Ford 450 vs Ram 3500

[dodge man]

I just read an article in Diesel Power mag where they compared these two trucks. Its kind of unfair since the Ford is a 450 and the Dodge only a 350. They liked the Ram better, it pulled the Eisenhower Grade better than the Ford and also had much better exhaust braking. Pickups Truck mag did the original story and part of it got reprinted in Diesel Power. I can't find the results on line because they probably want you to buy the magazine. Both trucks did well and it looks like Ford it upgrading next year and I'm sure they will try and out gun the Ram. I did find a video of part of the testing but its more fluff without the results.

Video: 2013 King of Beasts -- Ford F-450 Vs. Ram 3500 HD - PickupTrucks.com News

 

[Red Horse]

I would pay less attention to "450 vs 3500" and more attention to the specs of the two trucks. HJ/Torque ratings-equal? GVW and GCW ratings-equal? Tire sizes-equal? etc. I'm sure there is considerable overlap between 350/450, just as there is overlap between 3500/4500. Key is what were specs of the two trucks tested.

 

[Wolfy]

I dont think the Ford vs Dodge vs GMC feud will ever end.

 

[dodge man]

Of course not, it sells magazines. They just promote it. One thing that drives me nuts with the newest trend in cars and trucks is "soft touch surfaces". They talk about how the Dodge has them and the others will soon follow. I can just see in a few years where "hard touch surfaces" are in.

 

[Wolfy]

Soft touch?

 

[dodge man]

Instead of the door panels and dash pad being a harder plastic, they make them out of some sort of softer leather or leather like material that feels "soft" to the touch. They talk about it in the video I posted a link to. My wife has a 300C and it has a lot of soft touch surfaces, its nice but not that important to me.

 

[Wolfy]

Im with you there. A woman should have a soft touch. A door panel, not critical.

 

[JESSE1]

I bought the magazine and read that article. They also had a write-up about the new '15 F-450 pickup. Basically they are building it to the '08-'10 F-450 pickup specs with the 19.5" commercial grade tires and wheels, bigger brakes, Dana 110 rear axle and heavier u-joints and steering components. Combined with the second generation 6.7 Powerstroke that is estimated to have 425hp/875 tq and an upgraded 6 speed torqueshift trans they say it will have a 32,000# towing weight rating. That would give it at least a 40,000# GCWR. The Ram has a max 37,000# GCWR. I plan on ordering a new F-450 as soon as they make them available. I had an '08 and now a '12 F-450 pickup and for towing a heavy load they can't be beat. The current F-450 pickup has a 33,000# GCWR, the same as the truck tested against the Ram.

 

[sd455dan]

Instead of the door panels and dash pad being a harder plastic, they make them out of some sort of softer leather or leather like material that feels "soft" to the touch. They talk about it in the video I posted a link to. My wife has a 300C and it has a lot of soft touch surfaces, its nice but not that important to me.

Well that WOULD be an improvement over the CHEAP hard plastic they used on my 03 3500s dash- it has cracked all over, The worst dash plastic I have ever seen...

 

[Wolfy]

Well thats because a 3500 is made by - just razzing you

 

[sd455dan]

Yeah- but it does have the HO Cummins and a 6 speed and 4x4- and that Infinity stereo- I am still smiling when I check the fuel mileage to...:thumbsup:

 

[Wolfy]

6 gears and 4wd sounds like a good time. I have no time on a Cummins, but I have never heard one bad thing about them. Most truckers I know are about half and half, between Cummins and Caterpillar.

 

[sd455dan]

Were cat engines available in any one ton trucks?? I always thought they were used in the big rigs-
everything from logging trucks, large Wreckers and 18 wheelers- and have never heard anything bad about the Cat engines either

 

[Wolfy]

The smallest truck Ive ever seen that used a Cat is the Ford F650. But like 30,000 GVW and up, they were used all the time. I had a Peterbilt with a Cat. In the winter, that engine would belt some heavy duty, nasty smoke. But, even when it was so cold that my Mack would not start, the Pete always always started.

 

[RoMad]

Some large motor homes have Cat engines as well as the many that have Cummins. I have heard, but no experience myself, that the Cats were more expensive to have work done on them.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I have heard that cat's are expensive to work on as well. They did produce a few lemons but I only have 2nd or third hand knowledge about that. There is prolly more cat motors out there than any other commercial motor. (read not automotive) I know we have all of our gas compressors running on big cats (some 16 cylinder ones as well IIRC).


I still dont know how I feel about 15 tons behind an upgraded pickup though. Pretty soon, they are going to have to start adding a full size fifth wheel to them just to handle the weights! Any ideas on what the axle weight capacities are? Last time I looked, I think they were only 12k?

Are pick-ups going to have air brakes soon? lol

 

[PoorMansCat]

I heard about this test as well, IIRC, the Ford had a slight advantaqge as it had better rear end gearing than the Dodge.

 

[Soundguy]

Well that WOULD be an improvement over the CHEAP hard plastic they used on my 03 3500s dash- it has cracked all over, The worst dash plastic I have ever seen...

i think you will find that endemic to ALL dadge ram dash's

My 98 dash spiderwebbed and cracked in badly. every person I konw with a 96+ ram has done that...

 

[PoorMansCat]

The 2nd gen trucks were notorious for the dash cracking. 3rd gens got the dash cracking issue resolved, only to have repeated HVAC blend door issues. Thank goodness for the aftermarket!

 

[JESSE1]

I heard about this test as well, IIRC, the Ford had a slight advantaqge as it had better rear end gearing than the Dodge.

The Dodge had a GCWR of 37,000# compared to the Ford's 33,000#GCWR. Max tow rating of the Ram was 28,000# against the Ford's rating of 24,700#. Seems like the Ram spanked the Ford pretty good in this test, even if the Ford had the advantage of the 4.30 axle ratio. Both trucks were hauling 24,500# of trailer and load. At least Ford's revising the F-450 for '15.