Ford or Dodge

Ford or Dodge, read full description in post

  • Total voters
    30
  • Poll closed .

rustyolred

New Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2008
Location
denton, nc
1997 dodge ram ext cab 4x4. 360 auto 4" lift and 35" m/t baja claws
or
1995 ford f-150 ext cab 4x4. 351 auto 6"lift with 1979D44 front and 1979 9" rear. 36" TSLs
Truck will be a DD/mild wheeler/light tow rig/jeep extraction vehicle.
Both vehicles have 8-12k winches on the front.
 
I'd go for the F150, both are gonna get 10-12mpg on a good day, may as well get the one with the one piece inner front shafts and rebuildable hubs. The 1995 model is also exempt from emissions inspections so if by chance you have a check engine light on you can still get your inspection and go. And is more likely to have the dash still in one piece than a Dodge. Sounds "breed biased" but I've had both a 1999 ram and a durango and dakota that I loved, just feel (my opinion) the F150 would be better for what you want to do with it.
 
They're both gonna be ragged out from the sounds of it, but as someone else that's owned a dakota and second gen ram... go with the f150.
 
ive owned both. I love the cosmetics of the dodge, but if you want "reliability" go with the ford.
 
I'd definitely go with the Ford between those two options.
 
You know...this should be a very simple question. Plain and simple you circle the answer. And if have the urge to look up the word Dodge in the dictionary, it explicitly says 'to avoid'. I think that sums everything up nicely.
 
The ford but for DD the TSLs aren't gonna be fun. However a set of 35s for a 15" rim shouldn't be hard to come by.

Get some ATs for the road and save the TSLs for when you want to go have fun. That is what I do with my truck and its nice.
 
I have found pros and cons of both. Here goes.
Dodge pros:
1. I already own this truck
2. I installed lift and tires
3. Engine and tranny are new Mopar pcs with ~30k miles
4. It looks good
5. 4 link front suspension
Dodge cons:
1. DODGE
2. 46RE tranny=bad track record
3. CAD front axle(2 pc passenger side long shaft)
4. Unit bearings :(
5. 3.54 gears

Ford pros:
1. FORD
2. Best selling truck in USA for like 300 yrs
3. Solid axle D44 front
4. Manual hubs(no unit bearings) :)
5. 1 pc inner shafts
6. 9" rear
7. 4.10 gears
8. Dependability
9. No 46RE tranny
10. 12k Mile Marker winch
11. F-O-R-D
Ford cons
1. Radius arms
2. Less cubic inches(only 9, I know)
3. Not mine
4. 30+ year old axles
5. Unknown history
6. 139k miles

My current M/T Baja Claws are great on the trail and dry roads but they suck in the rain. My RAM has been a great truck so far. I am looking at trading my RAM for the F-150 or selling it and buying the Ford.
Keep opinions coming.


Rusty
 
radius arms arent so bad...especially if you stretch em. nothing wrong with 30 year old axles....half the folks here run 30+ year old axles.


360 vs 351w the 360 is gonna win that battle, big block vs small block. the 351w was never a beast but it gets the job done.

Does it have a C4 or C6 tranny? i cant remember what year the E40D came into play. i think it was later.

I didnt realize you already OWN the dodge.
Being familiar with several years of vehicle history means alot to me.
 
Well, If you already own the Dodge, upgrade the 46RE when it fails, and when the unit bearings take a dump swap in a 78-79 HP Ford axle.
 
BigRedB2 said:
nothing wrong with 30 year old axles....half the folks here run 30+ year old axles.
Click to expand...

This.

As long as they aren't bent, messed up or the housing is otherwise in bad shape, it should be fine. Sounds like the axles were probably went through when they were installed in the truck so it probably has new bearings and seals. If so, then they should be good to go!

Of course, ask about axle history.
 
BigRedB2 said:
radius arms arent so bad...especially if you stretch em. nothing wrong with 30 year old axles....half the folks here run 30+ year old axles.
360 vs 351w the 360 is gonna win that battle, big block vs small block. the 351w was never a beast but it gets the job done.
Does it have a C4 or C6 tranny? i cant remember what year the E40D came into play. i think it was later.
I didnt realize you already OWN the dodge.
Being familiar with several years of vehicle history means alot to me.
Click to expand...
It would have either an AOD, AOD-E or E4OD, the c6 in the 150's stopped in the 90-91 range. And the 360 is a 245hp smallblock, vs the 351w being a 210hp smallblock, not really an appreciable difference after 10+ years of beating on it.
I do have to agree on knowing vehicle history though, If I've had it for a good while I intend to keep it, nice to know just how hard it's been flogged and just how well it was maintained.
 
BigRedB2 said:
I didnt realize you already OWN the dodge.
Being familiar with several years of vehicle history means alot to me.
Click to expand...

This

BigBody79 said:
keep what you have
Click to expand...

And this because of the first.

If you didnt own either, Id probably go with the ferd (which I know is odd cus Im mopar to the core) because its set up more for wheeling for now. With that in mind, I know you say it will be a DD/mild wheeler, but those are the famous last words of many. Either truck stands a good chance of ending up on tons and big meats, so the only real downside to the dodge is the transmission, which really isnt a big downside IMO.

Duane
 
My 97 RAM only has 230 hp, not 245.
 
You're aboslutely correct, 98 up was 245hp, sorry.
 
Back
Top