Diesel Tow vehicle options

[Donnie]

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Do the diesels typically average 10mpg loaded with a trailer and does running 75-80mph really affect the mileage, it sure does on a gas Suburban.
I get 12.2mpg with my Duramax loaded running 65 to 68 hope to be up around 13mpg this year with my air box mod. yes going 75-80 will affect your mileage. on a side note I get 19mpg running 68 empty.

I know the older Dodge and Ford trucks were really loud, after just spending the weekend in a friends Chev Duramax I noticed the fan is quite loud from the interior and seemed to kick in and out alot. there is a fix for the fan running all the time. (the fan will kill your mileage) he must have an LLY motor.

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[CamarosRus]

Where I can read,hear find out about which years,models,engines of USED Dodge Cummins are good and which to avoid.....
I would prefer a 2 wheel drive, but understand there are few out there (????)

[Donnie]

Chuck,
the cummins are all good. its everything else around it that you want to avoid!

[musclcar]

thanks to all the stringent emmisions standards on all the diesel trucks for 2007 this is what happened to the new 2008 superduty trucks

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...ipe_fires.html

[Chevy454]

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My first diesel GMC 2005 fully loaded with trailer package - 2500 extended cab long box, I love it and like any body else here that has had one will probably never go back to gas tow vehicles.


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You ever driven a 8.1L/Ally truck, or even a 6.0L? We have both an 8.1L and a Dmax, and until we hung the Edge on the Dmax the 8.1L would *easily* outpace it with a load. And best as I can tell, their ain't a lot of difference in fuel mileage, either...however, while you can turn down the torque management on the 8.1L and gain some power, it is a lot easier to turn up the wick on the Dmax!

[mrrec]

I made the mistake of buying an 8.1 back when the Dmax was just out and the dmax was hard to come by - traded it after about 6 months. Sure, it had some power, but with automatic it was buzzing 5k rpm on the hills. 5 mpg. We're talking serious towing of 20k lbs and wind resistance. I've put 200k miles on dmax trucks and the same load as the gasser results in 8 mpg and never out of overdrive on 6% grades. The dmax pickups get 20 mpg empty. Your lucky to get a best of 15 EVER with the 8.1. Absolutely no comparison!
Dave

[Chevy454]

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The dmax pickups get 20 mpg empty.

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I'd be hard pressed to say our Dmax has even gotten *close* to 20mpg...we had (and still have) the 8.1L, and heard all the "20mpg" quotes before we bought our Dmax, and thought it all sounded perfect: great fuel mileage *and* a better towing package, where do I sign! But we haven't seen it...mid-teens at best empty, probably. And then you figure in the all the extra cost @ every service interval, and then the 30 cent per gallon premium for diesel fuel (which I have *yet* to understand!). FWIW, the gentleman we bought our Dmax from pulls a 45ft horse trailer w/living quarters, and said he thought his 8.1L powered truck actually handled the load better and was *the* setup for heavy towing...but then again, he was selling the Dmax dually to help pay for the new Dmax powered TopKick he had sitting in his driveway! LOL!!

Don't get me wrong, I *love* our Dmax, and other than the obligatory injector failure and a burnt ring & pinion, the truck has been flawless...pulls our 45ft 2-car very well. But our 8.1L is a brute...I just wish I could plug into the harness and turn the wick up another 100hp like with our Dmax! Seems like I heard GM is doing away with the 8.1L this model year, though? Any word on that? I wish they'd pour the development into that powerplant like they did the LS series engines...

[BUIZILLA]

my 2006 Dmax 4WD gets right at 20 mpg at 75 mph, and 15.3-15.7 around town, 100% without a doubt.

[ZL1mike]

2005 GMC HD Dmax with Triple Dog Power Pup with Outlook combo,,,
I will only purchase diesel trucks for hauling from now on.

[SmallHurst]

Rob,

You heard right. The 8.1 is dead. Largest gasser for GM is the 6.0 if I understand it correctly.

I am finding that the more things change, the more things stay the same. After I have worked the truck over, I am finding that I can get about 10 out of my old school with the 24' box on behind. Savin' my money for the petro to make it to Michigan!