2011 Dmax "first Drive"

[BlackSilver]

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/chev...drive-1366.html

[hockeypro1411]

A few things that stood out to me in the article:

 

"As for trim levels, base trucks still adopt the W/T (Work Truck) moniker, which includes such luxuries as vinyl seats and floors (pricing for these starts at $27,965)."

-WOW

 

"There are also now five different torsion bar rates to support different front-end loading capacities. It also means that all 4x4 versions can now be equipped with the snowplow prep package. "

-That's pretty cool. Lotta plow guys steered away from D-Max trucks because of that.

 

"At the rear, larger (and wider) asymmetrical leaf springs are designed to improve payload capacity (up to 6,200 lbs on ¾-tons and a staggering 9,300 lbs on 1-ton dually trucks)"

-Good God that's a lot of weight!

 

"The optional 6.6-liter Duramax diesel has been considerably updated for 2011. An $8,395 option"

-OUCH

 

"n terms of power and torque, GM rates the new Duramax at 397 horsepower at 3000 rpm and a stump pulling 765 ft-lbs of torque at just 1600. Combined with the Allison 1000 six-speed automatic, it’s a combination that’s hard to beat and enables these trucks to pull a maximum of 21,700 lbs behind them with a fifth wheel (17,000 with a conventional hitch)."

-Yee. Haw.

 

"Ride is nicely composed, even when unladen and there’s a noted absence of squeaks and rattles."

-Someone was listening.

 

"the steering is nice and crisp (the linkage has been revised for 2011)"

-Anybody know details on this new steering linkage?

 

Overall I'm somewhat excited to see how these trucks perform in real life. Although with the ever steepening price tags, it makes me wonder how soon we'll see any kind of major feedback

[ChevyHDGert]

"The optional 6.6-liter Duramax diesel has been considerably updated for 2011. An $8,395 option"

-OUCH

 

 

The Duramax/Allison package didn't change price. The Duramax is $7,195 and the Allison is $1,200 for a total of $8,395.

 

I'm sure the base price of the truck went up a little for all the other things they added.

[KMGZ400]

i wonder how much diffrent the front end components are.. i really want to test drive one of these

[Pool Runner]

Every article states the hood is a new shape and features twin bulges with the plastic inserts. Correct me if I'm wrong but that hood on the 2011 looks just like the 2007-2010 Hood. What is everyone smoking?? And I'm curious how much and if the new front end parts would fit my '08. I would love to have a real solid bumper all the way across like a truck is supposed to have, not these cheap plastic end caps that are on my '08. My son thinks my truck looks like a chipmunk in the front when they stuff there mouth with acorns.

[hockeypro1411]

Something else I just noticed in the Fast Facts thing..

 

"2. A hill start assist feature is standard with Stabilitrak on all single rear wheel models, which holds the throttle for 1.5 seconds when on an incline."

 

Is this because people can no longer figure out that the truck will roll backwards on an incline when you let off the brake? Seems like one more thing to go wrong when you can just drive with both feet for a few seconds.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Duramax produces more HP and Torque yet the Power Stroke has a higher towing capacity.. what gives?

 

 

 

 

From related article they did on the Ford:

Ford Power Stroke: 390 horsepower at just 2800 rpm and a staggering 735 ft-lbs at just 1600. This has allowed Ford to give the Super Duty a maximum payload capacity of 6,250 lbs and overall towing capacity of 24,400,

 

 

Duramax: GM rates the new Duramax at 397 horsepower at 3000 rpm and a stump pulling 765 ft-lbs of torque at just 1600. Combined with the Allison 1000 six-speed automatic, it’s a combination that’s hard to beat and enables these trucks to pull a maximum of 21,700 lbs behind them with a fifth wheel (17,000 with a conventional hitch)."

[welscher08]

Overall I'm somewhat excited to see how these trucks perform in real life. Although with the ever steepening price tags, it makes me wonder how soon we'll see any kind of major feedback

 

I thought i read or got an email from GM stating that the 2011 HD will be offered at the same price as the 2010 models. For example i order a 2500HD extended cab regular box, if i configured that truck then wanted a 2011 with the new model, same truck it would be the same price? There is probably something in there that changes, but i figured that meant for cab and box configuration they would start at the same price. I am not in the market to buy one but thought i got an email or read an article from them stating this. I might be wrong though.

[Kodiak450]

GM trucks also had a slightly higher price tag over Fords. I remember back in 03 when I was looking for a second truck, I went to a GM dealer to look at their used inventory then strolled on over to their new inventory. The truck I have now was listed ofr $37k + as compared to a new F250 which was $32k +. Naturally GM offered locking diff, came with 4:10's, SS exhaust, more HP and TQ and the GM truck was more HD then an F250 IMO. Ford eventially followed GM in some areas to stay competitive. As far as a base price for a WT truck, they should remain in the low to mid $20's. A WT truck is the basic truck, no carpeting, no power windows, no A/C, no mirror defrosters, ect. I can't see why they would boost the price tag up on them. I can't wait to inspect their wider spring set up. Last I checked the F150 had 3 and a helper while the 1500 only 2 and a helper. When I see the commericials for their 1500's where they are dropping a supposely somewhat heavy load into the bed, and the bed doesn't drop, it is special effects. GM is too concerned about selling their trucks for ride quality which is crap! You're buying a truck for a purpose, if you want a soft ride by a SUV or a CAR. Frames have gotten bigger over the last decade along with the body, now hopefully they will stop worrying about soft rides and add a stiffer suspension.

[Bryan410]

Duramax produces more HP and Torque yet the Power Stroke has a higher towing capacity.. what gives?

 

 

 

 

From related article they did on the Ford:

Ford Power Stroke: 390 horsepower at just 2800 rpm and a staggering 735 ft-lbs at just 1600. This has allowed Ford to give the Super Duty a maximum payload capacity of 6,250 lbs and overall towing capacity of 24,400,

 

 

Duramax: GM rates the new Duramax at 397 horsepower at 3000 rpm and a stump pulling 765 ft-lbs of torque at just 1600. Combined with the Allison 1000 six-speed automatic, it’s a combination that’s hard to beat and enables these trucks to pull a maximum of 21,700 lbs behind them with a fifth wheel (17,000 with a conventional hitch)."

 

thas for the f-450

450 can tow 24 400 pounds, but only has a payload of 4000 and something

apples to apples; gm tows more and hauls more in the dump

[hockeypro1411]

Duramax produces more HP and Torque yet the Power Stroke has a higher towing capacity.. what gives?

 

 

 

 

From related article they did on the Ford:

Ford Power Stroke: 390 horsepower at just 2800 rpm and a staggering 735 ft-lbs at just 1600. This has allowed Ford to give the Super Duty a maximum payload capacity of 6,250 lbs and overall towing capacity of 24,400,

 

 

Duramax: GM rates the new Duramax at 397 horsepower at 3000 rpm and a stump pulling 765 ft-lbs of torque at just 1600. Combined with the Allison 1000 six-speed automatic, it's a combination that's hard to beat and enables these trucks to pull a maximum of 21,700 lbs behind them with a fifth wheel (17,000 with a conventional hitch)."

 

thas for the f-450

450 can tow 24 400 pounds, but only has a payload of 4000 and something

apples to apples; gm tows more and hauls more in the dump

 

 

Exactly. Plus there's no standard rating for towing and capacity. Technically they say the Ford can hold 6,250, but is that sitting on the bumpstops? Or is that as it starts to squat? To me the max capacity means the most weight it can hold safely. I can throw 6,250 in the bed of a half ton truck and drive it. It won't be going anywhere fast and the braking distance will be near a mile, but it'll do it. See what I'm getting at?

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Forgot that Ford still made the F-450.

 

 

Duramax produces more HP and Torque yet the Power Stroke has a higher towing capacity.. what gives?

 

 

 

 

From related article they did on the Ford:

Ford Power Stroke: 390 horsepower at just 2800 rpm and a staggering 735 ft-lbs at just 1600. This has allowed Ford to give the Super Duty a maximum payload capacity of 6,250 lbs and overall towing capacity of 24,400,

 

 

Duramax: GM rates the new Duramax at 397 horsepower at 3000 rpm and a stump pulling 765 ft-lbs of torque at just 1600. Combined with the Allison 1000 six-speed automatic, it's a combination that's hard to beat and enables these trucks to pull a maximum of 21,700 lbs behind them with a fifth wheel (17,000 with a conventional hitch)."

 

thas for the f-450

450 can tow 24 400 pounds, but only has a payload of 4000 and something

apples to apples; gm tows more and hauls more in the dump

 

 

Exactly. Plus there's no standard rating for towing and capacity. Technically they say the Ford can hold 6,250, but is that sitting on the bumpstops? Or is that as it starts to squat? To me the max capacity means the most weight it can hold safely. I can throw 6,250 in the bed of a half ton truck and drive it. It won't be going anywhere fast and the braking distance will be near a mile, but it'll do it. See what I'm getting at?

 

[Sir Dan]

What does everyone think about the DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) that must now be added? Another article I found says that it can be expensive to re-fill and the truck goes into "limp" mode when the tank goes dry. Is this fluid only available at the dealer?

[hockeypro1411]

What does everyone think about the DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) that must now be added? Another article I found says that it can be expensive to re-fill and the truck goes into "limp" mode when the tank goes dry. Is this fluid only available at the dealer?

 

Personally, I don't like the idea. On the plus side, these trucks have a 5.3 gallon tank and they say 5000 miles before re-filling (about 943 miles per gallon). On the negative side, it's an added cost of driving (yet to be seen how much), it's a potential problem for those living in very warm climates (above 80-something degrees F, it begins to evaporate), in temps below 11*F the fluid will begin to freeze. What happens when the truck has to make a short trip in the cold and the heater lines can't melt it quick enough?

 

Obviously there's a few things that the engineers had to consider, and I'm interested to see how they did. As far as cost, the stuff is like 65% water (I think), so it shouldn't be TOO bad.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

I hate the DPF system on my truck and I don't like the idea of using DEF either. Unfortunately it's the only practical way to get the exhaust levels down to where the fed nazi's want them at and all 3 auto-makers are going to have to go this route.