Duramax or Cummings Diesel?

[pappy19]

There is a reason why the Ford Super Duty is still the most popular WORK truck used in commercial businesses; less maintenance, more power and higher durability under extreme conditions. The Ford Torqueshift transmission took all of the best attributes of the Allison and improved them substantially to have the very best HD diesel transmission on the road. The Dodge tranny is notoriously troublesome, just call any transmission shop. Also, don't ever get a Cummins remotely hot or it will sieze and their fuel pumps are very finiky.

All of the big 3 have had their problems with their diesel engines for one reason or another, but the new Ford diesel engine is proving itself to be a trouble free and powerful engine and a bullet proof transmission.

[EarlM]

I have a 2015 GMC DENALI with a durmax and have had 3 they are great. I own a truck garage and the Cummins is also a great engine but the dodge transmission is not as good as an Allision. Also the Dodges eat brakes like crazy. compare three year old trucks same mileage and I am certai you will find the Gm has a better resale value and if communication is important, new GM"S have wifi and I don't think dodge does and the G has built in brake control which works great with my 30' classic

I would look at a Ford over a Dodge

just my personal opinion

Earl

[fpbender]

We have owned F250 super duty but this go we bought 2015 GMC duramax Danali 2500hd. Very impressive TV currently on 10 day trip with average mileage towing and free at 13 mpg. Have covered so far 1400 miles.
Please take a minute to check out Laura GMC on Collingsville, IL.
They have 92 danali HD on the lot sell 28 per week and we got 11,500 off sticker without a trade. Largest GMC in US. We have a 25 ft FB FC.
Found the window placement on Ram created glare on the windshield in bright light.
Have fun with your purchasing process!

[daveswenson]

I have a Ram. Therefore they are the best. But realistically, they're all good. Find the one YOU like. I wanted a Ford, until I went and saw the Ram. Take your time and get what you want.

[Sodbust]

Ram relations with Cummins and people seems to be a tighter network than GM dealing with there diesel engine option.. I have a good friend who has worn out 3 GM diesels over the years doing cross country freight hauling enterprise. Pulled a huge 8 horse trailer with camper in the nose.. 500,000 to 700,000 miles out of each unit.. But he knows how to take care of them and how hard to push at any given time.

I have owned 2 RAMs with Cummins and its about the last thing that stopped working on them,, Still own a 98 that my farm hand has tried to destroy and its still running fine. 4 clutches,, 3 transmissions but he can also wreck about anything he jumps into in a 1/2 day.. So Cummins has my vote.. Sodbust

[greenflag]

You won't go wrong with any truck from the big three. I went with the Duramax in 2008. I now have 141K on it with no major issues. Repairs have been 1 glow plug and a power steering hose. Oh yes a power mirror motor. Love the Allison trans.
Buy quality diesel fuel and enjoy

[hamiltonmj]

I had a 2008 Duramax with the Allison and I would say check how you change the transmission fluid on either transmission. The Allison had a screw on transfilter and was easy to change by me according to schedule or use. How are your choices designed for maintenance....bottom line for me. By the way, I sold it and got an Airstream Interstate and love the Mercedes combination.

[Rossco57]

Re: Duramax vs Cummins--Have 2000 Ram Cummins. Love it. Only repairs have been fuel filter, brakes and ABS sensor. Only use Mopar equip on it. Only suggestion is to order new TV with good towing gear ratio. I have 4:10.
I am not a Mopar only guy and GM cars, but would go this route again.

[Alphonse]

Drove both GMs and Rams. I much preferred the handling of the Ram. I also generally preferred the Cummins engine. It is a straight six with fuel economy that my friends report to be excellent. The coil spring rear end is also a big plus.

I wanted a Ford for fit and finish but unfortunately Ford is having problems with their latest offering. Technical service bulletins and follow up bulletins to the dealers are not favorable at all for the 15 and 16's. I am a Ford fan and am passing our F150 Ecoboost on to our son. I am sorely disappointed that Ford is struggling on their latest design iteration. Too bad they can't get the diesel as well baked as their gasoline engines.

So I bought the 2016 Ram CTD 2500 and we just finished our first 1200 mile run towing and it performed as expected. The ride was good for us and the Twinkie and the engine is strong.

[jump]

Ok ... Here's my 2cents worth : 2011 Dodge Ram MegaCab 2500 Cummins. Our 3 dogs (labs & German Shepard ) LOVE their truck & the room with the back seat folded flat. We have towed our 30' International over 9,000 miles this summer with no problems. This is our 2nd MegaCab and our 3rd Ram Cummins. The biggest issue has been air conditioning problems in the '06 ... Finally got that resolved by taking it to an independent shop.
We love our Ram Cummins MegaCab.

[1greengarden]

I purchased the 2006 2500 RAM w/ Cummins and love it. Pulled a Featherlite SURV until I picked up a 25' Airstream: from California to Iowa it handles the mountains and the flatlands. I pull a 21' ocean fishing boat a lot around the area. I get decent mileage from the 17.5 in town to unloaded 22 MPH on the freeways. I have the short bed so if you are pulling a gooseneck get the SuperGlide hitch....

[mefly2]

We have driven late model diesels as TVs...both CTD and DM .... the CTD was problematic with the EPA-mandated recalls, steering recalls, and computer updates. The Ram may be better now that they have added DEF, but we will stay with the Duramax - excellent ride, too.

[FishinHatteras]

I'm not going to say which one I like better cuz it's in my signature.
The one thing I will say is I am enjoying the heck out of my diesel in that it is getting damn near 14mpg towing my 28 footer fully loaded. And did I mention I am averaging over 23mpg on the hwy with no load?
I traded in my gas 2500 for the same truck in a diesel. Never going back to a gas.
I was getting just over 8mpg when towing with that gas engine, and lucky to get 15 on the highway w no load. Wish I would have made the switch sooner.

Fortunately, I was a generator mechanic in the military, so opening the hood on my Cheby presents few unfamiliar objects. If you're not mechanically inclined, buy a newer diesel with plenty of warranty time left, then familiarize yourself with what's going on under the hood as you grow with your truck. Trust me, when you're fully loaded, and you hit that throttle, you'll love that Duramax, Cummins or Ford SO much better than its gas equivalent. Torque wins big time doing what almost ALL of us do on here: Tow!
Good luck in your decision, & always keep its head up!
Gavin

[Rocinante]

The October issue of Consumer Reports has a reliability analysis for cars & trucks. The trucks table has some interesting data, though it does not separate the vehicles out by engine type or anything else. There's just one bucket for each model of truck.

For the 1/2 ton category, the Tundra is ~45% more reliable than average. The F-150 is ~25% better than average for reliability, Ram 1500 is ~25% worse than average, while the Chevy & GMC 1500 are both 45% worse than average.

For the 3/4 ton category, the Chevy Silverado is ~25% more reliable than average, the F-250 is about 10% more reliable than average, and the Ram 2500 is 153% less reliable than average. Yes, you read that right. One hundred fifty three percent less reliable than average. Seems kinda high, but that's what it says here.

So, if we were to upgrade from our 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton, we'd probably start by looking at the Silverado 2500.

BTW, thus far our RAM 1500 has been great (knocking wood). Perhaps, like all the children in Lake Woebegone, our truck came out above average.

[gaylejoe]

I have an 06 Dodge Cummins with 187,000 miles. No problems. Everyone always mentions the Allison transmission but there is nothing wrong Dodge transmission. Whatch what truck the car haulers use on the road. Many Cities are switching to the Dodge Cummins for their ambulance operations. Even though my family have always sed GM vehicles I would purchased another Dodge Cunnins in a heart beat.

[cando]

Originally Posted by Oxen

Well, the Toyota gets red dots from Consumer Reports, but the truck capacities indicate that it is impotent. Impotent, but never needing repair.

Jer

We are on our second Toyota 5.7 V8s. The 07 had 121, 000 trouble free miles and was still on the original brakes. Replaced a serpentine belt and a set of tires. Got a great deal on a new one in 2012--it now has almost 70, 000 trouble free miles and we replaced the original tires at 65, 000 miles. Some decontenting of the new ones and my hope for better pulling both uphill and better holdback going down the mts are making us look to diesel powered 2500 "big three" trucks. Unfortunately, much of what we're reading on the threads is not making any of the three look like a safe bet. We'll possibly wait for the Nissan Titan with the Cummins this December. We tried advice we were given about driving ith the trailer in the mts in fourth gear, we use fifth normally, but it raised the rps' s from roughly 2, 200 to just over 3, 000 rpm's, and the gas mileage dropped from the 10.5 to 11, to roughly 7.5, the worst either Toyota has ever gotten. so we have to agree, the 2012 seems more Impotent towing the '25 Airstream in the mts. But don't know if we can live with poor repair performance that we have lived through with all of the big three.

[TheDuke]

If you want the latest design in a diesel engine, then buy a new Gen2 6.7L Ford Power stroke. Not only is it the most powerful diesel, it is the only one designed and manufactured by the truck maker.

[gandttimes]

Originally Posted by TheDuke

If you want the latest design in a diesel engine, then buy a new Gen2 6.7L Ford Power stroke. Not only is it the most powerful diesel, it is the only one designed and manufactured by the truck maker.

And this is good why?



George

[tjdonahoe]

Ford might be wonderful, as a former ford guy, you couldn't run fast enough to sell me one, after what ford did to a lot of people with their 6 litre diesel and their problems , well IH built that engine not us they said , yea right, my dodge is doing fine, so are the duramax's....

[xrvr]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

The October issue of Consumer Reports has a reliability analysis for cars & trucks. The trucks table has some interesting data, though it does not separate the vehicles out by engine type or anything else. There's just one bucket for each model of truck.

For the 1/2 ton category, the Tundra is ~45% more reliable than average. The F-150 is ~25% better than average for reliability, Ram 1500 is ~25% worse than average, while the Chevy & GMC 1500 are both 45% worse than average.

For the 3/4 ton category, the Chevy Silverado is ~25% more reliable than average, the F-250 is about 10% more reliable than average, and the Ram 2500 is 153% less reliable than average. Yes, you read that right. One hundred fifty three percent less reliable than average. Seems kinda high, but that's what it says here.

So, if we were to upgrade from our 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton, we'd probably start by lookingever at the Silverado 2500.

BTW, thus far our RAM 1500 has been great (knocking wood). Perhaps, like all the children in Lake Woebegone, our truck came out above average.

Ever since consumer reports was caught lying several years ago, I don't take anything they report seriously.