[VAC] Trucks in Motion-heavy haulers

["randy unter" <runter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I had a chance to visit the Trucks in Motion exhibit in Denver and to 
drive the "Big Three" heavy haulers. I 've had Chevy's and Dodges and 
fully expected to like the new Duramax Diesel truck over the 
competitors. We are studying 1-ton duallies for an upgrade for my wife's 
horse trailer with living facilities with total weight of 13,000 GVWR. 
Although I found the Chevy/GMC Duramax to be a very refined, quiet 
diesel, the Ford 350 Super Duty Powerstroke crew cab dually was clearly 
the winner in the 5900# trailer tow off. I had never driven a dually 
before, and was amazed how stable the truck was though switchbacks and 
braking. It's hard to imagine flinging a huge truck with three tons of 
trailer around like a sports car, but that's what we were allowed to do. 
For some reason, GM did not have a 1-ton, only the 3/4 ton single rear 
wheels model, which hopped and bucked with the load. I'm sure the 3/4 
ton Duramax would be fine for all but the largest Airstreams, but the 
Powerstroke exhibited greater off the line torque and acceleration and 
with only slightly more noise. The Duramax was "camy", with turbo lag, 
the power coming on high in the rpm range. The Dodge Cummins, 1-ton 
dually was our second choice, with remarkable acceleration for its small 
displacement. However, Dodge doesn't offer a crew cab, its quad cab 
being tight, and its engine puts out a raucous clatter under hard 
acceleration. At $43K list for a fully loaded Lariat 350 PS Dually, a 
lot of money, the Ford is also a better value than the higher priced 
Duramax. Never thought I'd become a Ford fan, but for the super heavy 
haulers, it appears Ford still is champ. I'm sure that is not what GM 
had in mind with their Trucks in Motion show.

Randy Unter
'66 Overlander
Denver