New Ram - great thread!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
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From: Rhode Island
Let's see. Any newer Ford truck since the 08 model year has been designed for a service life of approximately 250,000 miles. Many will last a lot longer.
A typical fleet driven truck is likely going to see a lot of urban use, stop and go driving, 10 or 12 stops per mile not unusual.
Using that scenario and the starter rated at 300,000 cycles yields what, a starter every 30-50 k miles? I'll pass.
A typical fleet driven truck is likely going to see a lot of urban use, stop and go driving, 10 or 12 stops per mile not unusual.
Using that scenario and the starter rated at 300,000 cycles yields what, a starter every 30-50 k miles? I'll pass.
Besides, the start-stop is designed that if excessive stopping is detected, it will disable the system, and there is also a button to manually disable it.
Originally Posted by loydmeeks
After owning 2 Ram 1500's both Hemi's, and the screwing I took when I traded my 06 Dodge in on a 08 F150 I learned my lesson. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig. Pretty don't make a dodge any better. The 2 I had 04 and 06 had awful seats, sound echoed through them and there didn't seem to be any sound insulation anywhere. I didn't have the Laramie but an XLT is still 200% quieter.
I had a chance to ride in a 2012 Ram Quad-Cab SLT (base model interior), and it was one of the quietest vehicles I've been in, even quieter than the '08+ Super Duty trucks. Interior quality was just as good, if not better as well. I haven't had a chance to sit in a new F-150, so I can't compare the two.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,243
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From: Chicago and Mt Carroll IL
I've been driving trucks as primary transportation for 33 years, most purchased new. My first (and only) Dodge was a shiny red '83 3/4 ton 4wd with manual hubs and a 318, think it was a power ram or something like that. Good motor, fuel thirsty but that was the extent of the fun. Never plowed yet it puked a transfer case at 40k. Trans went at 55. Front end pretty much toast at 60k or so plus the inevitable loose ***** and interior trim and rattles, lots of them. Traded in on an 86 F250 and haven't touched a dodge truck ever again. Switched from Ford to an 01 Chevy 2500 because of a good deal. That marriage lasted a year. Again back to Fords.
I've accumulated, i guess, better than a million and a half trouble free miles combined on ford trucks over the years. Seriously, trouble free. No sense in betting against that scenario.
I've accumulated, i guess, better than a million and a half trouble free miles combined on ford trucks over the years. Seriously, trouble free. No sense in betting against that scenario.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2011
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Dodge does the same durability testing that Ford does. Considering Ram trucks have a 100,000 mile warranty, I doubt they'd release a truck that would cost them 2-3 starters before the warranty expires.
Besides, the start-stop is designed that if excessive stopping is detected, it will disable the system, and there is also a button to manually disable it.
An 06 vs. '09/'10+ Ram is not even comparable. Completely different product, completely different truck, completely different company.
I had a chance to ride in a 2012 Ram Quad-Cab SLT (base model interior), and it was one of the quietest vehicles I've been in, even quieter than the '08+ Super Duty trucks. Interior quality was just as good, if not better as well. I haven't had a chance to sit in a new F-150, so I can't compare the two.
Besides, the start-stop is designed that if excessive stopping is detected, it will disable the system, and there is also a button to manually disable it.
An 06 vs. '09/'10+ Ram is not even comparable. Completely different product, completely different truck, completely different company.
I had a chance to ride in a 2012 Ram Quad-Cab SLT (base model interior), and it was one of the quietest vehicles I've been in, even quieter than the '08+ Super Duty trucks. Interior quality was just as good, if not better as well. I haven't had a chance to sit in a new F-150, so I can't compare the two.
I will just have to take your word that Obamma builds better trucks than Ford.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
Anyways, I'm not saying the Ram is better, I'm saying they're not nearly as bad as people in this thread make them out to be. They are vastly improved compared to models from just a few years ago.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,946
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From: Northern California
Chrysler's Pentastar V-6 will make 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque...which is a joke compared to the Ecoboost with 365 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque!!!
Are they kidding??? Imagine towing a 9,000 lb. trailer with that anemic motor!
Are they kidding??? Imagine towing a 9,000 lb. trailer with that anemic motor!
9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
I would like to see air bags become normal on trucks. For ride and for load carrying capacity. With the latest Ram blunder of putting coils in the rear of the 1500, they surely went looking for a new tactic. Hopefully they made these airbags to hold a good amount of weight, like the air bags people add to their truck, and not just like the air bags that support the sleeper cab of a semi truck.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
Around here I'm seeing more and more Rams and Ram HD's as company trucks, tow trucks and car haulers. They aren't robbing sales from themselves but rather GM and Ford.
Perhaps their price is more competitive, a better warranty perhaps or maybe it boils down to a better built truck than in years past.
Either way, until Ford and GM come with a clean sheet of paper, Ram will have class leading payload / towing and MPG's if the diesel comes into play.
These added goodies won't come for Ram without some growing pains. Ford had this technology explosion just a couple years ago and they've had to fix a ton of stuff under warranty and loose heard earned ground in the reliability ratings.
Perhaps their price is more competitive, a better warranty perhaps or maybe it boils down to a better built truck than in years past.
Either way, until Ford and GM come with a clean sheet of paper, Ram will have class leading payload / towing and MPG's if the diesel comes into play.
These added goodies won't come for Ram without some growing pains. Ford had this technology explosion just a couple years ago and they've had to fix a ton of stuff under warranty and loose heard earned ground in the reliability ratings.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: South Charleston WV
Well here is my 2 cents. I have been a Dodge guy for years. I always had the diesel I bought Dodge mostly because of the Cummins. I have ALWAYS thought that ford had a better built heave duty truck but coming from a mechanic background and working for International I did not want a power stroke. As far as the dodge goes they are nice trucks but I will have to say that 5-6 weeks ago I bought my first Ford truck and I am more then impressed. The quality of the truck I feel is better then the Dodge and especially Chevy. Now that I've drug you this far what I am trying to say is in the 78,000 miles I had my 2006 ram it had two heater blower motors, two u-joints, two driver seats replaced, the ignition replaced once, both front hubs replaced twice, all front tie rods replaced once. Now I never had an issue with the engine but the truck was wearing me out. I never towed extremely heavy loads or even towed that much but I know plenty of people that have had alot of these same issues with their Dodges that I had. Way to go FORD.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
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After owning 2 Ram 1500's both Hemi's, and the screwing I took when I traded my 06 Dodge in on a 08 F150 I learned my lesson. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig. Pretty don't make a dodge any better. The 2 I had 04 and 06 had awful seats, sound echoed through them and there didn't seem to be any sound insulation anywhere. I didn't have the Laramie but an XLT is still 200% quieter.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,243
Likes: 2
From: Chicago and Mt Carroll IL
So we're verifying that pre 09 dodges are junk then?
The sudden resurgence in "quality" would scare me if I we're putting down 45 large on a new truck. 09 to present is only 3 years, not much of a track record.
The sudden resurgence in "quality" would scare me if I we're putting down 45 large on a new truck. 09 to present is only 3 years, not much of a track record.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
The '09+ trucks are just completely different. They are just not comparable at all to the earlier trucks. Just go read the reviews of Chrysler's current vehicles in comparison to the pre-bankruptcy vehicles. They gains they've made in quality in such a short time is mind-boggling.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
The '09+ trucks are just completely different. They are just not comparable at all to the earlier trucks. Just go read the reviews of Chrysler's current vehicles in comparison to the pre-bankruptcy vehicles. They gains they've made in quality in such a short time is mind-boggling.
Ford's quality has remained consistent over the years with some models less trouble prone than others. But over all, very good over a long period of time. Buying an F-150 is not a leap of faith, buying a ram might be.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
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From: Rhode Island
If you look at something like TrueDelta Reliability ratings, buying an 09+ F-150 is no more of a leap of faith than an 09+ Ram.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
Well either way it's all good. I'm sticking with Ford until they convince me otherwise.