2008 Ford F350 King Ranch vs. 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
(Originally published at OnWheels, Inc.)
Towing a big RV can be a daunting prospect, but never fear–there are many trucks up to the task these days. With even half-ton pickups sporting 10,000-pound towing capacities these days, some very expansive towable RVs are in reach of the average buyer.
When the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) goes over 12,000 pounds, however, a heavy-duty pickup is the only way to go. During our recent test of the Adrenaline Surge “sport-utility RV,” we took the opportunity to test two perennial pickup truck rivals head-to-head: Ford’s F350 Super Duty and Chevrolet’s Silverado 3500HD. The Ford vs. Chevrolet debate has been raging since the beginning of automobile-dom, and it’s a particularly hot issue when it comes to trucks. After all, muscle cars are one thing, but once the drag race is done, the fight is over. With trucks, finishing a job only means that it’s time to start the next one, and your truck needs to be in there for the long haul (no pun intended).
We showed our test trucks no mercy; they were crammed full of cargo, hitched to the eight thousand-pound RV, and maneuvered in and out of campgrounds, suburban parking lots and narrow driveways. A variety of terrains, from freeways to dirt roads, were also sampled.
On paper, the Silverado is more modern, with a ground-up 2007 redesign that’s still fresh. The Super Duty has been around a year longer. The highlights of the trucks and the lineups they come from are more or less the same: three cab sizes and two bed lengths, a choice of wheelbases, gasoline or diesel power and two or four-wheel drive. The basics don’t change much when it comes to heavy-duty trucks, and especially not dual rear-wheel (DRW) trucks. When it comes to pickup trucks, DRW crew cabs have always been the most over-the-top. These trucks had four doors back when most pickups only had two, and the wide-hipped beds are stretched to cover big-rig style dual rear wheels. When you show up in an eighteen-foot long pickup truck, it’s clear that you’ve come to work.
Driving the trucks back to back, the Ford came across as being noisier and harsher at first blush. The Chevrolet’s 6.6 liter Duramax diesel V8 puts the power down quickly and fiercely enough to spin all four rear wheels on dirt, and it’s got a more compliant freeway ride as well. It’s quieter at idle, also, a surprise given its 13,000-pound towing capacity. The numbers are equally impressive: 365 horsepower and 660 foot-pounds of torque. Every one of those horses comes on strong the moment the accelerator is pressed. The Duramax can be run on B20 biodiesel. Shifting duties are handled by a six-speed automatic built by renowned heavy-truck transmission manufacturer Allison.
The longer we drove the two, however, the more we liked the F350. The louder and smaller 6.4 liter Power Stroke diesel lacked the accelerative response of the Duramax, but pulled steadily without surging. With an output of 350 horsepower, 650 foot-pounds of torque and a five-speed automatic transmission, it gives up the numbers to the Silverado but makes up for the deficit with smooth performance. The firmer ride translates to more responsive steering and makes towing easier; with the Surge out back, the Silverado felt like it was working a bit harder than the unflappable Ford. This is partly because the F350 packs a secret weapon; it borrows the radius-arm front suspension from the larger F450 chassis-cab truck that underpins many medium-duty service vehicles. This suspension provides an exceptionally tight and maneuverable turning radius, making the F350 much more agreeable around town.
Both trucks are equipped with grade-sensing transmissions that will lower a gear to apply engine braking when needed, as well as available trailer brake controllers that are linked to the anti-lock brakes.
The F350 wins the curb appeal award as well. Ford’s Super Duty pickup line stands out with a cliff-like chrome grille, upright styling and burly stacked headlamps. The vents on the fenders are functional, dissipating engine compartment heat. The King Ranch styling package adds distinctive two-tone paint and chrome accents. The Silverado’s new 17-inch wheels are standard for DRW trucks this year. At a glance, the styling seems to be just like that of the rest of Chevy’s truck lineup, but the Silverado 3500HD has a unique, bulge-topped hood, as well as its own grille, headlight and boxier front fenders. Integrated side marker lights are included on the roof and the sides of the all-steel bed to make the Silverado’s dimensions more apparent. The overall look is familiar and refined. Where the Silverado looks like a beefed-up version of the half-ton Chevrolet pickup line, the Super Duty looks like a piece of construction equipment, a Transformers robot, or both.
Once inside, the two trucks are a study in contrast. The Silverado has a carlike full-length console that’ll hold over 20 liters of your stuff and standard XM satellite radio. The interior is geared toward comfort, with a low dash for improved visibility, acres of sound deadening for a silent ride, and stadium-style seating so that rear-seat passengers get a good view foward too. The available parking assist and heated windshield washer fluid are handy ways to make the Silverado more manageable. As with the exterior styling, the F350 stands out from the Silverado by being much more of a no-nonsense work vehicle. Ford’s more upright dash makes a better command center, with a center console large enough to swallow a laptop computer and ample cup holders and power outlets. Even the air vent trim is gear-shaped, to remind you that this is a great big machine. The F350 is a good deal louder on the road than the Silverado, but the aggressively trucklike interior means that you don’t particularly expect it to be quiet. Ford also gets points for the F350’s new parking assist, which uses a camera to project an image of what’s behind the truck in the rearview mirror, and for the available power telescoping sideview mirrors that extend to improve visibility for trailering. Navigation systems are available in both trucks.
When loading cargo, each of these trucks has an advantage over the other. The Silverado has a torsion-spring damped tailgate that’s easy to open and close, and a cargo management system with tiedowns rated to support 500 pounds each. The F350’s damping spring isn’t as effective, but the tailgate sports an extending stepladder that makes climbing into the high bed simple.
If you’re expecting us to choose a winner, you’ll be somewhat disappointed. Though we preferred the Ford’s burly, tough-truck feel to the Chevrolet’s friendlier, more suburban approach, both trucks proved themselves more than capable of handling all of the tasks we threw their way. Like with many pickup truck decisions, this one may depend on if your loyalty’s with the Blue Oval or the Bow Tie to begin with. Pricing on these heavy haulers is competitive; similarly well-equipped, with diesel engines, leather interiors, navigation systems and copious power options, the F350 stickered for $59,160 while the Silverado was $55,682.
Although the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is an outstanding Chevy Truck, I prefer the 2008 Ford F350 King Ranch.
Yes, both trucks are dependable. Yes, both trucks are long-lasting. However, I’ve chosen the Ford truck over its rival according to my personal needs.
But, I digress…
Both trucks offer a capable and smooth ride, due to each sound chassis and frame. Each truck’s interiors combined perfect finish and fit with refined comfort.
I love both truck’s unrelenting power generated by strong engines both of which will outperform a team of strong mules.
Both the 2008 Ford F350 King Ranch and the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD are great trucks, for which I have great respect. Anyone reading your Web log entry should visit his or her local Ford and/or Chevy dealer and test drive a F350 King Ranch and/or a Silverado 3500HD. He or she will be glad he or she did.
Neither of these trucks can compare to the new Dodge. Dodge is the only one with a real diesel. Anyone who lays out 50k for a Ford PSD is a fool. They have a twin turbo motor that has tons of issues. And lets just say one of those Turbo’s blows. Hmm lets guess about how many hours the repair will take. If you guessed 5 hours. BUZZ 10 hours? Buzz 20 hours? BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ over 30 hours to repair a Turbo Ding Ding Ding. This truck as be the worst design ever. You have to remove the cab to repair a turbo. Talk about a rattle box wating to happen. All major engine repairs are Cab off. Book says 28 hours to remove cab. So go buy a truck for 51k that will be harder to sell and devaule more than a 03 PSD. Once this truck closes in on Warranty expiring. You will never sell it. with out taking a huge hit. You loyal Ford owners(Suckers) Are the only reason they are not into BK yet. Take a look around. More and more tow trucks are Dodges now and they are out selling Ford in the medium dutys. bussiness owners cant deal with having a truck down for 2 weeks for a 5 hour repair on a Dodge or chevy.
Well, for the record Dave, I don’t own either a Ford or a Chevy HD truck: I’m just the guy who road-tested them, wrote up what I thought, and put it here on my site. When I was setting up the test, I called Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge to request a tow vehicle for a comparison test. Ford and Chevy responded: Dodge said they didn’t have a diesel Ram in the press fleet at that time. I would have loved to have a Ram 3500 to compare to the F350 and Silverado 3500HD, but it didn’t happen. Maybe next time.
Bigdave, You’re and idiot…. your opinion on this matter was about as useful as my flame on you….
do some real research, loser…
dom
Dom I am an idiot? why becuase I pointed out the truth about how bad of a design they are. Ford knows it. I am really suprised they are not building a I6 instead of a v8. Its a known fact the I6 build alot more tourqe and would solve all there space issues.
Why is my post a flame I just pointed out he should have tested the new Dodge side by side. The Cummins 5.9 and 6.7 is put into Loaders and trucks up to 44k GVRW. its the only real diesel in the 3 of them
SOrry you such a loser and have to post he way you do. Maybe you should look into the new Fords and how poorly designed they are.
BigDave, your post was a “flame” because you said Ford truck owners were “fools” and “suckers,” and while it’s okay to dislike the truck, you cross the line when you insult people for buying ‘em.
Dom, you know that your post was a flame, when you called BigDave and “idiot” and a “loser.”
If you guys want to debate about trucks, that’s great. If you’re just going to throw insults, do it somewhere else. I’d rather test cars than waste time moderating immature comments.
Dodge, in my opinion, is the biggest piece of garbage made. Only thing Dodge has going for it is, in fact, the Cummins. BUT, with Dodge, the Cummins is a piece of garbage due to the crappy and cheap transmission Dodge puts into their trucks. Dodge is about style, not durability or usability. Granted the Ram 3500 rivals the F450 but the Ram 3500 and F450 are almost the same truck. F450 is a heavy-duty truck with a better frame and chassis. But that split-frame that Dodge uses in all their trucks lacks the dependaility thats needed in a real truck. Chevy is kind of the same but is stronger than Ram. Ford will always outsell, outlast, out-power, haul, and tow any pickup truck made. The Cummins is slow to layin down torque. Ill continue on this subject later….
i like dodge and i like ford i like somethings about the chevy like the allison, i just don’t like the problems dodge gets with the front end and the transmission in the new six-speed automatic, dodge doesn’t put out the proper transmissions for the cummins 6.7L’s torque it puts out, Ford i don’t like taken the cab off to repair some parts of the motor but i like that it puts out maximum torque at 2000 rpm and the ride, heavier front end to handle the abuse ford really does have the best work truck i work in some pretty rough terrain and ford is my personal choice
another thing i also like about the ford super duty trucks is they are the only truck i’ve found that still has the manuel locking hubs
Big dave i would like to tell you that when it comes to it ford can do the most hauling and they have the best torque. They can get the job done and then do more and neither chevy nor dodge can do that they arent built for a work truck their more for cruising as the author said they are quiter on the road and all that but ford wasnt built for the road it was built for off roading and hauling.
Okay guys; the pros and cons of the three diesel trucks is becoming much more defined, but it’s not helping my decision on a truck any. I have a firewood business and need a truck to haul, on and off road, two cords of oak at a time. Not about to spend 50K on a truck, but will spend 30K. Fords out number Dodge and Chevy 10 to 1 on availability. I have a line on an 08′ F350 Diesel manual tranny for $26K with only 12K miles; virtually no Chevys or Dodges out there to compare it to. My diesel mechanic friend says that it’s junk and a pain to work on, but that new for that price!!!!???? Is it a good buy? Will it hold up? Will it cost me more in the long run to fix it rather than shelling out some extra $$$ now for a supposedly more reliable truck like a Dodge or Chevy?
Both trucks have advantages and capability in each views depending on which one you would like to consider as your favorite as usage. Both are the good one to select.
The F-350 and Silverado HD trucks are equally impressive. I have seen many tests of both trucks on many different websites, and, the F-350 always comes out on top. I have heard both deisel engines and the fords engine to me is quieter. The chevys diesel has too much chatter from the valve train, and with the fords turbo charged diesel, the power is instantaneous, there is no turbo lag because it is twin turbos. Also, the chevy heavy duties are the same as the regular trucks. I saw a comparison of this as well and the fords frame is fully boxed with very little welds, where as the chevy is like a c-channel with a lot of welding, meaning the fords frame is a lot more resilient and longer lasting. Remember, ford has been # 1 selling for 33 years, and you don’t sell that many trucks because you sell junk. I just think the Ford F-350 is superior and is more worth the money. Eveyone has there own opinion about trucks, but, remember, “the proof is in the pudding”.
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