TowRig.com - Diesel Discussion and Tow Tech

I have recently heard talk of Dodge losing the Cummins diesel to Ford :eek: ? Do these claims have any validity?

People have been saying that every year since ive been paying attention, and it hasnt happened yet. Why would ford, who owns a large portion of International, spend way more money than they have to too get the cummins, when they get the powerstrokes, (which are far from a bad engine, all 6.0 computer issues aside) for much less. Besides, Ford and Navistar have been hard at work with the new 6.4L Twin turbo powerstroke, i doubt they are just going to can that project.

Why would ford, who owns a large portion of International, spend way more money than they have to too get the cummins, when they get the powerstrokes for much less.

<devils-advicate>For the same reason that Dodge goes with the Cummins when they could use their own MD or Detroit diesel for much less.</devils-advicate> :doah:

I would imagine that the Cummins will be between the Dodge frame rails for a long time coming. The 5.9 Cummins is what put diesel pickups on the map.

True, but like ive said in other posts, the Cummins IS the selling point of the dodge, and has been for 16-17 years. Its the only reason that dodge trucks are even arround today. Most people who buy them buy a Cummins and get a dodge wrapped arround it, not the other way arround. Ford doesnt need that Cummins badge on the side of their trucks to sell them, dodge does, or at least they did.

Yes, very true. waytogo

Ford doesnt need that Cummins badge on the side of their trucks to sell them, dodge does, or at least they did. "They did" may be the key word there. I looked at new 2005 Dodge's a few days ago after I brought my truck into the service department. I was very impressed with the interior of the new trucks, in the past I was disapointed with the 3rd gen interiors but it appeared they were using a few pieces of swueade along with the leather in the seats and the trim around the dash, climate control, and radio is all a nice silver that really helps set off the white guages. I like the new interiors better than the GM's now.

FYI, DC just signed a contract with cummins that is good until 2007, so you have a couple of years until you need to worry about it.

well beings that the 06's are just around the corner 07 is coming quick. I have also heard for years that the cummins would be mounted in a super duty. But for what it is worth (problaby not much) had a ford engineer come by the shop last week. He was swearing up and down that after 07 a slightly different version of the 5.9 would be introduced in a ford. Hey who knows??? At any rate the diesel future is pretty exciting!
Mike
www.DunksPerformance.com

I thought the Dodge interior was nicer than Ford when I got my truck. Maybe I didnt compare apples to apples but the ford had a "cheap" feel to it (no slam intended) though I do like the body style but I don't know if I like it more or less than the Dodge style. BTW DC has a contract with Cummins thru 2010.

I have also heard for years that the cummins would be mounted in a super duty. www.DunksPerformance.com

umm.. cummins comes in a Super Duty. F-550 and higher can get a cummins 8.0. that will be my next truck of a freightliner Medium Duty.

then the dodge will become a big time toy. i bought a cummins and got a dodge around it. overall... happy. engine makes up for a LOT.
Grant

A Cummins is NOT an option in an F550, last time I checked. You have to get into the medium class before you can get anything besides Navistar V8 diesel power. That would be an F650 or larger, which they also have CAT as an option. I'd take a Cat.

Another thing.... this whole "I bought a Cummins and the Dodge came wrapped around it" This is getting on my nerves and sounds silly to me. I've heard a few people make this comment. Either stick up for what you drive because you like it as a whole or just say "the truck sucks but I like the motor."

Another thing.... this whole "I bought a Cummins and the Dodge came wrapped around it" This is getting on my nerves and sounds silly to me. I've heard a few people make this comment. Either stick up for what you drive because you like it as a whole or just say "the truck sucks but I like the motor."

Okay the Dodge truck interiors sucked enough that my wife took a firm stand on not getting a cummins power plant for that very reason. That is why i have a Duramax. I personally like the Dodge exterior and the cummins motor but the rest of the trucks do leave a lot to be desired.

Opinions are like a$$holes, everybody has one and some of them are bound to offend you at one point in time or another.

Okay the Dodge truck interiors sucked enough that my wife took a firm stand on not getting a cummins power plant for that very reason. That is why i have a Duramax. I personally like the Dodge exterior and the cummins motor but the rest of the trucks do leave a lot to be desired.

Opinions are like a$$holes, everybody has one and some of them are bound to offend you at one point in time or another.

I tend to agree, I own a new Dodge, and although I love the Cummins and love the quad cab, the interior IMO is very bland, in fact that is one of the reasons I opted for the full screen nav setup, I figured more screen meant less ugly dash. :doah:

I wish Dodge would do something more like what Nissan did with the Titan interior:

http://www.nissanusa.com/m/cma/i/4ti/4titan_gal_lrg10.jpg

THere we go...no BS. rotfl

It's funny how each person's concept is different. I like the new Dodge interiors better than the other two (inluding the 98-02 interior) and think that Titan looks plain and boring. rotfl

I don't like the interior of the Dodge because it feels to angular to me.

I prefer the rounded shapes more so i went with the GM for the interior. Body styling was okay enough for me to handle either truck, although I do prefer the Dodge body over the GM or Ford.

I am glad that so much info has been stated about this subject. I definitely feel more confident in Dodge retaining Cummins. I dont know about everyone else, but I bought my DIESEL pickup to tow. I am not a huge fan of the interior of my 2nd gen, but I LOVE the drivetrain it has. D60 up front, D70 out back, t-case doesnt seem bad and the tranny runs below 170 degrees pulling my heafty K5 and a full load of spares people and gear, but these trucks were built to work and work hard. I think Dodge did a good job building these trucks to fulfill the needs of a hardworking truck and support the torque-monster that is the 5.9L Cummins. However this is not to say that Ford and Chevy are not stout trucks what so ever.

What happened to buying a truck because of how it would haul and tow stuff. Nowdays people want the same kind of interiors and ride as a caddy or Lexus.Trucks are trucks, not luxury suvs. I personally wish trucks had a little rougher ride. At least then you would remember what the hell you were driving.IMO

What happened to buying a truck because of how it would haul and tow stuff. Nowdays people want the same kind of interiors and ride as a caddy or Lexus.Trucks are trucks, not luxury suvs. I personally wish trucks had a little rougher ride. At least then you would remember what the hell you were driving.IMO
Today's pickups are just as capable and then some compared to older pickups when they were just "pickups."

I bought mine to tow and haul stuff, if I didn't need to then I would hav bought a little car.
Having a nice interior and all makes it that much more fun, and comfortable.

What happened to buying a truck because of how it would haul and tow stuff. Nowdays people want the same kind of interiors and ride as a caddy or Lexus.Trucks are trucks, not luxury suvs. I personally wish trucks had a little rougher ride. At least then you would remember what the hell you were driving.IMO

I think it has something to do with the fact that they cost between 40 and 50 grand now, if I pay that much I want a nice interior and naked breasts againt the windshield. waytogo

I think it has something to do with the fact that they cost between 40 and 50 grand now, if I pay that much I want a nice interior and naked breasts againt the windshield. waytogo
Damn, I missed that option on mine. Is it available as an after market upgrade? :D

And as for the nice new trucks, you couldn't beat me into going back to my old 69 GMC 11k dually or any of the other "old school" work trucks I've owned. My current truck is more comfortable than most any car I've ever driven AND it will STILL out work all the old "1 ton" work trucks while still handling rough roads about as well or better than most of my old muscle cars. It's simply better across the board and I don't know why anyone would want to go back to the way things were, except that they were a lot cheaper then.

If you want things more like they used to be, buy a contractor grade, stripped down, fleet truck. If you want a rough ride, throw on a set of 8 or 10 ply bias tires aired to full pressure and put on some super stiff shocks, that ought to get you back where you want to be. I'll never understand people who "worse is better", but there sure are a lot of them on truck forums…

My statement about the backseat opinion I have towards interior luxury was made only as a hope that manufacturers dont overlook the WORK aspect of a work truck. I agree it is nice to have a sick ass interior, gets you way more second dates. However I just hope that manufacturers dont start focusing specifically on the interior and creature comforts just to make more sales to crossover Buick drivers, and overlook drivetrain components in the process. Also I completly disagree with the "worse is better" statment made previously, everyone has their own opinions and to them it is not worse, it is how that person invisions a "truck". I have talked to several guys who have bought Fords and Dodges because the GM's "ride like cars" and that is not how a "truck" is invisioned. Last time I checked towing capacity was related to spring rate, which is directly related to ride quality. The higher the spring rate, the stiffer the spring, the heavier the load you can haul. Isnt that what we bought our trucks for?

Ok Isee your point a little better now. All you had to do was mention the naked breasts. :D

OK, someone's been watching waaaaaaayyyyyy too many truck washing videos.....

I got out of a 5.3 Z71 because at 80,000 miles it was getting tired from towing my toyhauler.

I looked at:
The Ford - had the biggest interior, nice gauges, and the tow boss.
The Chevy - had nicest (plushest) interior, The Allison tranny, I was used to the layout and it rode great.

I bought the Dodge because it had a Cummins - I wanted the BEST diesel engine around and the 7/70 power train was pretty good.

(the fact that my wife liked leather seats that turned out to be heated and the sunroof had nothing whatsoever to do with my Choice! rotfl )

So I guess I bought an engine and the body that was wrapped around it.

Seems to be doing OK, it has around 3000 miles on it and I'm getting around 20 mpg on the freeway and 17 around town doesn't hurt.

My statement about the backseat opinion I have towards interior luxury was made only as a hope that manufacturers dont overlook the WORK aspect of a work truck. They didn't, go to your local fleet dealer and you can get as many white, bare rubber floored, cloth bench, black or grey grille & bumper trucks you could possibly dream of. Like BadDog said, I don't get the "worse is better" thing either. You can order a work truck with or without all the fancy exterior and interior items. Usually refered to as base model and lariate, right?

Last time I checked towing capacity was related to spring rate, which is directly related to ride quality. The higher the spring rate, the stiffer the spring, the heavier the load you can haul. Isnt that what we bought our trucks for?

There is another factor, it's called technology. GM has come along way with torsion springs. They can get a cushy ride out of their front ends while being able to hold a fair amount of weight still. My front coil suspenion on my Dodge can hold up more weight than my grandfather's early Ford PSD truck...yet I have a better ride than him.....technology.

Agreed. Torsion bars and also the more conventional springs have come along, but even more so, new manufacturing techniques and efficiencies allow for better (and more consistent) designs in suspension geometry, shock valving, tires, isolation without disconnect, lower unsprung weight, and so on. You can have a truck today, that looks good, feels good, and can still haul just as much or more than the "old-school" trucks. The down side is they are MUCH more expensive too. Much of the currently available "luxury" was also available years ago, but the cost to add it then was much higher than even what we pay today.