Hello all and thank you in advance for any input you may have!

I would like to give you a little history so you will completly understand my question.

I have always been a Ford man and had super luck with all of my Ford products. Up until 2006 I drove a F-350 CC XLT Lariat with the 6.8 V-10 and had one before it and still have one in a E-350 van. I pull a 29ft camper and a 20.5 foot boat. In 2006 I was looking to get into a diesel and started shopping. I drove all three and did several months of investigating before I made a purchase.
Well I ended up with a 2006 Duramax and have grown very fond of the power and the 6 speed Allison but cannot get over the fact that I am driving a small truck (if you will) I have always loved the cab room and ground clearance in the Fords and just cannot get used to the way this Chevy sits. Bottom line is I do not think I will be happy until I get back into a Ford…. When I made this purchase I was scared away from the 6.0 by my Ford dealer of all people when he showed me the backlog of them sitting waiting for repairs…

So my question is this………. I want to get back into a Ford and have been lurking around the 6.4 forum and have not seen to many people that were real happy with the power and over all performance of the 6.4. Should I wait and see what the 2010 have to offer or am I just getting caught up in the fact that most people who are happy with there trucks not posting here cause they have nothing to post?
Are the 6.4 the true power houses that they are advertised to be? Are there some happy people out there that have no issues with there 6.4?

Are any of you converts from the Duramax and if so what are your thoughts.

I know the old brand bashing war and really am not trying to start that…. I am just having a hard time making this decision.

Thanks again!

JT

 

I have an 08 6.4 CC DRW and love it!!I pull a 34ft travel trailer with it now but will upgrade to a 38ft 5'er soon with that being the reason for my choice of DRW.I have towed about 3000 miles with it some of it through the West Virginia area hills and found no problems with power.You will see many posts about lack of power or poor fuel mileage but IMO it is mostly folks that think a HUGE truck should get the fuel economy of a car and should accelarate like a race car.

 

Get the truck! Love mine, have towed many a trailer with in it the 8-10K range, runs great. Took a trip to AZ over X-mas and aver 14.8 for 5,000 miles.

I seem to get around 11.5 towing but am not complaining at all. Truck will run up the mountains even fully loaded.

I have started in without using the block heater as low as -1 and it fires right up.

 

I love my '08! I carry a 5,000 pound truck camper and tow a 21' boat, no problems at all.

 

This sounds like a post I could have written... I had a 2007 Duramax and am now driving an 08 6.4L.

I am very happy with my 08 Ford, but I do miss the Duramax/Allison drivetrain. I really don't think you will find a better powertrain combination. The Duramax ran smoother, seemed to have more power, was more responsive, and got much better fuel mileage.

With that said, I was very uncomfortable in the Chevy and I had continual issues with the front end clunking. I know all that seems trivial, but I did sell it and bought the Ford. I LOVE the interior of the 08 model and really like the rest of the truck as well.

I am planning on some "updates" to my 6.4L that will resolve the power, sluggish feeling, and economy soon. I think it will be much more comparable to the Duramax after that.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

The 6.4 has plenty of power but its deceptive. Because of the emmissions and DPF there feels like there is a lag in the turbo. Its not turbo lag, just the engine de-fueling in situations where older trucks would be huffing out the most smoke (like initial accleration). The "dirtymax" will give you better mpg and better acceleration but it all ends there. The Ford is a heavier, more solid truck. Just give the bed side a punch and see which truck sounds like an empty can. The IFS on the Chevy cant hold up to things like plowing snow and really heavy towing.

As for waiting on the 2010 - its your choice. There have been a few bugs on the 6.4 but overall its been pretty good. The 6.7 is in testing now and if you look at that forum there are a few issues already being released. Im sure there are more no one has heard about because it has to comply with even stricter emmissions and is using all new technology to do so.

 

the 6.4 will shine when you put a load on it. that is what you need to consider vs the dirtymax.

 

I'm one of the guys who has no complaints. Bought my F250 6.4 05/07 and it has never been in for any repair. It has more power then I'll ever need. You only really notice the lag when you nail it off the line. When you floor it from a roll she'll show you who's boss. It pulls my 5000lb boat like it's not there.

 

Thank you for the honest advices guys! I was a little scared to post this in fear of a bashing....
I feel I would be much happier sitting in a new Ford but do not want to sacrafice on power. My "dirtymax" has plenty and the 2006 was pre regen erra. So I havent had to deal with any of that stuff before either. My wife thinks she is going to keep the Chevy to pull the horse trailer and I am going to get the new truck so all in all I should be able to keep the best of both worlds. I read in another post that some dealers have been shying away from the PSD cause they do not have a service department that can handle the issues.... Never thought of that.

Take care and Ill let you all know what I caome up with.

Are there any good rebates going on right now?

 

I love my 6.4 too. I run close to 30K gross with a few of the loads I tow. I couldn't want for anything better. I pull a 39 foot 5'er with it without any power issues whatsoever.

 

Couldn't be happier, I've been looking at diesels for quite a while now and just got my 6.4 in Sept. I love this truck.

 

Love my '08. I have an F350 DRW CC and pull 14K to 15K on a regular basis. In my opinion you could not have a more powerful, solid, comfortable and great handling ride.

As others have mentioned I the initial take off lag seems to be mistaken for lack of power. I have an 06 and the initial take off power is definately different.

The lag, also mentioned by others is the result of the increasingly ridiculous regulations placed on these engines by the EPA so that hypocritical tree-huggers can tell everyone they saved the planet. Just my $.02.

 

I love and hate my new ford. Looks great but gets poor mpg pulling my 24ft toy hauler 6-9. Tier 3 emissions are killing fuel mileage on all road diesels, but you have not seen nothing yet, tier 4 makes the air cleaner coming out than the air coming in. Thanks epa, nerds with gov't power.

 

I regularly tow 10-15k, and less. My f250 handles a fifth wheel and tag along trailer far better than the Chevy 3500 I had.

The power is there, it's a smooth delivery, a gradual pull that will make you wonder. I have often thought and wondered if I will get stuck with my load behind me, but the engine just keeps spinning up until you get moving. You just have to put your foot down more than you will be used to.

Now the rest of the truck? No Contest!!! My 250 handles trailers of any weight and length far better than a Chev 3500. I know from experience, and many miles of it. I was worried about going from a dually to a single wheel truck, no problem. The only thing I had to do is add air bags to the rear to keep the rear end from dropping with tongue weights.

I will say the Allison is a better tranny. We need to get Ford to put one in our trucks for us.

 

Here is how I felt 13 months ago at delivery, and how I feel with over 10,000 miles: Cannot upload, but I would buy another if something happened to this one.