Dodge Cummins Vs Duramax Vs Super Duty- which wins?

[deserteagle56]

Find yourself a newer Superduty with the Torqueshift transmission and a blown 6.0 diesel engine, with a really disgusted owner who is willing to get rid of it cheap. There are lots of these guys around. Then have a Cummins engine installed (there are a couple of outfits that specialize in doing just that). You will have the best of all worlds.

The GM products are just fine as long as you don't take them off pavement. Look underneath one and note all the vulnerable crap hanging down and the general lack of clearance. That independent suspension is wonderful for handling and ride but it is a weak point when the going gets rough. For hard-core GM fans their answer has been to convert them to a solid front axle.

 

[ujoint]

I've worked on mainly GM's & Ford's, with a few Dodge trucks thrown in here & there. They all have their good & bad. All of them are good enough, but the big question is: What will the truck be used for?

I think Dodge has the best engine, but the rest of the truck is so so. The front suspension may be a solid axle, but it's troublesome when modified.

GM has a good engine as well, and the best interiors. The allsion is a good tranny, but I've seen allot of issues, mainly on modified trucks. The IFS suspension is only good when stock.

Ford is good overall, as long as you stay away from the 03-04 models with the 6.0. I prefer the leaf spring front end to the new coil's. The 03-04's mainly had turbo & head gasket issues, so a truck that has been updated may be safe.


So the overall winner is................... Whatever you like!!!

 

[Jeep]

Lowenbrau....I have a freshly rebuilt Allison 545AT 4 speed that was behind a 12V Cummins and I will not be using it. I will be using a 6 speed Fuller instead.

Mark

 

[lowenbrau]

Lowenbrau....I have a freshly rebuilt Allison 545AT 4 speed that was behind a 12V Cummins and I will not be using it. I will be using a 6 speed Fuller instead.

Mark

Sounds like a nice setup. I'd only use the fourspeed since I have a very good source for ex school bus 12 Valves and Allisons.

 

[mrblond]

I hate automatics, they are cool the way they work and fun to drive but I think autos are crap.

The best I can say about autos is I have a couple of my crew one with the older Ford E4OD and one with a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The E4OD went 243K miles then took a crap. Thats pretty good but this auto was babied for its whole life and the Toy is still running with a bit over 250K miles but its a ticking time bom.

If you buy an auto, baby it and you may get good results as mentioned but I will think you will need to swap them out every 100K or 200K depending on the service duty.

 

[Mike S]

I have been looking at a Diesel truck to replace my Ford Expedition (NOT my 80 series TLC). I have considered all of the big three.

I believe that the Dodge is a good unit, but am concerned about after sale support. Owners have told me that the service from dealers is generally poor.

I was in Lewiston, Idaho trapped at the ford dealership last month while they dorked around all day with my Expedition (brake switch, brakes, etc.). I had a very close look at the new diesel 3/4 Superduty trucks. The new engine seems to have overcome the head issues, oil foaming issues, etc. They were offering brand new model (Diesel 3/4 ton Superduty double cab with 4X4) and goodies for as low as $28K - over $10K off MSRP. I may biy a truck in the next 18 months. Maybe Dodge, but probably Ford. I have owned a bunch of Ford trucks, and they have done well for me.

 

[RocKrawler]

I think the strongest overall platform is the Ford Superduty, just stay clear of the first couple years of the 6.0 as stated several times above. I chose the 7.3 PSD 01 because of the uber-reliable motor and leaf spring suspension. A buddy has an 02 F350 with the same motor, and 892,000 miles on it as of a few weeks back, and is bummed because the turbo seals are starting to leak. While not as quick as the 6.0 & 6.4 newer models, these are bulletproof as they come. I'd likely swap in a Cummins if this motor ever did bite the dust, as I know they are equally reliable and more HP/Torque. One company that specializes is http://www.fordcummins.com/
Peraonally I'd vener consider the GM because the motor and trans both have issues, and the suspension is crap and IFS axles are garbage unless you plan only on-pavement exploration.

 

[ChuckB]

I just had a vision of Cummings conversion on an SMB. How cool would that be??

 

[RocKrawler]

I just had a vision of Cummings conversion on an SMB. How cool would that be??

very.

 

[redthies]

I have owned both a 96 F350 5spd 7.3 and an 05 Dodge auto. WAY less problems with the dodge. That being said, I am shopping for a crew cab short box diesel again and find myself looking at F350s (02 or 03 w 7.3). The difference in price with a comparable Dodge is huge where I live. If I had lotto money it would be Cummins/Allison powered F350 Lariat. They all seem to eat front ends too so maybe mog axles???

 

[Guinness44]

Got an 02 Ram, quadcab, SB. Picked it because it had the most clearance in stock out of the 3. People always think its lifted, its not. Got the autotrans. For offhighway, the way to go: one foot on the brake, one foot on the gas, and power downhill thrugh some mud....or have total control over a rockledge. For economy we picked the taller gearing, looking back, should have gotten the lower. The spotwelds are coming apart, DC could care less.
Been thinking about a DMax, but those are just too carlike, nice, squishy, low.

 

[805gregg]

Cummins is the Rolls Royce of diesels, and Dodge design and engineering is far ahead of Ford and Chevy.First crew cab, first club cab, first real diesel, Dodge had a hemi in 1954 while Chevy had a inline six and ford had a boat anchor.

 

[locrwln]

02 Ford F350 CC, LWB, 7.3 PSD, 6SPD, SRW. I bought my Ford in '02 because at the time Ford was the only manufacturer offering a 1 ton truck in a single rear wheel. Dodge didn't have a crew cab and Chevy's were almost impossible to find with a manual tranny. My wife and I both grew up as a GM people and it was really tough make to jump to a Ford. We have been very happy with it. I have worked it, hauled with it, towed with it, etc. It has been a great truck for us.

Now having said that I tell people I work with that are looking at new trucks to go drive all three and find the one you like, can afford and be happy. They all seem to be good trucks and everyone has stories of a modern full-size diesel truck with 400k+ miles with no problems.

Mine is a little rough on rough road type driving, but it is a 1 ton truck, so I realize it is better at hauling a load that hauling offroad.

Jack

 

[Pskhaat]

Dodge had a hemi in 1954 while Chevy had a inline six and ford had a boat anchor.

A `hemi' can apply to any engine config. Anyway, what's wrong with an I6?

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

nothing wrong w/ inline. Cummins diesels are inline engines. they just take up a lot of space compared to a Vee engine, which are more efficient packaging.