Chevy 1500 versus Dodge Ram 1500

[Jetsledder]

I am currently in the market for a used pickup. I am intersted in the chevy 1500 and dodge 1500 4x4s. I just want an ifishers opinion on which truck makes the best 4x4 boat puller. The years i am interested in because of price wise is 1994 to 1997. Also intersted in thier performance.


Mark

[ICHTHYDEMON]

What kind of boat are you gonna pull? I had a 98 Chev 1500 4x4,with the Vortec 5.7 (350) and it pulled a 21' Bayliner like a champ. I wouldn't want to pull much more than 5500-6000lbs though. My travel trailer weighs almost 6000lbs and the 5.7 did great on the flats,but any kind of hill and it was pretty tough on my truck.

Things to look for on the 95-99 Chevys are marginal brakes,and intake gaskets leaking from the dex-cool coolant Chevy uses. I had to replace a waterpump at 48K on my truck and at 51K on my wifes 99 Blazer. Chevy says its not the orange coolant that causes the problems,but there are an awful lot of trucks made from 95-99 that have the same problems with the cooling system. I had no aditional problems after swithching to the traditional green coolant.

[fishstik]

Dodge makes a truck???

[lost_sailor]

People drive Chevys?

[Tilla]

On the Chevy 1996 or better has the vortec and more HP.

[fish_on]

On the chev, go with 1995 or 1997, the 96 had piston slap problems and I don't like the pre 95 interior. Look under at the front axle and check if the axle seals are leaking. You will see just a drop hanging from the axle. It's not a big deal and you really don't even have to get it fixed if you don't want but you can beat the price down $300 for the problem. On the Dodge check the heater controls, put it on vent and get on the gass, if the mix doors change you have a vacuum problem. On both check the trans fluid and make sure it is red and doesn't smell like coffee grounds. I am a chevy man, they are easier to service easier to diagnose.

[Mad Mikey]

I have a Dodge Quad Cab 1500 which I use to tow a DB.
It is a 318 V-8 and not nearly as strong as a 350.
I do like it although it is a bit underpowered, gets decent mileage.
If you are towing a BIG boat go for the Chevy.

[willametteriveroutlaw]

Chevys are good rigs, See if you can find a steal on a used 99 or 2000, very sweet trucks with alot of good things said about them. The dodges, bad trannys, brakes, suspension, not good rigs my neighbor has one and has had nothing but problems with it. Also I drive an f150 with a 4.6 for work. (99) And It sucks for towing and has frequent electrical problems, and the mileage SUCKS. (like 9 or 10 pulling a loaded trailer) My dads f250 with a 460 gets 12 pulling a trailer and does it a hell of a lot better. (the power chip is a must for that rig)

[Mr. Carp]

I am sorry, but the quality of a Dodge as far as design and many others things seems far superior to me than a Chev. Have been around a lot of Dodges and they are nice driving rigs that handle loads well. The chevs seem extremely light duty and have the strength of an s-10 IMHO. You can never go wrong with the 318 or the 360 and just throw a chip and duals on it for that extra "umph". Besides, Chevs all have that hokey independent front suspension that is weak. A true 4x4 will have a solid front end like a dodge or heavier duty Ford. :grin:

Don't know the size of boat you'll be pulling, but I'd recommend getting an older Ford or Dodge diesel 3/4 ton. Way better towing capacity and more power than you'll know what to do with. It won't ride that much rougher and if you throw a chip in a diesel, HANG ON!!! Plus you'll get mileage.

[TundraIII]

If buying a Chev 1500 350 then buy 96 or newer. I have a 97 with the Vortec and love it. My truck just hit 160,000 miles and I plan on keeping it till the doors fall off. I put a performance exhuast on it and a cold air K&N air filter box. I can now pull my boat at 60 mph doing about 1900 rpms. The Chevy's have a better resale value than Dodge too. But I must say my buddy Norm and fellow Ifisher just bought a brand new Dodge dually 4x4 diesel and it is sweet.

[Tilla]

Yep, my '95 Chev spends 2/3's the time down shifted, fishalots '96 vortec spends 2/3's the time in overdrive. There is a 50 hp difference. Same 350 displacement. 200 vs 250 hp

[Norski]

Keep your Dodge you have now it pulled your boat just fine with you and your twin and me inside it over the 4th, and it is a hot looken truck, If you want I well trade you, O wate-----mine is paid off!!!!
Mark, you have a nice truck.

[STGRule]

I drive a lot of different trucks through work. All the Dodges of that age died long ago. The Fords are okay but they aren't real comfortable on long drives (we travel 2-7 hours one-way in them) and the Chevy's have a better turning radius.

I have a '97 1500 6-cylinder 2-wheel drive GMC and we just had the transmission re-built at 198,000 miles. We only have a drift boat but we also tow a funky old, heavy '77 18' trailer with it too. It is a little slow on the big pass hills, but we still leave a surprising number of people behind on those hills.

On either truck, check the brakes. The are too light-duty for a truck on both models.

[Perfect Drift]

Call around to some independent shops and ask which trucks they love, I'll bet they say ANY Chrysler product. Why, because they always need fixing.
I have a '94 Chevy 1500, Z 71, 4X4, Xtra Cab, 350, I went to 3 in. exhaust and a Flowmaster muffler, K/N filter, seemed to increase the power. Put on air shock on the back, pump up the tires to 60lbs and haul a camper and boat.
It sorta comes down to politics, Demo's = Chevy, Rep's = Chrysler

[Gary Wolfer]

Do what I did after 30 years of chevys. Buy a Ford f 250 or f-350