Folks-

I currently drive a 1/2 ton Silverado gasser and am moving up to a 3/4 ton diesel. I am pretty much a dyed in the wool Chevy man (my family has been running Chevy trucks for three generations), but I like the Ddge, and thought I should keep the Ford in mind, too.

So, I tried to test drive all three. I say "try" because the Ford dealer wouldn't let me drive a Powerstroke. My purchase time frame is "within the next year". and they told me to come back when I was ready to buy, then I could drive the truck.

Ford can pound salt, and it's down to a Dodge 600 or an LLY DMax. I went to my Dodge dealer and drove a Cummins 600 automatic, regular cab. (They basically tossed me the keys, and nobody from the dealership went with me. When I returned, they patiently answered all of my questions, and didn't push me at all. Great people, and if I buy a dodge, it's their deal to lose.)

The two things I loved the most?

First, the power is freaking immense! Roll on the throttle at 60, catch a faint whistle from under the hood as the turbo spools, enjoy the torque, then look down at the speedo and you are rolling up on 80 mph. (I should note I drove a DMax the same day, but it was an LB7 520 ft/lb motor, not the new 590 ft/lb LLY motor. The Dodge felt significantly more powerful than the LB7.)

Second, the quick steering in the Dodge makes the truck feel quite nimble at slow speeds, and it wasn't darty at all on the highway.

I have one major concern, the ride quality. I thought it rode like a buckboard, much, much more harsh than a comparably equipped DMax. For me, if I can't soften the ride up, I won't buy it.

Can anyone weigh in on the ride quality issue? Can it be softened up some by adding bilsteins, or something else for a reasonable price, e.g., under $750?

I use the bed extensively, and won't be able to keep any weight in it that would interfere with unloading and loading.

Tanks for any input.

-Mawgie

 

Welcome to the board.

One question I have for you is, are you looking for a 2wd or 4wd?

I have a 2500 crew cab 4x4 with the 600. I live in Southern California, the freeways are terriable here. Lots of raised seams in the road.

My truck is my daily driver first, tow/haul anything truck second. That being the case i've lower the air pressure in the tires a bit. I'm at about 45-50psi (Don't remember exactly where i set them). It is quite a bit better now, however some shocks are in my future.

There was a long disucssion about the best shocks for these trucks on one of the boards a while ago, searching for shocks or even bilsteins should turn something up.

When I have some spare cash I plan on buying different shocks.

I also test drove the DMax LB7 before the Dodge 600. The LB7 drove nice but I love the way a solid axle front end handles and I liked the quality of materials in the dodge better.

Good luck,
Sam

 

Sam, thanks for the reply. I drove, and am looking for a 4x4.
Concerning the interior materials, I prefer the Chevy, but not because I think the dodge is lesser in terms of quality. Probably just because the loyalty to the General runs deep!

Havng said that, I am seriously considering a Cummins 600, and appreciate all the information that is here.

I appreciate your time - David

 

If you want a smoother ride go with the 3500. This may sound funny but my 3500 SRW rides smoother than the 2500 because of how the rear springs are set up. The 3500 only runs on part of the leaves unless it is loaded.

 

I'm told a good spring shop can fix the ride, but you give up hauling capacity. I liked the ride of the Dodge over the other two, but that's opinion.

I agree with you on the steering, and the power. The Ford dealer isn't very good, my local is great. I got the keys to an F250 and an F150 just for the asking.

I thought the GM was nice, and I keep wondering if I made the right choice. A big factor for me was the length. The Dodge is 4-door, acceptable back seat, and 6.4 bed. The GM extended wasn't big enough, and the crew-cab was just too big.

Another big factor for me was the online support.

 

The Dodge is work truck. The Chevy is more of a wannabe work truck and mostly a Texas Cadilac. Trucks need to ride like trucks.... not cars. Our shop Chevy 3/4 rides real smooth until loaded then its terrible. If you think a new Dodge rides rough try an old one!

 

I researched all three for about a year my self. Ford and Chevy for one couldn't find a truck like I wanted. a 6 speed 4x4 lb crew cab. Ford was at about 42000 for a truck like mine but with auto. Chevy was at 46000 for same as Ford. I paid 32000 for my dodge with out even haggeling. The power factor, I have the 555 ftlb motor. I love it powerful, reliable, and effeciant. The Ford, I was sreared away from the ford at the time of purchase becasue of motor issues, by the dealer they were honest I give them that. The truck did have power but I personnaly felt it wasn't up to pa rwith the cummins. The Chevy was flat out the wrong truck for me felt weak. I grew up on GM trucks my whole life. But to me they havn't made a decent truck in years. All dealers were great, the dodge dealer however went the extra mile by letting me keep the truck and make sure I liked it and was certian it worked for me. Knowing it wasn't the color i wanted. Chevy and ford were not going to let that happen. Also they were proud of their trucks. Went with dodge for many reasons, the main one being cummins tried and true reliabilty, the second they had the truck I wanted, third solid axel front end. fourth 32000 for my truck that stickered at 39000. I was sold. The few issues I've had after the sale were taken care of no problem whatsoever. With mileage the ride got a little softer but that probly also has to do with the bumpers I had installed. and the 33" tires. I would never trade it in on a Chevy or Ford. I am a Dodge Ram man as long as there is a Cummins under the hood. Just my 2 cents. Cliff

 

As was suggested, try driving a 3500 SRW. They really do ride smoother than a 2500 does. As an added bonus you get 1,100 more pounds of payload capacity. I use a 3500 as my daily driver and even though it still rides like a truck I don't think it's too bad.

 

Thanks, guys. I was wondering if I was going to get hammered on for being a loyal Chevy guy. Only a couple of shots, not bad at all, and I politely disagree with the gentleman who dismissed the Chevies as Texas Cadillacs. I think a Ford, Dodge or a chevy will do a whole lot of work, all are good trucks, and all have a shortcoming or two somewhere.

I am going to try and drive a 3500. Really surprised to hear they drive smoother than a 2500.

I think I will go back and drive the 2500 again, too. Incidentally, the truck I drove was a regular cab, and the truck I would buy would be the four door. Any possible differences in ride there? (Probably not.)

My hauling is primarily light weight. I have a small woodworking/trim carpentry business in addition to my day job, and use the truck to haul lumber, completed projects, miter saw, pancake compressor, etc. to do my work. Nothing too heavy, but I like, and regularly use all the room the truck has, if not all of its load weight capacity. My towing is little to none: utility trailer; 12' aluminum boat.....

One of the things I like about the Chevy is that the extended cab door opens backward, like a suicide door, which leaves you with a cavernous opening into the truck cab. On the other hand, you have to open two doors every time you get in the back seat are.

I think the Dodge rear door design may work better for me, so long as the rear doors open to 90 degrees. (I think they do.) In and out of the back by only opening one door.

As for the ride, one of the upgrades recommended for the Silverado is to swap for Bilstein shocks. I thought more people would have tried them here. I'll do some searching to see if another thread may be helpful.

Thanks to everyone who has added their input.

-Mawgie

 

I think the Dodge rear door design may work better for me, so long as the rear doors open to 90 degrees.

They do. There is also more room back there, and a steel fold flat door option which is really slick.

One thing to consider, just an observation with a friends Tundra w/ the same suicide door config. You need more room to get them open, and if you are parked anywhere near something else, you need to then close one to get it out of your way too. The doors make a \ X / shape, with you as the X trapped in the middle. There is a little "dance" you need to do to get four guys in the thing when it's parked with cars next to it. It's worse for cargo, when you've got your hands at all full.

I really like the Chevy. I swore I'd never buy another solid axle truck after my Jeep. It was the only IFS 4x4. I looked at the Chevy really long and hard. I didn't like that on the DMAX the pilot injection just turns off, so it's quiet below some RPM, then loud above. The truck I drove had a lot of gear whine too. It wasn't loud, but just grated on my nerves. Went away off the throttle too. The pricing seemed higher for the GM, esp with a tomeygun deal and the rebates on the dodge.

I've not driven a regular cab, but the extra weight of the quad cab, along with the extra weight might help the ride some. Drive the config you're going to buy. Be sure of it.

I think you've got it right, they are all great trucks with different faults and strengths. For me the SB/QC was "just right" as far as size. I couldn't beleve how the Ram drove, the quick steering, the good solid ride, the quiet power. The Cummins is a no-brainer. And the price wasn't much more than a F150.

If you own your own business ask the Dodge shop about "Business Link". It seems to be a handy program where they give you some perks to help make getting your truck serviced easier.

 

Easily controllable with a set of airbags. Air Bag suspensions are super simple to install, affordable, and let you dial in whatever level of ride comfort you want. This is what they look like: http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...ml?id=Wh8FHR4g They have a mini air compressor and everything needed to operate from within the cab as you drive. Flip the switch to pump them up for heavy loads, then flip the switch the other way to deflate back to "Texas Cadillac" ride comfort. Nifty in-cab gauge that shows you where the air pressure is at so you can easily get them back to your favorite setting. I have only ridden in one truck that had them, but man you would be amazed at the difference they make, and all for a couple hundred bucks.

I drove a 3500 and a 2500 before buying. The 3500 I drove was definitely harsher on the road than the 2500. However, do drive the truck in the configuration you plan to buy. The extra weight of a quad cab long bed could make all the difference in the world in ride comfort.

I drove the Ford and Chevy as well. Ford….no way. Could not find one thing I liked about the truck, other than good looking exterior. Chevy…nice truck and really made me think. Motor issues and just a non-truck feel turned me away. It was nice though. Oh, and the money you save with the Dodge will make a great starter fund for truck goodies.

 

Airing down the tires REALLY helps when it is unloaded. That being said, don't air down too low to cause premature wear on the tires.

 

You would be served well by talking to one of my very dear friends. He bought a DMAX and has had it in the shop OVER and OVER for alot of the same BS. Mostly injector related. Now he has 104,000 miles...No warrantee and guess what? Yepp again he has the same problem.

Add the airbag helper kit and remove a leaf spring... Ride will be nice as AK stated. The airbag will support alot more than what that leaf spring will also. This is the low buck alternative.

Want a "cadilac" ride....? Kelderman full air suspension... but you will pay alot more for that than 750.00

James

 

Yeah, I was a Die-Hard GM guy too, both trucks and cars, to me they were king. Now a Dodge and Lexus owner. GM always took for ever to change designs and add new vehicles, might be why I lost interest in them. It's been 7 years since I said good Bye to GM and never even look @ them anymore. But that's me. Everyone has there own flavor, but I am super happy with my Dodge. It is a TRUCK.

 

I would think the slightly longer Quad cab would ride smoother than the 2 door regular cab you drove. Also, seach the past threads on this board for Rancho 9000 shocks. I don't have them, but it sounds like the people who have them really like them, and they have about 9 adjustable settings.

I sold my 2000 Chev ext cab gasser that got 20 hwy mph when I got this Dodge. Haven't looked back. I liked the chev, but this truck is awsome. More power, the 5.3 chev would struggle more on hills and high altitude. You really need to check out the storage in the back seat of the Dodge quad cab. The Chev doesn't come close. I agree the chev has more bells and whistles in the interior, you won't miss a one of them.