To get more information on all the vehicles included in this class, please click on the headline graphic above to reveal a spec chart.
Winner: Chevy Suburban
While it's showing its age, there's something admirable about a vehicle that doesn't try to be something it's not. This vehicle is meant to be loaded to the gills, carrying a baseball team or hauling 32 bags of rock for a landscape project. We especially like that GM offers the 1500 version with ride- and handling-biased coil springs, and the 2500 version gets ready-to-work leaf springs (but still handles exceptionally well). And the fact that the higher capacity eight-lug 2500 is only $1500 more is another great value. Our only beef is that the Duramax 6600 isn't offered, but we're told that will be taken care of when the 2007 models are introduced.
To get more information on all the vehicles included in this class, please click on the headline graphic above to reveal a spec chart.
Winner: Dodge Cummins
Although the smallest of the one-ton dualies with a 160.5-inch wheelbase and a terribly small back seat, the Quad Cab Ram Cummins B-motor I-6 is still the champ at low-end grunt and pulling force, especially with the six-speed manual. In a world of power and strength, the Cummins is practically a medium-duty engine hiding in one-ton skin, with plenty of brawn in reserve. And having a reserve is what people in this category need, since they're probably more likely than any other group to get to (or past) their truck's GCWR.