Big 3 Tow Test...Cool Video!!

[Jumbo Jet]

Let's all be glad they weren't testing the Toyota Tundra against the CTD! Oo.

 

[SnoKing]

Some of you are in denial! The GM LBZ has more HP and Torque, and a fairly good six Speed auto transmission, and it was carrying one more 2K Honda Civic on its back. So you say they rigged the test. Give me a break. And for those that say out on the road, that they can keep up way X or Z, that is two different drivers. This was the same driver in each truck. I think as I said above, the new Ford has been turned into a dog, the I6 is not a speed demon, and the new LBZ is a hot ticket. SNOKING

 

[tgrfan2]

You would have two different drivers in a real world head to head test. When both are automatics and the Z in front of you is blowing black smoke on take off, most anyone can keep the pedal to the metal. So what is your explanation of why a six speed automatic with more power and torque couldn't pull away from an inferior 4 speed automatic? Don't try to tell me he backed off on the Z either!

Go ahead and trade your CTD in and get the "hot ticket".

 

[CHolman]

p. s. My truck isn't the fastest in a 1/4 mile, doesn't have the biggest cab, and isn't rated the highest in the segment, but it fills all my needs just fine. Let the GM guys and the Ford guys (and all us Dodge guys) enjoy what we drive. They'll always be a "best" in the magazines. Sometimes it might even be a Dodge (or a Ford, or a Chevy, or... )[/QUOTE]



Exactly, let these morons that are saying that their Chevy and Fords are better than our Cummins. Everyman to himself, right? We all know that the Cummins isn't the fastest, but the simplisity, power and torque is what made me fall in love with Cummins (not to mention the long term reliablity) You can have a V-block, I'll take my in-line anyday. :-laf

 

[RVPILOT]

longivity is the answer

I would like to know if the any duramax of ford's has had the trouible free miles I have enjoyed on my 96, I am approaching 800,000m miles about half pulling trailers and the Cummins still runs stong. 1 quart of oil between changes of 8,ooo miles. Stormy

 

[y-knot]

Come on , you guys stop the whining. So what the Chevrolet won, what is the big deal! Every comparison test I have ever read always shows the chevrolet get more power to the rear wheels, there Dodge losses big time.

So What, cant someone else win???? Also, what makes you think the other 2 are not up to the long term task??? Yes the Cummins is good, and at one time it was great, but things change and now you are no longer king of the hill.

The chevy is much lower then the Ford or Dodge, and yes I think it would be much easier for towing fifthwheel or gooseneck trailers. It would also be much easier to get in and out of, with my dad that is a very big deal. For me, I don't like the low, dragin the road feel I got from the Chevy, even the 4wd site enbarasingly to low. The seats felt very cushy, and the truck had a very boat like ride, good for some but too much for my taste.



THE CHEVY WON THE PULL OFF!! There

 

[BGlidewell]

Brand loyalty is a funny thing.



That said, I would be hard-pressed to make a discision that did not include carefull consideration of the 2006 GMC 1T if I were in the market now.



A buddy of mine has an 05 2500 GMC that he hauls a 5er with more pin weight than mine which I had to go to airbags and his 2500 sits like its practicly empty hitched up.



We ran an 05 Dodge 2500 and an 05 GMC at idle side-by-side. The GMC was a bit quieter although I was impressed with the Dodge at idle too. Ford could not compare.



I'm really expecting my 48re transmission to fail and I'm concerned about down-hill grades while loaded. The Allison may be the key factor in longer-term automatic applications.



I do have some interesting observations however:



I practicly NEVER see anything but Dodge hauling big loads.

I see a LOT more older Dodge diesels hauling than anything else.

For some reason, I just dont like aluminum heads on diesel engines.

I dont know how "proven" the Allison transmission is in the GMC.

I test drove all the domestic 1T trucks in 05. The GMC at that time was not up to snuff with the Ford or Dodge in my seat-o-the-pants testing.

 

[CKimball]

I do have some interesting observations however:



I practicly NEVER see anything but Dodge hauling big loads.

I see a LOT more older Dodge diesels hauling than anything else.

For some reason, I just dont like aluminum heads on diesel engines.

I dont know how "proven" the Allison transmission is in the GMC.





I second that... I drive from Cali to texas quite often and the heaviest loads are being tugged by a CTD... 40+ foot long trailers with BALES and I mean BALES of hay. . 40+ feet of horse/living 1/4s that have to weigh over 20k loaded... . 4 cars etc... . only other rigs I see pulling heavy is the real MTD F550s , Sterlings... . SOME kodiacks ... . so if it is real world testing you want... . hang out on the 10 or 20 thru Texas and see what is really haulin the great US of A!!

cameron

 

[SBeretz]

Really, today, with the pretty good trucks they are putting out, it is hard to make a bad choice on trucks. I am sure there are always going to be faster trucks, and more HP-TQ having trucks, but for most of us, anything over 300HP for a diesel truck is alot. My old man ran a 6. 9IH in a Ford pickup from 1986 to 2000 and never really complained about the power, he did get a 2000 7. 3PSD after that truck, but really hasn't ever said anything about his old truck being underpowered horribly. His trucks are loaded with a 150 gallon fuel tank, skidder tire chains, log chains, chainsaws and extra tools, everyday of their life. If you are not racing the trucks and drive with common sense, all three of the new trucks will pull anything a pickup should ever pull. Maybe not as fast as 500HP truck would, but really, how much faster would you get somehere anyhow. JMHO. . Scotty

 

[Kennywould]

From all the reading I have done on TDR and guys I know with CTD's not many leave them stock anyhow and those that do must like the way they run as is ... IMO... . so let them do what they must do to sell trucks!!!

Ken

 

[BILLUA]

In 05, when I wanted to go from my 2nd gen QC,SB to a 1 ton dually, I drove all 3 trucks... All 1 ton dually quad/crew cabs, all autos, all top of the line...



I still bought the Dodge... Why????



First of all, the Chevy D/A... . In short... The transmission was interesting, I would like it in a Ram... The rest SUCKED!!! You had to rev the snot out of it to get it to move, it rode like a pile of crap, the brakes were the worst out of all 3, the steering was vague and the most surprising thing to me that the interior of the Chevy (which I always thought GM had the best interiors) had been cheapened and was plain... This was a 50K vehicle...



Next, I drove the Ford... Brakes and steering were better than Chebby, ride was a little better, the 6. 0 seemed to have a little more acceleration but hen I noticed this truck had 4. 30 gears!!! Ford's interiors have come a long way from days of old, but this King Ranch still let you know it was a truck... The BIG plus with the Ford was the payload and tow package with that 4. 30 combo. . Don't know about the mileage...



Then I drove the Dodge Cummins... Man! What a difference from 2nd gen to 3rd gen... No schit, the Dodge rode, turned and stopped better than the other 2. . And I mean by a big difference! The finish and interior were the best of all 3, the 48 re was a definite improvement, the Cummins of course had the torque available without having to rev it to the limiter... .



All in all, it was a great experience to drive all 3 offerings..... My ranking of these trucks is Dodge Ram first, Ford 2nd and the GM offering a distant 3rd...



Now, what about the 0-60 times??? BFD! I could care less. I can upgrade my truck to put out 1000hp if I want, but there will always be someone quicker than me...



The only reason someone buys a chebby is because they haven't driven the others...



Cheers, Bill



N

 

[Matt400]

The 06's must be a huge improvement cuz I have driven the 05 D-max many times and it doesn't come close in the but-o-meter feel of my CTD.

It does have a nicer stereo though.

 

[MRosinski]

Why didnt they get a exhaust brake on it????? It is a factory option :-laf And IIRC that truck that got 3rd place is the only one to have it as a factory warrantied option.

 

[Nate]

I am curious on how the 3rd gen brakes are. Everytime I get in the 05 Duramax we have at work I about eat the windshield cause the brakes don't take much pedal imput to stop.



My 2nd gen... well it actually stops better with my 8500lb trailer hooked up than with just the truck.

In 05, when I wanted to go from my 2nd gen QC,SB to a 1 ton dually, I drove all 3 trucks... All 1 ton dually quad/crew cabs, all autos, all top of the line...



I still bought the Dodge... Why????



First of all, the Chevy D/A... . In short... The transmission was interesting, I would like it in a Ram... The rest SUCKED!!! You had to rev the snot out of it to get it to move, it rode like a pile of crap, the brakes were the worst out of all 3, the steering was vague and the most surprising thing to me that the interior of the Chevy (which I always thought GM had the best interiors) had been cheapened and was plain... This was a 50K vehicle...



Next, I drove the Ford... Brakes and steering were better than Chebby, ride was a little better, the 6. 0 seemed to have a little more acceleration but hen I noticed this truck had 4. 30 gears!!! Ford's interiors have come a long way from days of old, but this King Ranch still let you know it was a truck... The BIG plus with the Ford was the payload and tow package with that 4. 30 combo. . Don't know about the mileage...



Then I drove the Dodge Cummins... Man! What a difference from 2nd gen to 3rd gen... No schit, the Dodge rode, turned and stopped better than the other 2. . And I mean by a big difference! The finish and interior were the best of all 3, the 48 re was a definite improvement, the Cummins of course had the torque available without having to rev it to the limiter... .



All in all, it was a great experience to drive all 3 offerings..... My ranking of these trucks is Dodge Ram first, Ford 2nd and the GM offering a distant 3rd...



Now, what about the 0-60 times??? BFD! I could care less. I can upgrade my truck to put out 1000hp if I want, but there will always be someone quicker than me...



The only reason someone buys a chebby is because they haven't driven the others...



Cheers, Bill



N

 

[CMusgrove]

I read the test article and it seemed pretty fair to me. Many of the posts here take offense to the Ram coming in 3rd. I took notice of how they praised the comfort and interier of the MegaCab. I know all of us use our trucks differently but for hauling the grandkids around town and pulling a travel trailer to the lake every 2-3 weekends the megacab sure is nice.

 

[JUeckert]

I do have some interesting observations however:



I practicly NEVER see anything but Dodge hauling big loads.

I see a LOT more older Dodge diesels hauling than anything else.

For some reason, I just dont like aluminum heads on diesel engines.

I dont know how "proven" the Allison transmission is in the GMC.





I second that... I drive from Cali to texas quite often and the heaviest loads are being tugged by a CTD... 40+ foot long trailers with BALES and I mean BALES of hay. . 40+ feet of horse/living 1/4s that have to weigh over 20k loaded... . 4 cars etc... . only other rigs I see pulling heavy is the real MTD F550s , Sterlings... . SOME kodiacks ... . so if it is real world testing you want... . hang out on the 10 or 20 thru Texas and see what is really haulin the great US of A!!

cameron

i disagree with the amount of seen diesels on i-20 in texas,or hwy59. i live within 8mi of either hwy. travel both of them several times a week. spend lots of time doing construction work around these routes also,but with out no doubt the fords dominate. 3rd gen dodges have caught on,but are a distant second,gm diesels way down the list. one more thing,while i dont believe the test in question was equal,i do believe the results. my 05 610 with a 6spd is closeing in on 16k miles,my friends 3 month old duramax with ally and 4k miles will slap spank my truck empty or loaded equal. if it wernt for those aluminum heads,i would give a new gmc a try! but only after the 6. 7 gets on the market and tested yay or nay.

 

[Donn]

Gee, I wonder if they put a 13 speed behind the duramax. Gee, I wonder if he was picking his nose and scratching his butt at the same time.



Come on guys the comparison was as close as you could get. The simple fact that the trucks come in stock form from the factory is what most of us buy our vehicle on, not what if's.



I surely didn't buy my new Dodge just to find out I have to improve the whole drivtrain just to be equal or better than the competition. I should have learned back in 1999 when I bought my first new Dodge.



Now don't get me wrong, I love my new Dodge but really think it could do better and the only way to make it better would be to modify it and loose my warranty or trade it in on a duramax and have a warranty intact.



I modified my new 1999 Dodge and there are just as many problems and headaches with modifying a vehicle and the cost is not much different either.

Just accept it I like my dodge too but they have never ran with the duramax if they are both stock. I really don't care about that I just like the Dodge and the cummins. Now if you could get a cat that would be the ticket

 

[BGlidewell]

J Now if you could get a cat that would be the ticket

CAT=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[BGlidewell]

i disagree with the amount of seen diesels on i-20 in texas,or hwy59.

It's a funny, subjective subject. Before my wife bought her new Audi A4, she had never seen one. Now she sees them everywhere But its hard to ignore a mountainous load going down the road haulled by a p/u.

 

[pwr2tow]

Well I went and drove a new LBZ 3500 SRW crew cab L1 long box.



1. alot of gizmos to go wrong and expensive to fix.

2. The allison couldn't do anything my NV5600 could do except shift on it's own. Really wasn't that impressed with it.

3. The interior is cheaper looking.

4. Had to really push on the throttle to get it to move but I am comparing that to my 6 speed and modified auto in my 99. I really didn't see much difference in throttle response between stock to stock autos but I didn't floor the duramax either due to new engine and salesjerk in rear seat.

5. The dmax sat just as high as my truck. I was looking for it to be lower for towing purposes.

6. Engine was just as noisy as mine.

7. Road harsher than my truck except on the interstate cement at speeds.

8. Brakes were no better or worse than mine.

9. Took just as long cranking to fire as my truck.

10. The turbo intercooler hose routing was a night mare.

11. Fairly stuffy engine compartment.

12. It did have a spin on fuel filter = good.

13. It came with a transmission temp gauge = good.

14. I'll take the fold flat floor in my truck over chevys flip seat thingy any day.

15. There isn't anything more the chevy can offer me than my dodge already does and in some cases they have less to offer. I'll just keep what I have.



I done this test drive on the premiss that I would have driven home a new dmax if the test drive had proved favorable. I walked away from the dealership disappointed in the test drive and deal. I have lived long enough, listened to dealers bull, and owned more vehicles than you can shake a stick at. I know a good deal when I see one and what I have is just as good if not a little better. To top it all off mines paid for and has a 3/36 warranty plus a 7/70,000 warranty plus a 7/100,000 warranty all depends on how the miles any years fall.