Ford or Ram

[FJRay]

The lease on my 2012 F150 will be done in the spring so It's time to start thinking about whats next. I have zero complaints with the Ford but wouldn't mind better mileage. Anybody have any experience with new Ram 1500 ecodiesel????

 

[ahchiu]

Ask Hudson, he has a Ram 2500 Crew Cab to tow his Airstream.

 

[FJRay]

Edited first post to indicate the new V-6 Italian diesel. The 2500 is the Cummins I believe. Thanks.

 

[juniorfjr]

Ray, I was talking with someone at Auburns tech meet who had a new ecodiesel, thought it was Hudson. Said he was getting a high of 26 mpg, 23 to 24 more common. Just sat in a new ram laramie, really nice. I'll keep my ecoboost though. Figuring about 75 cents more a gallon for diesel it'd be a push. I'm getting max 21, but more like 18 to 19 hwy and I can tow up to 11k.

 

[hppants]

From purely a cost benefit perspective, unless you are driving 50,000 miles A year, I highly doubt you can make a case for the ram ecodiesel. You simply can't burn enough fuel to make up for the increased cost and the cost of the fuel and maintenance. Add to that the fact that it's a first year product and I think I would pass this time

On the other hand, the 2015 ford all aluminum F-150 is not measuring up to its fuel savings hype. If I were you, I'd find a leftover 2014 ford, save a crap load of change, and go with a road proven product

But then again, I'm driving a 12 year old Silverado so what do I know?

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I know a guy...

I talked to a guy a couple months ago who had the Ram V6 Ecodiesel. He let me sit in the truck while he started it and let it run. It was a very, very nicely loaded Laramie, perforated leather seats, navigation, the works. It is astonishing how far Dodge has come with their interiors.

He claimed 28 mpg on the interstate at 75 mph. My subsequent internet research backed that up.

He was selling his brand new (2065 miles!) Harley Street Glide to a friend of mine, I met him when we went to look at the bike. My friend rode in the truck for the title swap, bike pickup and said it was awesome.

All that said, unless you figure in resale/trade in value, you will NEVER make up the cost difference between gasoline and diesel. Oil, oil filter and fuel filter change costs alone will eat up any fuel savings you might realize.

There are 3 ways to justify a diesel:

1. Constant towing of really heavy things.

2. You want one.

3. You want one.

I have a Duramax for just those 3 reasons. The truck it replaced was identical except it had a gas burner. That truck actually did everything the Duramax does, it just burned more fuel. The Duramax gets about 4 mpg better than the gas burner.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I don't think there is a "wrong" answer between those two trucks.

 

[08FJR4ME]

I had a neighbor with a dodge truck. He went through 3 transmissions and a lot of rust and he got it new. He did plow commercially so he did make it do some work. My F250SD kept me going for 10 years and it had just over 100K when I traded it in for my F350SD that I have now. I hope to run this one for 20 years or till it dies on me. I have always been a ford guy anyway. They will cost you more money and you won't get the mileage of other brands. That said, I still don't think there is a better truck out there than Ford. They are the best built IMO.

Since you do lease maybe it doesn't matter and you should just get what you want. In 2 years you can ask us again.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[HotRodZilla]

Not being funny, just honest: Dodge builds shit. The only redeeming quality about a Dodge 2500+ is the Cummings motor. The rest of the truck is crap.

As stated above, the cost of any diesel requires that you work hard or tow a lot with it to make it worth the cost. I have a buddy that got rid of his 2003 7.3 Power Stroke at around 300 because the diesel maintenance was costing him too much. He had to order a new F250 with a 6.2L. Gas motor and gas maintenance is way cheaper, and he says it pulls his 33ft 5th wheel just fine. Thats prolly what I'm getting next.

For 1/2 ton trucks, if you want massive pulling power, go with the 3.5L EcoBoost. They're amazing. If not, stick with the 5.0L you currently have. Hell, extend your lease and keep it or buy it. Your payments will barely change.

 

[escapefjrtist]

sportsguy has the new Ram 1/2 ton diesel. Says it's a very nice P/U and is awesome on gas diesel.

--G

 

[juniorfjr]

sportsguy has the new Ram 1/2 ton diesel. Says it's a very nice P/U and is awesome on gas diesel.
--G

Sportsguy, d'oh. Now I remember.

 

[FJRay]

I will more than likely stick with Ford. I still have a 48 that my dad bought new.

I will continue to lease cause I want the warranty. I'm so far behind on automotive and can't climb under or over shit due to spine issues I just want to drink their coffee while they do the work.

The 5 liter works fine and delivers decent mileage. A lot of it is what makes Patti happy because it's her truck. Mine is the 55 F100.

Maybe the beer can body will help a little.

 

[huron52]

If you don't pull something big or carry something heavy, or drive a long way a diesel in a truck it is not worth it. Mine is my second vehicle. It was bought to pull my 35 foot 5th wheel toy hauler. If I didn't have the hauler I won't own that big a truck. As for oil changes and filters I find it isn't much more than a gas engine.

I don't believe Dodge builds sh*t .

Ford has had their share of engine problems and so has GM over the years (I'm talking diesel engine/drive trains)

 

[majicmaker]

I will more than likely stick with Ford. I still have a 48 that my dad bought new.I will continue to lease cause I want the warranty. I'm so far behind on automotive and can't climb under or over shit due to spine issues I just want to drink their coffee while they do the work.

The 5 liter works fine and delivers decent mileage. A lot of it is what makes Patti happy because it's her truck. Mine is the 55 F100.

Maybe the beer can body will help a little.

Ray, I've been a Ford guy my whole life with the exception of one Chevy. It was a POS! Fords are tough as nails. Love them.

 

[SkooterG]

I was doing a little research lately and what about the Ram with the base V-6 Ray? Hell of a lot cheaper than the diesel. Still good fuel mileage, and is getting some excellent reviews.

I never had a very high opinion of Dodge but everything I read lately says positive things about them. Seems First ownership has been a good thing for Dodge.

 

[dcarver]

Hmm. 1984 F250 HD original owner here, 460 ci V8, manual, 4wd. Too old for comparison. With 140k, RR'd clutch 2x, xnfr case 1x. Leaky rear engine main due to crankshaft machining defect from factory. Not coolio.

Had a 96 Dodge 3/4 ton diesel. Great pulling / towing machine. Lousy for a full size heavy ass camper. 12 valve motor. Sold because of 'wallowing wallida' syndrome.

Current ride is 2002 Dodge 1 ton dually. Handles the camper wonderful. Original tranny RR'd at 120k miles. Everything else (engine, xnfr case, diff's) still going strong. Interior looks good great too. 'Zilla don't know shit about Dodges.

She is a bit slow on the up hills under load - and noisy. Then again, even a cretin can fix it.

The newer diesels are quiet, look coolio, and cost like what, 50k?

Me, I like the no monthly stroke. 500 clams or more per month sucks.

Buy/lease gas. You guys don't put all that many miles on per year to justify the diesel. INMHO, of course!

 

[Bugnatr]

According to Clark Howard the " tight ass help you save a buck" guy on the am dial Dodge has the worst rating for dependability of a truck and Fiat is the worst car. Who owns Dodge? Yep, Fiat.

Stick with a Ford.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Sorry Tom and Don, but getting a Dodge that will last is the exception, not the rule. Every manufacturer has issues, but Dodge doesn't seem to learn from them.

Like I said, the Cummings motors are excellent. It's the durability of the rest of the truck that is usually the issue. For example, just about every agency I know that has gone to Dodge Chargers is looking to bail on them. They're a maintenance nightmare and have tons of quality issues. Bumpers fall off, brake lines melt, switches don't work. It's a combination of issues. Their quality control reminds me of Avon Tires. If you get a good one, it's a great tire, but there's as many or more bad than good.

I grew up loving Chevrolet, and when my dad bought his first Ford, I couldn't figure out why. That truck worked its ass off and did it well, so I bought one and have been a Ford guy ever since.

 

[C&C]

Depending on how much 'truck' you need, i.e., towing/capacity/full size, the new GM twins (Colorado/Canyon) are just about the size of pickups (from ten years ago: less large), and are getting very good mpg (reported), and are also "top of the mark" in newness and innovation. The new (aluminum) Ford is reported to still be a little rough around the edges, weigh 700 pounds less than its previous iteration, but only making a slight bump in fuel economy. Fuel economy aside, all three American 'marks' make a very fine truck.

 

[Enn]

Just a curious (and perhaps stupid) question from a non-American: why do you all drive trucks anyway? What's the benefit compared to a normal sedan or station wagon? I can understand if you were a farmer or a construction worker, but I have a feeling that 90 % of the truck owners are not. I have been couple of times in US and travelled around the country and the roads seem just fine for any normal car. You'll get a good mpg, lower purchase and maintenance costs as a bonus.