thinkin about jumping ship .....

[JHardwick]

..... for something like this!

 

[broeser340]

Gotta love the Dodge mudflaps!!

 

[johncameron]

Gotta love the Dodge mudflaps!!

 

[JHardwick]

I don't necessarily like the bed, but I'm thinking something along these lines ... ... actually it's the 70's style tail lights that kill this truck ... ... ... ... and yes, the mud flaps are classic!

 

[Matt400]

Nice truck but are you sure it will be worth loosing 4x4 and the Cummins?

You know you will want to turn the power up on that D-Max after what you have done to your 03.

 

[wbrown02]

Buy a kidney belt..... your going to need one!

 

[JHardwick]

Buy a kidney belt..... your going to need one!

Why? I can get it with air ride seats and/or suspension. That's my main issue with the Dodge ... ... ... . only issue actually ... ..... can't get a comfortable truck!

 

[JHardwick]

Nice truck but are you sure it will be worth loosing 4x4 and the Cummins?

You know you will want to turn the power up on that D-Max after what you have done to your 03.

Those are questions yet unanswered. The 4 wheel drive is gonna be an issue with what I do. The wheelbase doesn't seem to be much longer. Thing is, driving 150,000 miles a year, this thing looks comfy! Not only that, the D-Max and Allison will take some mods!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

YACK!!!! ugly as sin!



get a 650 Ford w/ a Cummins in it if you want something that big

 

[JHardwick]

YACK!!!! ugly as sin!



get a 650 Ford w/ a Cummins in it if you want something that big

I've talked to some guys with the big Ford ... ... . I'll go Chevy!

 

[bmoeller]

Not only that, the D-Max and Allison will take some mods!

With a BOMBed engine, the Allison isn't really that great, assuming it has the same one as the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks do. They guy at Goerends said the Allison still likes to burn up clutch packs with just a fueling box. They had one on the bench when I was there.

Depending on your loaded weight, I'd just put a Kelderman air-ride on the Ram, and they have a kit for trailers, too. Can get air-ride seats with low profile suspension that will sit lower than your stock seat when the air is out of the bag. All those together, should ride like a Caddy.

"My" KW has air ride on the suspension, cab and both seats. It can still beat the crap out of you if the roads are junk.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I've talked to some guys with the big Ford ... ... . I'll go Chevy!

did they tell you the Dmax is a poor med-duty engine choice? :-{} :-laf

 

[JFaulkner]

"My" KW has air ride on the suspension, cab and both seats. It can still beat the crap out of you if the roads are junk.

My guess your KW's air suspension is rated for between 44k and 46k lbs. If you put 50k on on it they ride like a dream. I had a KW T-800 with 46k Hendrickson spring ride suspension, now that was rough. :-laf



If you get the Chevy definately get the air ride. I rode in a newer 4500 single cab with a flatbed spring ride. It was as bad as my dodge except the seats were worse. It was the plain "work truck" version. I think if it was air ride and had better seats it wouldn't have been too bad. It ran good just rode bad.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Nice truck but are you sure it will be worth loosing 4x4 and the Cummins?

Guys needing and buying a rig like that CERTAINLY are NOT buying it for off-roading - so 4x4 isn't really much of an issue!

With a BOMBed engine, the Allison isn't really that great, assuming it has the same one as the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks do. They guy at Goerends said the Allison still likes to burn up clutch packs with just a fueling box. They had one on the bench when I was there.

transmission life on a bombed engine is just as much an issue with ANY Dodge as it would be with the GM stuff!



As for "looks", that is a purely personal issue - I like the rugged good looks of all 3 domestic big trucks, Ford, Dodge and GM - they are built for serious work, not off-roading, slalom courses or drag racing - and in case some here have missed the action, the Duramaxes are taking their fair share of trophies in both the drags AND sled pulling - not too shabby for a "medium duty" truck and engine - I'd be pretty happy to have one in front of MY RV! :-laf



I guess I just don't have the "brand name blinders" some here do... :-laf :-laf

 

[rweis]

I would CERTAINLY check the $$$ of the maintenance schedule. I think you will find it will be 2 or 3 x of your 3500.



Bob Weis

 

[BDeMartile]

THE TIRE SERVICE THAT MY COMPANY USES HAS A FEW OF THOSE AND THE RIDE AND HANDLING IS SAID (BY THEIR DRIVER) to be terrible. The best riding med duty iv'e driven is the Navistar unfortunately you get the vt365 or whatever the new abomination is for an engine not sure if you can upgrade to a real diesel on those or not. The chassis is however bullet proof.

 

[Grizzly]

..... for something like this!

The only positive thing I can say about this idea is, At least it's not a Ford.

 

[PKozlowski]

My brother inlaw has a Ford F650 and loves it.

Just an opinion. He also has a 98 Dodge dually.

 

[JFaulkner]

The only positive thing I can say about this idea is, At least it's not a Ford.

Well actually the only thing that's Ford on the F650\750's is the cab. The frame and driveline is made by "Blue Diamond" (Ford/IH parthership) and the engine (unless you get the powerstroke :-laf ) is either Caterpillar or Cummins (unfortunately it's the 5. 9 or more currently 6. 7 which IMO is a little small for a true "Medium Duty") and the transmission is Fuller, Spicer or Allison.



Anyone who's actually interested in a larger truck might price a Freightliner or KW. Local company recently bought a F750 and just ordered a Freightliner M2 and the freightliner was almost $10k cheaper than the Ford with the same engine and transmission (Cat, Allison). Another bought a Kenworth T300, 8. 3L cummins, 6spd Spicer syncronized transmission, air ride and a 10ft steel flatbed for around $54k. You can barely buy a new King Ranch Powerstroke for that.

 

[Ramtough]

It's a shame the American truck has a japanese engine. Other than that & I'd be interested.