DURAMAX

wesmadden · January 19, 2006

Okay, lay it on me... is it worth it for me to spend the extra money for the Duramax/Allison combo?

I'm not a daily hauler, but would like to have the ability to carry a 3500# slide-in camper plus a boat or two-place four wheeler trailer 50+ days a year. Since I live in Alaska, everything is a day drive away, so I could really benefit from greater gas mileage. My Z71 has been awesome, but the family is growing.

I need your help, because I have to convince the wife that the extra $6800 is worth it! She didn't buy into the whole "650 ft/lbs. of tourque, honey!!" argument.

Another factor is fuel prices. While diesel is often cheaper than regular gas in Alaska, it is not so in the lower 48.

Any help from you experts would be greatly appreciated!

Shawn T · January 19, 2006

This is just some advice, NOT a diesel vs gas flame war. I think the 6.0L would do just fine for a 3500# camper and roughly 2000#'s worth of toys. You could add a few mods (Wester's tune, exhaust) and wake it up a little. $6800 is a lot of cash. Plenty of power with a fatter wallet. On the other hand, I drive a DMax and the two motors are apples to oranges. You will not even notice 5500 lbs on it's back and the most noticable difference is the fuel mileage. You may see a slight change on the diesel, but you won't be able to pass a gas station with the gasser. Each has it's upsides and downsides.

Jester4736w · January 19, 2006

I would suggest the 6.0... The weight that you are talking about is fine in the back of a 6.0, has plenty of power for what your lookin to haul. Just my opinion.

wesmadden · January 19, 2006

Yeah, I don't mean to start the Gas vs. Diesel war, but the Duramax is just so darn impressive. Especially when you can get enormous gains from just a tuner. Maybe I can start a business pulling houses down to pay for the extra cost!

1911HD · January 20, 2006

I havent even towed yet with my 6.0 liter and i am not happy with it. I could only imagine it with some weight behind it. I might be buying an LBZ Durmax tommorrow because I WANT TO and i will be towing in the future when i go back home for good. In all reality, 23 mpg (give or take) on the highway versus a measely 14mpg on the highway not to mention the Gi-normous torque and HP increase...bring on the diesel. Dont really intend to piss off anyone, but i have had the 6.0 for 5 or 6 months and have done nothing but regreted it. My dealer let me drive around an LBZ for 2 days now....it is night and day as you would expect. Wes, you do what you gotta do, just trying to shed some light for you.

Trouttrooper · January 20, 2006

From a pure cost standpoint you need to put a lot of miles on a Dmax to make up for the extra price of the engine......of course there's another heated argument as to how many miles etc.

Sticking with a pure cost side of things....will this vehicle be a daily driver? Then get the 6.0. If it's used only when hauling your camper etc. then why not the 8.1? However if you drive a lot of miles, especially empty, then the Dmax would probably be best.

An 6.0 gets better mileage empty, but the 8.1 gets better loaded. Dmax gets the best mileage of all 3 when empty, but loaded it gets closer to the 8.1 range, although still better than the 8.1. At least that has been my experiance.

All 3 engines will be strong enough to handle the load weights you are talking about.

mmayo · January 20, 2006

I've had my 6.0L for 2½ yrs. I love my truck but wish that it had a D/A. I rarely tow anything, so its not about that- my truck would be more than capable of towing anything that I would need. I've raced my dads truck (like mine but D/A) w/ a westers 40HP tune & easily pulls away from my truck w/ the 93hot tune. My next truck will be a diesel no doubt. I think it boils down to personal choice but living in Alaska (driving many miles) & you say that diesel prices are below gasoline I think diesel would be the way to go. Just my opinion.

linda · January 20, 2006

Only because I am in the middle of this MOD, but have you entertained the idea of getting the 6.0 or the 8.1, and with the money you saved over buying the DMAX.......put a supercharger on it. Dont get me wrong, my 8.1L with the Westers 93 Tune on it is a monster. However, for less than the DMAX upgrade you can add about 150RWHP and about 200lb/ft of torque. Regardless of what is said though, if you tow a lot, just want the huge torque numbers from the factory, or just love the diesel.....than get it. Thats the beauty of this country.....you can get what ever you want if you have the money. I know a guy with the crew cab long bed cummings diesel and he doesn't even have a scratch on the trailer hitch, but its what he wanted. Always go with your instinct i say. If you want the DMAX but your trying to justify it.........screw the justification, just get it. You will always be looking back saying, "I wish i would have gotten it".

Machine · January 20, 2006

Only because I am in the middle of this MOD, but have you entertained the idea of getting the 6.0 or the 8.1, and with the money you saved over buying the DMAX.......put a supercharger on it. Dont get me wrong, my 8.1L with the Westers 93 Tune on it is a monster. However, for less than the DMAX upgrade you can add about 150RWHP and about 200lb/ft of torque. Regardless of what is said though, if you tow a lot, just want the huge torque numbers from the factory, or just love the diesel.....than get it. Thats the beauty of this country.....you can get what ever you want if you have the money. I know a guy with the crew cab long bed cummings diesel and he doesn't even have a scratch on the trailer hitch, but its what he wanted. Always go with your instinct i say. If you want the DMAX but your trying to justify it.........screw the justification, just get it. You will always be looking back saying, "I wish i would have gotten it".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Linda, it’s been a while. Where have you been?

HillHound · January 20, 2006

If I was in the market for a GM pickup I'd go for the 8.1L without a second thought. Not putting down the other 2 engines but some of us are just unabashed fans of big gas engines and the 8100 is the reigning king of displacement!

The fact that you can get it with the Allison would ice the deal for me. The 6.0L limits the capabilities of the truck and that would kill that idea for me. The diesel or 8100 allows you to use the truck closer to the limit of it's tow/haul capabilities.

tbyrne · January 20, 2006

I've owned trucks with the 5.3, 6.0, 8.1 (two of these) and now have an '05 Duramax. Nothing wrong with any of the gas choices but... I should have bought a diesel years ago. Plenty (and I mean plenty) of pulling power, car like fuel mileage at times and very easy to modify. One tune can add an extra 100+hp. That would cost $4-5000. to do that with a gas motor.

Good luck with your decision!

linda · January 20, 2006

Hey Linda, it’s been a while. Where have you been?

Work has been beatin me up lately, Im still around. Gettin ready to supercharge my 8.1 in a month or so. Pretty Psych'ed about that. Take it easy Machine.

I've owned trucks with the 5.3, 6.0, 8.1 (two of these) and now have an '05 Duramax. Nothing wrong with any of the gas choices but... I should have bought a diesel years ago. Plenty (and I mean plenty) of pulling power, car like fuel mileage at times and very easy to modify. One tune can add an extra 100+hp. That would cost $4-5000. to do that with a gas motor.

So Tom, your telling me i shouldn't by the whipple from you for $4000? Oh well, I had my mind just about made up too.

By the way Tom, you have the best price going that I can find on them right now. Shouldn't be but a couple more weeks and you will be gettin that call. You dont see prices going up before then do you? Gettin my plugs and injectors in the next week or so too. Man I cant wait!

SS Crew · January 21, 2006

I havent even towed yet with my 6.0 liter and i am not happy with it. I could only imagine it with some weight behind it. I might be buying an LBZ Durmax tommorrow because I WANT TO and i will be towing in the future when i go back home for good. In all reality, 23 mpg (give or take) on the highway versus a measely 14mpg on the highway not to mention the Gi-normous torque and HP increase...bring on the diesel. Dont really intend to piss off anyone, but i have had the 6.0 for 5 or 6 months and have done nothing but regreted it. My dealer let me drive around an LBZ for 2 days now....it is night and day as you would expect. Wes, you do what you gotta do, just trying to shed some light for you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've got the 6.0 in my Quadrasteer crew cab. I thought there was something wrong with engine in my truck when I first got. It was a dog!

I put the Wester's 91 hot tune on it and it's night and day. It's no hot rod, but now it really gets out of its own way.

I know there are other tuners out there that are cheaper, but I have nothing but good things to say about Lyndon and his operation. You can get one from Tbyrne, one of the site sponsers.

Good luck.

Daubs · January 23, 2006

I looked hard at a D-max when ordering my 04 (two years ago this month). For the amount of miles I was driving the gas engine was a better choice for me. I calculated I could drive my gasser for 6-7 years for the cost of the Duramax.

That said, I did NOT opt for the 6.0L. Buddy had Crew Cab 2500HD with the 6.0 and was getting 11 MPG city OR highway. So I got the Big Block and have been happy ever since. Installed Volant and Westers and I'm getting 10.5 around town and 13-14 highway. In the winter with all the sitting / warming up the truck, I dip under 10. But I really can't complain a bit.

Dad had a 76 K-20 with 350 V8 and got a whopping 6 MPG city OR highway, uphill, downhill, full moon, wind at back, etc. And heard lots of stories about 454's getting 6-7 MPG. Ick.

The fact that my 6k pound Crew Cab can get above 10, okay by me.

Skyline · February 19, 2006

Okay, lay it on me... is it worth it for me to spend the extra money for the Duramax/Allison combo?
I'm not a daily hauler, but would like to have the ability to carry a 3500# slide-in camper plus a boat or two-place four wheeler trailer 50+ days a year. Since I live in Alaska, everything is a day drive away, so I could really benefit from greater gas mileage. My Z71 has been awesome, but the family is growing.

I need your help, because I have to convince the wife that the extra $6800 is worth it! She didn't buy into the whole "650 ft/lbs. of tourque, honey!!" argument.

Another factor is fuel prices. While diesel is often cheaper than regular gas in Alaska, it is not so in the lower 48.

Any help from you experts would be greatly appreciated!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok I have had it for A Week, 2006 with Duramax/Allison combo in A 3500. Love it, I had A 2001 F350 with 7.3 and my new truck is so much more with the 360hp and A 6 speed alison.