I'd go with a 6.2 or a 7.3 Ford F-350 GAS. Diesels and sitting don't work well together. Diesels need to be worked often due to their sensitive fuel systems. The trailer load of 15500 lbs isn't severe.

Now, since I would go gas, the Ram product has absolutely nothing mechanically desirable over the Ford. The 8 speed Ram transmission isn't as strong or efficient as the 10 speed 10R140. The 6,4 Hemi, while a decent engine, is nothing special nor does it have the reliability record of the 6.2. I think having the Dana 60 axle up front with old school locking hubs is a huge plus. Beats the Ram center axle disconnect mechanism in durability and efficiency.

Ford has a much better cab. Better sound insulation, better crash structure, better corrosion resistance. Ford also has a stronger frame. Ram has been using the same cab since 2009.


I think the Ram has a better LOOKING interior. I do not think the quality is there. About the only scenario I would recommend RAM over Ford is if over-the-road hotshotting, constantly.

 

Not normal to post a baiting question, and then vanish after 60 posts.

 

John Deere’s draconian position on maintenance has a lot of farmers upset. There is a movement called “right to repair”. That said, Deere has historically built superior products and real Deere tractors have Deere engines in them. I would take a 30 year old Deere over any Kubota.

 

I am very appreciative of your input above. It is very helpful. My comments regarding using the Truck in winter months may have been misleading. I certainly would use it all year long, I plan to buy a mid engine Corvette as well (though I have also considered a Mustang GT500) and cant drive that in the winter. It will be garaged for bad weather and the Truck used exclusively. Other times of the year I will be running both. I would prefer to buy diesel given long life and better residual value amongst other benefits. Bottom line I am hoping to keep it for 250000 miles if possible. Regarding the above quoted text, again, it is hard to tell if you are referring to me or the other guy, but I posted the question yesterday and reviewed all comments (responding to most of them) today. Hardly disappearing. To give you some background, I am 52 years old, married with 3 kids (17,15, 10) and am a General and Vascular Surgeon working 80 hours per week (sometimes more) not counting being on call. I don't sit on my computer waiting with bated breath for responses to my questions, but I do appreciate and look forward to reading these responses as soon as I can get the time to sit down without being too tired to stay awake. Having said this, I am not trying to anger/upset you or anyone else. This forum is a very valuable place and I prefer to be an accepted member with hopes of helping someone else someday as much as I have been helped.. But, everyone needs to understand that some members have priorities and responsibilities that supersede checking out the most recent responses to a query. I am one of those people. I always read every comment- EVERY COMMENT, as I respect the time and effort it takes to do so. If my inability to do so immediately after a response is posted upsets someone, then it is not me that is the troll.

Now, back to business and hopefully no hard feelings. Thank you all for your replies and any others that come in the future. I appreciate them more than you know as your experiences are helping me to make what I believe is my best decision.

 

I've had both, a 2016 Ram 3500, and a 2019 F350.

Drive 'em both, and buy the one you like better.

I've had good luck with both. I switched from Ram to Ford because I had a minor issue (injector) with the Ram, and the dealer pissed me off trying (and failing) to fix it. The local Ford dealer is better than the Ram dealer. That's not the truck's fault.

I liked the look of the Ram interior better. I liked the low-end grunt and sound of the Cummins better. I liked the looks of the Ram better. I've had good luck with previous Rams.

I like the room on the Ford interior better. I like the Powerstroke overall power better. I like the aluminum body better. I like the gadgets better. The local dealer is way better.

I liked my Ram. I like the Ford just as much, maybe more. Didn't regret either purchase.

Drive 'em both. Buy the one that feels right.

 

Got 2 John Deers...YOU ARE RIGHT!

Called them up the other day I had a flat on a rear tire, said would like to bring it in to get it fixed, it is just a NAIL, slow leak: We don' fix flats, we sell tires!

Generally speaking Ford does a great job in warranty support, that said over 10 years and 170k miles I have only gone to the dealer 5 times for warranty work. Out of those 6 times nothing was major other than my new F 350 was sucking DEF thru a fire hose. It was burning a gal every 100 mi...Reflashed the PCM and prob solved.

 

Right, but not a new John Deere. Friend of mine just spent $7K on transmission repair on a Deere with less than 500 hours on it . . . .

 

For the past 50+ yrs, my family has owned several new car dealerships in California. They sell, Ram Jeep, Dodge Chrysler at one location and Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and Toyota at another. I can drive anything at cost, but their continued stories of Failures and Warranty repairs keeps those of us not near them driving Fords.

 

With this information, it is making sense now. Sometimes on a forum, first posts need to be detailed, especially one basically asking us what $80000+ truck you should get.
​
​​​​​I do apologise for impertinent post, and welcome you to the forum.



Even with your update in regards to driving distance and frequency, I still couldn't recommend the diesel over gas.

It literally has been beaten to pieces, the diesel vs gas debate, and unless you tow often and heavy, or drive 50000+ miles a year, diesel will end up costing more.

I would not want to keep a diesel truck till 250000 miles, assuming you drive the typical 15000 miles a year. Time wreaks havoc on the many ancillary fuel and emissions lines and seals needed for the diesel.

 

Two things:

1) Go big or go home.

2) It's better to regret things you did, than the things you didn't do.

 

This may seem very trivial, but the keypad entry on the door of the Fords is my “can’t live without”. I guess “don’t want to live without” is more accurate. I spend a lot of time on the water either fishing our out with the family in our tritoon. Launch, park, lock they keys in the truck so you don’t worry about losing them in the lake. Keypad to unlock when I’m done. Know a lot of people that do they same if they float the river. No worries about losing keys when the canoe flips. Wife uses it at work. Works at a place where she can’t carry in her purse so if she carries her keys they are in her pocket. She where’s dress pants so that’s not comfortable for her. Locks them in the Expedition during the day.

 

I have driven both. There are things I like about both. I clearly need to spend a little more time with each. I will be doing that as soon as the dealers open up again.

 

This may be the straw that broke the Ram's back. I appreciate the honesty here.

 

No need for apologies, just understanding which is evident in you comments. Thank you for that and the welcome. I am happy to be here. I am not overly concerned with cost, more so the ability to tow as worry free as possible. Having said this your comment about needing to work the diesel has me thinking. Maybe gas would be the better choice. I drive around 25k miles per year though the truck will likely see 15 or a little less after the first year or two (when I plan on getting the second vehicle). My family does take long trips when we go away. A lot of this is through the hills (though not the Ike Gauntlet that TFL has made famous). Hills and reliability were the main reason for my interest in diesel. Like I said, I am not concerned about recouping the premium placed on diesel engines, but I am not interested in destroying a diesel engine either. Would the 7.3 be able to tackle big hills and high elevations gracefully with the trailer I noted (Sandpiper 389RD) or heavier like the Paradigm Alliance 365RD (39' 10", GVRW 16800, pin weight 2784)? I am thinking the latter is getting to be too much for the payload of a SRW so maybe a moot point. Back to the diesel for a moment, I could have my wife drive it when I am not so that the mileage could be closer to 20 or 25k/year. This would save miles on her vehicle as well. Just some thoughts that may or may not change your opinion.

 

Love it brother!