I just feel for those that bought the Ford to get a good truck and got rotten engines. The CVFD has a beautiful 03 F350 all fixed up for a brush truck. I say beautiful and I don't even like a Ford but this thing is nice looking for sure. It has 2800 miles on it and they can not even depend on it to go to a fire it runs so bad. It has been back to the dealer (most of the miles on it are to the dealer and back) numerous time and is still undependable. They are at a loss as to what to do. I recommended a repower of some sort but that is expensive for sure and they are just a little volunteer department in the boonies.

 

I think part of the reason the job sites are teeming with Fords and not Dodges is the way Ford targets the audience in their commercials. Macho looking guys in rugged Carharts, hay bales dropping into beds and splashing dirt - appeals to "tough men". Dodge? "Grab the bull by the horns"? What's up with that.
-P

 

I really doubt it's because of "commercials."

I was discussing this general topic with my cousin who was a game warden in northern New Mexico and was responsible for picking and buying the different brands. They've used them all and much of the use was off-road. He gave the nod to GM for over-all and holding up the best, followed closely by Ford. He said the Dodges did not hold up well at all and didn't recommend them. However, he did say if they ordered one with a Cummins it was never a problem, but the truck would fall apart around it. He also said at 60-80k miles they ALL had issues.

I should call him back and ask him how many commercials he watched.

 

Ford has always specialized in the fleet business...they are the only company that gives major discounts to townships, businesses, local governments to buy their trucks in large numbers...they are also the only company that mass produces all these trucks with a hundred different utility boxes/combinations straight out of the factory...lets not forget the weight capabilities and axle combinations. The people that drive these commercial vehicles dont have to care about repairs and injectors and anything else...its not out of their pocket...in the end it is the consumer or the tax payer that absorbs all the maintenance that the "ambulances" and "school buses" need...people everywhere then see that Fords are predominantly used for work everywhere by big businesses and they think "gee that must be the best truck for work or else they wouldnt all be using them...im gonna get a ford because it appears to be the only serious truck out there" but then they discover all the problems and you end up having alot of upset ex-ford owners...they all swicth to the other brands...but you won't see the switch in the commercial field because the perks Ford provides aren't matched

 

My mom has a 335i and it's a sweet ride. Very little lag, like pretty much unnoticeable, and the paddle shifters are fun to play with. And it's pretty fast.....

 

IM a Ford owner......

I have owned 3 Ford Super Duty's Two 7.3L ('97 & 02) and One 6.0L ('06) POS! The first Two were GREAT trucks and Engines.

My current 06 F350 is being brought back (It's a LEMON), It should be gone next week.

Looks like I will be buying a Dodge with the Cummins engine, most likely a DRW. I have friends with Dodges, GM and Fords. ALL have their Little or Big problems and it is a Crap shoot on if you get a GOOD truck.

 

you wouldnt be able to see to pass me. the highway would be BLACKED OUT

 

Two words: FLEET PRICING

Ford practically gives away trucks for the commercial/fleet guys. They lowball the pricing to prop up sales so they can claim to be "the best selling line of HD trucks." How many fleets are going to be $1k-$3k premium to NOT own a Ford for the few years of service they are expecting from the trucks?

Ford rightly assumes that the bean counters, not the fleet managers would most often get the final say in which trucks a fleet buys. The fleet guys get the lemons and are told to make lemonade.

If Dodge was smart, they'd give Ford a serious run in the MD market with the Sterling knockoff, and in the regular HD pickup market with low-priced Dodges. They need a "work special" package: Cummins, 6-speed auto, A/C, Cruise, and Tilt-- that's it. Vinyl seats and rubber floors-- a real hose-out interior. Give it the stiffest springs you have and put that sucker to work!

jmos

 

AMEN!!! only thing i would rather have a is a G56 but i would buy those in a heart beat

 

How old's your mom?

 

Hmmm...I didn't think about that one!

 

watch out!

 

She's expensive, anyway. Just ask my dad.....

 

Every car or truck has it's application. Take a 6.0 NO. It's great for driving back and forth to the dealership. The only problem is that every now and then, it takes a roll-back to get it to the dealership.

I have a 1993 RX-7 twin turbo for street fun. A 335? Sure a fast car, and reliable blah blah blah. And I would love to have one. But dang that RX-7 will run away from just about everything else on the road. Shore is fun!

 

If Toyota really wants to compete with Dodge and Ford in the one ton diesel market they should put a Cat in their truck. With their reputation for quality and Cats reputation for quality it would be a fine match and would make the whole industry sit up and take notice. No more wimpy truck comments about Toyota with a Cat under the hood! And Ford would still be trying to sell that ridiculous V8 they just can't get right! And a tilt front end would be icing on the cake!

I say build it! Poor Ford

All the guys that just don't like Dodge, and know how bad Fords are, would flock to Toyota. It would instantly be the most interesting truck in the country. Oh yeah, one more point, they would be built in the US. Is there anything about that idea that wouldn't work?

I'll be gazing out the window of my Dodge with a big thumbs up at the first one I see. As I blast by, the new owner will look up at that open raspy sound and see a slight brown haze. Welcome to the club! Can you think of a better bunch to add to this site than the "Cat Crowd"?



John