Interesting that this race is one thing I'm not too interested in. I prefer to agonize over Line-X-ing bed bolts, stress over 1.5 inch level or 2.5 inches, and spend an hour figuring out the exact right place for the dash cam. I'm totally into towing specs and capacities but for some strange reason, I don't seem to care if Ford or GM or Fiat has the best marketing material. I know the truth and that is that Ford is far and away the best.

 

Epic i think you should do the 2.5" leveling kit. no pressure just a suggestion

 

RAM ONLY gets 900ft lbs tq IF you pay the additional $3500 bucks for the AISIN upgraded tranny and its available in 2500 & up but it's a costly upgrade. MOST RAM trucks do not have this power. Majority are setting at 800 still. Actually hard to find sitting on a lot, I've tried!

RAM can claim all they want but that truck is in very few #'s out there compared to their 800 lb ft tq trucks on the road today.

FORD diesel is the same across the board!

 

My brother had a 2015 3500 with the AISIN, it was a gutless wonder with a dead pedal off the line. I floored it doing about 40 mph, it pulled like my 1975 Ford Pinto. As of Saturday he's now driving a 2017 F250 6.7L CC SWR long bed Platinum.

 

Last time I checked, it was closer to a $3000 option and ONLY available in 3500's. It is not available in the 2500's.

 

Right...I wasn't clear...I just meant you *could* get that engine on any 3500. You cannot "pay" for the Aisin on a 2500 even if you wanted to.

The Cummins intrigues me as does the G56 Mercedes transmission. The problem is that opting for the G56 neuters your torque.

 

I know on this forum we prefer Fords, but I think we're being unfair to RAM / Cummins.

The nature of the engine means it will perform differently. Ford and GM are making V8 diesels which rev quickly and pull strongly in the upper RPM reaches while supplying very good torque. The Cummins inline-6 is more like a true heavy diesel engine...which makes sense as Cummins I-6 engines power a lot of OTR trucks, fire trucks, etc. Don't buy a Cummins expecting a race car. It is going to be slower than Ford and GM. It will not have the throttle response. But it will gainfully pull heavy loads up steep slopes and do so perfectly reliably year after year. It sounds great and tends to achieve the best pulling mpg.

I prefer the Ford diesel. I like the responsiveness and complexity of the V8. I like the way Ford has engineered it.

 

It's sound is one of my biggest gripes. Sounds like an early 70's gasser that couldn't breath.

 

The Cummins engine in the Fiats is an industrial inline six which was popular in Case backhoe tractors for years. Much like the Catapillar truck engine adaptations and changes to the operating system evolved into a more driveable engine but the basic block and design is still the same. Listen to a Fiat driving by and you can still here the basic Cummins 6 cyl backhoe in its song. The engine is a solid, good performer with deep roots in the diesel industry. A true workhorse if you will, but not my cup of tea for the use I intend for my truck.