Editor's Note: This OEM shootout involving Dodge, Ford, and GMC diesel pickups was performed using 2004 model-year trucks. At press time, not all '05 models were available for our testing, so Diesel Power made the decision to use '04 models. In actuality, changes to most of these trucks are fairly minimal for 2005, and we believe our testing was a fair process. As the '05 models become available to us, we will be provide comprehensive road-test articles on each of the diesel offerings for 2005. Stay tuned.
Nowhere in the world are people so fascinated with fullsize pickup trucks than in America. Over the past few decades, the image of the fullsize truck has been transformed: from equipment haulers to people haulers, and ultimately as a platform for heavy customization. Today's fullsize rigs are as comfortable and luxurious as some of the finest automobiles on the market, and in many cases more powerful.
With recent powerplant upgrades by Dodge and GMC, we felt it was time to round up the big boys and put them through the paces. We placed calls to each respective manufacturer and were able to procure three identical heavy-duty trucks. Dodge, Ford, and GMC each sent us a 3/4-ton,diesel-powered, automatic-equipped, single-rear-wheel, top-of-the-line, crew-cab, 4x4 tester. GMC gave us the keys to an executive-looking, all-black Sierra 2500 Crew Cab in SLT trim; Dodge sent us a Ram 600 Laramie in 2500 Quad Cab trim; and Ford's F-250 Crew Cab arrived dressed in eye-arresting black-over-orange Harley-Davidson duds.
While each of these trucks is a great vehicle in its own right, we put them through the scrutiny of the Diesel Power staff to find out which truck was most worthy of being named the best Diesel Hauler. We took each truck for two weeks of daily driving, attached our 32-foot, 5,000-pound work trailer, and ran numbers at our testing facility. With the trailer in tow, we pulled the infamous Cajon pass on Interstate 15 in each truck, gathering important real-world driving impressions along the way. Once we were done testing, we wrote down our impressions, tallied up the points, and declared a winner. Read on to find out which heavy-duty hitter we were hard-pressed to give back.
GMC SierraA Cruiser for the Long HaulFor years, GMC was known for its big-block grunt, while people stayed away from their anemic diesels in droves. This all changed in 2001 with the introduction of the 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel, co-developed with Isuzu. With power wars between the HO Cummins and venerable Power Stroke heating up, the Duramax helped put GMC back in the race. After Dodge announced the Cummins 600, GMC quickly responded by upping the Duramax's output.
GMC sent us the newest version of the Duramax-now pumping out 310 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque-2500 HD Crew Cab SLT 4x4 wrapped in an Onyx Black and backed by the coveted Allison five-speed automatic transmission. These options brought the GMC to an eye-popping $47,583. Fortunately, we had the benefit of XM radio and comfortable seats. But unfortunately, every tester bemoaned the GMC's bi-polar ride. With an ultra-cushy front.A-arm and torsion bar suspension, and an overly harsh rear leaf suspension, the GMC bucked and pogoed along the freeway having some editors clamoring for the workers' comp form.