2010 Dodge 2500 vs 2011 Ford F250

[CBlack]

Killing some time today at work, I went to a Ford dealer and test drove a 2011 F250 crew cab xlt 4x4 that stickered over $50k. I really liked the seats. Wind was gusting over 30 mph and it didn't have any wind noise against or with the wind. I only drove about 3 miles out and back. When I made the u-turn, I punched it and it had plenty of pep. When I got back and parked, I popped the hood. That's where I lost all interest. I didn't get under the front end and look up, so don't know if you could replace the serpentine belt from there, but you dang sure couldn't do if from the top. I caught a glimpse of the alternator and you might could change that out after removing several items that were above it. I have no idea where the fuel filter is. Seems like it was/is mounted on the frame rail about half way front to back? I guess if the warranty was long enough and cover the serpentine belt and alternator and let someone else do the fuel filter change, it might be a good truck. I would definitely give it a year or two before considering a purchase.

Haven't test driven it, but the engine compartment gave me the same impression. Mentioned that you couldn't even see the ground through all the crap and his response, "That's a good thing. "

 

[champspa]

268k no ball joints , everything else it seems but ball joints no !

 

[Grizzly]

I tell ya, I hope the ford Engine does good, i really do as the ford needs a good engine.

I wouldn't hold your breath on that. I've never had good experience with a Furd, car, truck or SUV.

 

[mwilson]

All I hear is the stories about Dodge and their "horrible" front ends. I tend to lean more to these stories are generally just that, stories.

No, my front axle issues have not been stories.



I will not carry on like CC but there is a problem with that AA front axle and the steering system as a whole.



I have customers who have Dodge 3rd gen 3/4 ton pick-ups carrying 8' Fisher plows around all winter, some with Hemis and some with the Cummins. Ball joints will not last a full season (Gas or Diesel power) and they handle like crap.



An 80's vintage 3/4 ton Dodge would carry a 9' Fisher plow, have a filled to capacity 125 gallon skid tank in the body, plow 70-80 miles of woods road per storm and might need ball joints in 4 years. And drove well. Death wobble only if front end was completely worn out.



Something is wrong here. I say bring back the DANA 60 and solve a lot of problems



I have posted several times regarding the whole front end thing and the last time I pointed out that I believe (as well as several others) that a lot of the problems lie with having the misfortune of living in the salt / rust belt.

Also the geometry of the knuckles and ball joints is just plain bizarre!!



I have said it before and will continue to make the statement below***



I DO NOT BEAT OR ABUSE MY TRUCK!!! There is no reason on God's Green Earth that a three year old truck with 72,000 miles of Interstate driving with completely stock tires and wheels should have needed both wheel/axle u-joints and ball joints. NONE. The components upon removal looked like they were removed from a twenty year old dooryard plow pick-up. Ridiculous.



I know it can be overcome and I along with a lot of you will do that very thing.

Do I like my truck???

YES!!!!



Is the front axle a piece of junk???

YES!!!!



Will I have to completely have to change the parts in the front end along with the whole steering linkage assembly? And possibly change to a spindle style stub with locking hubs like a real 4 X 4, and put in Carli Ball Joints???

YES!!!!



Do I like that??

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!



Will I do it?

YES!!!!



Will I buy another Dodge/Cummins??

HELL YES!!!!



Just don't try to tell me that there are no front axle issues, please.



'Nuff said. Oo.

 

[Grizzly]

mwilson,



I've never had one issue with my 95 nor my present 05. I drove the 95 for 10 years and well over 120K miles through some rough Forest Service roads on our camping and fishing trips. Plus each truck made an 11K mile trip to Alaska I don't abuse my trucks and yes, both trucks are 4WD. So not all Dodge truck have front end problems.



The F250 Furd gasser I had before my 95 Dodge had bookoo (many) front end problems as well as everything else problems and it was a 2WD.



I've never had a GM truck, but I know they are notorious for front end problems.



george

 

[Grizzly]

mwilson,



I know several people who have 2nd and 3rd gen Dodge trucks with a diesel engine and 4WD, including my son who has an 04. 5, 3500 SW and I've not heard of any front end problems.



I have asked Jim jelag of Pacific Brake and Clutch, who has a fleet of Dodge trucks with 4WD and he has had no front end issues. I don't believe the problem is as common as you think. The city of Albuquerque has been using nothing but Dodge trucks for several years and I've not heard of any issues.

 

[RonD]

I looked at the new Ford 6. 7. I didn't drive one, just looked it over. I think it is a nice truck, the engine compartment is not user friendly for do it yourself folks, the fuel filters, they have 2, one on the frame rail, serviced from the bottom, the second one is on top of the engine, easy to replace, the oil filter is at the lower right like a gas V8 engine, the belt looks hard to replace, looks like a Dealer fix to me. I think if the engine proves good, they will do well. I plan of replacing my 05 in a year, I still plan on buying a Dodge, 3500 DRW, I am also going with a 2WD not a 4WD as I have now, yes I have had my share of front end problems, everything from U-joints, Ball Joints, the new upgraded steering kit from Dodge, a steering box support, and a replacement front drive shaft, I agree with the other poster, these front ends are the pits, mine went bad at 57000 miles, 98% paved roads, no mods, stock tires, taken care of etc, it still looks like a new truck, but the front end is a bad design period, I like the truck, but if I don't really require a 4X4 then why go and start over again with the same old crap, maybe next year they will just re engineer a good front end that will hold up.

 

[RonD]

Salt didn't have anything to do with my worn out parts, California here, never been driven in any snow, and I do my own work also, I should have saved the old ball joints to show some people what they used, I went with the Quad 4X4 greaseable parts, so far there tight, and get grease every 6 months.

 

[JRMora]

Just my opinion, we welcome yours. :-laf

120K miles 4x4, mountains of CO, 1-40 OK to AR, lots of boondocking. -20F to +110F. Tow 14k fifth wheel



Original ball joints, first brake pad replacement at 115k, stock size tires. I did replace the u-joints on the rear driveshaft at 115k. The rear joint started failing.



Original injectors, original batteries, original clutch, original steering box...



Got many Dodges here in the RV park I'm living, some Fords, too. None of the Ford owners here have the mileage most of the Dodges here do. Many 100k - 200K third gens. Non one here has replaced any front end components.



OK, MY opinion:



All trucks have problems of some sort or another. Mine hasn't. I won't write hundreds of posts about how GOOD my truck is if you'll stop complaining about yours. Sincerely, i hope you have good luck with your new Ford. You deserve some good miles.



Juan

 

[doldenburg]

seems a lot of whineing on this. funny how many can't spell. its fOrd!

 

[rscurtis]

What school you went?

 

[RVTRKN]

Haven't test driven it, but the engine compartment gave me the same impression. Mentioned that you couldn't even see the ground through all the crap and his response, "That's a good thing. "

Thats why you have to remove the cab to do any work, now that was a brilliant engineer. He must get a percentage of labor bill in the service department.

 

[doldenburg]

Dodge-2010-350 HP,650 torque. Ford-2011-390 HP,735 torque. Chevy isuzu-397HP,765 torque. Looks like Dodge is on the hind tit again. HP is great but when will it end? I have not found a load my OLD stock 2004 with 325-600 couldn't pull yet. I thought I realy had something back in 93 with 160-400.

 

[AABEN]

Yes they took a 2011 ford and a 2010 dodge why did they not take a 2011 dodge???

 

[NIsaacs]

I don't think the 2011 Dodge is out yet. I see Cummins rates the clutch engagement torque at 400 ft. lbs. for the 6. 7 My 01 is rated at 330 and my 91 is rated at 280.



Nick

 

[rscurtis]

Thats why you have to remove the cab to do any work, now that was a brilliant engineer. He must get a percentage of labor bill in the service department.

According to Ford's info on the new engine, cab removal is not required on the 2011 as it was on the 2008-10. Don't interpret this to imply that I want to own one.

 

[rscurtis]

Yes they took a 2011 ford and a 2010 dodge why did they not take a 2011 dodge???

Ford basically shortened the 2010 model year. They also did this in 1998 when the first intercooled 7. 3 was introduced. There were basically no 1998 HD Ford pickups. They went from 1997 directly to 1999.

 

[Grizzly]

Furd also did that in 07 when they introduced the 08 with the infamous 6. 4.

 

[Grizzly]

seems a lot of whineing on this. funny how many can't spell. its fOrd!

I can spell ford all right, I just don't want to. I can also spell powerstroke, however I believe it's still a furd powerjoke.

 

[doldenburg]

Also,no manual trans for Ford or GM. Mite be good for Dodge to keep offering one as a lot still want to decide when to shift.