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First Tow With New Truck

way_out_there

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way_out_there Enthusiast

way_out_there

Posted
Posted

For those that have been towing with GM HD's for a bit this is nothing new. I'm just sharing my experience with my new ride, to help inform others thinking about stepping up as I just have.

 

I am not new to towing a trailer, I have logged several thousand miles each year towing a boat, utility trailer, or an enclosed car trailer for many years. But in the past, these were all gas motored trucks. After much research and shopping, I purchased a GMC Sierra 2500 HD CCSB with the Duramax/Allison combo. It honestly wasn't my first choice when I started looking; I thought for sure I was going to land an 8.1 with an Allison or manual trans, but they were scarce, poorly equipped, or just not appealing after viewing or driving. So, I upped the ante, and went Diesel. I can now say, I've been missing a lot all these years.

 

I just did my first tow with my new truck this past weekend: 18' enclosed trailer, approximately 8500lbs, a little over 200 miles, mostly interstate driving, and some county highways. Honestly, it was a dream come true. If I wasn't looking at the trailer in the mirror, it was almost like it wasn't there. Acceleration was good, passing power was great, and cruising was a cake. At 73 MPH, the truck never broke a sweat. In cruise on the interstate, the truck was in top gear, and never needed to downshift for slight grade changes. Off the interstate, the Allison did an awesome job in the tow/haul mode, keeping the motor in the power band, and helping immensely on slowing down with the downshifting/grade braking. This little trip was enough to convince me that I have made a wise purchase, and will most likely not want to step back into a gasser for a while.

 

My point: if you are thinking about going diesel, and can afford it, you won't be disappointed. This is coming from a gearhead, with lots of auto experience, but a diesel newbie.

 

Have fun, and please buy American!!!

THE BIGPUNN Enthusiast

THE BIGPUNN

Posted
Posted

thanks for the honest review. i recently thought about getting a dmax. i only am getting 9-10 miles / gallon with my 8.1. we built a house last year and i put over $9,000 in gas in the truck from driving back and fourth and the high gas prices. i only owe 2 years on the truck and dont see myself getting another for a realllll long time, especially with the current truck prices. i only paid $32,000 for my truck 3 years ago off the lot brand new with incentives. but my next one will be a diesel if i need a truck at that time. i need to get over the interior cabin noise and diesel smell as well.

tbyrne Senior Enthusiast

tbyrne

Posted
Posted
thanks for the honest review. i recently thought about getting a dmax. i only am getting 9-10 miles / gallon with my 8.1. we built a house last year and i put over $9,000 in gas in the truck from driving back and fourth and the high gas prices. i only owe 2 years on the truck and dont see myself getting another for a realllll long time, especially with the current truck prices. i only paid $32,000 for my truck 3 years ago off the lot brand new with incentives. but my next one will be a diesel if i need a truck at that time. i need to get over the interior cabin noise and diesel smell as well.

 

 

I felt the same about diesel trucks before. The new Duramax trucks are very quiet. They don't sound anything like the older Ford and Dodge trucks. As for the diesel smell, I really don't notice that much. Nothing inside the cab. I just smell it a little after the truck has been idling for awhile in the morning. I wish I would have bought one years ago!

 

Tom

way_out_there Enthusiast

way_out_there

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I ve been thinking about it too, but the dealer tells me no plow on a diesel! That s a deal killer for me in the northeast.

 

I've seen plows on Duramax powered trucks, so what gives? I think the ones I've seen were on standard cabs though, possibly an extended cab, but not yet on a crew cab. And I'm certain they were 2500HD, they were only single rear wheel. I didn't do any reading for that in my manuals, but could drag them out...

 

Oh, but these were not the new trucks, they were the "classic" body style.

sdnelson New Member

sdnelson

Posted
Posted
I ve been thinking about it too, but the dealer tells me no plow on a diesel! That s a deal killer for me in the northeast.

 

 

 

I have a 2004 2500hd duramax with a factory plow prep package??

mini1 Enthusiast

mini1

Posted
Posted
I ve been thinking about it too, but the dealer tells me no plow on a diesel! That s a deal killer for me in the northeast.

 

 

 

I have a 2004 2500hd duramax with a factory plow prep package??

 

 

He is talking about 07 NBS.

sonjaab Senior Enthusiast

sonjaab

Posted
Posted

GM does NOT offer the VYU plow prep option on any GMT 800 or 900

x-cab or crew with a D-max. Only on a reg. cab model.................

cerbomark Senior Enthusiast

cerbomark

Posted
Posted

I ve seen it with my own eyes on the window sticker of an 07 New style, 2500HD, gas, extended cab. PLow package. (GMT 900). Still can t nail this down.

Daubs Enthusiast

Daubs

Posted
Posted

I couldn't justify a Duramax when I ordered my CC back in 04. Just didn't drive enough miles or tow anything worthy. So it's the 8.1 for me. Love the engine and the Allison. I will tell you that I'm seriously considering going back to the 1500 for my next truck. Without the 8.1 option on the new HD's, there's no reason for me to be driving the big truck.

 

And as a daily driver I really can't justify the added cost of the Duramax. So I will probably wait a few years until the 6.0's in light duty's start seeing the 6 speed autos. Would love to see the 6.2 HO motors in the light duty trucks. Only thing that will really bother me is the loss of bed space in the LD crew cabs.

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