Someone from CHRYSLER please read

[JARichard]

I hate to whine about a vehicle. The Ford I rode in had 30,000 miles than mine. I also hate FORDS but after riding in a Super Duty yesterday I noticed the following:

1. Dodge Seats suck!!!! I constantly have this pain in my right thigh from that metal beam. No problem in the FORD. Seat cushions firm and nice.



2. The interior door panels rattle way to much. The interior of the Super Duty was quiet even on gravel roads and logging trails. My Dodge doors are not quiet even on the freeway.



3. Electric window circuit is to weak. In the FORD we rolled down all 4 windows at the same time. No big lag in speed there.



4. I like the amount of room in the back of my truck. But after the FORD, My truck feels like a midget mobile. DODGE make a real crew cab.



5. this isnt a comparison to the FORD. BUT COULD YOU GUYS HAVE MADE THE HEADLIGHTS ANY HARDER TO CHANGE?



6. Oil Filter and Fuel filter placement could have been better. What if you need to change the fuel filter on the road. Do you think every one keeps a 1/2" drive socket set in the their truck?



7. Rumor is you are going to away with Cummins and use Benz diesel. ARE YOU CRAZY.



Ok I am through for now. But it is the little things. I mean this truck has turned into a rattle trap since 60,000 miles. I have a brush guard and it is a (female dog) to change the headlights. Did they pay no attention to their competition? It seems they are worried about quantity more than quality and are having trouble in quality. They have so many NEW products out they don't care about what they are already making.

 

[XcumminsX]

1) Its a truck



2) If you dont like it sell it because dodge isnt going to change



3) Its not a mercedes and its meant for work so expect things like rattles, etc.



Stop B*tchin. .

 

[NDanecker]

JARichard has got some good points. I test drove a Harley D. addition before buying my truck and there were things I liked on the Ford that Dodge can't come close to. In the same respect, Dodge has the Cummins! Oo.



BUT - it all comes down to what is more important to you. I'm actually happy that truck manufacturers make different levels of trucks. You want X, Y & Z you go to Ford. You want A, B & C go to Dodge. etc. This gives the consumer some choice.



What would be REALLY nice is being able to take what every mfg has to offer and truely build a 'custom' truck. Unfortunately this is NOT going to happen so we have to choose between which truck manufacturer and pick what is most important to us.



There is no way Dodge, Ford or Chevy can make EVERYONE happy. There will always be someone out there who prefers something different. I say, then go buy it!!!

 

[Casey Balvert]

Originally posted by XcumminsX

1) Its a truck



2) If you dont like it sell it because dodge isnt going to change



3) Its not a mercedes and its meant for work so expect things like rattles, etc.



Stop B*tchin. .

How tactful. Maybe you should be giving lessons in accident avoidance and dating.

 

[bpenrod]

I liked the bigger backseat ont he Ford as well but it comes with extra wheel base that makes it tougher to park and drive on trails. That extra wheel base also helps the ride quality as well. I think there are several trade-offs that manufactureres go through when producing a vehicle and if they make the same decision you woud then you like the vehicle otherwise you wonder what the heck they were thinking!

 

[Spooled-up]

Just curious, but what is the difficult part about changing a headlight? Don't you just change the bulb from inside the engine compartment?



If you need to change the actual lens, I agree, the brushguard would make that difficult, but that's the compromise you make with the aftermarket.

 

[rfoust]

You have to pull the entire headlight assembly to change the bulb unless you break your arm in about 4 places to wiggle your arm in and around all of the things tucked in tight behind the headlight. This being said I did not find this process difficult at all.



Who doesn't carry a tool kit with them in their truck?? To me it is a no brainer.



I think the seats are the most comfortable truck seats I have ever sat in. I do not feel this bar everyone talks about and I have wiggled in my seat to try to find it.



I can roll down all of my windows without lag.



I cannot believe how quiet and tight the newly designed door panels fit. Mine don't make a peep.



As for the larger back seat. Did you test drive the Dodge before you bought it?? How can complaints come, after purchase, about the size of the back seat---everyone knows it is smaller.

 

[KBennett]

I have ridden in a 2004 Super Duty.

1. The seats seemed nicer but they were leather and mine are cloth so I could not give a true comaprison.

2. My door panels do not rattle and I am off road quite a bit. If yours rattle I would suggest taking it to the dealer. The ride in the Super Duty was not as smooth as my truck and I don't think it handles any better either but I did not drive it.

3. I have not noticed any problems with the windows.

4. The back seat is definitely roomier in the Ford but I wanted a shorter truck and have two young boys so the Dodge is perfect for me. I do hope Dodge comes out with a bigger cab for you guys that need it.

5. I have not had to change headlights yet so I can't feel your pain.

6. I would hate to do any work on a Powersmoke. That engine compartment is more cramped than most gassers. That's one of the reasons I bought a Dodge with the Cummins so I would not have to work on it and if I did it would be easy.

7. I put my vote in to stay with the Cummins.



One more thing. The VGT turbo in the Ford sounds like a dentist drill and drove me crazy I love the sound of the turbo and the deep rumble in my truck. The Powersmoke sounds like something is wrong.

 

[CLAYTON]

What kind of seat package do you guys have that feel this bar in the seat?



I like the way these seats feel.

 

[RankRam]

www.fordcummins.com if you got the bucks.

 

[scootergmc]

I have been in both Chevy's and Fords. I have only two reason I bought the Dodge, the Cummins and exterior styling. As far as the interior goes, it is by far cheaper and plainer than the other two. The smaller quad cab wasn't a factor as I have 3 person family (and the youngest is only 30+/- inches tall).



1. My seats are nice- how much do you weigh?

2. How do you get all four fingers on the window switches? That's talent.

3. Did your headlights already go out or did you replace them with some cool blue xenon things?

 

[RankRam]

Originally posted by Casey Balvert

How tactful. Maybe you should be giving lessons in accident avoidance and dating.

Too darn funny Casey!

 

[JARichard]

Look GUYS!!1

You are taking this the wrong way. I didnt post this to be bashed. I love my truck. I bought it for longevity. But at 70,000 miles the door panels are killing me. Rattle Rattle Sqeak sqeak. Just maybe someone from DC would have read this and taken note. But with all the jokes you guys throwing in here. They WON'T

By the WAY, My seat is SLT cloth with driver side electric. For you SA's out there I weigh 240. This a man's truck right? Why shouldb't a 6'3" 240 lb. man be comfortable in it?

 

[GCross]

I drove a King Ranch Ford in 2002 when the 6. 0 was first available because the CTD HO was not available in CA and although I was impressed with the cab I declined after hearing of the engine problems. Had the Ford come with the Cummins engine I'd probably be driving one.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I had a friend that bought a 2003 and complained about the seats. He sat in mine (2004) with leather and said the seat felt much more comfortable. He hated the seat so much he traded it for a Chevy (8. 1 liter gasser). He owned a Duramax before the Dodge and had injector problems twice.



Is there a big difference in the design between leather and cloth? 2003 & 2004?

 

[JARichard]

Different vendors I was told. But guys MY DEALER does not give a rats behind about anything but selling. DC help line says what dealer says goes. Maybe someone at DC will read this and try to make a difference. You know some people do care?

 

[zari]

Cosmetics?!

It all comes down to <b>your</b> requirements, IMO. If those cosmetic (?) issues are important to you, maybe you do have the wrong truck...



Interestingly enough, I have none of the issues you mention; and nothing would get me to trade my Cummins for the PowderSmoke...

 

[Dean Upson]

I rode in an 04 PowerStroke with leather. Not impressed at all with eithere the comfort or the ride and it was a F-250 to boot. Mine is much more comfortable (I also have the leather seats).



Dean

 

[rmcnamee]

I've owned a Super Duty/PSD (a 2001 I sold 1 year after buying it) and I've owned 3 Dodge rams w/ the CTD and it's been my experience that the Dodge is a better truck all together. Matter of fact, Dodge has been a better truck since the first major revamp in 1994. The interiors are nicer (although the current interior does feel like a minivan a little, but I still like it) with better fit, finish and attention to detail. As for rattles, my 2004 3500 has some rattles, but it is a truck and nothing is perfect. On the other hand my 2001 SD (it was a SuperCab) was a total rattle and squeak bucket. All the doors would flex and move within the door jams, causing the weatherstripping to squeak and it drove me nuts . I brought it into the dealer (my local Ford dealer is great), told them about the doors and they said they knew about the problem and would try to fix it. They readjusted the door 4 times, sprayed silicone on the weatherstripping (which worked for about a week) and still couldn't fix the problem. As for the rest of the truck: returned to the dealer 2 times for a leaking rear and driveline vibrations, 1 time for a bad climate control motor and numerous times for a lack of power steering assist at idle, which was another problem Ford knew about and did nothing to fix it.



As for the PSD, it's a great motor and runs well- when it's actually running right, but the Cummins is a better motor and the Dodge's handling is far better than the Super Duty.



A full size crew cab- now that would be nice, but mine suits me fine for now and the seats could use some work. A 5 speed auto would also be nice with a VGT on the Cummins.



The way I see it, the Fords are good looking trucks and the new 6. 0 PSD (again when running right) is a rocket, but go onto any website that have a forum(s) for the Ford SDs and read how may people are having real, serious problems with their $40,000+ purchases, then come back here and compare the two. I don't think Dodge/Cummins has replaced hundreds of motors due to total failure, unlike Ford/Navistar. Yeah, some of us have had problems (minor) with our trucks, but all in all I doubt there are more 10 members here that have been stranded by their CTD.



Ryan

 

[dcscott]

1) I Love my Truck!

2) I have no rattles at 40,000+

3) I have one squeak - right front suspension.

4) My brother-in-laws '03 Laramie with Leather seems to have a different shape & feel to the seats then my SLT with cloth. The Laramie seats seemed to me to be much more comfortable. Yes, it is a truck, but I drive about 45,000 miles a year so comfort is important.

5) How did you know your headlight burnt out. Mine are so dim I'm not sure I'd notice ;-)

6) For me, the Cummins makes up for any other differences between the Dodge, Chevy & Ford. I do, however, wish that DC could figure out how to paint these things.