Dodge 2500 or ford F250

I am wanting to upgrade to a ford F250 or dodge 2500. Does anyone have any firsthand experience or have any preferences?

 

I work on the gas side of a ford dealer and the diesel guys seem to like the 6.7 engine. I don't know what trans the F250s have though.

 

My opinion from test driving when shopping and riding in a few friend’s new F250s led me to buy a Ram 2500. I think the interior is designed better, setup better and of higher quality. The F250 crew cab is larger and roomier than the Ram crew cab but I haven’t had anyone complain that there isn’t enough room in my Ram yet. The Cummins is louder and has more vibrations that both the Powerstroke and Duramax engines in friends trucks. I like it, it sounds like a diesel, but some people prefer their diesel to sound quiet like a gas engine.

 

Buy the Cummins truck. My 2500 with a 6 speed manual Allison was a damn beast with zero issues. Ford trucks are crap with diesel trucks. Drive around the country for years and years. Number one thing on the side of the road ........... Ford Diesel powered trucks. They break and break and break and break.

 

My friend tried to sell my his 12v Cummins back in the day and I still kick myself for not buying it. I'm not a fan of the new diesels at all unless you do the def/dpf delete which may be highly illegal depending on your state

 

duramax

 

I drive a 2016 F350/ 6.2 gas everyday for work. It weighs about 9000lbs with a full tank and all my gear. I can't comment on the diesel drive train, but I can tell you it rides like a city bus. Any kind of bumps hit at speed cause it to float very badly. There is a joint mid corner on I-95 NB in DE coming into Wilmington. I have to get the truck to the far inside of the corner because after the bump it will be at the far outside. It's pretty unsettling.

If I was going to buy a full size, it would be a GM for the independent front end. Mine is an XL so naturally, the interior sucks. My brother has a higher trim 2012 F350 and the interior still feels cheap. I think Ford interiors are the worst out there.

 

I don't have a preference as to brand, but in 2019 I'd not buy either diesel unless I used it commercially towing and hauling HEAVY loads every day to make a living. For recreational use go gas. In fact our school system has bought new buses in the last few years with gas engines instead of diesel. Same with heavy duty work trucks for the county maintenance dept. Diesel is no longer economically feasible.

I'm more familiar with Ford, but Dodge can't be that much different. The diesel engine weighs considerably more than the gas engine and with Ford, especially with crew cab 4X4's it really eats into payload. Some F150's have a higher payload rating than some F250 diesels. Most folks advise going to F350 if you want to tow/haul heavy.

Ford's 6.2 gas engine is pretty bulletproof and is only rated to tow about 2000 lbs less than the diesel and the new 7.3 gas engine will be out soon. When you consider the F250 diesel will run out of payload long before it reaches max tow rating the gas engines will tow more in real world applications.

Ford's diesel is a $9000 price increase over gas. I'm sure Dodge is close. That initial cost plus having to use DEF and much higher maintenance and fuel costs mean you'll never break even over buying a gas engine even though the diesel will get a little better fuel mileage.

The newer diesels are so complex and unreliable that all of them spend too much time in the shop. Technically they should last longer, but you can wear out a gas engine, replace it and wear it out and still spend less than you would on a diesel.

 

Welcome aboard

 

I have yet to see any higher maintenance costs. The engine uses twice as much oil but the change interval is twice as long, so that’s a wash. It’s pretty much an oil change and fuel filters change once a year. DEF is about $50 a year. Diesel is usually 10¢ more than the regular I used to put in my Tacoma but I get 16+mpg around town instead of 13-14mpg so that’s pretty much even.

I own a 2018 Ram, a friend owns a 2018 F250 and another a 2018 Silverado, none of which have spent any time in the shop.