Dodge trucks vs. Chevy or Ford

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:31 pm

Does anybody drive a new Dodge 2500 4X4? I was wondering how the reliability and quality of the truck was when compared to Ford and Chevy. I am considering the diesel and was wondering what I might expect for fuel mileage. Thanks for the input.

basstamer · Post by **basstamer** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:16 pm

I have kinda wondered the same-I am a Ford man all the way but since I have drove a truck for 20+ years I also love the idea of Dodge having a Cummins motor which has more than proven itself to me. My biggest "problem" with Dodge especially the new ones is that they are EVERYWHERE for sale and pretty darn cheap. I am NOT bashing Dodge in any way but i cant help but be leary seeing so many of them with like 8,000....15,000 miles on them in EVERY car lot and street corner. Has Dodge just flooded the market or did alot of people go out and buy the most inexpensive truck out there and then realize they got what they paid for ($=quality)? I have driven several of the Ford Super Duty F250's and with the Powerstroke they wil pull the biggest of bass boats like they arent even there-they are designed to move weight and believe me that makes all the difference in the world. The Super Duty has heavy everything-brakes,transmissions,etc and are BUILT to PULL. I am not a Chevy person so I cant even tell you what they offer but whatever truck you buy just make sure you buy what you need for the job and as long as you take care of it it will most likely take care of you.Tight Lines!!!

Neil · Post by **Neil** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:32 pm

From what I have heard the Dodge trucks have an excellent power plant, but do not have a very good transmission paired up with it. I do not have any personal experience with their diesel models, but I have been told there are a lot of transmission issues.

dougholcomb · Post by **dougholcomb** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:41 pm

2004.5 Dodge 4x4 turbo-diesel, 21,000 miles, around 16mpg. First Dodge and I have no complants other than the cost of diesel fuel. Tows my bass boat like its not behind me and makes one great tree trunk puller. I'd purchase again.

Doug

Ducky · Post by **Ducky** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:53 pm

Well, I and hubby have a 2004 Dodge Diesel 2500, about 58,000 and it is a great truck. We had no trouble pulling a 35' trailer up over the sierras to our new home in Fallon. She runs like a hemi with a diesle engine and does not like to idle below 65-70 on freeways. We had a 89 Dodge Diesel before we got the 2004 and it had over 250,000 on her and still ran very well. We needed the Quad for the Grandkids.
Test drive, Look them all over and compare price, durablilty and overall handling of them all before you settle on one and listen to all of the opinons read here too. Really good ones.

Ducky
just a dodge owners opinion

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:13 pm

I have a 04' F250 Powerstroke deisel with a Hypertec chip in it and it is awsome! I have it lifted 8" with 36" tires on it and it will smoke the tires at 25mph if I jump on it! Its got 425hp and 675 lbs of tourq. It pulles my 488VS with ease! I would Highly recomend one. This is comming from a guy who has owned chevy's all of his life!

BShafer · Post by **BShafer** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:04 pm

Althoug my truck isn't new it is the 2500 4x4 Dodge with a cummins motor. I bought the truck new in 97 and have replaced the tranny two times, the second time was do to faulty work by thge dealer. After dealing with that I spent the money and hand it built correctly and it's been doing fine. I have over 200,000 miles on it and it still runs great with no problems pulling my 20 ft boat.

Just to set it straight Dodge isn't the only rig out there that has or has had tranny problems. Now, after I put another 100,000 to 200,000 on this rig I will buy another Dodge diesel. MPG 19 empty 14 towing and obeying the 55mph.

Chad L. Dwyer · Post by **Chad L. Dwyer** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:14 pm

I've got a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 with the smaller 235 Hp Cummins and I haven't had it in the shop for one single thing. I've owned many different trucks in my day and while it's my first Diesel, it's been my favorite truck to date.

Some have said that Dodge has a weak tranny but I'd have to respectfully disagree. The 48RE is a really good tranny actually, the Chevy and Ford aren't bad either. Just remember, most guys that explode a tranny on a Diesel have programmer chips, maybe even a few programmer chips stacked, twin turbo's, injectors, propane or nitrous etc. and the stock tranny won't last long under those circumstances no matter what name plate is on the truck.

I've got a 6 inch lift on my Dodge with factory 3.73 gears turning 37 inch Toyo tires. I've got a Bully Dog 130 HP chip, complete air intake and down tube and 4 inch exhaust...and never a problem.......yet anyway.

Buy the truck that fits your budget and spend your $ on the truck that you personally like the best. Nothing is perfect and free of defects. That's why you have the warranty. Dodge's warranty is pretty hard to beat. 3/36 bumper to bumper, 7/70 powertrain and 100k on the motor.

Keep it simple, invest in the truck you truly like the best.

Good Luck,

Chad L. Dwyer[/img]

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:44 pm

I tow my Tracker with an F150, so I am not an expert on diesels, but several of my friends, roofers and concrete contractors, drive diesel dualies. The roofer has a Ford diesel, 350,000 miles without any motor problems, just bought another for his company, kept the old one. The concrete guy has a Dodge, and loves it. Diesels are built way stronger than gas engines, and they all have excelent torque, so you should have a stronger, longer lived engine no matter which brand you buy.
The best way I've found to compare is to ask several truck service places if there is one brand that's more reliable than another, that they see less than the others for repairs. If you ask fishemen, most of us will praise what we have, because we all "love" our trucks, our boats, our tackle, even our wives and kids. :O)

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:32 pm

Thanks for the input. I have heard that Ford had tranny problems and that Chevy had some early problems with the duramax and allison combination. I think most of those have been resolved now. I am always leary of Ford for their brakes which tend to warp easily. The new Dodge is a nice looking truck. I guess I will drive them all and then make the decision when the time comes. Thanks again.