Having just spent the weekend in Daytona (helping out some friends, not at the 500), I have come to realize that we are barely even a blip on the radar down in the south. NE may be GM country but the south is Ford country (can someone tell me where Dodge country is?)
I would easily say that 80 out of every 100 trucks were Fords and further at least 60+% of those were very late model F350s and new Super Duty duallies. I was astounded to say the least. Further complicating the fact was that I was IN an '08 F450 with three other Ford truck owners (there were 4 of us, one annoyingly militant about the fact that every truck was a Ford and not a Dodge). I saw a couple Big Horn 3500's and a couple Mega Cabs but when I say "couple" I mean it.
Since we drove straight thru from Maine, I had my opportunity to get some time behind the wheel. First the bad. There really isn't any. We all know that Ford has it all over our rides in terms of cab space and design. The 4 of us had MORE than adequate leg and head room in the crew cab. Passenger-wise my two complaints would be 1) the seat back in the rear is a little too upright for my like on a long drive and 2) the dash drops too low into the footwell so you cannot even come close to straightening out your legs. Driving-wise, the steering wheel sensitivity takes some getting used to given the VERY tight turning radius these trucks are capable of (Dodge had BETTER take a look at what Ford as done in this realm as the capability here was SUPER useful in wheeling a rig this size in parking lots and such.) I also felt the steering was a little disconnected, like I was doing something and couldn't feel anything. The unloaded ride was fair enough. The cab is car quiet and the engine is barely audible even on the outside. Power is always on tap given the 4.88 gears. But we struggled to make 11 mpg at anything resembling highway speeds. At 65-70 we were in the low 8's hauling a 6x12 single axle enclosed trailer empty. Keeping the speedo at 60 and we could make 10-10.5. I had to fly home yesterday and they are driving the loaded rig home now. The trailer now comes in around 3500# and there is easily 3000 pounds of tools and tool boxes and chests in the bed. The report from them is 10.5 mpg keeping a steady 55-58 mph. I guess given the size of the rig and all that isn't bad.
As for the good, well the truck in all black certainly get attention and the vocal compliments were numerous. The truck cuts a BIG profile for sure.

 

Come to Texas. Plenty of Dodge's here.
Have you driven a 3rd gen Ram yet? To me the steering is much better than the Superduties.

MikeyB

 

We are puzzled, however, that one can option a truck up past $50k and still have manual recline on the seats and no navigation system. We also wish this truck had a smaller turning radius; the enormous turning circle posed a big problem when trying to back up with a 16-foot trailer in tow. To be fair, this trailer was a tag along style, not the gooseneck or fifth-wheel a truck like this deserves, but the 56.5-ft turning circle of this Ford is larger than an equivalent Chevy’s 55.1-ft. The difference seems small, but every little bit helps when truck and trailer are as long as a semi. Dodge doesn’t offer a traditional crew cab configuration with an 8-foot bed, but the Mega Cab truck turns in 52.5 feet and the Quad Cab longbed truck turns in 52.0 feet, comparatively speaking. This article was autoweek's test drive.
This backs up what I already knew. The turning circle on Fords has always been horrible and the actual numbers show them to still be last. I drive the Ford trucks on almost a daily basis when working with friends doing their hay and always appreciate getting back into my truck. You have to take 2 or 3 stabs to hit a parking spot with a Ford of anykind when your use to driving a Dodge.

 

Last time I was in Miami I was amazed at how many duallies had 22.5" rims/tires on them. Just about every one of them....

 

idaho and nevada is dodge country

 

amazing how regional it is.

 

in areas like daytona, where most people buy big diesel trucks for the cool factor or to match their heritage softtail, fords are it. they could care less about horrible fuel mileage, blown head gaskets, studs, etc., it's like a status thing with them. i've met and talked to people like this, and they think of ctd's as loud, unrefined work trucks, while their fords are like a big, luxurious, high end lexus diesel.

 

I chocked it up to the fact that Florida is God's waiting room and the people there are so old as to be senile and don't know any better......

 

Yep, ya'll come to Texas. Lots of Dodges over here!

 

LOL.........

 

Yup we own Texas, wouldnt have it any other way. Oh and you need to drive a 3rd gen I have embarrassed chevy and ford drivers when it comes to the turning radius.

Its funny you got all the complement in the black ford in FL, here I get tons of complements on my black CTD. I have also been offered a loan to move to FL and open a BBQ place, seeing as how they know squat about it there.

 

Maybe i need to keep my eyes out for a 3rd G.

 

Sometimes it depends on the dealers. In one Florida town I am familiar with, the Ford dealer is fair, honest, and very well respected. The Dodge dealer is an outright crook, and there is no GM dealer. You see a lot of Fords there.

 

Or stop in one of the RVparks. Lots of Dodges with the rest mixed of GM, Ford, International and Freightliner. Folks that need to move weight easily are drivin Dodges so I feel right at home here.

Bill

 

Western Kentucky