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What make would you choose Ford or GM
Ford or GM
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The age-old question! Just like "what's the best gun?" this can't really be answered without context. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge all have strengths and weaknesses. People that are loyal to each are usually that way because the way they use the truck makes those features the most desireable. The way I see it:
Chevy:
-Duramax is a great powerplant, made by Isuzu (who builds more diesels than anyone).
-Allison transmission is clearly the best in the industry.
-Independent Front Suspension: Pro and con, gives a great ride but is expensive to lift and many consider it to be more complicated and a little weaker than solid front axle designs.
-Chevy is a good choice for people who like precise steering, great ride quality, and a transmission that will hold up as well their diesel.
Ford:
-You can often get one for a good deal. Right now, cash back and 0% for 60 months. Ford is losing money bigtime (12 billion last year alone) and this is a factor.
-Strong suit is considered to be the simple design. Solid front axle, things rarely break down in the underpinnings of a Ford. Cheaper to lift.
-The chassis and suspension make Fords quite good at towing very large loads.
-Parts are usually fairly easy to find, because Ford sells a lot of trucks and doesn't have a huge variety of models. They have always claimed to be the "best selling brand", but that is a little white lie because GM sells trucks under two brands (GMC/Chevy) which together outsell Ford by a large margin.
-Torqueshift transmissions have been good.
-Engines have been spotty. The 7.3 diesel was great but extremely noisy. The 6.0 had more problems than any diesel in the industry. The 6.4 is not starting out well either, and is getting a reputation for being quite difficult to repair. Fine under warranty but lookout if you are footing the bill.
Dodge:
-The guys at Dodge always seem to come out with some very creative design features. They were the first to offer the "quad" extended cab idea with wing doors, and the mega cab has again been one of those industry firsts. Great fold flat rear seating to maximize cargo room.
-"Right" sizing: Ford insists on offering a crap extended cab that is useless for adults except to store gear. Chevy offers one that is 5" larger but still pinched for most people. Then they have crew cabs with plenty of room. Dodge does it right, they just go with a quad cab that doesn't waste space, it's just right for most people to sit in and has an exterior door handle too. Then, for those who want full comfort, you have the mega cab where the back seat passengers can recline etc.
-Cummins, with the straight 6 design, has long been the most durable diesel. It's cheaper to buy at the outset, and lasts forever. 80% of Dodge heavy duty trucks sell with the Cummins.
-Unfortunately, Dodge has long struggled with the transmission portion of their power train, and with quality control. They have the worst tranny offerings in the industry, but cover them with a lifetime warranty. Transmission replacements are pretty common by 40k miles, and more warranty work is done by Dodge which indicates lower initial quality.
-You find a lot of "Tale of Two Trucks" stories with Dodge owners because of the quality control issues. You will hear the "Hey I drove mine for 500K miles with no problems" as well as the "Man my catalytic converter fell off onto the street on my way home from the dealer, and my brakes came apart at 1,000 miles!" equally often.
Chevy:
-Duramax is a great powerplant, made by Isuzu (who builds more diesels than anyone).
-Allison transmission is clearly the best in the industry.
-Independent Front Suspension: Pro and con, gives a great ride but is expensive to lift and many consider it to be more complicated and a little weaker than solid front axle designs.
-Chevy is a good choice for people who like precise steering, great ride quality, and a transmission that will hold up as well their diesel.
Ford:
-You can often get one for a good deal. Right now, cash back and 0% for 60 months. Ford is losing money bigtime (12 billion last year alone) and this is a factor.
-Strong suit is considered to be the simple design. Solid front axle, things rarely break down in the underpinnings of a Ford. Cheaper to lift.
-The chassis and suspension make Fords quite good at towing very large loads.
-Parts are usually fairly easy to find, because Ford sells a lot of trucks and doesn't have a huge variety of models. They have always claimed to be the "best selling brand", but that is a little white lie because GM sells trucks under two brands (GMC/Chevy) which together outsell Ford by a large margin.
-Torqueshift transmissions have been good.
-Engines have been spotty. The 7.3 diesel was great but extremely noisy. The 6.0 had more problems than any diesel in the industry. The 6.4 is not starting out well either, and is getting a reputation for being quite difficult to repair. Fine under warranty but lookout if you are footing the bill.
Dodge:
-The guys at Dodge always seem to come out with some very creative design features. They were the first to offer the "quad" extended cab idea with wing doors, and the mega cab has again been one of those industry firsts. Great fold flat rear seating to maximize cargo room.
-"Right" sizing: Ford insists on offering a crap extended cab that is useless for adults except to store gear. Chevy offers one that is 5" larger but still pinched for most people. Then they have crew cabs with plenty of room. Dodge does it right, they just go with a quad cab that doesn't waste space, it's just right for most people to sit in and has an exterior door handle too. Then, for those who want full comfort, you have the mega cab where the back seat passengers can recline etc.
-Cummins, with the straight 6 design, has long been the most durable diesel. It's cheaper to buy at the outset, and lasts forever. 80% of Dodge heavy duty trucks sell with the Cummins.
-Unfortunately, Dodge has long struggled with the transmission portion of their power train, and with quality control. They have the worst tranny offerings in the industry, but cover them with a lifetime warranty. Transmission replacements are pretty common by 40k miles, and more warranty work is done by Dodge which indicates lower initial quality.
-You find a lot of "Tale of Two Trucks" stories with Dodge owners because of the quality control issues. You will hear the "Hey I drove mine for 500K miles with no problems" as well as the "Man my catalytic converter fell off onto the street on my way home from the dealer, and my brakes came apart at 1,000 miles!" equally often.
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I feel about like .45, Ford?? Whats that? No matter who you are it is a known fact that General Motors is the #1 autimobile sales company in the, toyota is second, and Ford has now dropped to third, I would say that Dodge no matter how big and bad they might look, they aren't much when it comes to power, I have rode in a dodge before and to get it through the gravel at the guys house who owns it, it has to be put in 4WD to get out. Ford just seem to be poor built vehicles to me, they break down, and aren't as reliable as a good old GM made vehicle. I love my chevy and wouldn't trade it for anything. That is my opinion whats yours. I don't want to start this whole big thing and please don't come back at me for what I've said, but hemy or no hemy Dodge is gutless, fords unreliable, and GM and chevy well there
Ohh and where was the disadvantage to the GM I didn't see it in your post, just seen disadvantages of Ford and Dodge.
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Chevy's NOTTTTTT! 
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Both brands new offerings are pretty ugly in the looks department, but I have to give the nod to ford, for not looking completely ridiculous (ala-the family wagon in one of the "vacation" movies). But if I was driving one, I wouldn't be able to see the outside from the driver seat, so it would be a GM. product.
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As I mentioned, off-roaders often view the IFS of GM products as a disadvantage. This system offers less articulation, more complexity, and decreased strength. It is also much more expensive to lift and modify for serious digging. For example, if you want top notch articulation on a GMC/Chevy you're looking at a long travel kit where parts alone will cost between $5,000 and $8,000 without installation. Then you put 35" tires on them, and the front track width is wider than the rear causing them not to pass inspection, requiring fender flares even for 8" wheels! Tack on another $700 for flares and getting them painted to match. Even basic 4" to 6" lifts that just clearance bigger tires are at least $1500 for parts, and forget doing it yourself unless you're a mechanic. IFS delivers a great ride and precise steering, and it's a known fact that the vast majority of truck owners never use them for 4-wheeling. Hence the best-selling, tight-handling GMC/Chevy. The typical owner of any truck rarely even takes it on a gravel road let alone the type of off-roading where body damage and breakage are strong possibilities. Just this year a buddy of mine busted a tie rod on his 3/4 ton chevy suburban going over a rock about the size of a volleyball on slightly cobbly road easily passable in any stock 4x4. The rig was totally disabled.#1DEER 1-I said:
What do I drive? Chevy 2500 HD Duramax w/ Fabtech 6" suspension lift and 35" meats. I wheel it moderately (never had it on a 4+ Moab trail for example) and it has never let me down. I do know its limitations, however.
I think bolth trucks are nice we currently own a ford but are having MAJOR problems with it. We lifited it and they cant keep it from bouncing at 50-60 MPH. It has been in the shop 6 times now and us and the dealer are going to have go consider it a lemmon if it they can't correct it. I have put some money into it and would hate to have to get another truck but if we get our money back I will seriously have to look at the chevy's. It sucks to spend 50K and get something that does not work!
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.45 For muscle cars yes, chevy. But for trucks I like Fords, wierd huh .
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Trucks.
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Trucks.
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How bout all you little girls get a real truck and buy a tacoma!!! :mrgreen: :rotfl: *(())*
Just like this one. I'll go father, higher, longer than any of you american made junk!!!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/ ... titled.jpg
Just like this one. I'll go father, higher, longer than any of you american made junk!!!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d111/ ... titled.jpg
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CHEVY/GMC all the way, no if's, and's or buts about it.
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Tacomas rock, I've had two of them, they are wheelin' machines! They are the perfect vehicle for a 1-man show, and work in a pinch for two with not much gear. They are also in the right lane going 40 up Parley's in 3rd gear if they are towing, getting passed by the Yaris.
I miss my Toys for the one-man solo camps, at least until I apply the thin pedal of my Duramax and bring 400 HP and 700 ft/lbs of torque to the show. Looks like you're sporting 177 ft/lbs with the 3.4. If you're ever in a hurry just load your 'Yota, all your gear, ATVs, and anything else you want onto a flatbed trailer and I'll tow you up the canyon with my stuff too at 80.
I miss my Toys for the one-man solo camps, at least until I apply the thin pedal of my Duramax and bring 400 HP and 700 ft/lbs of torque to the show. Looks like you're sporting 177 ft/lbs with the 3.4. If you're ever in a hurry just load your 'Yota, all your gear, ATVs, and anything else you want onto a flatbed trailer and I'll tow you up the canyon with my stuff too at 80.
The problem is my 5th wheel and boat would rip the bed right off a tacoma or tundra. You can only have a 1 ton to take that load. So I either have to go ford, dodge, or chevy/gmc. They have it in the shop again for the 8th time now and if they can't get it fixed we will have to look at some "options". I hope that means getting my money back! We only put a leveling kit on it "dealer installed" and it works great when you are towing anything but drive it alone and on cement roads like bangater hwy it bounces between 50-60 and on regular hwy it has started bouncing when you get over 70mphsnobiller22 said:
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Check the bed and make sure there aren't a couple people back there. Certain vigorous activities have been known to have the effect you describe on pickups.
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