GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

[JGREGORY]

Hi all.<br /><br />We are looking at purchasing a truck either later this year or early next year (depends on Christmas shopping) and I thought I was sold on the GMC Serria 2500. Untill, We stopped at the local Dodge/Mazda dealer (Wanted to take a gander at the new RX-8), and there was a Dodge 2500 there. I was really impressed. Bigger engine, more room inside, etc.. <br /><br />What I am courious about is how well built are they. I used to work for chrysler parts and after seeing what went into them I am kinda leary about owning one. We also had a Plymouth Voyager that was a piece of cr*p. <br /><br />I take care of my vehicles regular oil changes, maintenance at regular intervals, etc. And I love my Chevy S-10. But it's time to move up to a family tow vehicle the regular cab S-10 is getting kinda cramp.<br /><br />Any opinions welcome. Except Ford opinions, To much money and the rear seat is narrower than the Dodge and GMC.

 

[mvaughn]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I own a 2001 RAM 2500 w/Cummins Diesel. It's been a great truck. I too take extra steps to maintain my vehicles, and usually work them pretty hard. I plow with it in the winter, and probably 20% of the summer it's pulling the boat or tractor. When it's time I will replace it with the same thing!

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

After a car crash I was renting vehicles from Enterprise. Rented a 2002 Chevy extended cab that I took back because the seat/driving position was uncomfortable. Got a 2003 GMC extended cab next that gave me such a back ache that I returned it the same day. Both trucks seemed "junky" to me. I couldn't bare the seats, the dash rattled in both of them. Next I got a 03 Ram extended cab. I loved that truck. Very comfortable seats, interior seemed better built than the GM's, I liked the fold down console better. I'm not crazy about the way any of them look, but the Dodge was a better driver.

 

[12Footer]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

When I had to get a new truck, I shopped till I dropped....then repeated this process for a week.<br />I test drove everything, took the GM home overnight. I like the truck..But had the same problem with the seat, not being able to adjust it to a comfotable position. The new truck also had this "smell". It was 'different'. It smelled of wires burning. I know it wasn't a defect, as the other jimmies and chebbys I drove had this same smell.<br />I just thought it was odd is the only reason I mentioned it here. My dodge makes a 'smell' too, when I gas it..It smells of rubbing alcohol.Again, not unpleasant , but strange.<br /><br />Oh well, I bought a Dodge 1500Ram and love it. I liked everything about as it was experianced .<br />The seat has this center part that folds-down into a large arm-rest of sorts. You can stash 20CDs allong with lots of other crap inside of it. I have a minpin, and she loves 'carides'! <br />She loves this "armrest". She sits on it, and can see where we are going, where we came from, and who's next to us.<br />Ergonomically, this truck has "12Footer" written all over it.Doggy likes it too.<br />Finally, I had trouble deailing with GM on thier price. The "Dodge Boyz" were much more willing to negotiate a fair deal. I know this is probably just a local finding, but thought it worth mentioning.<br />And I would not look at another Ford or Mazda ( had bad experiances with both in the past).<br />Also, when checking-into the GMC and Dodge Ram, check out thier standard towing packages. You'll be impressed.<br /><br />It has the V6 magnum, which gets 17-19MPG.<br />

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I like to drive things til they drop, and junkyards are LOADED with GM's - this isnt a slam on GM, just a comment about how easy parts are to get<br /><br />dodges tend to be vultured the moment they hit the yard, lol, <br /><br />but in a few years, I would venture to say that dodges will be in the junkyards in full force, LOTS Of dodges out there, and I am beginning to see the New Dodge looking like a POS ... rusted, battered, generally beat up<br /><br />at a glance, tough to tell a chevy gmc from one another cuz they didnt change em for like 18 years, if it aint broke dont fix it, but I still think its a matter of take care of it, and it will take care of you, I see a lot of ford flatbeds and fords pulling huge campers down the road, I dont believe that fords are junk, my gf's ex has a 2000 ford 150 4 x 4 that he pulls a huge trailer with, runs up and down the east coast, no problems AT ALL, hes <br />a n a l , changes oil at 2500 and such, but ya gotta be good to something for it to be good back to ya<br /><br />its just common sense!

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I agree with you Ray. The reason why Ford is not included is not so much price but the rear seat is a narrow bench. It would be a squeeze with the Commodore and the dog. <br /><br />I have a Ford escort and except for a fuel pump at 150k the most it has needed was normal maintenance. What I want from any vehicle is reliablity. I checked out msn autos and was reading about the dodge and exceptfor the diesels the dodge received a decent rating. Apparently, the Dodge diesel is having transmission problems.

 

[aspeck]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I am born and bred GM. Coming from a dealership family (sold them for 42 years before selling dealership) I have driven many different makes and models. Keep coming back to GM. My 2000 is comfy - power seats help - and the new 4 wheel steering is sooo verrryy sweet, if you can afford it. IMO, much easier to work on and get interchangeable parts. Yep, I would go with the GM product, but that is just my .02.

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

Just my .02 cents,<br /><br />They are all good trucks.<br /><br />It really depends on your brand loyalty.<br /><br />As long as your not being deceived by the likes of some of those imports that claim to be full-sized, but are actually mid-sized.<br /><br />Personnaly, I'd go with a GM vehicle, but the Dodge and Ford are good trucks too.<br /><br />Just don't support a foreign economy, keep your money in the USA, don't buy an import!<br /><br />Kenny

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

Drove all 3 brands on a special test track during an auto show in motion event. The GMC 2500 with quadrasteer is one of the best vehicles, truck or car, I have ever driven. I want one bad! The Ford was next. The Dodge 2500 sounded real nice but didn't drive or break anywhere on par with GM or Ford. Despite having the optional hemmy it was slower of the line than the other 2 and could not hold a tight corner at speed for crap. Then I felt like I needed a runway to stop it once it got going. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

You didn't say what kind of boat or what it weighs you tow. Also how many people go with you on your trips?<br /> Why I asked is, I recently bought my 5th. van. I bought a Dodge Ram Van Conversion. It has the 5.7 lt. V-8, (360 cu in), with the tow package. But I didn't buy it to tow my boat with.<br /><br /> For towing my boat, a few years ago, I bought another van to replace my 1972 Dodge Van, which I used to tow my travel trailer and my boats.<br />Wait, there's more........I bought a Ford XLT Club Wagon, basically to use for towing. It seats 2, 5, 8,or 11 people.(removable seats) It has the 460 cu.in engine, dual air (front and rear), 3/4 Ton, tow package, with a 3:55 rear end.<br /> To bring the rpms down and enhance my gas mileage, I installed an after market overdrive/gear splitter unit. Out of O/D at 70 mph, the engine is operating at 2800 rpms. In overdrive, at the same speed, my tach indicates 2150 rpms. In short, the add on unit makes my C-6 3 speed automatic, a 6 speed transmission. NEAT!<br />I also replaced the Holley 4bbl, by converting a Weber 4bbl and to help it breath, I did an exaust makeover, by enlarging the single system to 3" and added a Flow Master muffler.<br /> It went from 8-9 mpg, to 12+ mpg. Needless to say I am very pleased with my Ford Van.<br />It is a 1985 vintage, which I bought apx. 5 years ago and it had 60,000 original miles on it. It now has over 105,000 miles on it. In my opinion, it is the best tow/pssenger vehicle combinaton I've ever had and no catalitic converter, due to it being over 8500 lbs. GVW.... <br /> It is great for trips, that I don't want to take my new van conversion on.<br /> It's just a thought for you in your selection of a new tow vehicle<br /> Oh yea, one more thing. My old dodge van has the 360 cu in engine, which I rebuilt at 125,000 miles and is still in use at 215,000 miles. The transmission has NEVER been out of it. The first thing I did when I bought it, was to install a large trans. cooler. I have changed the fluid, filter and adjusted the bands every 25,000 miles. Tranny wise, you can't beat the Chrysler "727" transmission. <br /> Good luck on your decision...<br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[11 footer]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

get the dodge

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

Pat, don't like vans thats all my dad had and it used to turn into a sh*t hole when we went camping.<br /><br />The trucks I'm looking at have more than enough tow rating. I am currently towing with my Chevy S-10 and that has a 4k tow rating. I am towing a 1900# camper (dry weight, probably closer to 2500 with gear) and a 2k boat 1976 Wellcraft 16". Vehicle needs to accomodate at least 3 people (myself, the Admiral, and the Commodore. Plus a 68 pound German Shorthair Pointer. Also my Stepdaughter if she decides to come with us.)<br /><br />I want to stay in a truck for the following reasons.<br />1. the Bed With camping I want a place to throw fire wood.<br />2. 4WD We do get snow and where I go deer hunting the road can get pretty treacherous (sp?).<br />3. Hunting, can throw harvest in the back w/o ruining interior.<br />4. Boating, same reason as 3.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

Aspeck, I drove a 2000 Chevy full soze truck and the seats are totally different in the 03 models. In the 2000 the seats were fine, but the seats in th 03 GMC and Chevy killed my back.

 

[Homerr]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I know several people with the big Dodge rigs, and all of them have fallen apart well before their time.<br /><br />Brake calipers, body effects, electrical...All kinds of little things went haywire.<br />One of them had to completely replace the steering box and some tie rod ends at 50K miles.<br /><br />Another friend has one of those Dodge trucks with the V10. I am VERY impressed with the power that things has. Holy **it! Wow. Lotsa power!<br /><br />Problem is: his brakes went to pieces, several switches in the dash quit working, pieces of the bumper fell off, the passenger mirror fell off twice (even after the dealer replaced it), the power steering hose broke, and so on. One thing after another.<br /><br />In my opinion? Dodge makes some tough mean engines, but their bodies and frames just can't take the beating. The more I look, the more I see of this.<br />I would sure like to have the power that V10 offers however... Wow!<br /><br />I've always thought:<br /><br />Dodge: Buy this if you want pure un-adulterated power.<br />Ford: Buy this if you want it to last.<br />Chevy: But this if you are on a budget. They go along with America and apple pie. There's a bazillion of them, and parts are cheap and easy to get <br /><br />Rice Burners: Give me a break! <br />(Actually..the rice jobs probably last better than any American car)<br /><br />Don't take my word for it. I'm a Ford man myself, and probably won't own anything else.<br /><br />My 2 cents. <br /><br />H.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I don't own a Dodge, my brother does and he hasn't any problems with it. My last American truck was 1968 GMC, and it was as reliable as any Toyota I have owned (that means it was bullet proof ) Since 1990 all I have owned are Toyotas. I do not buy them new because I have a problem spending that much money on anything that doesn't appreciate in value. I am honest when I say my 4Runners have been superior in every way to my friends Chevy Corsica, Ford Ranger, Nissan Hardbody P/U, Isuzu P/U, etc. Currently I have a 1988 SR5 4Runner with 250K miles and it is in perfect shape to drive from here to Alaska'a northen slopes. My 1986 4Runner is beat to heck and back and still fires right up.

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

Thanks Homer. That is the type of feed back I am looking for and was afraid of. Having worked for Chrysler I noticed those types of problems with there other vehicles they manufacture. Personnally I am very biased against chrysler products. After the experience with the voyager we owned I will have a very tough time buying another and was wondering if chrysler pulled ther sh*t together or where still slapping them together with inferior parts. <br /><br />I keep mentioning the Voyager I should say what I had to do to it.<br /><br />1. @ 50k miles had t rebuid tranny <br />2. @ 65K miles new Fuel pump <br />3. @ 80K miles new engine <br />4. @ 98K miles new trans <br />5. @ 98K miles new heads <br />6 @ 100K miles new fuel pump and then 1 new pump every 15K miles service tech could find nothing wrong. (Fortunately pumps had lifetime warrenty. It got to the point that I could drop the fuel tank have the old pump out, the new pump in, and the tank back up in 30 mins.) <br />7. The straw that broke the camels back, we were on a camping trip up to the Poconos and the dam thing died 10 miles from the house had it towed back and it sat until we bought the S-10. <br /><br />This is the reason why I am leary about spending a lot of money for a Chrysler product.

 

[aspeck]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

jgregory, you go dear hunting? Does the Admiral know about this? What type of weapon do you use when you go dear hunting? Do you bait for them? Do you need camo? Curious minds want to know! <br /><br />Sorry, just couldn't resist!

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I always use camo and a very big stick. It's the Stick I'm getting beat with now. <br /><br />OOPS! typo fixed.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

Had em all, 2002 Dodge 2500 quad cab 4+4 5.9 that I own right now is by far the best , most fun, most comfortable truck I have ever owned bar none. Gas milage sucks but all the big gas motors get lousy milage.

 

[MFG197]

Re: GMC/CHEVY or DODGE RAM

I have a 01 Dodge Dakota 4x2 V8, heavy duty service grp, tow etc.<br /><br />Love the truck, love the 4.7 V8<br /><br />Having some problems with driveshaft. 2nd one in 20,000 miles. rotate the tires and change the driveshaft please!<br /><br />I will probably go ford or GM when the time comes...maybe toyota if they build a full size. (Tundra doesn't count, its the same size as my dakota)