New Truck - Help

[Leaf27]

Ok, time to up grade from my 2006 Dodge Laramie 3500 Cummins. So I am open to Dodge, Ford or GM, but has to be diesel 1 ton long box. Currently looking at a 2012 Denali 3500 dually with a Duramax, and a Long Horn Dodge 1ton.

I am open to jumping to Ford. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Highmarker]

Just picked up a new 2012 Laramie 1 ton. Love it! In my opinion, the interior is sooo much better than the other two. That's the main reason I switched to Dodge from Chevy. The new Gm's have a horrible plastic feel on the inside. However that Dmax is probably the best engine out right now. No complaints with the cummins either though. Plenty of power, just a little short on fuel mileage.
As for the ford...super nice trucks as well. Just still a little leery of their diesels. Had a real bad experience with a 6.0 so it's going to take a few years on this new 6.7 to get my trust back!
Another deciding factor for me to get a dodge, was a 45k price out the door for a loaded Laramie. Nav/sunroof/ heated cooled seats pretty much every option available. That's WAY cheaper than the others!
It's all personal preference though. All three make some awesome trucks. Just drive them all and decide from there...

 

[Dogmeat]

Just picked up a new 2012 Laramie 1 ton. Love it! In my opinion, the interior is sooo much better than the other two. That's the main reason I switched to Dodge from Chevy. The new Gm's have a horrible plastic feel on the inside. However that Dmax is probably the best engine out right now. No complaints with the cummins either though. Plenty of power, just a little short on fuel mileage.
As for the ford...super nice trucks as well. Just still a little leery of their diesels. Had a real bad experience with a 6.0 so it's going to take a few years on this new 6.7 to get my trust back!
Another deciding factor for me to get a dodge, was a 45k price out the door for a loaded Laramie. Nav/sunroof/ heated cooled seats pretty much every option available. That's WAY cheaper than the others!

I really dig the new Dodge interior .... I wasn't even looking at the Dodges until about 2 months ago when I started reading on here and other sites about how far they'd come with this generation of truck ...

Wound up test driving one and was sold on it.

The outside looks pretty good too

I will say this however: The Ford and GM trucks both ride considerably better than the Dodge. That is really the only thing I don't like about this truck so far .... it rides pretty rough

I guess its sort of a toss up on the emissions stuff .... All the new diesels have a DPF, but the 6.7L Cummins has EGR instead of the urea tank .... Dodge is going to the urea tank next year, which from an engine efficiency standpoint is the way to go ... I don't know, I just figured I'd get the diesel without that while I still could, most folks on here say its not that big of deal to add urea every oil change .... IDK .... once my warranty is up the EGR and DPF are going bye-bye one way or the other ... I will say this however .... I made a trip from Denver up to Kremmling two weeks ago with just a dirt bike in the back, and driving the speed limit I averaged 17.7 mpg up there and 20.0 flat on the way back down, according to the mileage calculator (I will hand calculate my next highway trip to verify) .... That seems to me like its on par with the other diesels? I don't know, might be slightly worse, but coming from an 8.1L big block I was happy with it .... that would have been like 11 and 14 in my old truck. As much as I loved my 8.1L and as good of motor as it is ..... I think I sort of had to eat crow on all the **** I talked on diesels the last 10 years ..... heh

So far I do like this truck though ..... This is actually the first non-GM pickup I've ever owned in my life, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[Leaf27]

Thanks guys. Nice truck Dog, Took a new Dodge for a test drive and love how tight the truck feels. I am having tranny issues with my 06, thats why I am getting rid of it. What do you guys think of the tranny's in the new Dodges. Not a big fan of the 48RE that is in the 5.9.

Here is a pic of the Denali, I could get by driving this GM.

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[Highmarker]

That looks pretty good

 

[Dogmeat]

Those Denalis are way nice to be sure..... but, unless I was towing a 16000-lb fifth wheel I dont think id want a dually..... always seems like the duallies do worse on slick roads and in parking lots than the srw trucks do....

 

[M8Chris]

I'm currently looking into upgrading my 09 Sierra half ton to a 2500hd Denali duramax. I think the interior In the Denali is amazing not to mention you get the duramax in that truck. Heard mixed opinions about the cummins in the new generation of trucks. But to each their own. The Denali sure does look sexy though!

 

[diamonddave]

Fred, DM is right about the dually's on slick roads and in snow.....they suck!!! My buds 06 DM Dually is stuck in 4+ inches of snow. They do tow much better than SRW but everything else is worse. If you towed ALL of the time, then go with the dually. For sledder's, dually is definately a hinderance.

As for the trans (my language), the 68 RFE that Dodge came out with in 2007 is about 10,000 times better than the 48 RE in your 06. It seems like the only time I ever get to work on these newer generation transmissions (big 3), it is for upgrades (billet lid torque converters) or for electronic problems ie: speed sensors or reflashes. However, the Allison is just a little better and beefier than the Dodge 68 RFE and Ford's Torqueshift.

I'm asked for these truck rec's all of the time. I have actually recommended A: find your best price B: do you plan on lifting the truck? If so, then go with Ford or Dodge. If not, then go with GM.

I still like the GM best though.

 

[Leaf27]

Here are a couple more pics of the Denali. The interior is nice (like a car), but I think that the Dodges are more rugged looking (like a truck).

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[Leaf27]

Fred, DM is right about the dually's on slick roads and in snow.....they suck!!! My buds 06 DM Dually is stuck in 4+ inches of snow. They do tow much better than SRW but everything else is worse. If you towed ALL of the time, then go with the dually. For sledder's, dually is definately a hinderance.

As for the trans (my language), the 68 RFE that Dodge came out with in 2007 is about 10,000 times better than the 48 RE in your 06. It seems like the only time I ever get to work on these newer generation transmissions (big 3), it is for upgrades (billet lid torque converters) or for electronic problems ie: speed sensors or reflashes. However, the Allison is just a little better and beefier than the Dodge 68 RFE and Ford's Torqueshift.

I'm asked for these truck rec's all of the time. I have actually recommended A: find your best price B: do you plan on lifting the truck? If so, then go with Ford or Dodge. If not, then go with GM.

I still like the GM best though.

Thanks Dave!

 

[tswan]

Just bought 12 Dodge 3500 Laramie LB. I get to buy a new truck like this one about once in my life. So price was a big consideration for me. Had a family emergency in Minneapolis so I drove from MT to MN at about 82 miles per hour and averaged about 16 mpg on the way out, Less on the way back. Really like the truck and it pulls my trailers, 4 place enclosed and toyhauler really well. Putting a sled deck on it this fall. Had an 04 Dodge and I am hoping the engine will break in a little bit like the 04 to help the mileage increase. Mine came with a grill guard, turn-ball hitch, upgraded tires, and spray-in bed liner and I was in the upper mid 40's for it. Sound like you like the Denali though.

 

[Leaf27]

I do like it, but I don't haul anything big enough to warrant the dually. With the input from Dave and DM, I am leaning towards Dodge. . Just goes to show that Snowest has some really helpful members. Thanks guys

 

[Chubbydog]

Take away the Dually, put some nice wheels on that Denali, and you've got yourself one sexy *** truck. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the newer trucks, but I really love the Duramax/Alison combo. The interior is awesome in the Denali's also.

Your paying that much for a truck, just make sure you get the exact one you want. Don't let a couple grand steer you away from the Denali if that's the one you want. You'll regret in a year from now.

 

[M8Chris]

Here are a couple more pics of the Denali. The interior is nice (like a car), but I think that the Dodges are more rugged looking (like a truck).

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just pull the trigger on that truck already
that interior looks exactly like my dads yukon denali. very clean look! oh and you'll love the heated steering wheel when you get back from riding

 

[Highmarker]

The dash in that Denali is awful! Everything else is nice

 

[IDspud]

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I ordered my duramax from the factory with everything on it, $43K.

Have had a neighbor tour the farm with me, him and his dad traded their dodges for chevy's due to the comfort of the interior. Yes, they were due to trade, they said the choice was very easy.

 

[AndrettiDog]

HERE is a link the debate we have had all summer (way to go Mafesto!)

I have a 2011 Denali and love it. I'm not trying to pitch you to buy one but I'll instead tell you about my experiences.

I wish it had a little more cab room but nobody rides back there anyway. I would just like to fit my dog kennel back there (I miss the fold down seats of my '06 Duramax). The plastic dash thing is something I think is funny. Yeah it could be more Cadillac like but the other trucks aren't exactly full on leather dashes. I love the power, transmission, exhaust brake, heated wheel, seats, A/C seats, rear view back up in mirror and so many other options. The truck is smooth and pulls much better than my '06 Duramax.

Don't let the DEF scare you. I added 2.5 gallons ($10 at Napa) at 6k miles. It's about like adding wiper fluid.

I would also warn against a dually. I used to drive them at work years ago and they are terrible if you want to drive in the back country on the wagon wheel roads. All three are nice trucks.

If you are in Colorado talk to MileHighAssassin and he will hook you up on a GMC.

 

[Jordo]

I would go with the Denali buy far the nicest riding 1 Ton Truck on the market, I have a 2500 Duramax and will never buy a different brand ever. Why don't you look at fully loaded GMC 3500 if your worried about the dually part?

 

[Oregonsledder]

Love my Dodge 1 ton! The camper is a triple slide weighing a little over 5K pounds. It handles great.... with air bags. Great on snow. Not a dually.

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[polarisfornow]

Here's my take... was all over the last thread we did on here. I just bought a 12 ram big horn... so not as loaded up as the denallis and latiats etc. But for me to buy a comparable chev or ford it would've been another $5-6k to drive it off the lot. And since I traded a dodge I got better trade in as well.

Never been a huge fan of the chev interior or exterior... too Blah... I liked the ford but just didn't want to spend the money.

They will all do the job just fine... Just buy the one you get the best deal on.