Why Cummins?

[Bruce Beard]

A good friend of mine just purchased a gorgeous 2016 GMC Denali 2500. It is a truck I looked at before purchasing my Ram and although I have my reasons for wanting the Ram I understand why he likes this Denali. Aside from my really disliking the fender flare design on the new GMC's and not wanting to live with the 10' larger turning diameter there is no question it is a nice truck.
I am curious though, are the newest generations of the Duramax good engines? How about the newest Powerstroke? Anyone can go comb the web and find fans who say they love their particular brand no matter what it is but is there any reality to the thought that basically these trucks are all pretty good these days? In 8000 miles my Cummins has been a delight. It gets fuel mileage beyond what I'd ever hoped for, it makes great power and it is makes just enough noise to let me know it is there. If it continues to run like this for the 6 or so years I am likely to keep it i will be very happy! I have no question that I made the right decision for us when we got our Ram.
Anyone here tempted by one of the "other" diesel trucks before buying a Ram or is it even fair to ask this on a Cummins forum?
Bruce

 

[SnoKing]

Both the Duramax and Powerstroke have an Achilles Heel in the Bosch CP4-2 injection pump. The Duramax is a better choice because GM just quietly fixes them under warranty while Ford has been noted to blame the failure on the user and bad fuel that they put in the tank. Repair is only 10-11K to replace everything in the fuel system including the tank, lines, fuel pump, injection pump etc etc. Plus the 2017 Ford HD trucks will have aluminum beds and bodies, so I would wait that one out. I am on my third RAM and hopefully the 2015 will last through my needs for a HD truck.

Snoking

 

[Bruce Beard]

I just did a quick search on CP4-2 pump issues. It appears that there is something there.
Forgive me but what pump is used on my Cummins?
Thanks
Bruce

 

[SnoKing]

i just did a quick search on cp4-2 pump issues. It appears that there is something there.
Forgive me but what pump is used on my cummins?
Thanks
bruce

cp3. Snoking

 

[Killer223]

i almost went to ford. the seats are nice. the headroom was great. they run like a striped ape. very fast trucks. but they also get 30% less MPG's and you have to remove the cab to work on it.
i really like the cummins engine. i'm dealing with the body dodge put around it.
as for GM. they have a great engine. and i do mean great. but it's a car. i'm just not a fan of the IFS.
all brands have ups n downs.
for me the manual trans and 2 less cylinders was why i own 2 cumins trucks.

 

[Bruce Beard]

i almost went to ford. the seats are nice. the headroom was great. they run like a striped ape. very fast trucks. but they also get 30% less MPG's and you have to remove the cab to work on it.
i really like the cummins engine. i'm dealing with the body dodge put around it.
as for GM. they have a great engine. and i do mean great. but it's a car. i'm just not a fan of the IFS.
all brands have ups n downs.
for me the manual trans and 2 less cylinders was why i own 2 cumins trucks.

Well now, look at that! I never realized that GM was using an independent front suspension...
i don't mind my solid front axel in my Ram. It rides great.
Bruce

 

[Wayne M.]

Indeed the GMC uses IFS, gotta admit the- I guess now old- Super Duty frame and suspension was very stout.
Bruce, do you do your own maintenance or repairs? If so, make believe you're down and out on the side of the road, and you need to replace a snapped fan belt. Look at the forward engine rooms on brand D,F and G. Let us know what you see- Or don't see.
If not, look at the current commercial trend. Aside from emergency and government fleets (Ford bends over backwards and inside out for them), you'll see all the tow guys and landscapers etc, switching to Rams. There's a reason. Mainly the engine.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Ford marketeers scream Power Stroke!
GM marketeers yell Dura Max!
Ram just sits quietly and whispers "Cummins."
Ram lets the engine and its reputation do the talking.

 

[Bruce Beard]

Indeed the GMC uses IFS, gotta admit the- I guess now old- Super Duty frame and suspension was very stout.
Bruce, do you do your own maintenance or repairs? If so, make believe you're down and out on the side of the road, and you need to replace a snapped fan belt. Look at the forward engine rooms on brand D,F and G. Let us know what you see- Or don't see.
If not, look at the current commercial trend. Aside from emergency and government fleets (Ford bends over backwards and inside out for them), you'll see all the tow guys and landscapers etc, switching to Rams. There's a reason. Mainly the engine.

I owned a repair shop that specialized in European auto repair. I've done my share of turning wrenches!
I'm retired now but believe me, I chose the Cummins for a reason!
Still, it's hard to imagine that in this day and age manufacturers are still building...dare I call it "bad designs"?

There is lots evidence of Ford 6.0 and 6.4 disasters, one shop even speaks about 6.7 Scorpion reliability issues. Less stuff out there about the Duramax.

Just curious!
Bruce

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Proudly driving Cummins since 95. I'm a fan boy

 

[rashwor]

Proudly driving Cummins Rams since 1992! Never thought about one of the other brands. I will admit they are accessorized better, ride better, etc, but for me it is a reliability issue that I just can't get past.

 

[Wayne M.]

Sorry Bruce, I now recall you were in the business. Personally I don't have much experience with the Duramax. I know early on, they had cooling problems and such. A coworker has a 04 ish and it's been good to him.
I have extensive experience with the 6.0's to today. Let's say that I would not own one. Some guys love em, but I'm happy with my inline. One quick inspection under the hood, and it's a deal breaker. Look at the Right bank of a new Ford, and consider changing those injectors!
I understand all of the engines have gotten busier in the last 20 years, but I feel the Dodge/ Cummins is still the best package.
Oh, and let's measure all the torque numbers at 1600 rpm.

 

[Newsa]

i almost went to ford. the seats are nice. the headroom was great. they run like a striped ape. very fast trucks. but they also get 30% less MPG's and you have to remove the cab to work on it.
i really like the cummins engine. i'm dealing with the body dodge put around it.
as for GM. they have a great engine. and i do mean great. but it's a car. i'm just not a fan of the IFS.
all brands have ups n downs.
for me the manual trans and 2 less cylinders was why i own 2 cumins trucks.

Same here. The front suspension in the chevy/GMC is a car suspension/and 4x4 (car) drivetrain.

Ram has the manual transmission option that no other has.

 

[Bruce Beard]

Sorry Bruce, I now recall you were in the business. Personally I don't have much experience with the Duramax. I know early on, they had cooling problems and such. A coworker has a 04 ish and it's been good to him.
I have extensive experience with the 6.0's to today. Let's say that I would not own one. Some guys love em, but I'm happy with my inline. One quick inspection under the hood, and it's a deal breaker. Look at the Right bank of a new Ford, and consider changing those injectors!
I understand all of the engines have gotten busier in the last 20 years, but I feel the Dodge/ Cummins is still the best package.
Oh, and let's measure all the torque numbers at 1600 rpm.

No need to be sorry...
I don't even remember mentioning it here!. As to the torque, there is one little downside. The first time I drove my Cummins in the snow, I found that all of that torque at low RPM's makes for some traction challenges!

As to the ride, I think my Ram with the air suspension is pretty amazing! Yes it will do a little axel hop over sharp bumps but it does a great job on everything else.
I prefer the Ram's ride to my previous 2010 Platinum F-150 with its leaf springs and huge appetite for rear shocks.

Maybe I'm simply suffering from "fan-boy-itis" but I love my truck!

Bruce

 

[RVTRKN]

The Cummins 5.9/6.7 is a medium duty engine stuffed into pickup truck, and has been proven over the many years with only upgrades to increase in power and emmisions. The other two Makes have gone back to the drawing boards for design flaws many times trying to compete. Cummins has had issues but nothing like the other two. You can pull/haul way over the GCWR from Dodge when the other two are maxed out at the published ratings. I'll stick with a million mile motor (if taken care of) any time, for what they cost.

 

[Wayne M.]

So true. You will not find brand F or G engines in a true medium like a Freightliner business class truck.

 

[RVTRKN]

I fell in love with the 5.9 CTD back in 94, unfortunately I couldn't afford it at the time and settled for a gasser. California emmisions restrictions on the derated 5.9 CTD in HP/TQ, caused me to wait 10 years for a real CTD, glad I waited.

 

[SnoKing]

There are hundreds of thousands of Cummins 5.9 and 6.7 in boats. A handful of 7.3 Powerstroke made it to boats and I am not aware of any production Duramax that was put into marine service. Note: Boat engines are going up hill 99.99 percent of the time, always under a heavy load. They have an excellent track record in marine service. We had two 4B150's in our boat that we owned 19 years and 2800 hours of service. Never had anything beyond thermostat(both engines), circulation water pump(one engine) and starter relay issues.

Snoking

 

[Bruce Beard]

Funny you should mention the marine version... My wife and I have a new trawler on order and it uses a Cummins 6.7 QSB (essentially the marine version of the engine in our Rams) in the 480 hp trim. You are right in suggesting that Cummins has a good reputation in the marine world.
I was surprised to see the Cummins on the first one I went aboard! Here is the boat...
Bruce

http://www.americantugs.com/models/395/

 

[Newsa]

There are hundreds of thousands of Cummins 5.9 and 6.7 in boats. A handful of 7.3 Powerstroke made it to boats and I am not aware of any production Duramax that was put into marine service. Note: Boat engines are going up hill 99.99 percent of the time, always under a heavy load. They have an excellent track record in marine service. We had two 4B150's in our boat that we owned 19 years and 2800 hours of service. Never had anything beyond thermostat(both engines), circulation water pump(one engine) and starter relay issues.

Snoking

Cummins has an excellent marine application record. Two years ago there was an article pposted on this forum about tandem duramaxes being used for navy fleet boats. I will try to find the article. I still think the I6 design is way better than v8.