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Test Drove Ram, Chevy, Ford

gimmie11s said:
Yeah, their exhaust brake is pretty weak. That cab sure is nice though, as is the horsepower.
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Ya im intrigued to see how the exhaust brake is while towing - from what I have gathered online it works just as well while towing but its less noticeable than the Cummins. We shall see - wont have the boat out of storage to tow until next spring so for now its just daily/unloaded driving. The other thing that small but nice - when I turn the exhaust brake on and shut the truck off, its on when I start it next. Its the dumb little things that start to add up.

The cab is awesome.
 
tchur1 said:
FWIW I traded in my '22 ram for a '24 F250 King Ranch Tremor this weekend. I really enjoyed that truck and would have kept it if it were not for the 2 reasons I posted earlier in this thread. Here are my initial impressions of the F250 compared to the Ram:
- Cab is significantly larger, I can easily fit a car seat behind my driving position with room to spare
- Interior of the Ford is now on par (or potentially better) than the Limited.
-Seats are more plush/comfortable
- Telescoping steering wheel is really nice, allows me to get into a comfortable driving position without my knees hitting the center console like they did on the Ram.
- Powertrain is smoother and quieter than the Ram, I barely hear the motor while driving and the trans is smoother than the AISIN (I miss the sound of the Cummins - the HO powerstroke sounds terrible in comparison)
- Exhaust break when not towing is far less effective, it works but its nothing like the Ram.
- HUD is awesome, wish the Ram had it.
- Ride quality is way better in the F250. This isnt an apples to apples comparison because the Ram was a 3500 and now im in a 3/4 ton Tremor, but the Ford rides better.
- Visibility in the Ford is better, A pillars feel smaller and rear windows larger, its easier to see everything IMO.
- Ford has the CP4 which is worrisome but im willing to take the risk while its under warranty.

In short - the Ram is a purpose built towing tool with some nice luxury features where the Ford feels like a luxury vehicle that can pull a house. Everything feels a bit more refined IMO but I will miss the Cummins motor.

I genuinely think you will be happy with whatever you choose but figured id share my recent experience.
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Spot on...All in all I think the Ford has a better designed cab.....I really was surprised how comfortable the cheap xlt cloth seats were...I didn't miss leather at all. I must say I'm really enjoying my PW but I'm certain that my 1st upgrade will be the mirrors. I just can't get used to them.
 
jebruns said:
Yes, it is. But when I test drove both Ram 1 tons back-to-back with no load, there was no difference I could detect.

That's got nothing to do with the air suspension though. I'm so glad I don't have to do that between tows. I'm sure that would get to be a PITA.
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Our company has a 2019 3500 Mega Cab with out rear air and a 2020 Mega Cab with rear air and they ride exactly the same empty.
 
In the past five years, I've owned a 2020 F350 Lariat power stroke, a 2020 Silverado 3500 LT duramax, a 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 DRW Duramax Denali, a 2024 Silverado 3500 duramax high country, and now a 2024 Ram 3500 Hemi tradesman dually.

The most comfortable truck in my opinion was the GMC Denali dually. The leather quality is substantially better than the Chevy trucks of those years. Given, by 2022 the cab design of the T1 platform GM trucks felt a bit "aged" compared to what Ram and Ford were offering, but we liked it. Simple and clean, smaller center stack screen, knobs for everything, the gauge cluster still had analog tach/speedo (with a smaller digital center screen)
That truck rode great, towed our Alliance Paradigm fifth wheel trailer really well.

The least comfortable truck was the 2024 Silverado 3500 high country. GM must've changed seat foam suppliers or something, because both my wife and I decided after two trips in the truck that the seats were absolute torture on long trips. We tend to drive 8 hours on travel days, and the Chevy seats caused nerve pain for both of us.

One thing I can say was universal about every GM duramax I've owned - they were all DOGS off the line. "Duramax dead pedal" is a very common talked about issue. I got rid of the GMC dually because we lived in Bend Oregon (de-facto roundabout capital of the world) and timing merges into roundabouts with that truck was downright scary. No amount of skinny pedal application would make that truck move faster than it decided it wanted to go. Banks pedal commander helped, but it was still frustrating.

Part of trading in the 2024 chevy so soon was 'compromise' on the trim level of the new truck (per the wife/CFO) We both really wanted to try a gas rig out to try and save the initial $10k investment up front (and 50 cents more expensive diesel out here) I would've liked a few more creature comforts, like dual climate control and heated seats. The dealers in western Washington simply do not stock order Hemi trucks in anything above tradesman trim. With the rebates going on now, we decided not to order a Hemi bighorn and settle for Tradesman.

I can say after three long trips, the seats in the tradesman ram are an order of magnitude better than the chevy high country seats. They don't have heat/ventilation, but the seat foam is more comfortable, the angle of the seat is better, and the vinyl handles three dogs of filth really well.

The only thing I can say about the Ford was the axle tube crushing issue gave me extreme paranoia - we towed around 14k on a fifth wheel, and my rear axle weight was within 500 lbs of rating. Ford/Dana decided to start making thinner/tapered axle tubes on the F350 starting in 2020 - and didn't weld the spring perches fully. So the axle tubes were getting crushed. The recall for that had the Ford dealers welding the perches on. My wife said she wouldn't ride in the truck anymore after that. I felt the overall truck interior/exterior felt the most dated of them all...
 
I switched to ram in 2015 when i bought a limited dually and to date that was likely my most favorite truck. I have a 22 5500 Laramie now that i really like as well. Of all the emissions trucks ive owned since 2011 this 2022 has by far created the most headache for me. But i am sure all 3 have there issues. Ive towed heavy with both GMC denali duallies, and rams. While the GMC's performed well, there's nothing quite like towing with the RAM. The exhaust brake is in an entirely different universe than the other two brands, the low end torque i feel is also more pronounced. BUT as was said previously, all 3 brands are basically neck and neck in towing performance. I seriously think its not so much about which one is better now, rather finding a dealer that will stand behind the product and help you when you have issues.

I am about 1-1.5 yrs away from looking again at another truck, currently have 75k on this 2022 and while its been good it hasn't exactly been flawless either. Ram has been difficult to deal with on some issues. But i think this is due to lack of experienced technicians at the dealerships as well as just plain old lack of technicians.

I will 100% consider a ram for my next truck, however i do believe i will be giving an F350 lariat chassis cab a hard look as well. I have a buddy with a 23 platinum and there's no doubting how much bigger the cab is, and until i saw someone else mention it about kids car seats, it made me realize that YES the kids car seats just barely fit and there boots are touching both front seats which i hate. I will say though the ford dosent "fit" me as well as the ram does and it still feels a bit plasticy,. It'll depend alot on numbers as well, these manufacturers are frankly completely out to lunch on these new prices for rigs. I paid 94k for my current 22, and now the same truck is 115,000$ its just ridiculous and i don't see the value there for what you get. I think stellantis has really made a mistake over pricing their product. BUT! all of us including myself will continue to pay that price and it will continue to go up. New truck smell is worse than cocaine. Soon enough well be bragging about getting a 3/4 ton tradesmen for a steal of a deal at 120k out the door at 5% interest.

also! not sure if you've seen the new mandates coming down by i believe 2027? but these manufacturers are going to be forced by EPA to cover engine and emission components for 8-10 years i believe it was. You think the prices are bad now! a lariat or laramie will be 180k in a few years.
 
I believe you are right. Imagine if all of us were having a discussion in 1995 or so, and someone said we'd be paying $80,000 plus for 3/4 ton trucks in 2025. We'd have laughed.

If you want heavier than a half ton truck, there's only 3 brands. And there is plenty of demand for them, even at these prices. I wish one of the 3 would make a real effort to have better quality and service, but it doesn't seem like that is in the cards.
 
Dave01 said:
I believe you are right. Imagine if all of us were having a discussion in 1995 or so, and someone said we'd be paying $80,000 plus for 3/4 ton trucks in 2025. We'd have laughed.

If you want heavier than a half ton truck, there's only 3 brands. And there is plenty of demand for them, even at these prices. I wish one of the 3 would make a real effort to have better quality and service, but it doesn't seem like that is in the cards.
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Back in 1998 I know of a person who paid over 35K for a F150 and btw I did laugh and then cringe when the light bulb in my head went on...
 
Pressure_welder said:
I will 100% consider a ram for my next truck, however i do believe i will be giving an F350 lariat chassis cab a hard look as well. I have a buddy with a 23 platinum and there's no doubting how much bigger the cab is, and until i saw someone else mention it about kids car seats, it made me realize that YES the kids car seats just barely fit and there boots are touching both front seats which i hate.
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I think I was the one that called this out and after owning the Ford for 2 months I can say im really happy with the choice. Being able to put car seats behind either seat, in comfortable positions, without the kids kicking anything rocks. Road trips are easier and more comfortable now and my wife is much happier (she always had the car seat stuck behind her with less room). If/when Ram gives us a larger cab I will 100% consider moving back but until then ill be in this Ford.
 
was watching a video of a ford F350 with almost 900000 miles on it. they tore apart the engine and cp4 part to inspect seeing how 900k was alot of miles. motor inside looked new. the failure was the lifters failed. started to wipe the came. pistons were mint. everything else was mint. even the bearings were mint. key take away guy heavy hauled over the country. 19000 engine hours and low low low idle numbers. changed oil every 10k and fuel filters on every oil change. the bearings on the piston/crank only lost 1 thousandths over that time too. if the lifters hand failed or he had upgraded them they suspect he would have made 1.5 - 2m miles on it. Only mods were i believe a external fuel filter setup. carried 170 gallons of fuel on the truck as well from random fuel stations all over the country.

CP4 was the amazing part. looked new.
 
tchur1 said:
I think I was the one that called this out and after owning the Ford for 2 months I can say im really happy with the choice. Being able to put car seats behind either seat, in comfortable positions, without the kids kicking anything rocks. Road trips are easier and more comfortable now and my wife is much happier (she always had the car seat stuck behind her with less room). If/when Ram gives us a larger cab I will 100% consider moving back but until then ill be in this Ford.
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My 22 has a heck of a lot more room in the back for car seats compared to my 06 did for both kids and adults, as for the grandkid kicking the back of the seat it, its called I'm the boss I set the rules, no more kicking problems, but hey if you want a ferd go for it, my self would not want to be caught being seen in one or a gmc/chevy...
 
I had car-seats in my Mega Cab and never had any issues. I love the interior of my Longhorn, made many trips with 4 adults from Arizona to Ozarks and Arizona to Colorado and never heard a complaint, but as they say, to each his own. Ford and GM are also awesome trucks.
 
I haven't driven a newer Ram 2500, but I can say this.... my new 24 Ram 3500 rides much nicer than my 06 Ram 2500 did. My wife and I expected the 3500 to ride like a Sherman tank but we were quite pleasantly surprised to realize on the test drive that the 3500 ride quality was a comfortable improvement over the old 2500.
 
Speedracer93CobraR said:
MegaCab only addresses some back seat interior issues
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I thought that's what you were complaining about. Car seats, etc.
Speedracer93CobraR said:
and when I checked pricing, it was quite a bit more to option the MegaCab whereas the bigger cabs, flat floors, telescopic wheel, etc... are standard on Ford and GM. RAM is losing HD sales by not updating the interior.
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On a Limited Longhorn, it's about a $1500 option. Whether that is a show stopper to have the truck you really want or not is up to you.

It is a bit surprising they don't offer a telescoping steering wheel, but in reality, we never used it in the vehicles we've owned that had them. We do use it on our diesel pusher some, but the steering wheel is at a whole different angle than a pickup or car.
 
jebruns said:
I thought that's what you were complaining about. Car seats, etc.

On a Limited Longhorn, it's about a $1500 option. Whether that is a show stopper to have the truck you really want or not is up to you.

It is a bit surprising they don't offer a telescoping steering wheel, but in reality, we never used it in the vehicles we've owned that had them. We do use it on our diesel pusher some, but the steering wheel is at a whole different angle than a pickup or car.
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On RAM's website in the build and price section, when you put in a limited longhorn 4x4 with no options and gas; it shows a price of $78,335. When you change the option to add megacab and nothing else, it forces the diesel option and the price is now $92,445. That makes it a no brainer for me to go with a GM for almost $20,000 less. I have been happy with my RAM and will continue using the RAM 5500's for our work, but they need to update their cab.
 
Speedracer93CobraR said:
On RAM's website in the build and price section, when you put in a limited longhorn 4x4 with no options and gas; it shows a price of $78,335. When you change the option to add megacab and nothing else, it forces the diesel option and the price is now $92,445. That makes it a no brainer for me to go with a GM for almost $20,000 less. I have been happy with my RAM and will continue using the RAM 5500's for our work, but they need to update their cab.
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Interesting. I thought Ram had stopped offering the gas option on the higher trim HD's a couple of years ago. But it looks like it's back for '25.
 
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