What ya think about this Dodge vs Ford frame test!
-
March's Cummins of the Month challenge is now open for entries!
1 - 20 of 67 Posts
Joined
·
172 Posts
Pretty crazy/scary when you think about it
Joined
·
2,451 Posts
I've seen this video of the twist test and was another reason I left Ferd and got my 1st Ram. I've also seen the Ferds twist so much it buckled the tailgate and left it dented and damaged.
Go ram! If ya can't dodge it than RAM it! Had a ford once the bed dented both sides of the rear of cab while off roading, bummer. Had to spend a lot of $$$ in maintenance on the #[email protected]% thang.
Found On Road Dead
Cracked Heads Every Valve Rattles Oil Leaks Erratic Timing
Ram just gets better
Found On Road Dead
Cracked Heads Every Valve Rattles Oil Leaks Erratic Timing
Ram just gets better
Joined
·
2,452 Posts
A group did similar tests back in I think 2011. I don't know for sure, but Ford probably uses the tailgate to resist the frame twist if the truck were to ever get into a situation like that.
To me, the test is meaningless. Who drives their truck in real world driving conditions where the truck gets twisted like that? This doesn't change my mind about Ford or Ram. Ford makes a quality truck. I haven't heard of frames breaking on Ford trucks when towing. What I care about is safety. I'm not real happy with the new report that came out that Ram is dead last in safety for front end crashes. Ford is the safest.
I'm a Ram guy. I love the Cummins engine. People on this website love to bash Ford for some reason. Many bash Ford and have never owned a Ford truck. I can tell you this. Ford is getting the bugs out of their Scorpion 6.7L. They are building the all aluminum F150 trucks which are lighter and crash results are the best in the 1/2 ton class. If they do the same with their Heavy Duty line of trucks, watch out. The trucks will be lighter, won't rust, the engine will feel more powerful because of the high weight reduction, and get much better fuel economy. The downside is the body is riveted to the frame. A joe blow like me won't be able to take off a fender to gain access to the engine bay or make any body repairs. A specialized shop will have to do any body work that have the tools to rivet the body back to the frame.
Ford is #1 in truck sales for a reason. It's not because they build poor quality trucks. Let's keep things in perspective.
To me, the test is meaningless. Who drives their truck in real world driving conditions where the truck gets twisted like that? This doesn't change my mind about Ford or Ram. Ford makes a quality truck. I haven't heard of frames breaking on Ford trucks when towing. What I care about is safety. I'm not real happy with the new report that came out that Ram is dead last in safety for front end crashes. Ford is the safest.
I'm a Ram guy. I love the Cummins engine. People on this website love to bash Ford for some reason. Many bash Ford and have never owned a Ford truck. I can tell you this. Ford is getting the bugs out of their Scorpion 6.7L. They are building the all aluminum F150 trucks which are lighter and crash results are the best in the 1/2 ton class. If they do the same with their Heavy Duty line of trucks, watch out. The trucks will be lighter, won't rust, the engine will feel more powerful because of the high weight reduction, and get much better fuel economy. The downside is the body is riveted to the frame. A joe blow like me won't be able to take off a fender to gain access to the engine bay or make any body repairs. A specialized shop will have to do any body work that have the tools to rivet the body back to the frame.
Ford is #1 in truck sales for a reason. It's not because they build poor quality trucks. Let's keep things in perspective.
Joined
·
1,546 Posts
I drove Fords for 15 years and never had a frame issue. Granted I was not doing any rock crawling but those trucks were always loaded at or slightly above their GVWR and also did a lot of towing. Not one of them had a frame problem.
Ever seen the frame twist on a class 8 truck? They make the ford look pretty solid.
Ever seen the frame twist on a class 8 truck? They make the ford look pretty solid.
Joined
·
1,153 Posts
I would have bought my 2015 Ram anyway, but it was a "feel good" moment when I saw that video last year.
I carry a pickup camper some of the time. I figure my camper is directly attached to the truck frame by my Torqlift frame mounts.
There is some spring flex in these mounts, but if the frame does flex, the camper is also part of that frame as its tied directly to the frame, there for my camper will try to assist the frame to oppose any frame flex (minus spring movement in tie downs). too much load (caused by frame flex) could stress or detach the camper tie down points from the body of the camper.
I carry a pickup camper some of the time. I figure my camper is directly attached to the truck frame by my Torqlift frame mounts.
There is some spring flex in these mounts, but if the frame does flex, the camper is also part of that frame as its tied directly to the frame, there for my camper will try to assist the frame to oppose any frame flex (minus spring movement in tie downs). too much load (caused by frame flex) could stress or detach the camper tie down points from the body of the camper.
This twisting ford frame is the primary reason for many many broken radiators. Try lifting up on one front tire and watch the unnecessary torque applied to the top radiator mount. This poor frame does not pass muster.
You are wrong...The test is absolutely meaningfull.
Hum on a farm working, gets twisted. Even just a "weekend warrior" off roading. Construction sites can get twisty. Some city roads, county roads cause the frame to twist, not felt as much though. Lot of places can twist the frame of any truck. I drove fords a lot, work and personal use. ALOT of fords truck sales are in fleet sales, they add that to the marketing pitch. My dad worked for a large building supply company, some sales never came through the warehouse, they use ford trucks for small locale loads. A few ran good yes, but he said they bought the fords because they were sold at CHEAPER prices. He was over the shipping/delivery trucks he saw the invoices. Bottom line is yes if you maintain it, whatever brand, it will last and be worry free for the most part. But for people that pull and use their trucks up to and above its capacity a frame that flexes to much can cause problems before the end of useful service. I talked with several people who have owned and used all three trucks, they all pretty much said for work a ram, for comfortable ride gm, to haul butt and get hauled a ford. They all told me that the maintenence cost of the three ram was the best, meaning less money out of pocket. made my decision to go with the ram and I am extremely pleased with , especially even more so now that the dpf fell off a few days ago. And yes I agree with djkrage that test has a lot of meaning. I pull 20000 to 21000 with my truck about oncea month, drive that across the uneven roads we all encounter on a daily basis. You will have cracked this, bent and dented that with a frame that flexes to much in time no matter how easy you drive. Sorry so long winded
I agree with you that ford makes a good truck. I have a '99 f 350 with the 7.3... But these are utilitarian trucks that often times go off road and face similar conditions replicated in that video.
Joined
·
2,452 Posts
I'm usually wrong. I owned a 2008 6.4l F350. I never heard of any problems with the radiators being damaged by frame twisting. Who in their right mind would use a pickup as an off roader where there would be the potential for frame twisting? Trucks suck off roading.
I've just never heard of radiators getting stuck. It seems this issue should have been a recall. Do you have an article discussing this issue? I would love to read about it.
By the way, I'm totally pro Ram/Cummins/68RFE. Having owned a Ford, it was a very nice truck. If I didn't have constant emissions problems and problems getting FOMOCO to warranty their truck, I'd probably still have that truck today. However, it was actually a blessing because it ended up putting me in my Ram truck which is the best truck I've ever owned.
Joined
·
1,546 Posts
Here's a good place to start reading.
ALARMING AMOUNT OF RADIATOR BLOWOUTS - Diesel Forum - TheDieselStop.com
The first few pages of that forum are full of radiator failures.
Joined
·
1,605 Posts
Boxed frame vs C channel frame. The boxed frame and eight welded crossmembers on the Ram frame make is incredibly resistance to twisting and very strong... Plus the use of 50 ksi high strength steel. Chevy recently move up to a similar boxed frame and a higher strength steel... Ford will revamp their frames on the new super duty.
Joined
·
3,279 Posts
On our job sites the last thing to go in is the driveway and culvert. We pull trailers through the ditch everyday with thousands of pounds in the bed as well. I would probably be the guy with the bent tailgate and leaking radiator if i had a Ford. I have had numerous Rams/Dodges , Tundras, and a LML Duramax. I wont lie, i have always liked the looks of the Fords and have considered one more than once. I have stayed away though because of how Ford has treated the guys i work around that drive their trucks while under warranty.
Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
Joined
·
543 Posts
Ha, nope, the Ford radiators fail because the radiators are a defective design. The frame has nothing to do with it.
I have the "weaker" c-channel on my '06 with over 225,000 miles on it, original plastic Ford radiator, no leaks, cracks or repairs. My truck has had the roughest abuse you can throw at pickups also, everyday bouncing, flexin', twisting down a f'd dirt road. My truck has been through terrain at least once, that makes this test look cute.
The Ram/GM frame test is just another BS manufacturer ad, just like Ford did with the Tundra and Silver Creek spot.
Proof's in the pudding, not dumb ads that create unrealistic scenarios. I've seen Ford trucks with 200, 300, 400, 500, 600,000 + miles on 'em and their "weak" c-channel frames.:grin2:
1 - 20 of 67 Posts
