IMO, I'd stick with the 2nd gen dodges... the 12v and 24v 2nd gens are real nice bullet proof trucks (if you had a manual)... The weakest points in those trucks were the 46re, and the posi in the rear... other then that, they were awesome trucks.
As to the upper and lower control arms... Those will and have taken a harder beating then you can imagine. They are very tough indeed.
And last time I checked an f150 had IFS & a half ton axle.... the 3500 has a straight axle 3" springs... as well as a boxed frame with upper & lower control arms mounting to said frame, and usually a dana 60 front and dana 70 or 80 rear end.... so were does an f150 come into competition with the dodge 3500?
Oh, wait, it doesnt..
I cant say I like the new dodges... But I can say I like the old ones... despite the CAD system. IMO thats really the only thing the 2nd gen ram gave up to the fords of the same time period... But maybe I'm wrong.