Can you believe these guys??

[RBollengier]

I read the whole article and found it to be consistent with every other article I have read on the big 3. And like some said, the numbers say for test X, this, therefore it must be better, add up the scores, we have a winner.



But having just done this test with my checkbook, I just couldn't wake up to those Chevy headlights every day. And I just owned a 94 for 12 years! And that Ford just made to much racket, good at the dealer (I like the sound) but figured for the long haul it would wear thin. I also liked the Fords built in boost gauge. I would have been happy with another extended cab, I only put stuff back there so the Mega cab was not important to me and the difference between the QC and the Ford or Chevy was small.



I bought the Dodge because I liked the engine and front axle, but most of all they gave me the best deal. My Dodge SLT with options galore was $1250 more than the base Ford with vinal interior and AM/FM radio. I never even got the Chevy close, and then there are those headlights. They never test that in a side by side test.



I have never been happier with a new vehicle, the fuel economy has been awesome and it tows my 6000lb trailer perfectly. Numbers and tests don't tell the whole story like a good checkbook test.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

Honestly, I think the "new" Cummins will surprize everyone. We just might see a huge shift in sales... ...

With lower HP and TQ rating? I bet you'll see the Cummins sales drop.

 

[Buffalo]

GIT-R-DONE,



At May Madness, we were told that we should be pleasantly surprised by the performance figures on the 2007, 5. 9 found in the 2500/3500's. DC, traditionally, does not give out the figures til the last moment so that the competition doesn't have time to change their figures.



The new 6. 7 has lower HP figures because that is where the best fuel economy is found in that engine. This engine will be targeted for commercial users, who are more interested in fuel economy than in the horsepower wars.



Cattletrkr,



At a sledpull at May Madness, every GM truck, but one, as I recall, broke their frontends while pulling. The front wheels "wobble", severely, til you stop, or they break. The frontends do provide a nice ride but, if you're looking for durability I would look elsewhere.



I'm not trying to "bash" the Duramax/Allison products. They seem to be better than I expected. Most everyone that I have talked to, that has them, really likes them. Hard to "knock" happy owners. There are flaws in all the trucks.



DIESELMAN,



I know Sunset Point. It's a long, steep hill. There is a road sign at the bottom of that hill which states that 18-wheelers need to stay in the far right lane & not pass anyone due to the length & steepness of that hill.



I knew of a performance shop (Chuck's Speed Center), here in Phoenix, that used to use that hill, very early in the mornings, to test the performance work they had done. Since then, they have installed a Mustang Dyno that can simulate those hard pulls.



Often, I have seen vehicles pulled over on Sunset Point Hill, that are letting their engines cool down or awaiting the tow truck. That would be a great location for a transmission/radiator shop.



The trip to Flagstaff, itself, is a good pull. The elevation in Phoenix is 1100' & Flagstaff is a bit over 7000'. All in about 135 miles.



The vast majority of my fuel fill-ups are at the Flying-J, in Phoenix. Many of the professional haulers that use pick-ups, fill up there. I spend a fair amount of time, at the "J", & have noticed that there are many more Dodges "pulling", than other makes. If the Dodge is the "lesser" of the pick-ups, then why do so many professional pullers choose this truck, over the other so called "better" trucks? The Dodge is, by far, the most popular truck for commercial, high-mileage, towing.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[DIESELMAN]

Buffalo - With two, two thousand foot 4-6% grades, I-17 breaks a lot of trucks in the Arizona heat. Admittedly, I don't see a lot of D-Max's broken down on that trip, but I have seen a lot of powerstrokes, a lot.



I have made that trip with my dually at 23+ tons, over 46 thousand pounds gross. I know theres no P-Strokes or D-Max Allisons making that trip up the hill. My dually has only a BullyDog and an Edge, but when pulling these loads, it is all stock, it runs too high on EGT with anything on other than stock, and stock I am at 1350 on all the hills, all the way up.



I have a 2" leveling kit, Firestones pumped to 65 PSI, and am running Goodyear Road Armor Wrangler 265's, I think I look good loading block in a line of Pete's and Kenny's, and loaded I am perfectly level, just put on another pallet Buck, load er up, theres still space.



My truck ( and every one else on here ) is as quiet as any truck can be, if you can tell a 1db difference in noise, your anal. It looks good, rarely has back seat passengers, pulls loads way, way over its rating, has never seen a dealer for service, it does everything I ask it, so I am not going to get upset because some Hyundai driver rates a Chevy over mine.



I have converted many Ford owners over to Dodge, and this year I claimed my first GM convert. His DMax, after running hot (I mean fast) up to his new cabin site with a load of Cedar logs, high centered in his own driveway, my 'stock' height dually drove around him, with trailer on, and pulled him up the hill. Next week all I heard about was how puny my back seat was compared to his new Mega Cab. (I cashed my $200. 00 check from the dealer for the referal!)



Shame I bought a third place truck.



DM

 

[Buffalo]

DIESELMAN,



Come to think of it, my neighbor blew his '04 Powerstroke on Sunset Point Hill, pulling his Toyhauler. He did have his Edge box turned up all the way, though.



His first Powerstroke (7. 3) went through 8 transmissions.



Next, he bought the '04. The dealer denied his warranty, put the parts in the bed of the truck & had him tow it home, where he rebuilt the engine. It worked fine but, he didn't trust it, anymore.



So, he traded it in on an '05. Promptly blew that engine up, also. This time, the dealer installed a brand new engine & it has been running well up until about a month ago. Started spewing white smoke, even at idle. Don't know what happened, this time.



He recently asked me if I thought he'd have better luck with a Dodge/Cummins? I don't see how he could have worse luck. However, he does drive his trucks very hard. I told him he's expecting too much from these truck engines, especially when towing (uphill). His response was that, these are diesel engines & that they should be able to handle this kind of abuse.



This guy has more money than brains and, fortunately, knows how to rebuild diesel engines.



One of my Duramax buddies complains about his ground clearance, also. Wants to borrow one of my Dodges when he goes on his backroad hunting trips. I offer him my old '91. 5 W-250, which, rides like an old stagecoach. He always says NO but, would take my '03, 3500. Other than that, he likes his Duramax. Gets GREAT mileage, with it.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Buffalo]

DIESELMAN,



Do you tow loads like that, regularly?



If so, & considering the fact that you live in the Flagstaff (cold in winter) area, do you run a synthetic motor oil in your engine?



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[DIESELMAN]

Buffalo -

Is your neighbor named Ken C. ? I have heard this story and know him if it is.



Do I haul this heavy regularly, no. I am building more on My house, and have a friend that is building a new cabin near Heber that burned in the Rodeo-Chedeski fire, Volume purchasing is cheap out of Phoenix.



I do haul my Backhoe regularly, 16K on trailer, and the RV, 14K total. These loads aren't even noticed on the dually.



I bought it for towing, and this it does really really well. It is a TRUCK!



As for Oil, I Smella Rotella, every 7500 miles, though I am considering using Synthetic, I just don't have a compelling reason too.



As for Winter, the guys in Alaska know more than I, I have been in Alaska at 23 below in December, with my '03, and it started everytime..... and the oil pressure indicated perfect right away

 

[Buffalo]

DIESELMAN,



My neighbors name is Mark. He works for a company as a, sometimes, diesel mechanic. Has, also, rebuilt his '04 Powerstroke & recently rebuilt a burned-up, 2nd Gen. Cummins, at his home.



With his diesel engine rebuilding experience, I would have thought he would have a bit more "respect" for the limits of these engines. He told me that "It's a diesel engine. It's supposed to be able to run this hard. " He's the kind of guy that could break an anvil.



Regarding synthetics, I think they would "pay-off" if you did extended oil drain intervals with bypass oil filtration. The problem is that DC could void your engine warranty by going over the recommended intervals.



I've been using Chev. Delo-400 with 8000 oil change intervals on the last two changes. Also, did oil analysis & the tests came back with the oil still being in good condition. However, I do not work my truck as hard as you do.



Joe F. (Buffalo)