We went and test drove '08 F350 4x4 and Dodge 3500.
Given that these were MSRP at nearly $50K, I don't know what good it did me, but for the balance, we liked the Ford better.
The Ford had more comfy seats, better interior, just a tad longer bed which help for stuffing a pair of dirt bikes in them when not hauling the trailer. The Ford also had better performance off the line and into the upper revs, such that they were. The Dodge motor was actually quieter than the Ford on the outside while it was about the same on the inside. My wife hated the Dodge seats because they were not long enough to support her thigh. I have shorter legs and they didn't do much for me either. She hated the seats five minutes into our 20-minute ride. The other problem was that she prefers the Dodge "Mega Cab" planform. This was an enormous cabin with enough room in back to recline the seats. The regular Dodge "Quad Cab" is just slightly bigger than Chevy's extended cab and had seats that were uncomfortably upright.
I bumped into my neighbor today, fresh from the Enduro-Cross race in Las Vegas. He had just sold his 2006 6.0L F250 (trouble-free in 60K miles) and purchased an '08 F350 for towing a new 37-foot Fiver (about 17,000 pounds, loaded, I think). He has airbags on the F350 and a $2500 sliding hitch.
We talked it over and his opinion was that I'd be better off going with a bumper-pull trailer with the proper load-distributing gear and sticking with a 3/4 ton. He also suggested getting one that was under 30', if everything fit, to avoid the likelihood of a third axle.
As for the tow vehicle, he used to be a Chevy guy when his vehicles were purchased for him by his company. When he had to buy one for himself, he added up the plusses and minuses and they equaled Ford. He said Ford's "Torque-Master" tranny is worthy of competing with the Allison tranny.
His opinion of the Chevy was that it was literally glued together, squeaked, and had a frame of questionable strength.
As for the trailer he would consider, he said I was safe with any of the sub-brands made by Thor.
I have new data points, anyway.
That 2002 Ford F250 with the 7.3L is lookin' better and better. My neighbor says it doesn't hold a candle to the 6.0 or 6.4 Ford, but his opinion is that 7.3 has all I'd need.
Rick
Given that these were MSRP at nearly $50K, I don't know what good it did me, but for the balance, we liked the Ford better.
The Ford had more comfy seats, better interior, just a tad longer bed which help for stuffing a pair of dirt bikes in them when not hauling the trailer. The Ford also had better performance off the line and into the upper revs, such that they were. The Dodge motor was actually quieter than the Ford on the outside while it was about the same on the inside. My wife hated the Dodge seats because they were not long enough to support her thigh. I have shorter legs and they didn't do much for me either. She hated the seats five minutes into our 20-minute ride. The other problem was that she prefers the Dodge "Mega Cab" planform. This was an enormous cabin with enough room in back to recline the seats. The regular Dodge "Quad Cab" is just slightly bigger than Chevy's extended cab and had seats that were uncomfortably upright.
I bumped into my neighbor today, fresh from the Enduro-Cross race in Las Vegas. He had just sold his 2006 6.0L F250 (trouble-free in 60K miles) and purchased an '08 F350 for towing a new 37-foot Fiver (about 17,000 pounds, loaded, I think). He has airbags on the F350 and a $2500 sliding hitch.
We talked it over and his opinion was that I'd be better off going with a bumper-pull trailer with the proper load-distributing gear and sticking with a 3/4 ton. He also suggested getting one that was under 30', if everything fit, to avoid the likelihood of a third axle.
As for the tow vehicle, he used to be a Chevy guy when his vehicles were purchased for him by his company. When he had to buy one for himself, he added up the plusses and minuses and they equaled Ford. He said Ford's "Torque-Master" tranny is worthy of competing with the Allison tranny.
His opinion of the Chevy was that it was literally glued together, squeaked, and had a frame of questionable strength.
As for the trailer he would consider, he said I was safe with any of the sub-brands made by Thor.
I have new data points, anyway.
That 2002 Ford F250 with the 7.3L is lookin' better and better. My neighbor says it doesn't hold a candle to the 6.0 or 6.4 Ford, but his opinion is that 7.3 has all I'd need.
Rick