2015 Ram5500 vs F-550

Well, I may have not been clear. the one I drive sometimes is a '15 F-450, and it indeed does have a decently "powered" engine brake when "tow mode" is engaged.

 

No way in hell I would pick the Ford after many nightmares with Fords before.
RAM is what I drive.
Way superior than Ford.

 

Must be some different options or programming between the 450 and 550.

 

Unless your towing heavy all the time you would be better off sticking with a one ton. I have a 2015 Ram 3500 dually with the Aisin transmission and I tow 10,000 to 15,000 daily with no problems. All the "Commercial" or cab and chassis trucks are detuned in both brands. Your losing hp and are stuck with low gearing options that will kill your mpg.

 

For what you are going to pay for either choice you could get a very nice larger truck that will pull more, last longer, get about the same mpg, and be safer doing it. I sure wouldn't be looking at a 450/550 sized truck if my goal was to haul 20k plus pounds on a regular basis. They will certainly do it but there are better choices.

 

Most hot shots don't pull 20k on a regular basis. Sure, you could buy semi for half of what a new pickup would cost but it's the maintenance cost on these larger trucks that kill profit.

 

Pretty sure there is a reason this is posted in the sub forum that its in.

 

I am not saying get a class 8 but get something like a M2 or international 4300. You will be miles ahead.

 

Thats not true at all. Medium duty trucks not a good choice 99% of the time.

 

I guess everyone has different opinions. I have a 2016 one ton dually and two single axle internationals. With a trailer (load and trailer) weight of 20k or less I will choose my dually every time. Heavier than that I much prefer the bigger trucks. I feel safer and like I am controlling the load and it is not controlling me. Loaded heavy I feel like I am taxing the heck out of the dually but with the internationals they are barely breaking a sweat. I guess it really depends on what you will be hauling most often.

Granted I am not a hotshot I just haul my own heavy crap around all the time and am not on the road near as much as many of you guys but this is my personal experience.