first off, im a die hard ford man. wont ever own anything else, i think fords are the best built, toughest, and best looking truck on the market. all the comparisons ive seen have been on which truck pulls stronger, makes more power, etc. but none on what they can legally tow. casting aside all dealer recommended gcwr and using only legal issues. do not exceed gvwr, under 26k gcw use regular license, over 26k gcw then get a commercial license. these are gooseneck weights only. mgw=max goosneck weight. i dont care what they CAN pull, im only interested in what they are ALLOWED to pull. they all make the power to pull the weight.

2005 ford f350 2005 dodge 3500 2005 chevy 3500
10700 gvwr 11500 gvwr 9900 gvwr
6500lbs weight 6426lb weight 5664 weight
4200 payload 5074 payload 4236 payload
4200/25%= 5074/25%= 4236/25%=
16800 mgw 20296 mgw 16944 mgw

ford stops at 16800, chevy stops at 16944 and dodge goes all the way to 20296. looks like chevy and dodge both have us beat on legal towing weights and payload. i wouldnt want to be pulling 16k with a truck that weighs the same as a half ton (the chevy) even though it can do it legally, but looks like the dodge comes out on top all the way around.

 

just becuase they are allowed to does not mean they can do it well.

I am going to side ride your post and see how long it takes for someone to brag about what a (unnamed) can pull and how it matches up.

 

Your not using proper information. Yes all three trucks listed are 1 tons. But the Ford and GM GVWR's listed are for SRW trucks. Only the Dodge has the dually listing - but it's the minimum GVWR/payload rating for the HEMI. The Cummins gets a 12,400lb GVWR rating and payload of 5240lbs.
Prior to Fords new variable GVWR system, Dodge had the highest rated truck for GVWR and payload. It was;

Dodge Max GVWR (diesel) 12,400lbs with DRW
Ford Max GVWR (diesel or gas) 11,500lbs with DRW
GM Max GVWR (diesel or gas) 11,400lbs with DRW

The constant weight rating from Ford/GM meant that trucks equipt with diesel engines only had legal payloads of 4400lbs(Ford) or 4900lbs(GM) MAX or so. Dodge 4x4 diesel DRW's could still carry over 5200lbs legally - though realistically the springs are a weak link, you'd need to add at least 2 more per each side to handle over 5000lbs really well.

For current specs;

Ford F350 DRW 6.0 diesel 4x4 Reg cab = 12,600lbs GVWR/5400lb payload
DodgeRam 3500 DRW Cummins 4x4 Reg Cab = 12,400lbs GVWR/5240lb payload
GM Silverado 3500 DRW DMAX 4x4 Reg Cab = 11,400lbs GVWR/4900lb payload

Your analysis is a formula used by RV'ers for determining a trucks realistic pulling capacity. And shows why DRW are so superior for towing heavy loads in the real world. Manufacturers can claim any towing capacity they want for a given truck, but in real life 32' trailers are too heavy for them. You will always hit a SRW trucks real world rear tire capacity long before you reach their hypothetical combination weight rating.

 

MEGALODON has it correct, the information you posted was off. Ford has the highest payload and towing rating of the big 3 right now.

 

i know the ford will handle the load the best out of the 3. ive had twice the weight in the back of my f250 as one of my friends had in his 2500 hd duramax and his was squatting about 2-3 inches lower. his truck has gobs more power than mine does(duramax vs 5.4), but we've hooked the same trailers to each and it feels like im driving my dads f150 with his duramax. squats bad, doesnt stop good, sways with heavy loads. chevy gets their high payloads by making a light truck. and light trucks dont handle big trailers in big wind. you sure about the dodge gvwr being for the dually? i went to dodges page and built the truck, and i clicked on srw and that was the number they gave for it. if im wrong, someone put the right numbers for a srw, reg cab, 4x2, manual diesel up for me.

 

honestly, i dont think the duramax is good for much of anything, ugly truck, doesnt even sound like a diesel, coil springs, interior is the exact same as the tahoe, suburban, avalanche, etc. i think the cummins does a heck of a job if you like riding 55mph all day, cant say much for whats surrounding the cummins though, good styling, but dodge has been known for weak trannies and springs and plain(ugly) interior. ford has the broadest powerband of all three. it combines the high reving of the duramax and the low end power of the cummins. and the truck is better built than the other two, and in my opinion, is the best looking truck.

 

GVWR for Dodge 3500 SRW truck is 9,900lbs. Same as GM's.
The reason you saw 11,500lbs was because the Dodge site automatically configures the Ram 3500 as a gas powered dual rear wheel truck. You need
to go to options and equip it with the " SRW option group " which gives a credit/discount from the standard DRW. It's easier to just browse a short bed / quad cab 3500 to get the true SRW's GVWR - since Dodge dosent make a short bed dually. The diesel / 4x4 will have a 12,400lb GVWR - equip with the diesel engine and it should show it.

 

Ok,

my friends dad owns a ranch. He only buys Fords. He bought a 99 f-350 dually W/ the 7.3l diesel brand new. He makes a 120 mile drive twice a week towing a 45ft. horse tralier loaded W/ everything from cattle to horeses, going up in the san bernadino MTS ,the entire drive is uphill. plus aroung town driving everyday. He recently had his friend come to work w/ him so a bought a 96 Cummins dually for him to drive. He has driven both and he says the ford tows better both on flat and hills. LOL what a truck he takes perfect care of that truck mechanically but the inside is funny. OK, the carpet it completely gone, metal floors the upholstry is shot he had his wife sew a towl on his seat so he wouldn't sit on foam padding. glove box is gone. he took off the bed and put on his own 10ft steel flatbed. and it's got more dents in it than a junkyard truck. boy the dodge looks a heck of alot better but...I would still take that Super-duty over it any day. he dont live that far from me ill see if i can get some pics of it. BUILT FORD TOUGH

 

--GVWR for Dodge 3500 SRW truck is 9,900lbs.

thanks for the info. ill assume the weight they gave is for a dually too, and subtract 300lbs from the truck weight.

dodge 3500
9900 gvwr
6126 vehicle weight
3774 payload
3774/25%=15096 mgw

now it looks like the dodge lags pretty far behind both the chevy and the ford in payload and towing capacity.

 

Dodge needs a variable weight rating system as badly as Ford did. Their trucks are simply heavy to begin with. All configurations being the same, a Dodge will always weigh a bit more than a Ford according to both manufacturers specs, and both weigh alot more than similar GM's do - as you noted.

You need to tack that 300 lbs back in there and add another 400 or so for the SRW Ram 3500 - it's heavier than a regular cab gasoline powered dually, because it comes standard with Quad cab only, and Cummins diesel only.

To be fair, before Ford introduced it's new variable GVWR system, a SRW F350with Super Cab and diesel option had the same GVWR and only slightly more payload. Because of Ford's variable GVWR, your numbers are good for both the diesel and gasoline options - so Ford loses nothing by opting for the diesel and still has better numbers than the Ram. The GM on the other hand
is configured standard as a 4x4(GM's 3500 SRW is only available in 4x4) regular cab with 6.0 gasser. Throw in the diesel option and make it an extended cab then your talking apples to apples. It will be much closer to the Rams numbers though still have a higher capacity since it weighs much less.

 

After looking at your statement I find it nessesary to correct some of your Duramax comments.

1) Doesn't sound like diesel. Actually I think it sounds more like a diesel then either Ford or Dodge. As I believe it is loader then either 2 right now.

2) Chevy doesn't offer coil springs in their front end

3) What's wrong with the interior of a tahoe or avalance? So your saying comfort in a Heavy Duty isn't good? I've got a wife and a daughter that would disagree with you.

4) High reving of a Duramax?? The PSD rev's higher which is good and maybe bad. The good is easy to prove the bad maybe in the longevity of the motor - but to this point it's unfounded.

 

I dont believe The PSD is high reving - while towing or on highway (70mph) it doesnt go beyond 2500rpms. Or is this high reving???????

 

And by the way there is no way a Duramax is louder than a cummins.

 

Dmax is the same but the PSD does have a higher redline. Not saying that is bad at this point.

 

You haven't heard the new cummins then lately. You can barely tell its a diesel pulling up.