So I test drove a 2014 Ram 2500 crew cab Laramie 4x4 and a 2015 F250 XLT FX4 4x4 crew cab today. Feedback:

Ram - rode like a big truck, stiff legged even on the highway. Almost as stiff as my father in law's 2010 3500 Cummins dually work truck. The Cummins had decent punch but definitely felt like a diesel, and wasn't nearly as smooth as the Ford. The transmission shifted rough in this low mileage truck, a criticism I had read in reviews. It felt big around town. Back seats aren't great, the backrest is nearly vertical and the bottom cushions are too short. Laramie package has really nice features and the interior is quite nice.

F250 - really surprised how closely it drove to my F150. Didn't really feel bigger while driving, the rear end felt stiffer which would be better with a load. Insanely quiet, engine noise was almost non-existent. The 6.7 is really smooth and responsive, great response. It felt more powerful than the Ram. This truck was really basic, I would want one with more options. Mirrors are way better than the Ram. Back seat is bigger and more comfortable, though still not as big as the F150. On the highway it could pass for a half ton.

So despite comparing a loaded Ram with a stripper off-road package F250, I definitely prefer the F250. Now I just need to determine if a loaded 6.7 F250 fits into my price range.

The "loaded" Lariat is the "Ultimate" package. The "Platinum" adds some silver/chrome panels but nothing really different inside. As I said before, the F250/F350 6.7 is quiet. Mostly really well done sound deadening. Outside the cab, it sounds like a diesel.

Oh, and my "plan" is to replace my F350 in 2017 or so when the aluminum frame/body version is available.

The F250, which rides a little softer, IS available with an 8 foot bed, but only special order. That will be my plan.

Yeah, I would target a Lariat. I don't really care for the two-tone King Ranch interior, and the Platinum is more money for not much more stuff.

Nothing is going to match the torque of the Ford right now but they all have enough to tow a freight train. A new Ford 6.7 is going to tow 10k like it's a piece of cake.

You typed "Lariat" in the Dodge description, I'm assuming you meant "Larramie" and the Ford was an XLT? :cool:

Fixed it, Laramie is correct. The Ford was an XLT with the FX4 off road package, i.e. pretty damn basic.

My 350 is the Lariat and is quite nice and the interior has held up well. Mine gets driven fairly hard when camping and has had to be winched out of a mud hole that just about swallowed it on a not bad looking forest road.

The DEF is not a pain at all since you can get it just about anywhere now and the system tells you if it is low.

With that said, they are not cheap. I have no clue what the resale value is, but I know my local Ford dealership was willing to negotiate and I was happy with the price.

Bill

I purchased a used 2001 GMC 4 x4 extended cab dually about 3 years ago it had 99,000 miles on it. I purchased it mainly to carry a 1968 Avion truck camper which weighs about 2500 pounds empty/dry. But I also tow a 17 ' center console boat or a aluminum dual axle car trailer. This truck laughs at any and all no matter what. When I picked up the truck camper I had just purchased the truck about a week earlier. I didn't know about the " tow/haul mode " button on the shifter. The truck didn't even know I had anything in the bed ! The truck has been as reliable as a stove and not too bad to drive around town. I do feel the Allison transmission is the best out of the top three and I have been happy with the Duramax. By todays standards mine only has a puny 520 ft. lb. of torque but with my 3.73 gear ratio, 5 speed transmission and limited slip rear end not much will stop this tank. And empty on the highway I consistantly get 20 mpg !!!

On resale value - I know KBB overstates value, but...when I was doing an inventory check on my business, I used them to estimate the value of my truck. 1 year old and the private sale value is nearly what I paid for it new.

In 2014, I sold my 2010 F250 Lariat. I paid $42K (smoking deal, it had been on the lot for 15 months) for it. I _Traded_ it in for $30K and it had a substantial dent in the rear quarter panel.

As far as a Raptor goes . The 6.2 allows a tow rating of 6000 lb (limited by the long travel rear suspension not the available power.) I used to tow occasionally with a 2002 F 150 Lightning I towed a tandem car trailer with a 1966 Mustang on it. It towed beautifully even though only rated to tow 5000 lb. (limited in that case by soft rear springs tuned for handleing not max load)

So after some research I've decided that the extra $10k+ in cost for a nice F250 just isn't justified right now. I'll probably give an Ecoboost F150 a shot.

New diesel trucks are crazy expensive. Heck, used diesel trucks are crazy money. You really need to have a business where you can use it and write it off and really need a huge depreciation write-off.

That's just the sad reality, unless you're a guy who can buy $60k PU trucks and it's no big thing.

Yup, even wholesale I'm looking at $40k for a well optioned 2011+ F250 SCrew 4x4 with under 100k.

Wow you guys must be rich. I'd laugh at that much $$ for a truck.

I wouldn't dare own any newer Ford diesel out of warranty anyhow. While I hear good things about the new 6.7, The whole cab off thing to do any maintenance more involved than checking your oil just pisses me off . Trucks should be easy to service . I have zero desire to spend 3 days replacing a failed injector pump, or oil cooler . I owned my 6.4 psd for less than 3 months. I was honestly scared to death of it breaking . Repairing anything on that truck was a nightmare.
Love my old Duramax, It is by far one of the best purchases I have ever made .
I assume it is pretty flat where you live Matt? . How far are you towing on average ? Any big hills to deal with ?

There are actually more hills than our reputation leads you to believe. Our normal weekend boating trip is probably 80 miles, but we take much longer trips periodically. We did Lake of the Ozarks last week which was about 600 miles round trip, and this weekend will probably do 400 round trip with the boat in tow. As our kids get bigger we will start venturing further, there are a lot of really nice lakes in OK, MO, and AR. If the weather is nice, we are on the lake at least once a week.

I have a 2009 f350 lariat cc v10 long bed.
Tow a 28 ft enclosed race trailer. 9-10k lbs.

Tow all over for PCA races. Tows fantastic. Gets about 8-8.5 towing around 72 mph.

Had a 2005 f250 powerstroke, got about 9-9.5 towing the same trailer.

V10 may down shift a little more than the 6.0l powerstroke, but not much.

Really like driving it around when not towing compared to the diesel. Has a much lighter/livelier feel.

The v10 with the torqshift trans is a pretty bullet proof combo.

I was torn between a gas/diesel truck when I traded in the 05. Really happy with the v10 and the newer f350 body/interior.

I have been agonizing over the V-10 vs. diesel issue for my next truck. I know I need a 3/4 ton for the capacities I need but still rather undecided on which motor. I have figured out that the 5.4 L Ford just doesn't have enough grunt (without some mods) that I need just about every time I pull something.

I love my 99 PSD 7.3 L (13-14 mpg loaded/17-19 unloaded) and might consider another one if the truck is in really good condition with low miles, but the 6.0 L Ford diesel scares me a bit with it's issues. I really like the idea of the V-10, (8-10 mpg loaded/ 12-14 unloaded) but that kind of fuel mileage makes you want to stay home.

You would have to be going 50 mph downhill with a tailwind to get 14 mpg from a V-10 Ford in a CC 4x4 Superduty. The only mileage figures that matter to me are *real world*, either towing what I tow or empty going 75 mph on the interstate. :cool:

They are willing to negotiate pretty hard at Ram. I was at the dealer and seriously considering this exact truck: 2015 Ram 2500 Tradesman For Sale in Rockville MD | VIN: 3C6UR5HL0FG656424

It was sticker at just under $50K and the internet price is $39K and I do believe if I was going to take it home right there it would have been $38K plus tax tag title prep fees. Luckily I came to my senses and didn't spend $38K on a pickup! My old beat up truck costs less a year to maintain than 1 month of that beast...but boy was it nice on the inside...I didn't drive it.