Employeer told me to pick out a new one ton pickup... many rules apply... PLEASE HELP

After many many miles the ram 2500 that has been the workhorse of my laboratory bit the big one. Work said to get a new truck and gave me only 2 days to decide.

The trucks i was told were possible were the:
-'18 SILVERADO 3500 PU; OEM MODEL #CK35903 extended cab with longbed Diesel or flexfuel
-'18 RAM 3500 PU; OEM MODEL D28L62 Crew cab with longbed. Diesel or flexfuel
-'18 F350 PU; OEM MODEL #: F3G crew cab with a flat bed and flexfuel engine.

My work truck has always carried a popup camper that acts as a mobile laboratory. It tows lots of equipment to research sites every spring and fall, but primarily is used to sample rivers, spawn fish and carry analytical equipment to remote off road locations. Many of these locations are above treeline, rough and narrow.
-I need 8' bed or a flat bed for the camper/lab.
-I need decent off road ability. Not rock crawling but the analytical instruments i carry are fragile and I send workers out to sample without any off road experience. I will demand the 4x4 options, will finagle better tires. I would like to have something comparable to the rear diff lock on my old trucks. all the below have an "off road package" but even the dealers here are not certain of the particulars.
- I need to carry 5 or 6 workers.
-I need a class V tow package
- i need a way to tie down my camper/lab
-camper/lab will be replaced in 2 years and a flat bed camper is an option.
-i am in colorado, so engine breaking down hill is needed and I am amazed how so many new trucks do a crap job of considering this... it is like the designers all live in michigan or something? Factors like this. If you have insight or opinions, PLEASE speak up.

Which has best off-road ability?
Which has best towing ability?

SADLY NO CREW CAB FORD WITH A LONG BED was offered. That is what i like the most. But the flat bed might be an option. Sadly, it will likely put me over the cost limit. I doubt you all have time to sort through the options for me. BUT i would greatly appreciate insight into base characteristics that are advantageous or a liability. For instance i love the cummins diesels, the tradesman level ram with off road package would be good but the radiator is only 18" off the road. Holy cr@p, that is a liability. Also the bumpers are too flimsy to be used to tie down the camper. The space between the cab and the bed is sculpted such that the tie downs typically used for campes will never fit. The clearance looked bad. the ford looked to have better clearance until i looked at the jungle gym cluster of bars below the axle. At least the radiator was not so low... I didnt even look at the Chevy. Not apposed to them, but in the past i found they had too many bells and whistles that were just designed to wear out. Maybe that has changed for 2018. So, stuff like this. Big things that would limit the function. Opinions and reason.... Please, speak up.

I like my gen I taco and the "1980's toyota pickup" i had before that because they were simple. high clearance. no plastic. BAD ASS BALLSYNESS. No automatic/electric anything.... I assume the folks here have similar taste. Any features you all advise i look into for towing or off road will be carefully considered. If you have strong like or dislike of any of these please speak up.

 

Ram with a Cummins or Silverado with a D-Max... Plus both have long beds!

Also, I believe the G80 locking rear is standard on HD Silverados now...

 

Thanks @PennSilverTaco
Why do you feel this way?

 

You feel this way way...What?

 

Tuff Call ??? I"m not sure I like any new truck I have the last 5.9 dodge Cummins (2007) pulls like a freight train , No help here !

 

You say you need to carry 5 or 6 crew members (aka workers)?

Only one truck you listed is a crew cab... so...

Pretty sure the RAM Power Wagon comes with off-road setups, better clearance, and lockers from the factory. Not sure if it's actually a 1 TON though.

 

@RPS1030

 

I can attest that a Power Wagon can crawl over some impressive shit...

Seen it once in Moab. No joke.

 

A Dodge is always going to be a Dodge. But it has the Cummins which at least in the older models gave it the win over any other diesel it competed against. I am not well versed in the newer ones so I won’t claim anything about them.

Ford, Chev / GM just aren’t the same as the Cummins. At least a few years back people claimed their monthly payments were less than their monthly repair bills for the power strokes in the Ford. I do mean MONTHLY. When you buy a diesel for its longevity and the motor eats injectors and high pressure pumps you are better off with the gasser.

I would hate to be buying a new truck in this segment with a 2 day research time frame. There have been so many ups and downs with the various brands. Dodge / Cummins have had bulletproof drive trains and have also had some issues in the last 25 years a year or two here and there. Try Cumminsforum.com to get some info. I don’t know where to research ford or GM / Chevrolet so you are on your own on those two.

 

ooops. Sorry. all 3 have crew as an option. I am ordering through a work fabricated excel sheet that is not user friendly.


@PennSilverTaco
I fixed the typo

 

10/10

 

You said you wanted a long bed for your camper, and it sounds like the Ford just has a flat bed.

 

A Ram 3500 with the 6.4L Hemi is the way I would go if what you're towing is less than 10K pounds. It's going to take your employer a long time to make up the cost of the diesel options and frankly, the emission BS they have on them now is a big deterrence IMO. Plus the extra saving will get you the off-road options/tires you need.

FYI, if a 2500 is an option you can spec a tradesman Power Wagon which will give you a built in winch and front/rear lockers.

Chassis cab is not available with a LSD or locking rearend if I recall correctly.

 

I agree with this guy, but I thought one could get a posi rear in a Ram chassis cab...

Pretty sure the G80 locker is standard in all HD Silverados...

 

I cant find the option on the Ram build page but looking at a local dealer window sticker they are listing them with an LSD.

http://worktrucks.perkinsmotors.com...ucks/cab_chassis/ram/2017/ram-3500/994/597913

 

Might just be standard by default...

 

The dodge 2500 that i am replacing was always under powered. The combinations of mountains, popupcamper windage, heavy sampling equipment, trailers... We often had to repair the drive train. I think i have to move up to 1 ton.

yes. cummins adds $7k and that might price me out of the limit. well put.

 

Flat bed would be fine for now. only slightly odd. Flat beds are advantageous when i have to replace the aging camper as you get more space with a flatbed camper and a bigger door.

 

Is there a website that compares clearance on each of these?

 

Whatever truck you get, make sure it has a backup camera. Also, what trim level are we talking here? I'm guessing it won't be a Rolls-Royce with a bed like the Super Duty Platinum or the Ram Laramie Longhorn?