They're all decent trucks in their own way. I have the Cummins, and I've driven the D-max and the Powerstrokes (7.3'*, 6.0'*, and the new 6.4 twin turbo) To me the Cummins has a tried and true design, minor changes over the years, and you can't go wrong with an inline 6 cylinder, and as mentioned before, great reliabilty and durability. Though, depending on the years, the trannys, lift pumps, and injection pumps are all garbage in the Dodge diesels.

For towing, I've pulled with all three (except with the new 6.4 Ford) and the 6.0 can get a load off the line in no time, compared to the D-max and Cummins, but some have struggled with keeping the load moving. The D-max has a rough time getting going, but can keep it going, which are common issues to a V block designed diesel, both need to be in the high RPM'* to be making their good HP/TQ. Cummins can get the load off the line, a lil sluggish, but can get it going just fine, but I've had a hard time maintaining 70/75 MPH at times, especially with windy days. The mileage between them towing is fairly close, but I feel the Cummins can pull a load better than the other two.

For looks I like to think that the Superduty is better looking in the 2K+ years, because it has the most aggressive "Don't f with me" look to it, especially when one'* barreling down on you at an intersection and you're in a car, with Dodge in second ( I love the look of the '06-'08'*) and GM has been lacking the looks over the last few years. They've really butched it with the new 07'*.

The 7.3'* were a pretty reliable motor in their own right, though towards the last few years of them, most couldn't make more than 75K without blowing head gaskets, also the Ford'* have many tranny issues. With the last few years, and engine changes that the Ford has recieved, not looking good for their heavy duty future. The 6.0'* were problem matic out of the box, and the 6.4 Twin Turbo Diesels are already catching fire due to the new emmission standards that they have to meet for the new 07/08 regulations. Last I heard, most of the GM'* are having a hard time with updating, and most won't be runing to well on the fuel change that'* supposed to be coming, with Cummins already on top of it. (Rumor that I've heard, not sure how much truth is behind this.)

The GMC/Chevy'* are great for comfort, but their pricing is way to high on them for what they are. The Allison tranny'* are great trannys, but you have to maintain them impecably to ensure a good longevity of them. Ford'* pricing is somewhat respectable, but just a lil higher than they should be for what you get, with ride, mechanical issues/defects, and interior appearance. Dodge has had some of the best pricing I've seen for a diesel, pretty easy to get into one if you wanted used. Their interior is a touch lacking in the comfort department, nothing like a Bonneville, but their ride quality of the '03+ is second to none for a Heavy duty truck. Between the three, I think Dodge also has the best instrument panel layout, and gauge design (most aggressive/heavy duty looking) out of the three of them, having the white faced gauges, and not such a bland gauge font/layout.

From what I've heard, the Cummins is the most responsive to mod'* over the Powerstrokes and D-max'*. The Chevy mod'* are outrageously priced, but do make a decent difference if stacked with their other mods correctly, Ford'* are hit or miss with some of the mod'* out for them. Some make a difference and others don't do a thing, and Dodge'* also have the same issue, but not near to the effect of what the Ford'* are experiencing. A lot of that too, could just be from ppl not feeling like their getting what they should be or feeling the diffeerence that they think they should have out of a specific Programmer box, chip, ect.

Cummins is probably the easiest and cheapest to mod up to and over the 1,000 lbs. ft. mark, due to not needing to change out a whole lot of hard parts.

:end .02 speel:

THANK YOU Darcy and Nate! Thats some spectacular information!

good write up natedog!!

I went..... eeny meeny miny mo

hmmm so if ya looking for a full size TRUCK and its a diesel.. hmm i voted gm cause they have killer engines and they are uber comfy...

however...

ford F650
chevy 5500
Hummer H1 truck
or the internatinal what ever its called...
(all about the same price or 100k (way to expensive))

but ya know what.... i just dont like the duramax after 2005 when they added the some 200 extra parts (realy little ones at that) just so the turbo is quieter....

but its still great truck no matter how ya look at it and with the banks power pack oh wow...

I've got a 97 powerstroke with 173,xxx and no problems, my buddy'* got a 99 with 112,000, an 8" lift, and banks go fast goodies; he beats the crap out of it and he'* only had to replace a tranny. (If you saw how he drove you'd be amazed thats all he'* replaced.)

It depends on what the truck is going to be used for. If it'* gonna be a work truck, get a dodge with a 6 speed, they're tough. If it'* gonna be a four wheel drive car, get a GM. If ya wanna look bad-@$$, get a ford.

I vote with many of the above. The Cummins V6 being based slightly off of their semi-truck line will outlast them all and proly out-power with very few mods.

Side note: (I heard from a cummins rep before it actually came out that the new 6.7 could be brought to over 1000 lb-ft of torque with under $500 in mods because it is so de-tuned from the factory for durability, emissions regs and the lack of practicality of a factory producing its 'light duty' engine with 1k of torque)

I dont know a thing about the newest ford diesel other than it can shoot flames out its pipe when self-cleaning. My dad'* 7.3 has been really durable but is noisy.

The new chevys were really quiet we rented one but have no long term testing.

Cummins (no "g" at the end) is an inline 6

owning both Chev & Ford I would have to say for reliability Chev but comfort FORD FTW

QFT...My uncle also manages a fleet of Diesels and he'* said numerous times that the 6.0L powerstroke is a piece of junk, but he says the 7.3L is great.

Personally, I'd go with GM.