Hi all,


I am new to this forum and new to Fords. I have owned a Duramx in the past and I am going to order a new 2015 dually something in the next few weeks.


I tow a heavy 5th wheel 18-20,000 lbs and I don't want to even be close anymore in term of performance...going and stopping.


I tow mostly in Colorado over 11,000 ft passes with 7% grades. I am looking for the "best" truck for me. I want a dually and I want it brand new. I am open to the Ford even though I have been a GM guy most of my life. I like the idea of the F450: bigger tires and wheels, bigger brakes and a beefy suspension. I don't know anything about the 6.7 engine. I have heard of horror stories of the earlier Ford engines and I don't want to be a part of that crowd.


I plan to use it mostly for towing and it will not be my daily driver.


My previous truck was a SRW one ton. Because of the weight on my new trailer, I want to go with a dually.


Your thoughts please.

 

Welcome to FTE, great group of guys here. Even if you don't buy a Ford, stop back and post a few pictures of your new ride. We chat about all trucks.

 

I have a 2015 F-350 DRW...........

THat engine pulls like there is no tomorrow.
I just sold a 2011 F-350 SRW 6.7 PSD.......I towed a 18K lb 5th wheel all over Montana....rockies All over Oregon and the Cascade mountains.......The 6.7 engine worked very well with zero problems..

Can there be problems.....of course. That is true with anything. Spend a little time with both Ford F-450 and the GM equivalent......see what you like about each..........There are many on here that tow with the F-450.

 

Honestly, you should drive them both. I believe their performance will be comparable and maybe inpercievable to you. There is, however, a large difference in the interiors that you'll need to judge yourself. The Ford Crew Cab is far roomier than the GMC (I just did similar cross shopping).


The Ford truck drives more truck-like than the GMC. I found the GMC interior and door construction to be better than the Ford, but you have to buy the Denali or High Country to get leather construction (French stitching) similar to the Ford Lariat construction.


The Dash of the Denali is far nicer and more customizable than the Ford...but if you go SLT or Chevrolet, the dash functionality is the same. Only the Denali comes with the LCD scree gauge cluster.


The Ford center console storage is better than the GMC. The Ford rear seat legroom is better than the GMC. The passenger leg room is much better in the GMC than the Ford. The view out of the driver's seat (over the hood and out the back) is better in the Ford than the GMC. The view was the killer for me. I felt that the hood was higher in the GMC and therefore you had more trouble seeing over the nose. The rear window seemed smaller in the GMC than the Ford.


That being said, I just replaced my Ford with a RAM, so maybe my opinion doesn't matter there. These were my observations. I went all in ready to buy the GMC and I decided to go with the Ram...even if my resale value will be less.


Good luck with your decision. They are all good trucks and very capable.

 

From a purely towing perspective here are my thoughts.

Ford mirrors and vision are the best.

Ford suspension is the best.

Ford transmission/exhaust brake work very well, I don't know if it's the best but not. The worst.

The engine is a monster but with over 14k behind it you will definitely be working it hard, there's a great power in this engine and you'll need it.

The styling, design is what it is. I like it but it's not currently the "wow" truck.

I just think it's the best truck to use as a tow vehicle. You sit up high, the waistline of the truck is about at your elbow when you sit in the seat. Gm trucks tend to have a higher waistline, chest high which is why it feels more car like and the vision is less comfy.

 

I have a 2013 6.7. We spent a lot of time last summer on the Western Slope. I towed over Monarch and The Eisenhower tunnel. My 5er was heavy @ 16K.


Since it is a 2013 my turbo is smaller then the new 2015's but essentially the same motor.


I also took it off road on several trails and canyons and to the family cabin in the middle of nowhere.


It performed just fine and did a great job. My only issue was the smaller turbo (which ford fixed with MY 2015). I was only able to do 55 mph up Vail pass and the Eisenhower tunnel.


Otherwise it did great.

 

The MY '15 trucks have a larger turbo with a different (better) exhaust brake, so far all I've read is positive.

Speaking of positive, yes, it's true the "job 1" or early 11/12 trucks had some "glitches/issues", but as far we've discovered so far, Ford sorted them out for 13/14 and up. If you go with a new truck, you should have tens of thousands of happy towing miles ahead of you.

Good luck and let us know how you choose, we're a pretty open-minded group....

 

I have had two Duramaxs. I miss some things on it, not going to lie. Cabin noise is super quiet, Onstar, IFS.

Now I don't miss the lack of cabin room (seriously compact cars have more rear leg room), DEF fill under the hood,wtf?,not as big feels like small HD truck (kind of like being a tall midget).

As far as the motor comparison, the 6.6 is an undeniable reliable motor. It just doesn't have the power the new 6.7, while towing it isn't even close. The 6.7 is a flat out rocketship!

Let us know what you buy either way.

 

I have a 2015 F450, tow a 38' 16K toyhauler...Tows great exhaust brake is better than my 2011 F350 srw...Both trucks have been very reliable...Sold the 11 after 4 1/2 years...

Good luck!