Looking To Add Another Chevy To The Farm

ChevyTech77 · October 5, 2011

big problem for the diesel for me at least is the repair cost and lack of diy repair. I am not knocking them or there performance but if/when it breaks its big $$$$$ if I am not mistaken. Yes gassers do break but the repair costs are not nearly as steep.

I definitely appreciate hearing all sides of this as its a debate as old as the first trucks.

Correct, if it breaks, its not cheap. Maintenance is key though and rarely will you ever see a gas engine last as long without a major repair as you would a diesel.

I admit, a lot of it seems like a Catch 22 but really, if I had to spend the amount of time in my truck, towing heavier loads like yourself, just for my sanity alone, I'd have a Duramax, all mpg, hp, tq and $$ figures aside.

yukon25008.1 · October 5, 2011

01-Early 03 wear the oil users.. My 05 doesnt use a half of a qaurt in 4-5000 miles,daily driving and pulling trailers/camper..

How many post '03 Duramax's do you hear about with injector issues?

Look dude, I get it, you don't like Duramax's which is odd because if I remember correctly, you were asking me all kinds of questions about them and I thought you were looking to buy one as well, not too long ago. Either or, no matter to me but to say that an 8.1 can do the job of a Duramax and have all the same benifits while doing it, is assinine, honestly.

Can the 8.1's pull? With an Allison trans, hell yes but they are only going to get sub 10 mpg doing it where a DMax will pull it better AND get better mileage doing it, loaded or unloaded, PERIOD. It's apples to oranges bro and if you can't see that then enjoy your 8.1 but don't try and sway honest people with biased, unrealistic ideas.

Guy listen im not knocking you or your input, I know you know what your talking about.. all im saying is for what he,s is pulling it doesnt have to be a diesel..i like duramax,s christ i had 2 lly,s. Its reallyjust what the person wants. I know youe seen guys with 5.3 half tons pulling a 10,000 lb camper and then theres the guy with the denali hd duramax pulling a 1200 lb jet ski... The only other in put i have is no duramax ive ever seen got better than 14-15..my 05 lly got 12-13 pulling or not. never better..

Also look at the specs of and lb7 or lly duramax VS any 8.1 the HP numbers are around the same and the duramax has only about 65-85 more ft lbs of TQ... It aint pulling that much better.

Again you know your stuff and I am not just running my mouth Ive pulled with 2 duramax trucks and 3 8.1 trucks over the last 6 yrs..

yukon25008.1 · October 5, 2011

big problem for the diesel for me at least is the repair cost and lack of diy repair. I am not knocking them or there performance but if/when it breaks its big $$$$$ if I am not mistaken. Yes gassers do break but the repair costs are not nearly as steep.

I definitely appreciate hearing all sides of this as its a debate as old as the first trucks.

Guy you can buy whatever you want..Im just giving my two cents, NO offense to anyone in here

And i do like a diesel when its necasarry! I also think my 04 F-350 6.0 banks tuned powerstroke did bettter than any d-max ive owned or driven..

MAC88 · October 6, 2011

I had a 6.0 f350 and it pulled like freaking crazy I had it tuned mildly and it was aawesome and fairly reliable. I traded it in for a more economical ridgeline and well you know where I am at now.

Ford is like a crazy x girlfriend she is fun to ride but in tejhn morning you wake up with a headache trying to figure out how to get rid of her 'cause no one else wants her

Well I am a chevy guy and staying here. AS far a the gasssers go I really am not partial as if I was pulling over 10k weekly. The 8.1 is overkil but I got it if I need it and the 6.0 is good for most of what I do but will have to accept its limitations on the over 10k big hauls.

flhpi-ohio · October 11, 2011

I have a 07 8.1 with 4.10 and long bed. When I first got it I built racks for the sides and loaded it with wet red oak and it drove nearly the same. I hooked a 16 foot trailer loaded with scrap metal and it pulled great. The 8.1 has been great for me.

If I had to drive the truck on a daily basis there is no way I would own the 8.1. One of the perks of my job is I have a company car with a gas card. If I had to drive a 3/4 or 1 ton truck during the week I would have a diesel. My truck is basically a weekend truck or for projects during the week that might come up.

yukon25008.1 · October 11, 2011

Its funny..evryone puts gas mileage and a diesel together.. and guys with these truck know thats not the case, the two lly d-maxs i had never did better than 12-13 mpg,s the 6.0 pwr stoke did 12-14 either one empty or loaded. If you want a diesel with real gas mileage you have to go with a cummins..there straight six really will get 18-20 mpg,s..

If your easy with the 8.1 it will get 11-13 mpg..and will run circles around any 6.0...tuned or not!

tyhuck · October 12, 2011

Ive seen some Cummins engines from the early 2000's that were tuned, piped, and had intakes that would get 30MPG unloaded, and in the upper 20s when loaded. And Im talking about 4wd 3500 crew cab duallies. Thats impressive to me. Dont know about you.

Yes, Ive personnally seen these trucks and known the owners. Of course, when I say they were tuned, I mean tuned properly. Most guys tune them just so they dump fuel and blow black smoke, but these two would rarely blow black smoke, even when you gouged on it. But, they definately had the power. Dont know the specifics on the tunes, but I know the trucks were awesome.

jro909 · October 14, 2011

a diesels mileage improves with miles.....the main upside to diesel over gas besides improved torque at low rpms is the fact that they generally get around the same mileage loaded and unloaded

Prokopchuk_9 · October 15, 2011

your asking a biased question for this forum dude....98% of the people on here own gassers man. of course they are gonna say "aaaawwww too pricy, if it breaks it will cost alot, maintenance blah blah blah" the harsh reality is the duramax beats any truck that gm makesexceptthe initial price. i gotta buddy that owns a couple of them..one of them is pushing 350k kms NO issues other than the usual stuff (brakes, shocks etc..) he did things right..its an 06 LBZ, blocked off EGR, straight piped it, PCV re-route, reso-plug, cold air...and a good mild economy tune, still gets almost almost 25 MPG the trucks will last forever, i drove a cummins for a work truck it had almost 300k on it it still pulled our trailers better than the brand new 3/4 gassers. Not to mention diesel has been cheaper in canada by like 20 cents a litre for 5 years. if i was you i would find a good used 07.5-10 LMM, low mileage low price. yank that hunk of shit DPF off of it, block egr, get a good tuner. give it a set of ride-rite air bags and you will tow anything. at it will last longer than any gasser gm has to offer.

go on a duramax forum and ask that question, they wont even give you an answer just laugh. im gonna get this truck i got thru the winter again and sell it in the spring. buying a duramax or cummins

MAC88 · October 15, 2011

Ok so here is where I have wound up. I want/need a diesel but due to the bloated costs of trucks right now I am holding off on my hd purchase. I have a real good friend who will let me use his diesel if/when needed. I would rather be able to get what I want rather than be limited by the current economy.

I very much appreciate all the input IF I GET A GASSER 8.1 only and I will look for a post 2004 duramax.

I wound up picking up a 2002 1500 ecsb 5,3 3.73 lt model loaded but high miles for $4500. This same style truck was being sold for 10k plus on local lots. I worked out a yankee swap for the work to be done with my mechanic. I already put 500 miles on it and avg 16.75 mpg so I am happy as hell. My wifes 01 1500 is 220,000 and still trucking along.

Prokopchuk_9 · October 15, 2011

I had a 6.0 f350 and it pulled like freaking crazy I had it tuned mildly and it was aawesome and fairly reliable. I traded it in for a more economical ridgeline and well you know where I am at now.

Ford is like a crazy x girlfriend she is fun to ride but in tejhn morning you wake up with a headache trying to figure out how to get rid of her 'cause no one else wants her

Well I am a chevy guy and staying here. AS far a the gasssers go I really am not partial as if I was pulling over 10k weekly. The 8.1 is overkil but I got it if I need it and the 6.0 is good for most of what I do but will have to accept its limitations on the over 10k big hauls.

AHAHAH stage 5 clinger

FargoZ71 · October 18, 2011

I'm gonna say go diesel for mpgs.. for towing.. for resale.. for tuning fun.. But either way if you go gas.. I'd get the 8.1 BBC, simply cause you can get it maited to a Allison.. and not a 4l80e like the 6.0. So then it's down to you to decide if you want a 8.1l, or the 6.6 Dmax. I like there cc/sb configuration and am actually looking for a 03-06 to use for plowing.

MAC88 · October 18, 2011

I had a 6.0 f350 and it pulled like freaking crazy I had it tuned mildly and it was aawesome and fairly reliable. I traded it in for a more economical ridgeline and well you know where I am at now.

Ford is like a crazy x girlfriend she is fun to ride but in tejhn morning you wake up with a headache trying to figure out how to get rid of her 'cause no one else wants her

Well I am a chevy guy and staying here. AS far a the gasssers go I really am not partial as if I was pulling over 10k weekly. The 8.1 is overkil but I got it if I need it and the 6.0 is good for most of what I do but will have to accept its limitations on the over 10k big hauls.

AHAHAH stage 5 clinger

LOL

ChevyTech77 · October 18, 2011

I'm gonna say go diesel for mpgs.. for towing.. for resale.. for tuning fun.. But either way if you go gas.. I'd get the 8.1 BBC, simply cause you can get it maited to a Allison.. and not a 4l80e like the 6.0. So then it's down to you to decide if you want a 8.1l, or the 6.6 Dmax. I like there cc/sb configuration and am actually looking for a 03-06 to use for plowing.

Can't add a plow to any diesel or BB gas CC/SB configuration unless you want the frame to crack just behind the upper control arms. The '11 HD's are the only GM pickups rated to carry a plow in a CC/SB configuration with the diesel engine.

uh6tdrvr · November 26, 2011

My dads 06 Dmax 4wd dually has over 170K, zero times in the shop and with tuner, exhaust and intake gets over 20 mpg running close to 80 and around 11.5 with a 38Foot almost 20K TT on the back of it and there is no lag for go in either configuration. I dont see any reason to not pull an oil burner infront of you truck as much as you drive especially if you tow as much as you say.