OK, I have been looking into either a 1995-1998 12v Dodge 3500 dually OR a 1995-1997 Ford F350 (either Powerstroke or Turbo 7.3) crew cab SRW - prefer 4x4.
I have asked questions in another thread about the Ford F350 I am considering.
I AM a Ford person myself but want a good, reliable truck and that is more important to me at this time.
I am leaning hard on the Ford F350 and am considering a manual transmission now. But when I look up tow limits on the F350 (1995-1997) - it says an "automatic transmission is REQUIRED"...and I ask - Why is that?
Also would like a specific list as to the bad and good of these trucks (whether it be automatic or manual) and what to look out for.
Is the F350 cheaper or more expensive in repairs than the Dodge 3500?
And any bad and good on the Dodge 12v?
I know this is a Ford forum and there is alot of bias toward Ford but please be honest.
Thanks in advance guys!

 

from what i understand the 12v cummings is easy to turn up the reading i have done you gotta change a fuel plate flip some kinda washer adjust a thing called a AFC and mess with the waste gate on a turbo i have heard but i'm not sure you can get around 500 hp out of a cummings for like $500 i personally would not buy a diesel with a auto in it if i planned on turning it up or towing a lot but i like manuals. and yes i am pretty sure a PSD is more costly to repair than the cummings but with any of these engines if you plan on turning them up EGTS are what you need to keep on eye on

 

I have owned both trucks i had a 97 ram 3500 dually it was 2 wheel drive though. Engine wise i don't think the 5.9 can be beat these engines can run to a million plus and are used in everything from semi trucks to boats to heavy equipment. How ever the 5.9 cummins is hardly at all efficent. The problem witht the dodge trucks are really the braking system and the front end components especially on 4 wheel drive units. Dodge never upgraded the brakes from a 1/2 ton truck to a 1 ton truck it's all the same so you will be burning brakes off. 2nd the brake caliper slider pins are famous for constantly seizing. Also if you buy an automatic truck the dodge automatic is horrib;e transmission and they cost about $3000 for a rebuild. Now as for the 7.3 power stroke my tuck has 500 000 miles on it and it dosen't smoke it runs like a champ all i've had to do is replace an injector, a water pump and the high pressure oil lines and a clutch. the only thing you will find with the ford trucks are because of the twin i beam suspension you will tend to burn off the edges on the front tires. 1994 to 1997 5.9 cummins is 180 horse stick and a 160hp auto the 7.3 from 94 to 97 is 215 hp stock atleast thats 1 the sticker on my engine says.

 

The Ford it the truck to get for sure while te dodge is a great truck as far as the cummings go and nothing ele they make is good ... If you get a dodge you are going to be puttinga new transmission in it about ever 36,000 miles my neighber has one and he cant even go threw a lil creak or water will get all in it and mess it up ... and if its 4wd you are going to be in real trouble as well.... The Ford is a all around better pick all day .. however you need to take your time when trying to find this truck cause there are alotta trucks like this that have been raged out big time from work and horse play

 

So it seems everyone recommends to stay away from Dodge and to get a 5 speed in the Ford, I guess.
I've always said if 'Rubbermaid' and 'Craftsman' ever made a car, I would be 1st in line...of course, that was when 'Craftsman' had their 'lifetime warranty'.
Now it seems that if someone would put a 12v Cummins engine into a Ford then it seems that would be the ultimate combo...lol.


When I look up tow limits on the F350 (1995-1997) - it says an "automatic transmission is REQUIRED"...and I ask - Why is that?

 

i have no clue but my buddy has a 97 powerstroke f350 5 sp that hauls roofin trailers he took about 120 sq of shingle tearoff and what not to the dump and he wieghed in at 34,000 total pounds so i dont think youd have to worry about tow limits he said that it aint about haulin the wieght its about stoppin the wieght so make sure you have good brakes and trailer brakes

 

dodge has the motor but the rest of the truck is junk. ford has a good reliable motor that is more expense to turn up but is a good motor stock and the whole truck is built to last. i have a auto in mine and haul about 20k with it all the time. trans never gives me a problem, if you look at an auto look for good firm shifts and shes a good one. if your not looking to turn up the motor that much the tranny shouldnt give you any problems at all. hope that helps. and with the load limit. it will pull just about anything you want it to. its all about stopping it. that has a lot to do with your trailer brake set up.

 

I agree with mountaineer27. I have never had any problems towing with mine. I regularly tow 16,000 lbs of toyhauler. Sometimes stopping it is another story though, "Grapevine in Southern California". This will make a man out of you when the guy ahead of you slams on his brakes and you hope you can stop it before you get to meet him. LOL

 

nice looking truck by the way!

 

Thank you. I like yours better though. That looks awesome.

 

thanx but its not mine.......i wish though! heres mine

[IMG]<a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=69475061&a lbumID=2494943&imageID=44779686"><img src="http://hotlink.myspacecdn.com/images02/96/2d373101528447bab6d86e2289da19e9/m.jpg" alt="" /></a>[/IMG]

 

That is a very clean truck. I like it. Not quite as impressive looking as your avatar but still very nice.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't mind Mountaineer's avatar truck...that's sweet! Wouldn't have to worry about tow limits anymore, lol.

The only things I plan on hauling with whatever truck I end up with is a steel 2 horse straight load gooseneck horse trailer with small living quarters BUT loaded down with camping gear AND 2 big drafts.
And might be hauling a 1980's model 4 door thick steel station wagon 4x4, when needed.
Maybe a hay trailer in the future loaded with some hay. Probably won't be no more than 4 - 4x5 round bales though.
So an automatic would be OK for me (and my hauling needs) AS LONG as I don't turn it up - the engine?
I would prefer an automatic...mainly since I live in Arkansas and it gets very mountainous about every way you go. And don't want to have to up-shift and down-shift ALL the time but I also like manuals. I just think it would be easier with an automatic. But I will definitely make sure I have good brakes, both on truck and trailer.
95_Dually - you mentioned the "Grapevine in Southern California" ....I've never heard of that road but I live right by Hwy 7 in Arkansas - which is in the Top 10 Most dangerous Highway's in the USA.
mountaineer27 - thanks for breaking it down for me (about the auto tranny)...I wanted an auto trans in the beginning but people starting scaring me away from it to a 5 speed, saying that it wouldn't last. I don't think any of the things that plan on pulling will be alot of weight and should be easy for either an auto trans or manual. I don't think I will need to turn up my engine, it should be able to pull the weight I will have with it being stock.

 

well mine is turned up (the engine) but its all in how you drive it too. my tranny shifts very firm and never gives me any problems. as long as your not trying to race someone with a load on than it will still be fine with normal mods. but if you dont do anything to the truck as far as modding i would still get a guage set up for it. just because of the area your towing in. i have some wicked hills that i haul my load up and the egt's get up there fast so m looking into an intercooler set up and water injection to get them back down low. based on the type of loads you were talking about i dont think you need a dually but im sure thats what you want.

 

Well I wouldn't mind a dually - I like the idea that if you have a flat in a dually (on the rear wheels of course)...that you have a little more time to pull over than you would in a SRW truck. And if I ever decided to upgrade in hauling sizes/weights then I would have to worry about upgrading yet again because I would already have a dually.
BUT I have my eyes on the F350 PSD 4x4 crew cab SRW trucks...that's what I have in mind.
With what ever truck I get would I need to add anything like a transmission cooler and/or engine oil cooler?
I know I will need to add a good brake controller and gauges too...but what gauges would I need?
Remember...I am new to all this diesel stuff and hauling bigger loads.
I've hauled smaller things like 4 wheelers, small 2 horse bp trailers, small utility trailers, etc. before but that is about it.
Thanks again - you guys rock!