Within the next year I’m looking to replace my old truck with a newer 3500/350 diesel truck. I intend to use it for hauling hay and cattle with a gooseneck trailer. Max tow load would be about 20K lbs. I have been intending to go with the Duramax 3500 because of the Allison transmission and the interior electronics/electrical seem to hold up better than Ford. But every farmer and livestock transporter I’ve seen lately at stockyards and shows are mostly driving the new F350s and they claim that is because the Duramax is just not powerful enough to last long towing heavy loads everyday compared to the F350. Can anyone here that hauls heavy loads with a Duramax share any truth experience on this matter?
Duramax as a towing truck vs. Ford
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As far as towing, The duramax will not compete with the Ford or the HO Cummins in towing. Ram had two diesels so anything with a Aisin transmission that’s not a commercial truck will have the HO Cummins.
Search Ike gauntlet on YouTube GM came in third.
GM needs to get their act together on their braking capability, the exhaust brake is very disappointing.
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Just depends upon what part of the country you are in. In some areas, everyone is crazy about the Power Joke. In other areas like here in Colorado, the come on, already.. cummins! seems to be the choice. But I've yet to see a stock cummins or power joke outperform the Duramax. The Duramax is just as if not more capable than the Rammie or the Powerless Power Stroke.
Numbers aside, I always figured they were all pretty comparable. Figured it was a pick your favorite flavor of the same basic ice cream. I’ll agree though on the exhaust brake comment. It helps a little, but nothing like I hear the Cummins folks talk about. And the current Ford exterior/interior look the best in my opinion.
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Just watch out for the Ford Transmissions. Two people in my community ended up in the shop not long after buying new with Ford tranny failure.
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I searched for comparisons and found a lot of inaccurate crap……this looks to be more objective than the rest.
I think all 3 are good trucks. I ruled out the Ram due to the 6 speed tranny, although I really like the Cummins. When searching for issues they all seem to have their share. My biggest concern is the glitterbomb fuel pump also on the Ram.
Pick what best suites you. Opinions are worthless. Even the stats seem to mislead. Ford has more HP and torque but that doesn’t seem to be a real world advantage according Motor Trend.
www.motortrend.com
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I think all 3 are good trucks. I ruled out the Ram due to the 6 speed tranny, although I really like the Cummins. When searching for issues they all seem to have their share. My biggest concern is the glitterbomb fuel pump also on the Ram.
Pick what best suites you. Opinions are worthless. Even the stats seem to mislead. Ford has more HP and torque but that doesn’t seem to be a real world advantage according Motor Trend.
2021 Ford F-250 vs. Ram 2500 HD, Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD: Gentler Giants
So, which SRW 3/4-ton truck reigns supreme?
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The new 2021 has a cp3 fuel pump, I’d still be in a Ram if they actually made a truck the size of the Ford or the GM.I searched for comparisons and found a lot of inaccurate crap……this looks to be more objective than the rest.
I think all 3 are good trucks. I ruled out the Ram due to the 6 speed tranny, although I really like the Cummins. When searching for issues they all seem to have their share. My biggest concern is the glitterbomb fuel pump also on the Ram.
Pick what best suites you. Opinions are worthless. Even the stats seem to mislead. Ford has more HP and torque but that doesn’t seem to be a real world advantage according Motor Trend.
2021 Ford F-250 vs. Ram 2500 HD, Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD: Gentler Giants
So, which SRW 3/4-ton truck reigns supreme?
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This is the only test I look at. Ford would of crushed it if the engine fan didn’t come on as many times as it did.
The Ram for 2021 has the most TQ out of the three.
Yep, I’m on the brakes way more In the GM than I ever was in my rams. The exhaust brake on the Ram is extremely strong.
The GM is the best fuel mileage diesel truck I’ve owned to date tho.
The big thing I've seen regarding dodge and ford is no matter the engine inside every other part of the truck is utter junk. It's the main reason I have stayed chevrolet. Every dodge and ford I've ever driven has just been a disaster of everything else breaking.
For the record the new ford interiors are aweful
For the record the new ford interiors are aweful
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Well, if no one else has any experience with actually towing I guess I’ll share my thoughts. The Duramax is a great package for towing. If anybody says it doesn’t have enough power they are just mad that it doesn’t have the BIGGEST towing numbers or the BIGGEST hp numbers. It has more than enough power. Everybody loves to talk about how it doesn’t have enough power yet they don’t tow or don’t tow heavy.
I feel the exhaust brake works well. It’s there to assist in braking, it doesn’t need to stop the truck without using the brakes. I’ve had a panic stop (3 days ago actually) where the dumb truck wasn’t sending power to the trailer brakes and the truck slowed down almost 30K pounds pretty confidently, better than I expected actually.
Other than the stupid tranny needing to see 0 mph before it will grab 1st, the tranny has been great. It shifts a little too smooth for my liking, but that’s probably what most people want.
It handles a gooseneck really well, but I do feel that a heavy bumper pull trailer has a lot of feedback on the truck, but I don’t use sway bars and I’m sure that would make a difference.
All in all, it’s a good package, tows well, and is a decent place to be while you are towing.
I feel the exhaust brake works well. It’s there to assist in braking, it doesn’t need to stop the truck without using the brakes. I’ve had a panic stop (3 days ago actually) where the dumb truck wasn’t sending power to the trailer brakes and the truck slowed down almost 30K pounds pretty confidently, better than I expected actually.
Other than the stupid tranny needing to see 0 mph before it will grab 1st, the tranny has been great. It shifts a little too smooth for my liking, but that’s probably what most people want.
It handles a gooseneck really well, but I do feel that a heavy bumper pull trailer has a lot of feedback on the truck, but I don’t use sway bars and I’m sure that would make a difference.
All in all, it’s a good package, tows well, and is a decent place to be while you are towing.
I have a 37ft bumper pull travel trailer, I do a lot of towing especially in mountain passes.
It was nice having a strong exhaust brake that’s activated off the accelerator the moment you lift off it. That’s how a exhaust or engine brake is supposed to work.
I have experience with all brands, there is a reason the oil patch in Canada avoids GM products, The issues I’ve been hearing about with the emissions system on the GM, is not what I wanted to hear, failing DPF, and DEF, even faulty block hear cords.
GM not really into the HD truck market like Ram and Ford.
Ram has the smallest most expensive truck on the market, nicest interior and features in the cab, lots of gauges.
GM has the largest and cheapest on the market. The Denali is comparable to the Ram entry level Laramie, and the Ford lariat.
Ford is middle of the road on the pricing. The massaging seats in the platinum are amazing!
Believe it or not, my 3500 Denali is rougher riding than my 3500 Ram I owned.
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It was nice having a strong exhaust brake that’s activated off the accelerator the moment you lift off it. That’s how a exhaust or engine brake is supposed to work.
I have experience with all brands, there is a reason the oil patch in Canada avoids GM products, The issues I’ve been hearing about with the emissions system on the GM, is not what I wanted to hear, failing DPF, and DEF, even faulty block hear cords.
GM not really into the HD truck market like Ram and Ford.
Ram has the smallest most expensive truck on the market, nicest interior and features in the cab, lots of gauges.
GM has the largest and cheapest on the market. The Denali is comparable to the Ram entry level Laramie, and the Ford lariat.
Ford is middle of the road on the pricing. The massaging seats in the platinum are amazing!
Believe it or not, my 3500 Denali is rougher riding than my 3500 Ram I owned.
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I have several friends with Rams, and I frequently talk to guys at the pumps with all different trucks. Every Ram guy I talk to, no exception, will admit their truck doesn't ride well. One dude flat out told me he wanted a Duramax and it rode way better, but he just couldn’t afford it.
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Do you tow anything heavy? Or do you just tow that camper?
The travel trailer is 12000lbs. I have a SRW 3500.
That’s the heaviest trailer the truck has towed since I got it in May of this year.
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Nope my Ram was a 2012 srw with 17” rubber on it.
I have read on here is the shocks that may cause the rough ride and over time they loosen up??? I will have to wait and see. The GM is a longer truck with a independent front end, I expected the opposite. Even the high country I test drove felt just as rough, especially jumping into the old Ram.
I had to lower my tire pressure to 60 front and 65 rear. My Ram was at 75 rear and 60 front.
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So you are just towing 1/2 ton type loads? That’s pretty heavy for a 37’, I’ve never seen a 37’ bumper pull that weighs that much. So it was 12,000 exactly when you weighed it on the scale?
I have never weighed it disconnected loaded. Manufacturer says it weighs 9500 empty. It a arctic fox.
I would never tow this trailer with a 1/2 ton, it definitely not a 1/2 load.
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