Ford vs. Chevrolet
There has always been the debate of who makes the best one-ton diesel. Ford and Chevrolet have been competing for the title of the best truck in the work industry for over fifty years. Ford has the F-350 and Chevrolet has the 3500. Two ways to compare these two machines is through there performance and durability. The two trucks are good work trucks but you do not just want a good truck, you want the best for the job and the best is Ford’s F-350.
Chevrolet’s performance is good at best. Chevrolet’s 3500 have a 6.6-liter V8 turbo diesel engine with a hydramtic six-speed transmission allowing for 365 horsepower and 660 pounds of torque. This large engine and turbo give the truck only 14 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway. That is horrible when the competition is getting two more miles to the gallon.
Chevrolet’s payload or weight capacity is 5,309 pounds. The cargo volume is 75 cubic feet. There is room for up to six passengers uncomfortably as the backseat has little legroom or width. The problem with the light payload capacity and the small cargo volume means more trips, which means more money spent on diesel and wasted time. The Chevrolet 3500 also has small rear leaf springs, which do not support the heavy payload putting to much stress on the truck itself and can lead to bending the frame. Chevrolet just does not cut it for suspension on such a heavy truck. You do not want the truck to have suspension problems because it takes away from the handling and gas mileage.
The towing capability for the Chevrolet 3500 is average at best. The truck has a trailer weight rating of 16,000 pounds and that is after purchasing a hitch for the gooseneck trailer. The trucks gross vehicle weight rating is 11,500 pounds. This proves the Chevrolet 3500 is not as good as their leading competitors in the diesel industry giving them a disadvantage.
The Ford F-350 is a beast and its performance is