Table of Contents Show
The Ram 3500 and Ford F350 are two mighty trucks. They’re both incredible pieces of machinery with impressive towing capacities. But how do they measure up against each other? Today we’re going to compare the Ram 3500 vs Ford F350.
Ram 3500 vs Ford F350: Which Is Better for Towing?
Deciding which truck is better will depend on the type of RV you have. Not all Ram 3500 and Ford F350 trucks are created equal. For example, Ram 3500s can range from towing 15,990 to 37,100 pounds. On the other hand, the Ford F350 can tow 13,100 to 35,750 pounds. Those are some large ranges.
Towing isn’t all about pulling the most weight, either. The Ram 3500 may boast some impressive towing capacity, but the payload capacity ranges from 3,580 to 7,680 pounds. Meanwhile, the Ford F350 ranges from 3,530 pounds to a best-in-class 7,850 pounds.
What Are the Major Differences Between the Ram 3500 and Ford F350?
One of the significant differences between the Ram 3500 vs Ford F350 is price. The average price for an F350 is around $60,000, with a range of about $32,000 to $85,000. The Ram averages a more budget-friendly $45,000, with a range of about $35,000 to $64,000. If price is your biggest concern, this difference may be enough to decide things for you.
They’re also vastly different widths. The Ram 3500 is 79.4 inches wide, but the Ford F350 is 96 inches wide. This width can make finding a parking space or maneuvering in parking lots more challenging. Depending on where you’re planning to use your truck, this could be a deal-breaker.
Dodge Ram 3500
The Dodge Ram 3500 is a powerful machine no matter what you’re planning to tow. The Ram 3500 can haul almost anything you throw at it. It’s no wonder why so many RVers choose it.
The Ram 3500 has an impressive max payload capacity of 7,680 pounds and a max towing capacity of 37,100 pounds. The truck uses a Cummins turbo diesel or Hemi V8 engine. The standard Cummins engine produces 370 horsepower, while the V8 manages 410 horsepower.
The Ram 3500 comes in five different trims. Luxury options will alter the price, but some are well worth it. Some of the available options include color schemes, safety features like driver-assist technology, and a park-assist system.
Ram 3500 Price
The vehicle ranges from $35,795 to $63,385. These are the starting prices, so they can change quickly with upgrades. These prices can also fluctuate quite a bit based not only on availability but also location. Shop around to get the best deal.
What Kind of Campers Can Be Towed with Ram 3500?
The Ram 3500 can handle almost any camper. Larger RVs or toy haulers may require or benefit from a Ram 3500 dually, but this is a robust line of trucks nonetheless. You’ll have trouble finding an RV that these trucks can’t pull.
Are Dodge Ram Trucks Reliable?
The Ram 3500 gets a 3.5 out of 5 from RepairPal.com. That places them in the middle of the pack. The average annual repair bill is $634.
Ford F350
Ford is well-known for its Superduty line. Many have come to rely on these workhorse trucks.
The single rear wheel F350 boasts an impressive 4,960 pounds of payload capacity. However, upgrading to the dual rear wheel increases the payload capacity to a massive 7,850 pounds. This weight is a best-in-class payload capacity across all comparable trucks. The gas or diesel engines can produce an intense 385-475 horsepower.
The Ford F350 offers six different trim levels to help every truck buyer find the perfect vehicle. Much like its competition, the Ford F350 provides optional luxury and features. If you’re looking for a moonroof or safety features like adaptive cruise control or blind-spot awareness, you’ll find them here.
F350 Price
If you’re looking to consider the Ford F350 as your tow vehicle, be prepared to pay. The XL starts at $35,745. If luxury and safety are your top priorities, the Limited is the top of the line and starts at $85,365. Any upgrade will tack on to these baseline prices.
What Kind of Campers Can Be Towed with Ford F350?
The Ford F350 is an excellent option for towing small and large campers. The single rear wheel version can easily handle towing larger fifth wheels. However, if you’re considering pulling a toy hauler, you’ll likely want a dual rear wheel.
Are Ford Trucks Reliable?
The Ram 3500 vs Ford F350 debate hits a stalemate when it comes to reliability. The Ford F350 also got 3.5 out of 5 from RepairPal.com. Drivers pay $775 per year for repairs, on average.
The Ram 3500 vs Ford F350 debate will likely continue for years to come. They’re both incredible trucks capable of towing the largest RVs. Would you rather have a Ford F350 or Ram 3500 towing your RV?
I have seen RAM 3500s with a MSRP as much as $90k. So im not sure where you are getting your prices. The big 3 trucks can be equally expensive.
RAM, Ford, & GM all make great trucks to tow the average travel trailer or fifth wheel RV. If one is looking to max out the potential of a F350 or 3500, then one should look for a slightly bigger truck. Never run a vehicle to its limits. Makes for maintenance and repairs.
One unique pickup truck is the F450. Bigger brakes, wide track front end. RAM & GM need to do the same in a pickup truck configuration.
I think you should have included the GMC in your comparison.
How about throwing the Chevy and GMC 3500 into the mix. Since they are in the big 3 of truck manufacturing, it would be informative to hear about them.
Thanks!
Just like there isn’t ONE perfect RV there is not ONE perfect truck as well. In my40+ years of Rving I’ve had all 3 of the majors and a couple of the minor players. In a perfect world I’d have a Ford body & suspension, a Ram (Cummins) engine and a GM (Allison) transmission. If you configure them all the same you’ll find some price spread but nothing drastic when you look at the overall price. Most people have brand loyalty so the little difference isn’t usually significant enough to sway; IMHO. Trailers are a lot larger & heavier than they were years back and trucks are stepping up. Emissions are an issue and being addressed and will improve. Electric may be coming and may be an alternative in the future (?). For now; we play the cards we have and make the best of it..
Is the dual wheels absolutely necessary for towing a 40’ toy hauler?
Yes, look at the payload on your truck NOT just the tow rating. Plus you want STABILITY on a big wind catcher. Something a dully wins out vs SRW.
Compare with Chevy 3500 please.
We are a FORD family and currently have 3 trucks over the 250k mark and going strong. Talking with RAM owners the one thing I keep hearing is that, while they are young, RAM’s are workhorses and awesome vehicles…but…they don’t go as long as a Ford or Chevy does. So if you are the type to change over to a new vehicle every few years or travel a low amount of miles (towing or not) per year then a RAM is going to be a good bet for the money. But if you are the type of person who keeps their vehicle for many, many years and need to know that it will keep going strong even after the miles hit 300k then perhaps a Ford or Chevy is the choice for you and worth more money for the time you have it. Our oldest Ford is a 2001…so we are the type who hold onto a vehicle. Most likely the one in our future will be a F250 to pull a lower-end weight 5th wheel sometime in the next 5 years…until then…we hope to hit the 300k mark with our “old guy”.
2017 F350 diesel dual axel is our tow vehicle. There’s nothing it can’t do.
Ram width for a dually 3500 needs a recheck.
Have had both and preferred the ram 3500 dually, just a beast for towing and the engine brake was terrific in the mountains and saved on brakes all the time.
I believe the Ford is much more reliable and better built than a dodge. A few months/miles down the road listen to all the rattling and road noise in a dodge vs a Ford. The dodge motor and tranny are impressive but many of the surrounding equipment such as window motors, ac, fan motors are poor quality. I’ve owned both and have stayed away from dodge.
The new Ford 6.7 diesel is a good motor after 2015. Ford had several years of shaky diesels but finally got it right.
You did not compare the Silverado
3500 or Sierra 3500?
Bought a 2008 Ram 1500 Hemi new and last year traded it in for a new 2019 Ram 3500 turbo diesel. Love it and am a solid Ram Fan. They are beasts.
After being a mechanic for over 35 years there is not one Ford product I would own.
I’m voting for the Ford F-350 XLT DRW that we have. It is comfortable for my 6′ husband to drive and with it’s adjustable pedals- it is also easy for me to drive at 5′ 🙂 It is quiet for a diesel (which we like) and handles great. It purrs like a kitten but runs like a lion 🙂
We Love our 2020 Ram 3500 HO, what a great truck on the highway unloaded we are averaging 19.5 might, we are waiting for our 2022 Grand Design 380FL which came off the assembly line this week! We are looking forward to a Getaway with our new rig!
Well Jason, there appears to be no clear answer.
Crazy talk here by some thinking the ford will outlast a ram. Was the case a few year back but not anymore. 2014 and up Rams have come a long ways.
I’ve always liked ford but after spending lots of seat time towing and driving a cummins ram, makes it real hard to go back to ford. Their good trucks and have a pretty good diesel now, but not quite up to par with the cummins, unless all you care about is racing down the road, then MAYBE stick to ford. For towing ram all the way, don’t always have the power on paper that ford may have but it’s a totally different thing out towing with them in the real world. And not to mention how strong the exhaust brake is on the ram. Fords don’t come close to the stopping power of the ram. Pulled heavy down very step grades and quite often never have to touch the brake peddle.
Well I can tell you that I am a Ford fan despite what I’m about to tell you. I tow a 45 foot 5th wheel 17k lbs with Reese Box Gooseneck. My last 2 trucks have been an F-350 DRW 6.7 diesel. I owned a 2018 F-350 Lariat DRW and put 80K miles on it never had an issue with it. I traded it in for 2020 F-350 DRW Limited. I was day two into my month long Colorado vacation while towing the 5th wheel when my engine light came on and told me to reduce engine power and it throttle me down to 30 MPH. Long story short, the truck died on me and I found out water got into the fuel system and rust was on the high pressure pump and damaged the entire fuel system. Truck has 27K miles on and the entire fuel system has to be replaced, which the cost will be $15,000, thankfully insurance is covering it.
So being bumped about a month long vacation that was planned, I decided to purchase a new truck so I could continue on my vacation while my F-350 was being repaired, giving the COVID truck crisis shortage. I got lucky and found a 2021 RAM 3500 limited DRW $84K, I decided to get RAM a try since I have a few friends that own them and swears by them. It’s a beautiful truck, but it’s not for me. I miss my Ford.
Issue #1 > For starters, pulling up hills, this does not have the power that my F-350 has. I have the pedal on the floor going up hills and the speed of the RAM decreases in speed. Same hills with my Ford, doesn’t slow down, in fact I can gain speed going up. The RAM has 410 hp and the ford has 475 hp.
Issue #2 > When driving around a curve the steering sticks and wants to stay in the curve! Very strange and freaked me. I google this and found that a lot of people are experiencing the same problem, it’s a rack and pinion issue.
Issue #3 > when I put the truck in reverse sometimes it make a loud clunk the the u joint the drive shaft is lose.
Issue #4 >. the new larger screens that are putting in is very complicated, you have to go through a lot of steps just to turn on the A/C. The user interface is way to complicated and not easy and straightforward like the ford is.
Issue #5 > space inside the cab feels cramped, I am 6’3″ and the windshield height is lower, I feel like I can see out of the truck as good as the ford.
Issue #6 > Comfort, overall the RAM is ok and fairly comfortable but I feel my ford is much more comfortable.
Issue #7 > Sounds system, speaker started shorting out when I crank up the volume from time to time. Sound system in my Ford is way better.
I can’t give the RAM too bad of a rap because it’s keep my on my vacation and on the road. It’s a good truck and the ride is good and I really wanted to like it but it’s not for me. I’ll be selling it after my trip and along with the Ford after it comes out of the shop. Then I am planning to order a new Ford 2022.
For towing , you NEED to look at the PAYLOAD capacity, not just the tow rating. You will likely exceed the payload LONG before you get to the tow rating.