care of one.

Anything with DEF is going to be an expensive pos.

 

[WVJeep304]

Otherwise, and I know it seems like a longshot, but if I was looking for a good diesel I'd sit back and watch for an older, low mileage, well taken care of one.

Anything with DEF is going to be an expensive pos.

I agree with this (mostly). I wouldn't drive anything built after 2020 if it was given to me for free. That said, I wouldn't hesitate (and would prefer) to get something between 2016-2019. If it's already deleted, that's a plus. If not, the cost to delete the emissions junk is well worth the cost saved over buying one of the new overpriced turds.

But as I mentioned before, if I had zero choice and had to buy something after 2020, it would be a Ford. I like the L5P in the GM trucks, it's the rest of the truck I dislike.

 

[Apparition]

How many miles are on your current truck? Is it possible to put some money into it to keep it going as opposed to starting over?

If you must buy new, I wouldn't buy anything that required DEF so I'd look real hard at one of the newer big gassers.

Otherwise, and I know it seems like a longshot, but if I was looking for a good diesel I'd sit back and watch for an older, low mileage, well taken care of one.

Anything with DEF is going to be an expensive pos.

I think the problem is Mike put the money into it already and isn’t happy.

Buy new and you have at least 3 years fully warrantied. Extend the warranty and you can make it 125k and like 10 years for a couple grand.

 

[MtPockets]

I think the problem is Mike put the money into it already and isn’t happy.

Yeah, I kinda got that. And as much as I hate to say it, somebodies got to buy the new ones too.
With all the issues of any DEF required diesel, the only way I'd own one was if the DEF system was covered 100% for life.
But then again, that doesn't help when you're in the middle of BFE and your truck is in limp mode.

 

[Apparition]

Yeah, I kinda got that. And as much as I hate to say it, somebodies got to buy the new ones too.
With all the issues of any DEF required diesel, the only way I'd own one was if the DEF system was covered 100% for life.
But then again, that doesn't help when you're in the middle of BFE and your truck is in limp mode.

I rarely add def to mine. 2-3 tanks a year. Pretty much don’t realize it’s there.

Apparently the newer trucks all use more. Coworkers duramax drinks the stuff. His truck is also constantly getting things fixed.

 

[MtPockets]

I rarely add def to mine. 2-3 tanks a year. Pretty much don’t realize it’s there.

Apparently the newer trucks all use more. Coworkers duramax drinks the stuff. His truck is also constantly getting things fixed.

What kind of warranty do these new diesels have on their DEF systems?
I brought Cat in to replace a cracked DEF Header on a rubber tired excavator. It cost north of $5k.
When I asked what the guarantee was, he said there wasnt one and since we are in Montana "it could freeze and break again tonight."
F@%k that.

 

[InOmaha]

I'd make a list with a good mechanic and fix everything until you didn't need to worry about mechanical stuff. You probably can't finance that, but I bet it is cheaper than anything newer.

But diesel prices suck now. So there is that.

 

[Apparition]

What kind of warranty do these new diesels have on their DEF systems?
I brought Cat in to replace a cracked DEF Header on a rubber tired excavator. It cost north of $5k.
When I asked what the guarantee was, he said there wasnt one and since we are in Montana "it could freeze and break again tonight."
F@%k that.

According to AI

But there are options to extend the bumper to bumper which is minimal in comparison to a $100k+ truck.

Or delete it.

 

[Wildman]

Something else to consider too.... DEF can't be stored for extended periods once opened. How I came to find all this out was when I was shopping for a RV & then a newer tow pig...
When you put DEF into the tank it now has a shelf life. So if you aren't driving it a lot (like an RV that is used 2-3 times a year) this can cause the DEF system to get gummed up or ruined..
Mike how often will you drive the truck?

I haven't looked at newer trucks so I can't comment on which is "BETTER" but I've been a Cummins fan for years and like you when I went and test drove the Ford as much as they were nice I liked the Ram more.... Never been a fan of the IFS on the GMC/Chevy so stayed away from them...

 

[Zorba]

I agree with this (mostly). I wouldn't drive anything built after 2020 if it was given to me for free. That said, I wouldn't hesitate (and would prefer) to get something between 2016-2019. If it's already deleted, that's a plus. If not, the cost to delete the emissions junk is well worth the cost saved over buying one of the new overpriced turds.

But as I mentioned before, if I had zero choice and had to buy something after 2020, it would be a Ford. I like the L5P in the GM trucks, it's the rest of the truck I dislike.

I'd be hesitant over anything built after 2017, when the bullshit backup camera crap was mandated by our benevolent OverLords, thus engendering the hated screen in most vehicles. But realistically, most anything past the aughts I'd have to look at carefully. Our newest vehicle is my wife's '14 Fiat Pop. No damn screen, but entirely too much electronic crap that has already had to be replaced once - thank Goddess I got the so-called "forever" warranty.

Its my understanding that Dodge doesn't do single cabs anymore - an instant non-starter for me, even if I wanted a new truck. I'd want a truck, not a school bus with a bed, and usually a vestigial bed at that.

 

[Rickyd]

I think the problem is Mike put the money into it already and isn’t happy.

Kinda. The allison swap was a big gamble. They work great in chevys,but only with a perfect tune and components. Throw one in a dodge and it needs to go to a duramax tuner shop.and probably get rebuilt by the handful of guys who know tuned allisons.

He isn't saying why he's throwing in the towel but i have some suspicions he wishes he'd just done a dodge trans with billet parts since even wildman can work on those

 

[Wildman]

He isn't saying why he's throwing in the towel but i have some suspicions he wishes he'd just done a dodge trans with billet parts since even wildman can work on those

There's something to be said for keeping it simple... With the newer transmission options available now I know what I'd do...

 

[MtPockets]

There's something to be said for keeping it simple... With the newer transmission options available now I know what I'd do...

Buy something old enough to have a manual???