[Cliff R]

Are we talking about "trucks" here, or cars with beds on them?

Unless your truck has 8 lug nuts per wheel, full floating axle, and rated over 10,000lbs towing, it's a light duty truck, or closer to a car with a bed on it.

In the light duty truck range, they all have their shortcomings.

I've owned two Chevy trucks, and two Dodge trucks since 1998. I bought a 6.5 turbo 1998 truck with a 4L80E trans in 1998, brand new. It was OK, aside from eating lift pumps, and underpowered (no intercooler), never grumbled once in the 100,000 miles I put on it.

I sold it and bought a prestine 1992 Dodge with the 5.9 Cummins turbo diesel, with only 20,000 miles on it. I ran that truck till it would go no further. It was just OK, as the early diesel set-ups were low on power and the 518 transmission is a piss-poor way to put diesel power on the ground. Even with a billet converter and my best efforts inside the transmission, the gear spread is all wrong for serious towing in that platform. With 3.54 rear gears, it's too many rpm's in 3rd, and not enough in 4th at highway towing speeds.

I replaced that truck with a 2001 Dodge 24 valve 5.9 Cummin's with the NV4500 transmission and 4.10 gears. MUCH better at every level. Ran that truck till it was in need of replacement, and went with a 2007 Silverado with the Duramax/Allison set-up.

I never even looked at Ford trucks at all, but LOVE the looks and heavy duty chassis. They are NOT very popular in these parts, guys that are serious about towing absolutely HATE the 6.0 diesel set-ups. The 7.3 intercooled Ford trucks were, and still are, very popular, if you can get a transmission beefed up enough to hold the power, which is an expensive undertaking (E4OD).

Anyhow, overall I'm pretty content with the Duramax/Allison. I've added 4" exhaust and a Predator programmer (doesn't really need it). It rides like a Danali and has the power of the 24 valve Cummin's, just doesn't make all that noise.

The Dodge edges out the Chevy for fuel economy, but not on power. The Duramax is a strong runner, easily managing the steepest grades with 10,000-12,000 pounds behind it, and you can still here the stereo just fine at any speed or engine rpms.

The Dodge pulled just as hard, but you had to SCREAM over the turbo (over 40lbs boost) on hard pulls. I still have a soft spot for the "rough and grumbly" Dodge with the manual transmission. The Duramax seems like a "sissy" truck in comparison, but does everything equally as well, if not better, while riding in a quiet comfortable cab.

My Dodge would get near 25mpg's on trips unloaded, never once under 20mpg's on the highway empty, and 11-15 towing. The Duramax will see just over 20mpg's empty, and 11-13 towing.

Don't know how the Chevy will do in the long haul? It's only got 40,000 miles on it right now, and no problems anyplace to date. I'm due for a new shop truck this year, so may not find out.

As for a vote, I'd take the Ford Super Duty chassis, Cummin's engine, backed by the Allison 6 speed transmission, if I had that choice.....Cliff

[big hammer]

Originally Posted by Cliff R

Are we talking about "trucks" here, or cars with beds on them?

Unless your truck has 8 lug nuts per wheel, full floating axle, and rated over 10,000lbs towing, it's a light duty truck, or closer to a car with a bed on it.

funny... my 6.2 1\2 ton is rated over 10,000 pounds towing capacity with a 9.5" semi floating 14 bolt rear axle. hardly a "light duty truck".