The year 2020 has brought on some unbelievable times, but we’re not getting into politics here. We’re talking trucks, half-ton diesel trucks! Finally, the days of owning a diesel means you need a ¾ or 1-ton pickup are behind us. Let’s face it, not everyone needs a heavy-duty truck for their towing needs. Many want the size, comfort, and maneuverability of a smaller truck for everyday use. Now that GM released their 3.0L Duramax the competition of the big three is on again as they all have a piece of the market.
If you’re brand loyal with no exceptions, then the decision of which one to purchase is easy. If you’re open-minded, then you’ve got some research to do and seat time to be had. We receive a lot of calls asking which truck is the best or which one not to buy. Many of us have very different opinions so we’ll always recommend some time spent driving each one followed up with trucks that we own and why.
But each person has their own needs, wants and what’s most important to them which isn’t for us to decide. That is why we’ll recommend the old fashioned road test, if you don’t like how it accelerates, handles, available options or the seat is uncomfortable then you probably won’t enjoy driving the truck every day or on trips. If you’ll be using the truck for towing, you’ll want to pay close attention to the tow ratings, and depending on your trailer weight it may rule out one or two of the trucks. If it’s a lighter load under 9,000lbs then you have three great options to choose from.
Below are a few specs to highlight, but remember these can vary due to trim levels, two or four-wheel drive, and other optional equipment. This should give you a good idea as to how they compare at a glance. If you want more details beyond the drivetrain, then you should visit the manufactures websites.
Chevy: 3.0L, 460 pound-feet of torque, 9300 max towing, 29mpg highway, 10spd trans.
Ford: 3.0L, 440 pound-feet of torque, 11,400 max towing, 25mpg highway, 10spd trans.
Ram: 3.0L, 480 pound-feet of torque, 12,560 max towing, 32mpg highway, 8spd trans.
Now the fun begins, hit the road go shopping!
Is there a tune you can do on a 2016 Ram 1500 3 liter diesel to make improvements
Hi Richard,
We would recommend the Derringer Tuner with iDash from Banks Power. It will have 6 power levels adding up to 40hp. We are a Banks authorized dealer so if you have any other questions about this product give us a call at 623-582-4404.
Thank you