Dodge CTD last place AGAIN, Fordwheeler Magazine

[Prairie Dog]

The great thing about the Cummins is you can bomb it and still enjoy longer engine life than the competition. It seems like people who really evaluate the choices usually end up with the CTD. Folks who are just brand loyal end up with something less.

 

[BHolm]

I've run them all. I haven't run the 6. 0 because I do not have time to worry about the thing being down. In defense of Ford/Navistar, my '99 7. 3 is going very strong today with over 220k miles on it. It is possibly the most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned. I dumped my '01 Duramax just shy of 100k. For one, it just doesn't pull like the Cummins. It is by far the most luxurious car/truck out there and I enjoy my wifes quite a bit. I also found the grade braking feature to be very useful. I hauled 8,000lbs over I-70 in CO last summer with the Duramax/Allison. It did a great job of controlling the trucks speed. Obviously an exhaust brake is the best but, the grade braking is a far cry better than having nothing.



How any mag could rate the Dodge last, when towing is an issue, is lost on me. My trucks run at or near max rated GCVWR almost every day. The new HO/48RE combo puts the competition to shame. I have driven them all, towed with them all, I voted with my pocketbook, there are now 2 CTD's in my fleet.

 

[CKimball]

I too am not renewing my subscription to "Ford wheeler"... the funny thing is... the Dodge with a 6 cylinder did very well when compared to the v8's of the others... just goes to show how good our engine REALLY is!!!... had a PSD and it aint all that... . never had a chevy due to the UGLY frame and wheel wells... oh well thats my opinion



Cameron

 

[BHolm]

Well..... You can fix the wheel well/frame issues on the Chev. I put 285/75-16 tires on it and Westins big oval step tubes. The tires make it look like an actual truck and the tubes completely hide the frame under the cab. the thing you missed, and you have to drive one to notice, is the pathetically soft shocks. I only have 4500 miles on that truck and I don't think I can stand it wallowing up and down much longer.



The tires on my QC SB look a little small too. Might have to fix that soon.

 

[FFutch]

And another thing,our Cummins don't have to rev to 4,000 r. p. m. s to get the job done . I'm thinking reving that high has to hurt fuel mileage,and longevity... Doug

 

[BHolm]

Which one goes to 4000rpm? The D-Max is redlined at 3200 and the old 7. 3 at 3500. Must be the new 6. 0. The new HO goes to 3200 as well. There is no doubt as to where the CTD makes its power, way down low like a good diesel should

 

[FFutch]

O. K. maybe I exaggerated a little on the 4k,but I read somewhere that the redline on the 6. 0 was 3700 so not by much. The Cummins still make it's peak torque down at like 1400 rpm where it's supposed to be,I think the D-max is 1600 and the 6. 0 18-1900. There are guy's with the 6. 0/6speed that say there is no power til they hit 1700rpm and that they can't start out without giving it some throttle,JUST LIKE A GASSER. I jumped in a 7. 3/6spd once,stuck it in 2nd gear like I do my truck,let the clutch out and it STALLED . Had to put it in first to get it to move ... Doug

 

[Big Dawg]

As they say... Ignorance is bliss!!!



I love to hear the real diesel wanna be's talkin' up how great their motors are. Next time some idiot starts telling you how much better a power joke/smoke is... Just ask him why it's better. His facial contortions and his moronic explanations (or lack thereof) will provide hours of entertainment for us here on the forums. Praise the Lord that I have a Cummins and don't have to make excuses.

 

[nwjetboat]

Hello everyone, I just finished a comprehensive 24 hour test drive of a GMC 2500 Dmax/Allison and a QC 2500 Cummins/48re in my quest for a new pickup.

I took them both “over the hill” our local steep section outside of Boise, towing a 6500lb boat. In all fairness the Dmax accelerated well, stopped well, and the grade braking kept the truck and boat at 58mph going down the grade. It went up the hill at about 56mph with my foot buried.

The CTD accelerated well, though I could not complete the acceleration test because at 1800rpm, the tires broke loose in a cloud of blue smoke, WITH THE BOAT HOOKED UP.

Anyway, over the hill, I went, and with OD off, the CTD went down the hill at 58mph, the same as the Dmax! We came up the hill at 58mph, slightly faster than the Dmax.

Overall, the Chevy has a softer front end, heavier steering, and a harsher ride at the rear. Allison shifts smooth, but can do strange things in certain situations. The Dmax motor has clatter when pulling, and seems more like a hopped up gas engine.

The CTD has an overall firmer ride, but never harsh. The motor is quieter throughout the rpm range, and seems to like to grunt. I really like the quick steering and the cab is quiet. Even a die hard Chevy friend of mine cannot believe how solid the cab and doors are.

I have been following the forums of all the trucks the past 4-5 months. It is obvious that the CTD people are nuts about their trucks and now I know why.

I guess by now ya'll know what place the CTD came in!!!!!!

Four days and 615 miles of grinning in my CTD.

 

[amsoilman]

Congratulations on your new CTD ride... ... ... ... ..... and thanks for the comprohensive report. The guys from the magazine were'nt as smart as you when it came to going down the hill! You just hit the OD "out" button, and went down the hill, as most of us CTD owners would have done.



BTW, welcome to the site!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[bighammer]

They are just guys. Not any real scientists or experts. That's their opinion. Fine. I wouldn't pay for their opinion, lor even read it. Even if the Dodge is less in some way, I still like it. I feel it's a better design, MUCH easier to work on, cheaper to BOMB, etc. Ever opened the hood of a Ford? NO WAY would I ever want to have to start wrenchin on one of those. It is PACKED in there. What a PIA.



I'll keep what I got. To each his (her) own... .

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Big Dawg

As they say... Ignorance is bliss!!!



I love to hear the real diesel wanna be's talkin' up how great their motors are. Next time some idiot starts telling you how much better a power joke/smoke is... Just ask him why it's better. His facial contortions and his moronic explanations (or lack thereof) will provide hours of entertainment for us here on the forums. Praise the Lord that I have a Cummins and don't have to make excuses.

Well I took your advise and posted the question "why is the PSD better than the Cummins?" over at the Diesel stop (Ford website) in the General diesel section. Only probelm is that my signiture shows I have a CTD It will be fun to see the answers.

 

[Dean Upson]

newjetboat



That is the best report I've read lately. Welcome.



Dean

 

[Badunit]

The article seemed fair enough for what they were testing, other than their doofus mistake of not using the OD switch on the downhill grade and their comparison (as part of the "truckness" rating) of regular mirrors on the Dodge and Chevy vs towing mirrors on the Ford. They weren't testing for longetivity or bomb-ability or even maintainability; things that are arguably more important in the long run. Without thes two mistakes, though, the Dodge would probably have been second, if not first.



If I was to do a comparison of these three vehicles it would include a lot more than just a few performance runs. The mechanical portion of the test would be more weighted toward how well it's designed and how easy it is to maintain and repair. But that's just me.

 

[Parshal]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Well I took your advise and posted the question "why is the PSD better than the Cummins?" over at the Diesel stop (Ford website) in the General diesel section. Only probelm is that my signiture shows I have a CTD It will be fun to see the answers.

I read your post and went over there looking for it and found this as the first post:



http://forums.thedieselstop.com/ubb...1278037&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1



Scanning down the list of topics I see far more bashing of the new 6. 0 than I do people loving it.

 

[jryan11518]

Thats the $ doing the talking. I read it, and I still want mine. These articles must only influence the people who do not do any research or homework before they buy. ie the ignorant ones, or just the un informed.

 

[jlhartak]

Jetboat



Great test of real world usage. I too read the FW test, of course you have to read between the lines and compare the data for yourself, I could just as easily made the Dodge first with the same data.



The Dodge is at a disadvantage in acceleration and climbing because of the 4spd auto verse 5spd on the PS and DM, if the Dodge had the 3. 09/3. 10 1st gear of the PS/DM I feel it would have out performed them. I haven't heard of any PS/DM going 1 million miles?!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by jlhartak

Jetboat



I haven't heard of any PS/DM going 1 million miles?!

Yes they have. Thats the total number of miles the 6. 0's have been towed since their debut!

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

Yes they have. Thats the total number of miles the 6. 0's have been towed since their debut!

:-laf

 

[dnitzel]

After reading all the nasty stuff on thedieselstop.com , I hope the new ford diesel doesn't do to the industry what the GM diesel did in the 70's!