Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks, New Race. The Year of Emissions.

MrTruck.com Review Summary for 2007/08 by: H. Kent Sundling

Keeping with the cooling theme of 08 Fords (above) we try out the new 08 Ford SD over Trail Ridge (12,000 ft). The excitement builds with each jet ride to the next new truck media launch, biggest year I can remember for major truck changes. Most of it brought about by the new low emission laws for diesel engines that began January 2007. GM totally redesigned the whole truck, similar to their SUV's. Ford has the most mechanical changes with a new nose and diesel engine, Dodge changed the diesel for the new emissions law and reintroduced it's chassis cab model. Also more accessories I've seen at previous SEMA shows have made it to factory trucks this year, from heated washer fluid in GM, Dodges exhaust brake to power folding and telescoping mirrors in Ford.

New Ultra- low sulfur diesel, means you have to pay attention when you buy diesel and use a different oil classification, the CJ4. The option price of a diesel engine has gone up to over $6000 in Dodge to over $7000 with GM. Might be a good time to do the diesel verses gas comparison again. Takes mucho fuel efficiency to pay for a $6-7k engine and probably a couple hundred thousand miles to break even. You can't beat the power of a diesel pulling the biggest trailers up the mountains though and we love POWER!

There were 2008 Super Duty Fords at dealerships in February. GM new 2007 (not classic) at dealerships in March. Dodges with the 6.7L diesel in the 3500 HD Chassis Cab, came out the end of December 06. The 6.7L Dodge Cummins diesels will be the first to meet the more stringent 50 state 2010 emission laws, in the 2500/350,  released in March. 

I towed trailers around San Diego in February with the new GMT-900 2007 GM HD2500/3500 that have the next generation LMM Duramax diesel engines. GM changed their diesel the least of the big three and have the most horsepower and torque. This truck class, class 2 through 5, all have channel iron frame but the 2500/3500 Dodge which has a boxed frame, while the Dodge HD 3500 is channel iron.

All the new diesels will have a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) where pollutants are trapped and burned off when it regenerates. Now it's fall and there hasn't been any major problems with the new emission diesels that I know of. Ford recalled some earlier 08 diesels with a fire related problem do to new Diesel Particulate Filter with and injector timing that was easily fixed. The new Ford Super Duty diesel is quieter and starts faster than the previous model.

With the new ultra low sulfur diesels, Ford 6.4L, Dodge 6.7L and GM 6.6L LMM,  their Diesel Particulate Filter can get to 1100 degrees F when it's regenerating. (burning up the noxious oxide.) If the DPF is almost full, it can take up to 30 minutes to burn out as your drive. If you remember when catalytic converters first came out, we had many wheat field and grass fires. Look at the tailpipe on these new diesels,  GM looks like a propane weed burner, but is designed for cooling. Truck manufactures didn't have a choice on the changes they had to make to their trucks, you do have a choice hopefully and can wait to see how they do in the real world.

Ford

Ford calls the new Super Duty truck released last spring, a 2008. Takes awhile to get used to the headlights on the bottom, but good for not shining in your face when you approach in a small car. Pilot injection is back, part of the reason the loudest diesel is finally quieter for 08. Laminated valve covers quiet down the famous Ford diesel cackle. Much louder with hood open and underneath cab. Cabs and beds are basically the same with new interiors. The F450 pickup now has a factory 8 foot bed. The windshield is thicker for less cab noise. The grill is bolted to the hood like the F150, which helps quiet the diesel, less wind noise, makes the nose sheet metal easier to uniformly gap and more room for the enormous radiator that's 33 percent larger. Cooling is a main theme for the new 6.4L Power Stroke diesel. Still made by Navistar International, the 6.4L has two Borg Warner turbo chargers, two EGR coolers, 50 percent larger water pump, larger fan and new common rail injection. The common rail injection makes for quicker starting, less noise and more control for lower emissions. The crankcase breather is in filler cap which looks humongous.

The new diesel engine is a 6.4L Power Stroke, 350 horsepower, 650 pound-feet torque. Diesel option costs $6895, up approximately $1800. For gas engines, the 6.8-liter, three-valve Triton™ V-10 gas engine produces 362 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque, Ford’s modular 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton™ V-8 gas engine that delivers 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. All three engines have 6-speed manual transmission and 5-speed TorqShift for the automatic transmission option. Cost for the TorqShift 5-speed automatic transmission is $1490. Oil changes intervals have gone up to 10,000 miles.

Towed a 12,000 lb. bumper pull cargo trailer in Texas in January right after the big ice storm. The compound turbo's and smooth shifting 5-speed automatic transmission, make it hard to tell if there is any turbo lag. The power is smooth and seamless. I did expect more raw power with two turbo's with 42 pounds of boost, but Ford's on the conservative side with not letting you spin the tires. Fire by wire computer, controls acceleration. But it's a learning computer, so give me some time and I can teach it to smoke the tires.

This pictures shows much of the structural improvements. Major changes in the front of the Super Duties. The extra framework surrounding the engine compartment as well as the lowered from frame section for impacting small cars instead of driving on top of them. The fan is larger, the fan shroud is attached to the engine instead of the radiator for a closer tolerance and more air. Fifty percent larger water pump all designed to get rid of the extra heat from the new emissions controls and allow more power. A difficult task.

Finally the primary fuel filter has a water drain lever. The 6.0L Power Stroke diesel started the two fuel filter system, with the primary fuel filter along the frame. You had to unscrew a 6 mm bolt to drain the water. In Colorado, we have water condensation in the winter inside the fuel tank and the fuel filter needs water drained every month. Glad to see a petcock, to just "open" and drain the water from the fuel. Catalytic converter and the new Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), picture right.

Dash has fewer places to store things, a good thing, my dash is cluttered with junk, wonder where it goes in a collision? But Ford added more storage in the door where it should be, pictured right.

Nice cockpit. with storage bin and lots of buttons to push. This King Ranch interior has the Tow Command trailer brake control and the auxiliary upfitter switches. Honeycomb inside vents with similar dash and trim as the F150.

This is cool, Schefenacker, Ford's tow mirror supplier does it again, the tow mirrors power fold and power telescope. Ford remains the best tow mirrors.

F450 Pickup Truck

Finally with a bed, the F450 has the front section of the F450, rear frame of a reinforced F350 dually. This allows the factory 8 ft. dually bed instead of an unfinished Cab & Chassis with just a frame behind the cab that had to have a bed added or as part of a conversion from aftermarket companies. The F450 pickup has 8 inch longer rear leaf springs like the 08 F250 and F350 to improve the ride. The F450/550 cab and cassis model is still a narrow flat frame built for upfitters to add flatbeds or utility beds. Towed a 20,000 lb RV 5th wheel with the F450 with ease. This model is made for the big LQ horse trailers and eleven ft. slide in overhead campers.The new F450 pickup with wider frame than cab & chassis, much less vibration with 4.88 axle ratio. The 08 F250 with Tow Command I reviewed, worked with a newer hydraulic trailer brakes. This F450 will dent the conversion truck market that thrived on adding beds graphics.

Brighton Ford of Colorado, Small Town overhead can save you money on the Internet. I used to sell trucks on the Internet & I know how to do my search before I Ieave the computer. I leased a new car and bought a used truck from Brighton Ford of Colorado. I go back often to drool over the Saleen's as Brighton is the newest Saleen Dealer in the USA. Family owned  with a remodeled showroom in a small farm town. Click to save.

GM, Chevy and GMC

So many improvements to GM's heavy duty models, all new platform, like the 1/2 ton little brother that was introduced last fall. Model year is confusing for the HD class. The 2007 Classic is the same truck as 2006. The other 2007 HD 2500/3500 is the new one that looks like the 2007 light duty which is just called Silverado ( Chevy} and Sierra (GMC).

Stiffer frame, bed deeper around one inch, more at the rear than the front. No Light Duty 2500 with this series, less confusing.  Still a water jacket turbo for cooling the shutdown, though the turbo is Garrett not Borg Warner that they started with in 2001. Wider track, though still wider at the front ads stability.

Level towing mirrors again, Level mirrors finally. It always bothered me backing with the mirrors and the view wasn't level with the ground.  Yes another long awaited improvement, side terminal battery finally went away after 30 years.

The seat belt is back in the roof were you can adjust it. In past models, the bucket seats had an armrest that folded into the seat. This made the right side thicker than the right side and would twist my back to the left while the steering wheel slanted the other way. Not comfortable for me. They fixed it. No armrests in the seat. The center console is wider with more padding. Fit and finish is improved with the smallest gaps where the hood meets fender, and cab to bed gap in GM history in this new GMT-900 platform, dramatic improvement from the previous model.

The dually outside bed wall is hydro formed with sheet metal instead of the previous fiberglass. The Chevy model has a giant bumper. Both Chevy and GMC have a larger grill in the Heavy Duty. The interior has two dash/door designs (Luxury and Pure Pickup) with soft knobs and dash material. The HD dash has 6 dash gauges verses four gauges in the 1/2 ton, besides all the info in the digital readout including the gain on the new trailer brake controller.

The extended cab doors will open 170 degrees and the windows roll down in the door. The glove box has two doors in the Pure Pickup interior. Heated windshield washer fluid is nice for a Colorado winter. The hood, grill and fenders differentiate the Chevy from GMC. The grills are bigger on the Heavy Duties over the Light Duties. Rear seats on crew crew cab fold with inertia, no latches.

New for 2007, GMC and Chevy have a factory trailer brake controller option in the HD2500/3500, manufactured by Continental (tire and electronics giant.)  Their new controller has digital read out in the dash which is so nice. When you apply the truck ABS brakes, it will reduce the gain to the trailer brakes. The controller gain adjustment and hand control is on the left side of the steering column. It's all electronic not hydraulic like Ford Tow Command.

Dropping the 8.1L gas V-8 engine and manual transmissions for 07. The two choices for engines are the 6.6L Duramax diesel and the 6.0L Vortec gas V-8 engine. Both with 6-speed automatic's, the diesel gets the famous 6-speed Allison Automatic. The 6.0L gas engine has a new 6-speed automatic, Hydra-Matic 6L90. I'm impressed with the new 6-speed auto for the 6.0L gas engine. It has a double overdrive, but the gearing is spaced to where all 6 gears can help with towing and fuel economy. You can manually shift it also with a toggle switch and lock each gear like a manual transmission with grade shifting. 6.0L gas engine has new variable valve timing for quicker throttle response.

Tire pressure monitor, is available as it should be. Optional heated washer fluid and EZ Lift tailgate and locking tailgate. Kept the front torsion suspension and C-channel frame. I pulled 9000 lb. trailers with the 6.0L gas engine and the new 6-speed auto which managed the RPM and transmission shifts like a champion. Towed 12,000 lb. trailers with the 6.6L Duramax diesel at 2000 feet on a 6 % grade with ease. Rated for a maximum of 13,000 pounds with conventional trailers, fifth-wheel hitches and goosenecks can tow up to 16,700 pounds when properly equipped. The bed is about an inch deeper. Not enough to interfere with gooseneck trailers. A lesson for Ford F150 and the new Toyota Tundra with their tall gooseneck/5th-wheel trailer "unfriendly" bedrail.

The 6.6L LMM Duramax diesel engine for the new 2007 GM's is almost identical to the 2006 and 07 Classic with the 6.6L LBZ Duramax, with the addition of the EGR cooler, aluminum pistons and Diesel Particulate Filter. Horse power went up to 365 with torque at 660lb.-ft. The diesel option cost is $7195. The cost of the Allison automatic is $1200, though you can't get it any other way. Over $1000 is built into the price of Silverado's and Sierra's for the automatic, so true cost is closer to $2300. Which seems like a bargain compared  to the similar cost of the top navigation radio and CD option.

Left the Diesel Particulate Filter, right the exhaust group with  catalytic converter, DPF and resonator. Aftermarket exhaust companies have jumped on exhaust accessories surprisingly fast for the hot pipes. Rear exhaust tip looks like a propane weed burner, but does let outside air into the top for cooling.

Left, new sheet metal hydro formed dually fenders. They look smooth. All truck rear fenders are now skirted for strength, no finger braces. For bed management, a hot spot for me, is optional double tracked rail. Imagine all the tie-downs, tool boxes etc. you can attach.

   2007 GM C4500/5500, Monroe Conversion

GM has a class 4 pickup truck too. It's a Monroe conversion available threw all GM truck stores. I drove the Cinch package in Kentucky horse country last summer. These were 2007 diesels, with the new LMM Duramax. With a standard exhaust brake, these big looking trucks have the cab from the G vans. So they even have a doghouse (rear engine cover in the cab) and the rear window is large enough to see down to the gooseneck ball when the rear seat is down. The hood tips forward like the big rigs. 19.5 inch wheels, a 50k to 80k psi flat frame and even an air seat, air cab and air bag axle option.

In the race to build a more power diesel pickup truck, the big three are neck and neck. With power covered, the #1 priority for today's towing vehicle, is to stop the trailer safely. Trailers have grown during the truck power race, with Living Quarters horse trailers now a common site at horse events. Living Quarters can add 4,000 to 10,000 pounds to a horse trailer, so it's like being loaded all the time. The C4500 has a standard factory exhaust brake. The exhaust brake is like sticking a potato in your exhaust, it slows you down with engine back pressure without the brakes. And it's automatic, you can flip the switch or leave it on and it will shut off at slow speeds or if you accelerate. The exhaust brake is dramatic in slowing you down with a heavy trailer coming down the fast side of a mountain. In this size you get axle ratio choices that you don't get with the 2500/3500, such as 4.56, 4.88, etc With a.53 degree wheel cut the C4500 turns tighter than a 2500. As a typical with a commercial truck, less HP and torque than smaller cousins.

The Monroe 8 foot dually bed very similar to it's 3500 cousin. The Solo model has been lowered four inches. This model will have bedrail clearance like any 3/4 ton truck. The C4500 Allison's don't have grade shifting with the exhaust brake. The 4x4 package makes the C4500/5500 two tall for most gooseneck and 5th wheel trailers.

The Cinch package from Monroe, has awesome leather seats, 15.3 inch overhead DVD, center console, backup cameras on both hitches and tow mirrors. When you use the blinker, the camera shows what that outside mirror sees in your GPS screen in the dash. You can get air ride cab, rear axle and seats. The Duramax 6.6L LMM diesel and the 8.1L gas engine both come with the 6-speed Allison Automatic. It's rated to tow 16.500 lbs. This is conservative and I expect it to go up.

2007-08 Dodge Ram, 6-Speed Tranny's

An upgraded turbo diesel engine debut at the beginning of calendar-year 2007. Replacing the previous 5.9-liter engine mid year in the 2500/3500 and last December in the HD 3500, the new 6.7-liter turbo diesel delivers 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque and comes matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission. With a 6-speed manual tranny, the torque rating drops to 610 ft lbs of torque. An exhaust brake option debuts as well with the patented Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VG Turbo) doubling as an exhaust brake.  The 5.9L Cummins diesels are rated at 325 horsepower and 610 ft lbs of torque. The new 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine reduces engine noise by 50% when compared with the 5.9-liter version.

Not much body changed for 2007 Dodge trucks, except the new 3500 Heavy Duty Chassis Cab born with the new 6.7L Cummins diesel and optional 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission finally. The big news is the Dodge just announced the 2008 Ram 4500/5500 chassis cab model. We don't have a release date yet. 3500 HD out now and 4500/5500 Chassis Cab offer two cabs, Quad and regular. The new 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engine achieves 2010 NOx emission standards three years early because of BlueTec technology achieved through a total systems approach, which includes a new aftertreatment system consisting of a closed coupled catalyst (CCC), NOx adsorber and diesel particulate filter.

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Popular Mega Cab still only offered with the 6'3" bed. 2007 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel, the 6-speed auto, the 68RFE, costs $405. This automatic transmission is an upgraded version of what's behind the Hemi gas version. Standard engine the 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 gas engine generates up to 345 horsepower at 5,400 RPM (330 HP in Ram 3500) and 375 pound feet of torque at 4,200 RPM. Hemi comes with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic.

2007 Dodge RAM Chassis Cab 3500 Heavy Duty offers their new first 6-speed automatic, the Aisin AS68RC  for $2295. A true contender for GM's Allison. Diesel option $6100 for 6.7L late availability in the 2500/3500 pickup. Out last December in the 3500 Heavy Duty Chassis Cab. Since March production, they will be 2010 emissions compliant. C-channel frame for Chassis Cab, right picture. The 2500/3500 are still boxed frames that debuted in 2003.

Towing capacity for the Ram 3500 Chassis Cab 2x4 Quad Cab is 16,050 lbs. One large fuel tank at 52 gallons, the fuel hose goes through the frame for upfitters to ad an aftermarket bed. Oil changes intervals have gone up to 15,000 miles.

With two available cab-axle lengths of 60 and 84 inches, the 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab delivers a single-rear-wheel GVWR of 10,200 lbs. Maximum GVWR for dual-rear-wheel models is 12,500 lbs. When equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel, the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is 23,000 lbs. The all-new 2007 Dodge Ram Chassis Cab is available in three trim lines: ST, SLT and Laramie.

Thanks to Hart Trailers for long term test trailers for evaluating trucks in the real towing world. Visit their website: http://harttrailer.com and my Hart review...