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I test drove all 3.
Here's my thoughts
Ford, rides really high and I can't see much right in front of me (I'm not short either)- when plowing small parking lots that could be a bitch. Otherwise rides like a normal HD truck and all controls are in good placement. I've just heard bad things about fuel mpg and turbo issues with the 6L.
GM rides the nicest, more like a 1/2 ton then a 1 ton. I like GM so I won't go on and on but I have to be honest to myself when spending 35g's on a used truck that has to last for a few years. Like the Ford, pwr is a dissappiontment (I only drove a 05 with the normal duramax not the new one with 650lb/ft of tq and 365hp). Even with the pwr they have my 6L gas gm feels quicker. However when pulling a 20ft cargo trailer every day with 5000lbs in it the diesel i'm sure will out pull. I've read the duramax gets the best mpg unloaded. I also found that gm's are the most expensive and have yet to find a 1 ton single rear wheel. Some of the 6L gas's are going for what Ford and dodge diesel's are going for. I guess GM has a good name for lasting and that reflects the price.
Dodge..
I've heard so many bad things about dodge tranny's its not funny. B4 buying my 2500 i drove a dodge same yr with a diesel. I didn't like the tranny in the dodge and other minor details, so i bought the gm. Yesterday I drove an 06 3500 single wheel and loved it. The sales rep (dodge dealership) really knew these trucks and explained that dodge upgraded the tranny in 04 (and omitted to the past issues). Turning radius was very tight, tighter then my reg cab 2500 and this truck was a crew-cab short box. It also was quiter then the older cummins i drove and that is a big deal - older cummins are very loud...its like white noise after a while. I could imagine pulling into a apt complex at 3am to plow and making so much noise that ppl wake up...even with my flowmaster muffler on my 6L gm, I still cant hear my truck when driving next to a older cummins.
Pwr in the cummins is instant, right off the bottom. I'm sure its around the same as the others up top but off the line it has more pull. Interior isn't as nice as a gm or ford, rather cheap looking honestly, though I'm not buying a denali...the truck is going to get dirty and in the summer we leave the windows open and no matter how we try, grass clippings and dust always gets everywhere in the cab (its funny, I just use the air gun to blow it all out, does a really good job).
I still am not sure though...I just spend 3g's on front end repair (from plowing) to the gm and cant afford to buy a lemon.
More thoughts?
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2000 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4
1999 Ford F150 ext cab 4x4
2002 Ford Escape XLT V6 4x4 (wife's)
2000 GTi 1.8t - Sold
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