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Help from the Duramax People...


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well make this short...

 

I 100% GM guy 09 Silervado, 10 Sierra all my cars are GM. When I found out the Sierra was sold to me can't handle the load i need to haul. I live in DET and everyone knows some one at the BIG 3. So all my ford guys tell me to get a F250 Gasser or Powerstroke (i do research the PS has BIG ISSUES) i bought a Gasser 2013.

 

Now ford is GARBAGE and i have posted all over the forums about my nightmare with this Truck... so i'm going to sell it and go back to GM (which i never wanted to leave but at the time the new body on the HD line was not out.)

 

so i have never owned a Diesel. I tow 1-2 times a month in the spring all the way through November. It's a 28' long car hauler totalling about 10K.

 

so Questions:

 

1. are the NEW GMC DENALI's HD with the DURAMAX just awesome do you love yours...? anything you need to watch out for?

2. i have read issues with the DEP and other issues like snapped 1/2 shafts up front (unlike Ford uses U Joints for the fronts)

3. would you buy a diesel knowing what i'm hauling? the rest of the time the truck is a daily driver and i drive all over metro detroit (tri county area fairly huge area)

 

all i know is i;m leaving FORD. As soon as i can i was going to order a 2016 with the 8 Speed allison Trans. (if i get Diesel) i'm 95% leaning that way....

 

any comments are welcome...

and thanks for your time...

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My opinion is that you don't need to step up to a 3/4 ton let alone a Duramax. It might be harder to find now but a '14/'15 1500 with max tow (which you'll get the 6.2 and integrated trailer brake) is all you really need. If not then a 3/4 ton with the gasser. You really don't need a Duramax. Now if you tow more than once a week then a Duramax would be worth the extra cost. You have to remember, they may get better fuel mileage, but diesel still cost more and cost a lot more to maintain. With these new trucks 10,000 lbs isn't a lot.

 

Just my opinion

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My opinion is that you don't need to step up to a 3/4 ton let alone a Duramax. It might be harder to find now but a '14/'15 1500 with max tow (which you'll get the 6.2 and integrated trailer brake) is all you really need. If not then a 3/4 ton with the gasser. You really don't need a Duramax. Now if you tow more than once a week then a Duramax would be worth the extra cost. You have to remember, they may get better fuel mileage, but diesel still cost more and cost a lot more to maintain. With these new trucks 10,000 lbs isn't a lot.

 

Just my opinion

I agree I was looking at going back to a 1500.00 but the issue is you can't get a DENALI even the 6.2 with more then 9200 towing. also it requires premium gas.

 

really want to get the DENALI Package and the LCD display in the denali only dash...

 

also the 1500 my 2010 was just being pushed around by the trailer... you felt like a bobble head... when i'm towing i'm going across country 2 days there and then 2 days back in the truck... but when I went to a F250 man night and day... so secure and just rock solid... why for the ~10K trailer i'm hauling i think i want to stay in the 2500 line..

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My opinion is that you don't need to step up to a 3/4 ton let alone a Duramax. It might be harder to find now but a '14/'15 1500 with max tow (which you'll get the 6.2 and integrated trailer brake) is all you really need. If not then a 3/4 ton with the gasser. You really don't need a Duramax. Now if you tow more than once a week then a Duramax would be worth the extra cost. You have to remember, they may get better fuel mileage, but diesel still cost more and cost a lot more to maintain. With these new trucks 10,000 lbs isn't a lot.

 

Just my opinion

and when you talk cost.. fuel i would save big time this F250 is never getting more then 10mpg... HORRIBLE no matter how i drive.. maybe 11-12 on freeway at 65-70.

 

I know you have larger oil changes etc.. and the DEF fluid... and the cost of the deisel up front what other costs are there?

 

do you have to like change the plugs every 30K something?

this is why i'm asking i want to make sure i know everything before i buy one... this is would be the 4th truck in 6 years and well yea wife wants a new car soon too... so my 4-1 ratio... this has to be my last truck for a LONG LONG time... money well the up front cost not worried about but if you tell me i have to spend like 5K a year in oil changes and like plugs every 15K and this and that... then that is something i have to factor...

 

wish they would but a 6.2 gasser in the 2500

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I am on my 3rd GM HD truck and my first Duramax (see signature). I love it. By far the best truck of all 3. As far as the Duramax goes, just ask yourself if it is worth the extra 9k. I haven't towed my 12,000 lb fifth wheel yet but have towed a 8000 lb cargo trailer. All I can say is set the cruise and forget about it. Braking is 100 percent better and mountain driving is effortless.

The only issue I have had is thin factory paint on both rear pillars. It is going to dealer body shop on the 13th.

It sounds like you tow a lot so I say go for the Dmax. Also is going HD, which you should based on what you tow, spend the extra few bucks and get a 3500. The extra Springs add about 800 lbs payload per the sticker.

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I am on my 3rd GM HD truck and my first Duramax (see signature). I love it. By far the best truck of all 3. As far as the Duramax goes, just ask yourself if it is worth the extra 9k. I haven't towed my 12,000 lb fifth wheel yet but have towed a 8000 lb cargo trailer. All I can say is set the cruise and forget about it. Braking is 100 percent better and mountain driving is effortless.

The only issue I have had is thin factory paint on both rear pillars. It is going to dealer body shop on the 13th.

It sounds like you tow a lot so I say go for the Dmax. Also is going HD, which you should based on what you tow, spend the extra few bucks and get a 3500. The extra Springs add about 800 lbs payload per the sticker.

yeah but i will never pull more then the 10K or so today and i use the bed for work... hauling old computer gear to the recyclerer. the 3500 ride will be more harsh than the 2500 the only difference i know is you can put more in the bed of the 3500 if all things setup equal because it has stronger springs etc..

 

and I just check the GM PDF the MAX tow a DENALO with the 6.2L can haul is 9200 you can't get but a 3.23 gear in it.. that is what my 2010 had in it with the 5.3 and didn't feel safe and i know it wasn't i was over the limit.

 

but your input is what i'm looking for...

 

what is the deal with the paint you mean between the doors? something wrong with the paint?

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I filled my DEF tank yesterday, 7,892 miles since last fill up. Cost $14.00 or about $0.00178 cents per mile. So if you are worried about the DEF I would get the gas truck. My towing is not as regular as yours sounds and my daily drive may not be as far but I've got 74,000 miles on my 11 truck and no way do I or would I at this time go back to a gas truck, just because I never know what I might need to hook on to. :jester:

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yeah but i will never pull more then the 10K or so today and i use the bed for work... hauling old computer gear to the recyclerer. the 3500 ride will be more harsh than the 2500 the only difference i know is you can put more in the bed of the 3500 if all things setup equal because it has stronger springs etc..

 

and I just check the GM PDF the MAX tow a DENALO with the 6.2L can haul is 9200 you can't get but a 3.23 gear in it.. that is what my 2010 had in it with the 5.3 and didn't feel safe and i know it wasn't i was over the limit.

 

but your input is what i'm looking for...

 

what is the deal with the paint you mean between the doors? something wrong with the paint?

The ride quality between the 2500 and 3500 is no different. The only difference is overload Springs. All other suspension is identical.

Both rear pillars (corner pillars behind rear doors) have thin paint. I can see hazing or bleed through of bare metal under the clearcoat. The paint simply wasn't applied thick enough in these two areas.

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I filled my DEF tank yesterday, 7,892 miles since last fill up. Cost $14.00 or about $0.00178 cents per mile. So if you are worried about the DEF I would get the gas truck. My towing is not as regular as yours sounds and my daily drive may not be as far but I've got 74,000 miles on my 11 truck and no way do I or would I at this time go back to a gas truck, just because I never know what I might need to hook on to. :jester:

 

not worried about the cost of the DEF but i have heard issues in the cold climates about the tank freezing and then there are issues... the cost i'm not worried about at all there...

 

and the difference between the 2500 and the 3500 i might have to see the price differeance... if the only differenace is springs i might just get the 3500. Already spending 60K what is 2k more if that is the cost... just saying in the grand scheme 2k at this point is nominal.

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It does not get that cold where I live but there is a heater in the DEF tank to keep enough thawed to keep running or so I am told. We had some single digit temps this winter and I have my Edge CTS set up that if DEF temp is below 32 degrees it warns me, and it never went off so the computer was thinking everything is ok. :jester:

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The ride quality between the 2500 and 3500 is no different. The only difference is overload Springs. All other suspension is identical.

Both rear pillars (corner pillars behind rear doors) have thin paint. I can see hazing or bleed through of bare metal under the clearcoat. The paint simply wasn't applied thick enough in these two areas.

 

since i live in MICH and you in rochester NY have any issues with the cold?

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since i live in MICH and you in rochester NY have any issues with the cold?

Are you referring to cold starting/fuel? This Feb our average temp was 12.2 F. I had no problems. I used winter fuel additive and have the high idle enabled to allow quicker warm-ups. Also used the grill cover when daytime temps were below 20.

BTW, the allison Transmission is smooth as silk.

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ok Cold temps no issues... this year was cold... but that is not the norm... and yeah it's kept in a garage not heated but not out in the open either... if it has REMOTE start.. then let it warm up like i do all my cars/trucks before driving off.

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my post may be irrelevant since i just got the truck yesterday, but already have put 150 miles on it and it is WONDERFUL to drive. you can tell you are in an HD truck but it has superb characteristics. and you almost can't even hear the diesel engine running. i think my favorite part so far is the Allison trans. it is just the best trans i have ever had the pleasure of driving.

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