[Beached Redneck]

I testdrove some trucks today. Couple of new Silverados (1/2 ton and 3/4 ton extended cab) not real impressed but hey do drive well, a F250 ford extended cab, and a 1500 Dodge Quad cab. I wanted to test drive a Dodge 2500, but none in my area. I really liked the Ford F250 with the 5.4 liter, extended cab and sport package (FX4). Wife says she rather it be a 4 door. The Dodge I liked the ride height. The feel of the truck was more like a regular car or vehicle...a little soft, topsy turvy. Tight turn radius though, and good power.

Do any of ya'll know how the 3/4 ton Dodge drives compared to the 1/2 ton? I'm pretty sure I'll want a 3/4 ton. Anybody with any insight comparisons on the Dodge versus Ford 3/4 ton trucks. I'm a newbie when it comes to newer vehicles, and just want some solid advice on a decision costing so much money. How come these guys here don't have 3/4 ton Dodge trucks on the lot?

 

[Murdoch]

it all depends on what you're going to do with the truck, like towing, or heavy hauling. for just a familiy grocery go getter just get a 1/2 ton. for more cargo get the 3/4 ton. most of the people here will say steer clear of ford and chevy, but you gotta go with what you want. that's my .02
shawn

 

[Beached Redneck]

Well...I thought wanting a 3/4 ton was self explanatory. I will be hauling cars, jet skis, engines, rear ends, transmissions, car parts, junk, the wife and the kid, etc... and the wife will use it to haul the kid.

I mainly want to know what the comparisons are between the new 3/4 ton Dodge and the 1/2 ton Dodge it terms of drivability, ride, rear gear ratio options and comparison (which one to get) etc. Plus, why steer clear of the Ford or Chevy...and why get the Dodge.
I'm thinking long term here...after a 7 year warranty runs out. The Ford looked like it would be a bitch to work on the engine. Plus, I'm sure its less in power and power potential than the Hemi. I think I like the Dodge better in terms of having to work on it later on. Just none around here to test drive, so need a test drive review and comparison mostly.

 

[Evildriver-3]

The spring rates are stronger so it will be somewhat stiffer, however my brothers 03 4x crew sport handles like a sports car so im not sure what problem you are experiencing in topsy turvy, maybe explain in detail topsy turvy, the diff between 2500 and 1500 is a solid axle in front, and gear ratios are a choice if you want to order a vehicle.

1. What do you tow now?

2. How heavy is it?

3. How far do you tow?

4. How often do you tow?

5. What gear ratio do you have now in what your towing with?

There all a bitch to work on.

 

[Beached Redneck]

, maybe explain in detail topsy turvy,

1. What do you tow now?

2. How heavy is it?

3. How far do you tow?

4. How often do you tow?

5. What gear ratio do you have now in what your towing with?

There all a bitch to work on.

What I meant was handling is not tight. There is some "roll" to the truck. I don't like the instability feeling. Not as bad as the 96 Blazer we have, but not what I would call sports car handling. The 1500 SIlverado felt more rigid than the Dodge...but I'm not real interested in a new Chevy, just mentioning for comparison purposes. Seemed like if turning t the right, the front left would always take a noticable dip, at a light throttle.

1) Not towing anything now. But have a 69 firebird or 89 Trans Am that I will be towing to track

2) My dad has an old trailor, pretty heavy duty. I can only estimate at about a 1000 lbs -1500 lbs. Car is 3400 and 3700. There is always the possibility that my dad will need me to tow something heavy, like a 40,000 lb drilling rig or something lighter...My brother has a 98 CHevy Z71 step side...not sure if its up to the task

3) Bout the longest distance normally is about 50 miles one way. When I go to qtr mile track, that will be ~200-250 miles one way.

4)Will be at least once a month, to sometimes every weekend

5) Well...nothing really. I won't pull this stuff with my 4.3 liter, 3.73 geared blazer. The Dodge truck I have is 4.10 geared in the rear I believe. But haven't pulled anything with it in a while.

Maybe its just relative. I pull up in a low mileage 89 GTA trans am to test drive the 1500 Dodge after driving the F250 Sprt Packaged 4x4, both vehicles that were pretty "tight". The Dodge 1500 just didn't measure up in terms of tightness. One reason I want a full size truck is because of the ride and handling. I feel it will be much safer than the S10 Blazer we currently have. With no 3/4 ton Dodges on the lot, I might not can get a good deal. 1500 Dodge pick ups out the Yin-Yang. I liked the truck, just not sure if I buy it that I will regret not getting the 3/4 ton.

 

[macario]

On new Chrysler/Mopar vehicles with automatic transmissions you might not want to change out that ATF too often. (ATF+4) It's about $6.90 a quart. Just my two cents. (well, more like $90 bucks in the case of my wife's Jeep)

 

[SeahawkDodge]

, maybe explain in detail topsy turvy,

1. What do you tow now?

2. How heavy is it?

3. How far do you tow?

4. How often do you tow?

5. What gear ratio do you have now in what your towing with?

There all a bitch to work on.

What I meant was handling is not tight. There is some "roll" to the truck. I don't like the instability feeling. Not as bad as the 96 Blazer we have, but not what I would call sports car handling. The 1500 SIlverado felt more rigid than the Dodge...but I'm not real interested in a new Chevy, just mentioning for comparison purposes. Seemed like if turning t the right, the front left would always take a noticable dip, at a light throttle.

1) Not towing anything now. But have a 69 firebird or 89 Trans Am that I will be towing to track

2) My dad has an old trailor, pretty heavy duty. I can only estimate at about a 1000 lbs -1500 lbs. Car is 3400 and 3700. There is always the possibility that my dad will need me to tow something heavy, like a 40,000 lb drilling rig or something lighter...My brother has a 98 CHevy Z71 step side...not sure if its up to the task

3) Bout the longest distance normally is about 50 miles one way. When I go to qtr mile track, that will be ~200-250 miles one way.

4)Will be at least once a month, to sometimes every weekend

5) Well...nothing really. I won't pull this stuff with my 4.3 liter, 3.73 geared blazer. The Dodge truck I have is 4.10 geared in the rear I believe. But haven't pulled anything with it in a while.

Maybe its just relative. I pull up in a low mileage 89 GTA trans am to test drive the 1500 Dodge after driving the F250 Sprt Packaged 4x4, both vehicles that were pretty "tight". The Dodge 1500 just didn't measure up in terms of tightness. One reason I want a full size truck is because of the ride and handling. I feel it will be much safer than the S10 Blazer we currently have. With no 3/4 ton Dodges on the lot, I might not can get a good deal. 1500 Dodge pick ups out the Yin-Yang. I liked the truck, just not sure if I buy it that I will regret not getting the 3/4 ton.

Honestly, if that is all you are towing, then a 1/2 ton will do you fine. If you go with a 3/4 ton, you might as well spend the extra $5K for the Cummins. You won't even notice you are hauling a trailer with it, and you will get better gas mileage than with the Hemi. Plus the cummins normally last for about 300,000+ miles. You can't say that about anything that Ford produces. The 6.0 powerstroke is a decent motor now that they have worked most of the bugs out of it, but still is no match for the cummins. The cummins will out tow, out haul, out accellerate and just plain outlast the diesels from Ford and Chevy.