Question about Chevy Duramax trucks
 

Do we have any Chevy Diesel techs here? Or anyone "in the know" about the 2008 Duramax Chevies?

I love my 2007 F350 with the 6.0 but........I have a shot at an absolutely screaming deal on an 08 DRW3500 Chevy.

I have been a Ford truck guy for 10 years and have NEVER been let down by a Ford, but this deal is really really great.

Hoping someone can give me pros and cons.

I dont think there is much difference other than the extra 5 hp.

I would think if you can put up with the issues with 6.0 Powerstroke, you'll love the D-max

I think they have been real reliable since the LB7 which is around 04.

Friend has an 06 not one issue at all, he loves the truck and the Alison is the best towing trans period.

Good luck. I would love to own a D-max, Ali pick up.

I too am an F250 person only mine is a 5.4L gasoline. 1% of my driving is pulling a float with a big Pontiac on it and 99% is pulling nothing so the gas is OK even though I sure wish I had a diesel when I am pulling. But enough about my Ford.

I have a friend with an '06 Duramax diesel and have travelled with him to pick up late 50s/early60s Bonnevilles. One trip we went to Michigan, picked up a '61 Bonneville convertible and hauled it to Carlisle, and then from there returned to SE Texas with it.
I don't recall that the truck ever down shifted. Another trip we went to Ogden Utah and picked up a 58 Bonneville convertible and brought it back. It did have to downshift then due to the much higher mountains. My friend really likes his Duramax and brags on it constantly. Although I have been in it very little if I were to buy a new diesel truck
that would be my choice. And as I said at the top I am a Ford guy.

I drove a 07 D-Max recently, its quick for a big one tonner. The tranny (Allison) is a nice piece also.
You will find the Fords chassis is much stronger/sturdy hauling a heavy load, though.

We went to bike week in Daytona recently, and pulled a small trailer with my friends 05 Duramax with two bikes in it. I wasn't overly impressed with the truck, aside from the excellent ride. Part of our trip took us down I-77 thru West Va. The truck did OK on the hills, but downshifted frequently. It also sucked down TONS of fuel, compared to what my Cummins powered Dodge would have done.

We averaged 11 mpg for the trip. The trailer and bikes couldn't have weighed much over 4000lbs. I drove about 50 percent of the time, the power was OK, but not overly impressive at all.

I just made nearly the same trip a few weeks earlier with my 24' box trailer to pick up a 67 GTO. My 01 Dodge averaged right at 15 mpg for the trip, and never once did we slow up or have to shift out of 5th gear.....Cliff

Some of my Ford buddies have switched to the Duramax, they love the smooth power and the truck rides and handles much better. I think the Ford may be better for really big loads, but for car trailers, boats, and the 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer its perfect. The new 6 spped trans is also very nice. The GM is a lot quieter the the Ford. I dove my buddies F350 for 200 mile this past weekend, nice truck but the front end is really stiff and has a tendancy to kind of hop the front end on rough roads when going through a curve.

I've had my 04 GMC Sierra 2500HD crew cab 4WD Duramax/Allison for a little over a year. Absolutely love it!!! NO COMPARISON for towing with a diesel. I've had a couple friends drive the truck while towing my 24ft enclosed trailer with a toy inside and they have no issues and one even said he didn't think there was anything back there. For lots of diesel information, go to thedieselplace.com

Chris

I have always been a Ford Diesel man. I've owned probably 6 of them and they are hard to beat.
A buddy of mine has a DuraMax and recently had to replace the injectors. It was out of warranty and the bill was 5 grand!!!
Out of 6 Fords and probably a million miles, I never had one injector or injector pump failure.

Have a friend in Kansas City with an `04 that`s currently in the shop for it`s FOURTH transmission rebuild. Only thing it`s ever towed is a small 2 wheel trailer with camping equipment up to South Dakota. In town driving 99.9% of the time. They can`t get it to stop slipping on 2-3 and 3-4 shifts. Had whole trans replaced in `05 and this one rebuilt 3 times. The dealer hates him.

What about turbo or tranny failure?

What brand?

Duramax diesel
 

A buddy of mine has an 06 with the allison trans. The 06 was redesigned over the 04 and 05. 06 actually has more power. He also put in a Bullydog programmer and WOW what a diff. He pulls a 32 foot camper, even thru the mountians, and doesnt even notice it. I think the 07 is down in power but made to run on the new diesel fuel out. Go for the Chevy. I was told buy a GM service rep if its a HD with an Allison trans there is nothing you can do that wont be covered by warranty.

Ponjon--Sorry about that--it`s a `04 Chevy dually 1 ton--Allison trans, Duramax diesel.