help me pick a new tow rig! 2 choices... HELP!

80,000 miles

or




30,000 miles

SIMILAR PRICING

I have owned both brands. Go with the ford and never look back!!!

Its a diesel too!! Better mileage and power!!

My dodge fell apart after 100k miles. I know lots of other people with over 250k miles on their powerstrokes.

ok.... what color is your boat? Match it!
Next..... one is a heavy duty and one is not...
Next..... one is a diesel and one is not....
Don't seem like much of a comparison....
you should probably determine those first.... I am a Diesel fan.... Also a Dodge fan, but diesel is more important for me personally.... Why don't you compare apples to apples and go look at a Dodge heavy duty diesel too and compare it to the Ford..... Both sweet trucks!!

Check it out though. I'm not really seeing a LARGE difference. It's not like we're pulling 40ft Fountains. I'm pulling a 21ft Supra. 5000 Lbs. Both trucks can pull this boat well & still act lke a decent daily driver. I put on ALOT of miles (I think), around 30,000 a year. Diesel in my area is $.30 more per gallon. Cost per mile is around the same for both trucks. So I think it is a simliar comparison (for ME).

The next thought, is that nothing I own will remain stock. So which one will be the better lifted rig. Hmmm...

Ford hands down. I dont know about everyone else but theres nothin better than a nice jacked up powerstroke.

I am a chevy man my self (05 Duramax) I like the Fords though. Great trucks, look good lifted. By the way if you are thinking about lifting a truck it seems wierd that you are concerned about fuel economy. That for will last to 300,000 miles that dodge is on its last leg. Every experience that I have with Dodge is bad. Is the dodge a Hemi if not then definately do not go with the dodge. By the way I used to have a 2000 Z71 1500 and towed my boat with it (comparable to the dodge gas motor) Now that I tw with my new Duramax I will never go back to a gas motor for that. Plus if you add the Gale Banks fullout system with chip intercooler exhaust etc, you will not only pull anyhting but you can run 12-13 sec 1/4 miles sometimes even 11 sec. I have seen it done. In short Go with the Power Stroke (pluse white matches everything and does not fade)

Peace

The ford. The PSD is a great engine, and at 80,000 miles its just getting broken in. Lifted, you will have a lot easier time towing with the deisel, and you may get quite a bit better mileage than with the gas. Also if you can buy bio-deisel, or one of the other direviteves it may be cheaper than you think. just google bio-diesel to see if you have an outlet near you.

I think you would be much happier with the Ford. You should hook both trucks up to the boat on a test drive and see how they both tow. I own a 4x4 customizing shop and I know the Ford would be much more durable in the long run if lifted. The Ford would also be cheaper to lift, but the Dodge independant suspension would be a more comfortable ride. I agree with everything Diggs said, you need to decide what you need in a truck, and compare apples to apples. Have you ruled out a 3/4 or 1-ton Dodge which has a much heavier duty suspension and an awesome Cummins diesel engine. Or, my favorite, the Chevy with the Duramax Diesel. Both trucks your looking at are nice, but its not really fair to compare a 1-ton Ford to a 1/2-ton Dodge. If these are your only options, get the Ford.

go turbo diesel.

i would never buy a gasser dodge. if these are your options then definitely the powerjoke, besides the crew cab is bigger in the ford altho what year? hopefully its a 7.3 and not an early 6.0

Midwesty,

I have a 6.0 in my excursion, what bad have you heard?

Between those two, which is really not a valid comparison, I'd take the diesel, but make no mistake, neither of those trucks is "heavy duty" as someone mentioned.

A Powertroke diesel is a light-duty diesel, which has more longevity than a gas engine, but still not in the league of a medium-duty diesel like a Cummins.

Stop by an interstate highway rest stop someday and grab a few of the free trucker magazines in the racks. Look at what engines many of the big rigs have. I'll give you a clue, you won't find any Powerstrokes in the mag, lol.

Deisel MPG will not vary by much as compared to the Gas MPG. If you tow a lot, go deisel...if not go gas.

Eric

Stay away from early 2003 6.0l. They had all kinds of issues with the motor and a few with transmission problems. If it's a 7.3 get it.

I'm not sure what Eric is talking about on his MPG statement.

I get 13 mpg when towing 70 and truck filled to the gills with camping gear and 15 to 16 MPG when driving on the freeway at 70. I have a 04 6.0 Crew Cab long bed. The 7.3 motors get better MPG than the 6.0's.

My father in law has a 6.0 Chevy and gets 7 when pulling his boat and loaded for camping and gets 11 or 12 MPG when driving on the freeway.

Have owned a Dodge and now own a F250. Go with the Ford, you'll be happier IMO

Comparing "heavy duty" 3/4 and 1-ton trucks with "heavy duty" commercial tow rigs is a bit disingenuous.

Get the Ford and drop an International 12 liter in it. You'll be good to go!

(Message edited by Bruky__ on October 04, 2005)

Not a ford guy, but wouldn't do gas dodge. For decent comparison check cummins dodge. Unless you need crew cab size. Quad dodge great rig. Have 03 2500 w cummins, 6 inch lift, 37's on 20's getting 17.5-18.5 light, 12-14 towing 23 Wakesetter loaded. Would recommend 6 speed. Have had a few auto cummins, just not best. I don't drive truck every day as 6 speed may get old but have found no substitute for power and longevity. Truck has been trouble free. Also have heard nothing but trouble from 6 liter strokes. 7.3's have been pretty good though.

I would think on the fact alone that you pull 30k miles a year you would have answered your own question...diesel

"Deisel MPG will not vary by much as compared to the Gas MPG."

Have to disagree. Big difference when towing the boat and loaded with gear / people.

Go with the deisel. When it comes to towing and hauling, it will run circles around that 1/2 ton dodge.

uh diesel, no brainer. Have 142k on my 2k PSD, if I tow anything I would buy the diesel. Torque, reliability, towing ability, braking, and mileage are just a few of the differences.

Face Planter and Jrod...basically I said the same thing...just not enought time to type it all out. Fully loaded Deisel will have better MPG all around and will vary little from normal to towing fully loaded. Gas motor on the otherhand will vary greatly in the same situation. I think this helps offset the higher price of deisel but only over time and if you drive the vehicle a lot. OUr experience with a chevy 8.1 that sees very little service (15k in 4 years) all highway and towing. Deisel would have been a silly choice due to the added expense.

the powerstroke is a much better engine than the hemi for towing.

we just towed my respnse lx from the river(there is a HUGE 6% grade in the middle) with an 05 hemi and it's unfair to even have the two in the same category. the hemi could barely keep it above 70 while my buddy's powerstroke on 35s was able to take the hill at 80 like there wasn't anything back there.

reliability, torque, mileage, it's all about the turbodiesel.

about cummins being a medium duty diesel like someone steated before, the smaller cummins are in the same category as powerstroke and duramax. the medium duty diesels are those found in the f-650, 750, chevy 4500s, etc. those are the real deal, that is some legit $#!+. nothing like a huge caterpillar or cummins.

Mileage will vary if you have some mods.
I have a supertuner, 5in pipe and K&N air filter
and get over 35 on the Hwy and get better than
30 when towing.

^^sandy,

RIIIIGHT!!!! i'm sure you do. could you please inform the class of your wonder vehicle?

160,000 on my diesel and I would never buy anything else! I could lose a all my tires and drag the axel around and I would not even know it!!!

id go with the ford all the way.. if not keep your eyes out for a lifted ford crew cab v-10.. for some reason you can pick them up really cheap..

I bought a new 05 Dodge 1500 Hemi that looks almost dead on to what you are looking at. I average 13.5 to 14 mpg pulling my boat at 65-70 mph. The Hemi is more then I needed but I'm very happy with it. I passed on the Ford simply because I really don't like the body style of the newer ones. 80k on a truck is still 80k, doesn't matter how good the engine condition the truck could still be beat up. Brakes are always a problem at that range and so is the tranny, make sure you look closely at the details. I personally like the Cummins if I'm going diesel simply because that's a rated million mile engine. The Powerstroke is pretty tough though, I sold them for a local Ford store for 3 years and never got any compaints. In most cases the trucks die quicker then the engines.

FORD!!!!!! I know a few people that have had the hemi for a few years and hate them. + a lifted Ford looks so sick!!! I have a 04 F350 with a 6.5" lift, 36x14.50 Swamper STS Radials, I love my truck!!!!! Ford is the way to go!!!!

Go with the Ford. I tow with an 01 crew cab short bed 4x4 Duramax Deisel. Mine is lifted 6" with Swamper STS Radials 36x14.50-16.5. The indipendent front makes the ride smooth. Stay away from a v-10 if you are concerned about fuel. I traded an 02 chevy 4x4 gas 8.1 liter for my 01 deisel. Best choice ever!!!

A Diesel with 80K, consider that the previous owner was just breaking it in for you. that rig will do 300K easy!

Right on the money guys. I kinda figured the Ford would win this battle. Although it really isn't a fair comparison. I'm going to drive the Ford on thursday.

FORD..........I HAVE 02 WITH CHIP AND PIPES....15 MPG ALL DAY LONG....WITH TONS OF TORQUE

I agree about the diesel. The only way to go.
One more thing to think about is the fact that if you lift your truck, you are in effect raising the gear ratio. This was a benefit in my '03 Duramax, as I only turn 1850 RPM's at 73 MPH. The torque of the diesel lets the ruck loaf along and get a REAL 19-20 MPG empty and 13-14 MPG towing a 9000 lb 29' catamaran. I towed my 24' Tige with the truck and forgot it was back there!
Stay away from a gas motor unless you want to re-gear the truck after a lift. The pic is of a twin to my truck, except a Chev. and three inches more lift with 40" tires. Mine is a GMC with a 6" body lift and 37" tires.

ISB Cummins a light duty motor???

Huuuuuuuugh....

Mine



Logic behind my purchase was based on the motor. Here are a few applications we currently use the ISB in.




Check gross



Here's one for ya. This yard tractor has the ISB 24 valve with the old mechanical injectors. It drags around an average 62,000pnds per trailer 20 hours a day. We've had it in service for four years now without a single issue.





Just my biased emotionally based opinion.

I have owned two Dodges and both were half tons. I had an 01 with a 318 and it was the slowest tow vehicle ever..... I now have a Hemi and it tow great and get 15 to 17 mile to the gallon depending on how I drive it. It also has a great ride.... So Hemi or run!

I made the earlier statement about not being a fair comparison. If those are your two choices go for the Diesel. In my opinion I don't care which truck the Diesel is better. But you should go drive a comparable Dodge, Chevy as well. If you are getting a Supra to pull behind it then it is an easy answer.... Look below.... Either way I like all the trucks on the market, but attempt to match the boat and truck...

black car.
black boat.
How do you keep that clean?

Diggs

Now that's more like it...

See Matt, we're helping you get on the right track.

Dodge/Skier's Choice

I've got an '03 Dodge Hemi
I love it1
it pulls great, sounds great and matches in color my '05 wakesetter!

Black truck/black boat not easy to keep clean! My 01 Duramax is black and ~s~ launch black/white. That is a sweet setup Diggs!!!!!

Alot of nice pulls! I just want to see that Pepsi truck pulling a graphics-matched Supra

As long as we're posting pics... Here is the current arrangement. This may give you an idea of why I'm looking to trade up. I sometimes feel like my boat is gonna run me over




(Message edited by flyspec14 on October 05, 2005)

Will it be your daily driver as well? The 1500 may be a little more agile and peppy in the city and whatnot.

A little off subject and thread hijack, but what's the deal with the Dodge variable displacement hemi engine?

Greg

Variable displacement...

...means it changes it's displacement usage...from 8 cylinders to 4 when on the freeway or just not accelerating.

john brukiewicz,

the new turbo diesels are very peppy and just as agile as that 1/2 ton dodge. my buddy has a crew cab sb f-2 on 35s and drives around downtown san diego all the time.

May I suggest the Ford Powerstroke.

Any of the new diesels from the big 3 are going to run strong, just choose what interior and look you like best..

Man that camper/boat combo must me fun to parallel park ;)

So I drove the F350... QUICK as hell, (big plus). NOISY as hell, (my girl will hate me).

This would be a TOUGH daily driver. I think it'd be a nice boat hauler, but a •••••• daily ride.

Although I haven't driven the other diesels yet.

Just get a louder stereo.........

Matt, I have not figured out how to back up any more than 30 foot so forget about the parallel park. Just picked up a Red 06 21V over the weekend to match.

What JT said is kinda true. All the new diesels are extremly insulated for noise in the cab. It makes a great setup for a good stereo system. You will never here a sub hit harder than in a diesel truck.

The Duramax is most quiet, followed by Dodge, then Ford when brand new. However the Dodge gets pretty noisy as the hours rack up.

"May I suggest the Ford Powerstroke."

You may, but I will throw in a suggestion for a Duramax. The D-max (with chip, of course), can pull this rig down the interstate all day long at 75MPH and still get 13 MPG. I know, I pulled this boat over 3000 miles in one year.