North Georgia Ford Compares 2006 Ford F-150 VS 2006 Dodge Ram Near Calhoun, GA

The F-150 has standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes for quicker stops and controlled steering ability, especially under poor traction conditions. Four-wheel antilock brakes cost extra on the Dodge Ram.

To prevent wheelspin and loss of control under poor traction conditions, full range traction control is available on the Ford F-150. The Dodge Ram doesn’t offer traction control.

The F-150 (except XL/STX) offers an optional Reverse Sensing System to help warn drivers about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind their vehicle. This collision warning system uses radar to detect obstacles behind the rear bumper. The Ram doesn’t offer a rear collision sensor.

Both the F-150 and the Ram have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks and available four-wheel drive.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH front offset crash tests on new cars. In this test, results indicate that the Ford F-150 SuperCab (which the IIHS chose as “A Best Pick”) is safer than the Ram Quad Cab:

(This test is not comparable to the NHTSA NCAP 35 MPH front crash test.)

The F-150 comes with free roadside assistance for 3 years 36,000 miles. Ford will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Dodge doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Ram.

The F-150’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Ram runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 33 percent more Ford dealers than there are Dodge dealers, which makes it easier to get service under the F-150’s warranty.

The F-150 has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Ram doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the F-150 first among light duty full-size pickups in their 2005 Initial Quality Study. The Ram isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2005 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 19th in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 23rd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics, which show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 12th in reliability, above the industry average. With 42 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 23rd.

The F-150 has more powerful engines than the Ram:

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford F-150 V8 is faster than the Dodge Ram V8 (automatics tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford F-150 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Ram with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 15 cents more per gallon.

The F-150’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Ram are solid, not vented.

The F-150 with its standard antilock brakes stops shorter than the Ram with antilock brakes:

The F-150 shortbed Lariat SuperCab Harley Davidson™’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio), which provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ram’s optional 60 series tires.

For better load carrying, ride, handling and brake cooling the F-150 shortbed Lariat SuperCab Harley Davidson™ offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Ram’s largest wheels are only 20 inches.

The Ford F-150’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Dodge Ram only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel. The Ford F-150 w/8200 lb. GVWR’s optional wheels have 7 lugs.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the F-150’s wheelbase is longer than on the Ram:

For greater off-road capability the F-150 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Ram (8.3 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the F-150 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the F-150 V8 has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Ram uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the F-150 SuperCab is quieter than the Ram 1500 short bed Quad Cab:

As tested by Popular Mechanics, the interior of the F-150 shortbed XLT SuperCab 4x4 is quieter than the Ram 1500 short bed SLT Quad Cab 4x4:

The F-150 Regular Cab has .3 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more front hip room than the Ram Regular Cab.

The F-150 SuperCab has .1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front hip room and 1.9 inches more rear hip room than the Ram Quad Cab.

The F-150 shortbed has a much larger cargo box than the Ram shortbed (65.5 vs. 60.9 cubic feet). The F-150 Regular Cab longbed has a much larger cargo box than the Ram longbed (81.3 vs. 74.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the F-150 easier. The F-150 SuperCab’s bed lift-over height is 32.6 inches, while the Ram Quad Cab’s liftover is 33.7 inches. The F-150 SuperCrew’s bed lift-over height is 32.4 inches, while the Ram Mega Cab’s liftover is 33 inches.

To prevent tailgate loss and help secure heavier cargo from theft, the F-150 has a standard tailgate lock cylinder. The Ram doesn’t offer a tailgate lock.

The engine computer on the F-150 disables the starter while the engine is running. The Ram’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

When two different drivers share the F-150 Lariat/FX4, the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the seat position. The Ram doesn’t offer memory seats.

The F-150 XLT/FX4/Lariat’s standard speed sensitive intermittent wipers speed up as the car does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Ram’s intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The F-150 XLT/FX4/Lariat has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Ram doesn't offer automatic headlights.

The F-150 SuperCrew Lariat has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The Ram doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The F-150 Lariat/FX4 Luxury’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Ram doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the F-150 SuperCab/SuperCrew has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Ram doesn’t offer rear vents.

The F-150 is less expensive to operate than the Ram because it costs $300 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the F-150 than the Ram, including $113 less for an alternator, $42 less for front brake pads, $32 less for a starter, $1 less for a fuel pump and $172 less for a timing belt/chain.