Pickup Truck Comparison...continued

Behind the Wheel

Climb into the driver's seat of the Ford -- emphasis on the word climb -- and, if the altitude doesn't give you a nosebleed, you'll be treated to an amazing view. Suburbans, Expeditions, even other full-size pickup trucks look small from the dizzying heights of the Super Duty's cab. But the 4x4's tall sides and 747-inspired ride height make for a right-side blind spot big enough to hide a Nissan Altima, and the flat-glass right side mirror doesn't help any -- changing lanes to the right requires either a helpful passenger or a bit of divine intervention.

The good news is that when you drive a vehicle this big, people tend to stay the hell out of your way. With a cab height of 6'8", the 4x4 Super Duty won't fit into many enclosed parking garages; the Dodge stands a scant two inches lower, but those two inches make all the difference in the world. It's worth noting that the two-wheel-drive (4x2) versions of both trucks sit much lower to the ground, and in the case of the Ford this helps, but doesn't solve, the visibility problems. The Dodge is much easier to drive, thanks to the cab's slightly shorter profile, a convex mirror on the right side, light steering, and a significantly sharper turning radius.

Both of these trucks sport interiors that would be right at home in a passenger car, with excellent ergonomics and clear gauges. The two Fords I drove were decked out in top-of-the-line Lariat trim, including power leather seats and a CD player -- making it easy to forget that these are work trucks at heart. The Dodge came in the lower-level ST trim; it's comparatively Spartan interior, including rubber floor mats in place of carpets (easy to clean) and manual windows, door locks and seats (less electrical bits to break), did nothing to detract from my enjoyment of the truck.

The Dodge has a better driving position and more comfortable seats, while the Ford's seats were less supportive and the steering wheel was offset to the left -- very annoying. For storage space, the Ford is the clear winner. Opt for the split-bench seat, and the large center armrest opens to reveal a mini-desk (another idea invented by Dodge, and present in the Ram I tested). Choose the bucket seats, and you get a center console that opens to reveal a space big enough to conceal a full-grown armadillo, with room to spare.

The doors have two pockets each -- both large enough for several notebooks or a month's supply of Doritos -- and the dash sports more cubbies than a kindergarten room. I figured I could move a house with this thing and not need to place a single item in the bed -- everything I own would fit in the cab. Storage space in the Dodge doesn't hold a candle to the Ford, and by comparison, the materials used in the Dodge feel cheap -- like the flimsy glovebox, which is made of thin plastic. Both trucks were solid and rattle-free on the road, but the Dodge's cab squeaked and squealed when climbing steep off-road embankments, while the Ford remained silent.