Has anyone picked up the September Motortrend? It has an interesting comparison of Ford, Dodge, and GMC 2004 250/2500 4x4, crew/quad cabs, diesel powered with auto trannys.
All had 3.73 rear axels.
In a nutshell, even though it weighed in at 300 lbs more than Dodge, and 680 lbs more than GMC, and had the largest tires of the group, the PSD equipped Harley F250 was faster unloaded and when loaded with an 8500 lbs boat and trailer, pulled stronger up grades than the other two, it had the best braking, and was the quietest according to their decibal meter in all areas. It was also said to have the smoothest ride and best visibility due to it's superior mirrors. Downsides, it had the worst fuel economy, with GMC getting the best, and the turn radius. Remember that this is the 04, not the updated 05 that will have even more torque and a better turning radius, and probably an even better ride.
I feel, and it was also mentioned in the article that the Dodge auto tranny really needs a 5th gear to be more competitive, but until then, the F250 ruled this comparison. The "What's Not" rants about the F20 were, "Gargantuan Dimensino, Vague Steering, & Poor Mileage."
Seems that if their current truck can do this well in a head to head comparison, the new one will really kick some butt.
Some specs

Ford
2004 Harley Davidson F-250, 4x4, Crew Cab, 6.0 Power Stroke
Curb Weight: 7320 lbs
0-60: 8.5 sec
1/4 Mile: 16.2 @ 84.0
Braking 60-0mph: 150 ft
Acceleration on Grade w/8500lbs trailer
1% Grade @ 55: .052g
3% Grade @ 55: .029g

Dodge
2004 Ram 2500, 4x4, Quad Cab SLT, 5.9 Cummins 600
Curb Weight: 7020 lbs
0-60: 8.9 sec
1/4 Mile: 16.5 @ 81.2
Braking 60-0mph: 158 ft
Acceleration on Grade w/8500lbs trailer
1% Grade @ 55: .048g
3% Grade @ 55: .014g

GMC
2004 2500 HD, 4wd, Crew Cab, 6600 Duramax
Curb Weight: 6640 lbs
0-60: 9.1 sec
1/4 Mile: 16.7 @ 82.6
Braking 60-0mph: 159 ft
Acceleration on Grade w/8500lbs trailer
1% Grade @ 55: .045g
3% Grade @ 55: .013g

 

1% Grade @ 55: .052g
3% Grade @ 55: .029g

This is acceleration G's or sustained G's
Different way of comparing. any acceleration curve and G's will flatten out at a given point...terminal velocity...haha

 

Well, it looks like Ford does have the best diesel engine. I'm waiting for the Cummins guys (aka The I-2 Hemi Diesel Fan Club) to show up.

 

Seeing as they tow more, haul more, accelerate faster and stop faster than the competition, I think it's a no-brainer as to who has the best truck.

 

It's a good, well written article, and it's hard to argue with the results, especially with Ford being the heaviest. I'm sure we'll hear, "It should have been done with the 6-spd" from the Dodge boys, but it wasn't, it was a test of automatics, and it seems that Ford has the best Diesel/Auto combination, and it gets better for '05. It did give Dodge credit for the most low end grunt, but it quickly runs out of breath, especially with only a 4-spd auto.

 

It is very easy to have hind sight about what they should have done...however Dodge had the opportunity to send their best vehicle...no doubt they picked the one they did for a reason..............it was their best!

 

Not only that, but the GMC had 590 ftlb of torque and a 5 speed, and it lost, too.

 

I don't think it matters. The 6-speed would be way slower than their auto anyway.

 

It did lose if you were racing to 30. The ford came in dead last.
Nothing about those results is suprising. Highest hp won on the big end. Torque is Torque. Horsepower, however, is the rate torque is applied. Think of it this way I've got more torque at 1 RPM on my bicycle then any of them trucks - but that really don't mean a whole lot. To rate the 6.0 'Best' on perfomrance really isn't relative seeing as how the big 3 change hp/torque almost every year. If your gonna use that logic - then my Duramax is way better then most Fords with 427 rear-wheel hp. But I'm sure there are other Dmax's,Ford's, dodges with higher HP that would top that. Point I'm making is that performance is completely relative to the time you purchase your vehicle.

Agreed the new superduty looks to be a nicely equiped HD truck - the only downfall is the motor dependability issue. Gotta admit I'm kind anxious to ride I'd make the statement that when the '05 truck is released - the truck itself (not including the motor) could be the best. If they get the motor bugs are worked out it could be formittable - but by that time the compitiontion will prolly have caught up.

 

and who is to say they have not??

got the motor issues worked out that is..............

sure, you read a few things here, or there about a problem relating to a 6 liter equipped truck, but what is it really? a leaking hose, a main seal, an overflow bottle.... i have not heard of an injector failure on this board, or diesel stop in a LONG time. i have not heard of an engine failure, other than a chipped one, and he admits fault....


tell me, where are these problems? since it seems they are all different items, and engines built in late 03 or earlier, i fail to see how you can summize the engines are not dependable. the only way to satisfy you would be three or four more years of production i guess.....but then the 6 will be gone, and it's replacement will be the non dependable one, and the 6 ohh will belooked at like the 7.3 is today, like it was designed and built by the hand of god! (see, i remember the probs the 7.3's had..)

lol

anyhoo, not a flame at all, just an observation.

 

There are lots of naysayers around and about. A lot of people have no respect for the matured 6.0L PSD due to its not so great beginnings. I have spent 3 days at the local Ford dealer, helping go through my truck with a fine tooth comb to make sure it's in its best shape to go with me to college next week, during which time three '04 6.0L PSD's came in.........for state safety inspections only, not for problems.

 

I did not know any state still did that...learn something everday

 

yeah fords got them both in a scramble to try to keep up, if you look gm is upping their torque to 605 ft-lbs and dodge had too increase its torque as well when ford drop the 6.0 in the super duty. Not too mention the cummins High Output motor cant even keep up with the 6.0! See V engines are better than Inlines

 

If inlines were better engines than the V-8, they would appear in larger trucks. Last time I seen a V-8 in a semi was the 8V92 from detroit. As far as reliability and simplicity goes, you can't beat an inline 6. The 6.0L has proven itself as an awesome engine, but if I had a choice in the matter, I would buy the Ford SD with the cummins engine.

Are you sure that weight number is right for the ford? If it is, boy is that thing a tank. Did it mention the fuel economy in the article or just best and worst? Couldn't be that much thirstier than the Dodge and Chevy.

 

oops kinda messed that up, should be if V-8s were better than inlines.