The newer Ram trucks are getting a lot of interest from me as well. They must be doing something right...according to WardsAuto.com, Ram Trucks have been leading all manufacturers in truck sales for the class 3 thru 7 market segment. Jan-Aug sales in 2011 was 64,986 for Ram and 62,533 for Ford. Next closest manufacturer was IH with 25,712 trucks. 2012 has been much better for Ram...81,022 trucks compared to 67,763 for Ford.

About 5 years ago our fleet dealer recommended that we quit buying F-450/550 diesel powered trucks and stick with V10 engines instead. That strategy turned out to be very good for our bottom line. Now that very same dealer is recommending that we give a strong look at the Ram product since they appear to compare well with what Ford has to offer. I nearly pulled the trigger on two '13 F-550 V10 trucks earlier this week but I held off so I can look at the new Ram models. I still prefer Ford trucks but we all have our limits..

On a personal note...that Ram 5500 Long Hauler concept looks quite interesting...
Ram 5500 Long Hauler Concept Truck - Diesel Power Magazine

 

Count me in that group.

Everybody builds lemons, and someone is going to get stuck with them. C'est la vie. You live, you learn, you move on.

Regardless of what happened to you and how poorly Ford treated you, what I see is a lot of smoke and no fire. If you truly felt the way you claim to, you'd have dumped that truck and any other Ford product you owned ages ago and bought something else to drive while you waited for the truck you desire to make it to market (good luck with buying the perfect truck by the way). You're obviously not disappointed or angry enough with Ford to actually do anything about it, so at the very least, quit whining about it. You have options, there's no one to blame at this point but yourself, and the fact you've chosen to do nothing about it other than come back to the forum now and then and complain speaks volumes to me.

 

Well I wondered when the President of my fan club would show up just to bash me...

I posted the information because it is fact. Just because you do not like me or what I have to say does not diminish my position whatsoever. My problem with your rantings is simple. I may speak volumes, your words, but comprehension is the shortfall.

Your assumption that I am not angry or disappointed enough to make the trade is a bit laughable. I have lost enough money on this Ford already. To throw more good money into a truck that is not what I want is foolish. I do not like the crewcab GM that is available now. Too small and not as nice as my current truck inside...but it does have a great warranty. I have stated since day one of ownership of the Ford that DEF emissions controls was the only way to go. Ram has not added thee features in their pickup line...yet. But the new HD series due out soon will have it.

Come spring, both Ram and GM will have their new trucks out. I will be trading for one or the other...but I will never back down from my position about the shameful treatment that Ford has thrust upon it's loyal customers...but with a confirmed sales kill of 117 6.7 trucks, I am somewhat pleased...

Regards

 

I view it sort of like a favorite professional sports team. They are never as good as their best game and they are never as bad as their worst game. I generally ignore the rants anymore, but what the heck freedom of speech applies to everybody so I should be able to have an opinion also.

I too see lots of smoke. The rantings were just as bad when it was the best truck on the market, yada yada yada. Day in and day out there was a lot of chest thumping about your superior truck. Now we get a 180 degree reversal and get the same enthusiastic rants about how bad the same truck is. Nobody is bashing, they are just exercising their right to point out what they see happening here.

Lets face it, you are a pretty vocal guy no matter which way the pendulum is swinging. B&L is just calling it as he sees it. Not everybody is going to be a loyal follower and fall in line. My favorite part is all the bravado about how many sales you have cost Ford. Maybe it makes you feel better, but 2 years ago you would have been the first to laugh at anybody else making such a statement. 117 trucks doesn't even affect the numbers to the right of the decimal point on the Ford CEO's bonus check! The fact that there are hundreds of thousands of the same trucks running around the country without the same problems as yours everyday tells me that you will are not likely to become the next Ralph Nader and the 6.7 is not likely to become the next Corvair.

 

+1, there's more to life than trying to single handedly take down an automaker over the sale of a lemon truck, crappy luck? Yes ,worth living a bitter life over? No, move on..

 

...I see my fan club is growing...

Regards

 

My comprehension is just fine. I completely understand that you were mistreated and that your truck is a lemon with real issues.

I don't even know why I respond anymore, I know I should just view it for what it is and ignore it, but unfortunately I have very little patience for people who are all talk and no action, and that's why I'll never be the president of your fan club.

Ford has disappointed you, cost you a ton of money, and treated you horribly. Your truck is still a lemon and you're still here complaining and bragging about how many sales you may or may not have cost Ford, and yet, in spite all of your anger toward Ford and your vocal desire to "shame" them, you've done NOTHING about it yourself. You've hung onto your truck for almost a year to save a couple thousand dollars? Because the Ford interior is nicer and roomier than a Chev? Because you had to have DEF, and wouldn't you know it, Ford makes the best DEF system? Really?

Kinda puts into perspective just how seriously people should take your rantings at this point...

 

You think the 2013's will have the better Ford style tow mirrors?

 

I guess a guy really never knows how he would feel unless it happens to him. I would probably be a little bitter if i had to cough up 10000 for a repair under warranty that wasnt my fault

 

Insurance took care of it.

 

16 trips to the dealer.

I would say that is pretty relevant and informative.

As for the smoke, there is an old saying.

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

 

The pictures and info that I have seen show a mirror similar to the Ford. I believe it both telescopes and folds but have not been able to verify this feature. Here is a link to some good info:

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: I think I stumbled upon some specs for the 2013 RAM HDs

Regards

 

17 trips...light came back on this morning. I took it back in to see what was up now. They would not scan the truck without me agreeing to pay $100. This was with them knowing full well that one of the codes they cleared yesterday was for a "Reductant sensor". I believe that the Reductant system, otherwise known as DEF system, is covered under emissions warranty until 100,000 miles. I left with the light on. I will have my nephew scan it over the weekend. If it comes up with an emissions code, I will take it somewhere else to get it fixed...well at least try to get it fixed...

As to the comment that the insurance company paid for the Shameful Ford Event, that is partly true. It cost me the deductible, the fuel filters and 40 gallons of fuel. The important fact is that Ford did not stand up to it's responsibility and warrant the repair. Who paid for Ford's shame is irrelevant...

Regards

 

Dang Rick, that's a lot of dealer trips. I think I would have been tempted to dump it by now and drive a Yugo or something in the meantime! (Do they still make Yugo's?)

 

17 trips makes me think about the quality of the people fixing this truck.

Good luck with your new truck and getting a better dealer. Hopefully your dodge dealer is great. When you get the new beast, I hope the mods allow you to post a few pictures and thoughts.

I've had three perfect Fords in a row. These Fords follow a Chevrolet diesel that was a huge POS. Loved staying at the dealership more than the owner of the dealership. This Chevrolet needed to visit the dealership every few thousand miles. Best thing that every happened was moving the Chevrolet on to someone else.