When you need to add a capable truck to your East Stroudsburg, Lehigh Valley, or Nazareth area fleet, both the Ford F-350 and Ram 3500 bring a hefty amount of brawn to the work site. The big question is, however, which is going to do the best job possible for drivers near Stroudsburg and Easton?
To find out, the team at Ray Price Stroud Ford compared the 2018 Ford F-350 vs. the 2018 Ram 3500 and one truck emerged as the winner.
Ford F-350 vs Ram 3500: Towing and Payload
The first thing people want to know when choosing a truck is what it can do. The Ford F-350 and Ram 3500 are both highly capable trucks, with maximum payload capacities well above 7,000 pounds, and available gooseneck towing maxing out at more than 30,000 pounds.
When you load up the bed of either truck to maximum capacity, you may find you can bring along a bit more with the 2018 Ford F-350, which has a maximum payload of 7,630 pounds, compared to a maximum payload capacity of 7,350 pounds from the Ram 3500.
We see a similar pattern with towing capabilities. The Ram 3500 has a maximum conventional towing of 17,980 pounds and a maximum gooseneck towing capacity of 31,170 pounds.
With the Ford F-350, you'll get more towing capability all-around, with a conventional towing capacity of 21,000 pounds and a gooseneck towing capacity of 32,000 pounds-that's a difference of almost 800 to 3,000 pounds!
Ford F-350 vs Ram 3500: Truck Engine Specs
When you're towing a ton (or 15 tons) behind you, both trucks will keep your performance efficient with a 6-speed automatic transmission and available tow/haul mode. In this mode, your transmission automatically adjusts its shift schedule to prevent "hunting" for gears while trailering.
They also both make gas and diesel options available, with a maximum torque output around 430 lb-ft for both the Ford F-350 and Ram 3500. However, if you want to maximize your towing capacity, we recommend opting for one of the diesel options.
With the Ram 3500, you'll reach your maximum towing capacity with the 6.7L Cummins® turbodiesel I-6 engine that generates 385 horsepower and 930 lb-ft of torque. You get slightly more power, however, with the 6.7L Power Stroke® V8 turbodiesel engine available with the Ford F-350.
This engine generates 450 horsepower and 935 lb-ft of torque. This increased output may be one of the reasons why the Ford F-350 has a higher towing capacity than the Ram 3500.
Truck Towing and Payload Technology
Carrying heavy weights behind you isn't easy, but both the Ford F-350 and Ram 3500 offer technology to make it a bit more convenient. For example, they both make a backup camera and rear parking sensor feature available, so you can easily dock your truck when cargo is piled high in the bed, even if it's blocking the view through your rearview mirror.
On-the-go, the Ford F-350 makes the BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) available with trailer coverage, so you can be more confident when changing lanes while towing. This system works by alerting you to cars in your side blind spots, including along the length of the trailer.
Without this technology, drivers in the Ram 3500 may have a more difficult time merging on the highway while towing.
Ford F-350 vs Ram 3500: Test Drive Your Favorite
After comparing the 2018 Ford F-350 vs. the 2018 Ram 3500, we found that the F-350 has more to offer drivers in the East Stroudsburg, Nazareth, and Easton areas.
If you're in the Stroudsburg, Lehigh Valley, or other surrounding areas and considering adding a heavy-duty truck to your fleet, come to Ray Price Stroud Ford and we'll show you the Ford F-350 models on our lot. Contact us today!