Pickup Truck Comparison...continued

Off the Beaten Path

Off-road the strengths and weaknesses of both trucks were magnified. The Ford's size and limited visibility made it tough to squeeze through tight trails. While crawling through a tight pass, I managed to bend the right-side running board on an unseen boulder. (That's what I get for violating two important off-road rules: survey all obstacles carefully, and have a partner spot you from a safe distance.) With its tighter turning circle and better visibility, the Dodge was easier to maneuver around and over obstacles, and its manual transmission was incredibly precise for negotiating rocks, dips, and steep grades -- though it was difficult to drive smoothly, especially with the truck bouncing around.

The Ford I drove was fitted with the optional electric transfer case switch, but Dodges are only available with a manual transfer case employing the familiar floor-mounted shifter. Dodge claims shift-on-the-fly ability, but who in their right mind would reach down to grapple with the transfer case shifter while barreling along at near-highway speeds? Overall, both trucks were competent climbers, waders and crawlers, provided I stuck to trails that were big enough.

A direct price comparison between the two test trucks isn't exactly fair. Although both stickered around $33,000, the Dodge was a lower-spec extended cab truck, while the Ford had a regular cab and the highest trim level. A similar Dodge in SLT trim (power windows, locks and mirrors, carpeted interior, floor mats, more sound insulation, plus some of our test truck's options as standard), with an automatic transmission, leather seats, a CD player, and remote keyless entry, would set you back $37,665, while an extended-cab version of the F250 Super Duty I tested lists for a more reasonable $35,750.

Ford now has a competent, comfortable, commodious truck that is competitive with the heavy-duty Dodges. But while the Super Duty will probably keep more Ford fans in the family, I doubt it will lure back many of Dodge's converts.

For raw pulling power, I'd put my money on the Dodge. Granted, the Ford has more torque, it is quicker, and, on paper, the Ford claims to out-tow all but one configuration of the Dodge diesel (4x2 5-speed regular cab). But the number of Cummins-powered Dodges I see pulling huge horse trailers, car carriers loaded with 4 or 5 automobiles, and Trump Tower-sized 5th-wheel campers, combined with the experiences of all the pickup truck owners I spoke to -- all this leads me to believe that the Dodge is still the truck to have for serious towing. The Cummins-powered Dodge isn't made to break a land speed record; its intention is to tug as much weight as you can strap to it, without breaking a sweat. Light steering, a tight turning radius, excellent visibility and a decent back seat round out the Dodge as a serious work truck that doubles as a practical daily driver.