I've got the '03 F250 PSD and an old '93 D250 CTD.
The Ford, by far, is the nicer to drive and to pull my 5'er with. However, that old Cummins will still pull it, it just takes a bit more care in driving. It's the old Bosch rotary pump, and won't make the power the later ones will. But the 5.9L Cummins is a work horse.
However, the two are not equal, and don't fit your comparison. You're not looking for a '93 truck. Even the new products, the Dodge truck will fall apart around the drive train. The Ford is a "keeper".
If I were to buy tomorrow.....Ford PSD

 

Seems to me, prior to the new 6.7's and 6.4's, that you bought the Ford for the truck ( interior, suspension, etc ) and the Dodge for the Cummins motor.

I will agree bout the Dodge having more room under the hood. My ex-college roommate just bought an '05 w/ the 24v and it's got lots of room. Got pretty good power, too.

 

I would go with the cummins. It drives more "diesel" like IMHO.

 

what does this mean?

 

I know he's not interested in any dmax either, but they definately had their problems with injectors early on (they did up the warrantee on those early motors tho), and frankly, from both personal experience and from my 1.5 years on a GM forum, the '04.5 thru '05 LLY dmax is one I'd avoid for the potential overheating issues. I personally don't think the rest of the GM platform is much to brag about, being the lightest duty, capability-wise, of the 3 as well. MHO, of course...

 

I am the "he" that started this thread. Of the duramax trucks I've seen (and I don't look long) they aren't good looking at all. I'd rather drive a Peterbuilt. The "other brand daily driver" is a 99 Chevy C1500 that is about worthless. I didn't have much for the Chevys already, but this thing has put the icing on the cake!

I have a chance at some Cummins in the area as well as no less than 3 F250s right now. Seems like there are too many to chose from and when they sell, there's nothing to chose from!

My wife is trying to talk me into an '05 F250 Lariat that is loaded with everything. I think I can get the dealer down to $30K, but the Oasis report said it was traded in needing an EGR and head gasket replaced. I want to pass on it because of that.

 

btw: I read your whole thread on the cummins site, and I thot you were quite the gentleman...

I'm with you on the Chevies. I have owned my last one with the '05 dmax 3500 overheater I had. I just think Ford has their act together with building a HD (Light) truck -- (even compare the Expy with the Tahoe or 'Burb'n (we've owned a Tahoe and it doesn't come close to our Expy)).

I also understand why you are considering Dodge as your other choice -- I think I'd consider one if I were to be in the market again. The '05+ Fords had superior GVWRs until the '07.5 Dodges came out, but one does wonder if they have the same strength frame and components that the Ford does while being quite a bit lighter -- steel tends to be heavy, and the 6.7 is a heavier motor than a 6.4 is (same with the 5.9 vs. 6.0) -- so the weight is in frame and components.

I agree with you on the '05 you're looking at, if the head is warped, which can happen on the motors where the torquing was done incorrectly at Navistar, it would leak again. If there was any way to verify that the heads were checked and were flat, then it'd be a fine motor I think.

You're doing a good job and I hope you end up with the right truck for you (and your wife)....

good luck!

 

oh boy. Some of you will probably **** some of you of but, what the heck. I have driven the Cummin 5.9L 12V and 24V. I have also driven the 7.3L PSD. All were stockers. Sure, the Cummins didnt accelerate as hard, but the torque range was down lower. It pull a trailer with less effort and It just sounds amazing.

That's my thought.

 

yeah, they do hit the torque earlier, i was driving my buddies 03 dodge cummins the other weekend, nice enough truck, made me kind of want a standard for my next one but i'll still stick with the ford, i love my 6.0 like crazy, pulls everything i need it to no problems and in my opinion sounds better

 

What year is your 6.0?

 

What about fuel economy? It sounds like Ford makes a more solid truck but averages 15 to 18 mpg. I'v heard claims of over 25 mpg from cummins guys. Can anyone back this up?

 

From what i've seen on dodge forum the average mpg is between 12-18 with the 6.7, might be higher with the late gen 5.9s

 

psd hands down ford is the only one of the 3 that looks good the new chevy are ugly and ive never liked a dodge if i want a cummins il get a kit and put it in my ford the dmax dont even sound like a diesel i would go get an old 6.9 spend $1500 and haul a$$

 

Myself...I like the Ford...I have owned a 1976 highboy since 1982, and prefer Fords, but that darn Cummins engine is awfully tempting. Besides..I would have to come up with some new lines, if I bought a Dodge...I couldn't use my classic Ford lines anymore, like "Fix or repair daily", "found on road dead", or "I am a Ford owner and have low self esteem", etc....LOL!

 

"and the 6.7 is a heavier motor than a 6.4 is (same with the 5.9 vs. 6.0)" --

The weight differance between the Cummins and Powerstroke is realy not enough to be much of a factor.