Pulled the trigger today on a Duramax

[buickanddeere]

If those engines were actually driven, worked and run up to temperature. Instead of being babied and "saved" by drivers putt putting around. Many engine problems would never occur.

 

[handirifle]

Is it a crisis that the transmission downshifts and the engine revs up to climb the hill ?
Does anybody really think that is going to "blowup" the engine or wear it out and need a rebuilt before 75,000 miles?

Never said it was a "crisis" I said it's nice that it doesn't. When the Tundra down shifted of course revs go up, considerably, and gas mileage goes down accordingly. My BEST highway mileage with the 4.7L Tundra, was 16. Normal highway was 15, combined normal was 13. I get 18+ highway and 15+ combined with the diesel. Less downshifting surely plays a part in that. The HUGE torque difference is the major reason why. With the LBZ tune, the Duramax has more than twice the torque of the Toyota.

Don't assume people are stupid, when you make your comments. I have researched this decision for almost a year, and it fits MY DESIRES and NEEDS perfectly. I need NO OTHER REASON to explain or justify my purchase to anyone other than that.

As long as I am still allowed a little freedom in this country, to purchase what I want, when I want it, without involving ANYONE ELSES finances, I will do so. I really don't care if I have to pay $2 a gallon more it's MY wallet, and my choice.

 

[debo1683]

Never said it was a "crisis" I said it's nice that it doesn't. When the Tundra down shifted of course revs go up, considerably, and gas mileage goes down accordingly. My BEST highway mileage with the 4.7L Tundra, was 16. Normal highway was 15, combined normal was 13. I get 18+ highway and 15+ combined with the diesel. Less downshifting surely plays a part in that. The HUGE torque difference is the major reason why. With the LBZ tune, the Duramax has more than twice the torque of the Toyota.

I own a Tundra, and tow with it quite often. It is also my daily driver ... I hear ya on downshifting, revving and poor fuel mileage....that little V8 seems to be happiest at around 4000 RPM when it needs power. Its a good truck, though.

Congrats on the new truck ...

 

[Thomabear]

Never said it was a "crisis" I said it's nice that it doesn't. When the Tundra down shifted of course revs go up, considerably, and gas mileage goes down accordingly. My BEST highway mileage with the 4.7L Tundra, was 16. Normal highway was 15, combined normal was 13. I get 18+ highway and 15+ combined with the diesel. Less downshifting surely plays a part in that. The HUGE torque difference is the major reason why. With the LBZ tune, the Duramax has more than twice the torque of the Toyota.

Don't assume people are stupid, when you make your comments. I have researched this decision for almost a year, and it fits MY DESIRES and NEEDS perfectly. I need NO OTHER REASON to explain or justify my purchase to anyone other than that.

As long as I am still allowed a little freedom in this country, to purchase what I want, when I want it, without involving ANYONE ELSES finances, I will do so. I really don't care if I have to pay $2 a gallon more it's MY wallet, and my choice.

My thoughts exactly handrifle!
What were experiencing here is typical liberal mentality, ie. telling others what they need. This is no different than telling someone they shouldn't have a 2000 square foot house because they don't have kids. This is a free world and people don't need to tell others who work for a living how to run their lives. We have enough of that going on in Washington. I agree with you that holding gears, moving loads, mileage, etc. is much better with a Diesel engine. Comparing a gasser that produces peak torque at 4500 rpm to a diesel that produces the same torque at 1600 rpm is TRUELY no comparison which is why a diesel commonly last 4x longer. You can put whatever spin you wish on it but the bottom line is a gasser moving equal loads is working harder.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fgLNO3ThGD4

 

[buickanddeere]

The reason why a diesel makes peak torque and peak torque at such low rpms . Is because of the short cam shaft duration compared to a gasoline engine. The diesel can't keep the valves open long enough to maintain useable volumetric efficiency.
The short cam timing is required or a diesel won't have enough compression pressure and combustion chamber heat to start.
Some manufactures are building a "high" rpm diesel that breaths better and makes peak HP at 3400-3600rpm. VM diesel uses a dual over head cam four valve engine .
Without a turbo and intercooler a natural aspirated diesel makes no more power per cu" than a NA gasser with similar displacement . Just look at the HP and torque of farm tractors back when diesel and gas engines were both available.
The diesel has to be built with a much heavier engine to handle combustion chamber pressures over twice as high as gasoline engines. Ring blow by, injector sealing and head gasket sealing are all technical challenges.
There is a net payload weight penalty with a heavier diesel.
Sorry but the EPA took the advantages of diesel pickup and fuel prices from1989-2002 . And turned a good thing into a liability to suit their goals.
b.t.w. I looked at the pump prices in Rome on Wednesday. $9.30 per US gallon. Anybody here suggesting $4 diesel in 2014 back 10 years ago with George Junior in office. They would have been laughed and jeered off this site.

 

[IgroRockwell]

Congrats on the truck purchase handirifle. I was looking for a diesel last winter and found a GM for sale, actually would have considered anything, just needed a tow vehicle with some weight. It turned out to be an 06 LBZ. I knew after I bought it and did some research on it that it is considered a bit of a muscle truck, but I didn't really care as long as it towed well and started well in the cold, which it does. My appreciation for the truck jumped when i was trying to get on the freeway one day and a big rig with a nasty driver fully intended to push me off the road. I only had a short distance to react so I floored the truck. Holy cow talk about a slingshot. The truck took off like a dragster, leaving the big rig and everyone else standing still. I've never had any vehicle, including a few fast cars, that had the raw power that this thing has. I think you'll be happy with your truck, I really like mine.

 

[handirifle]

Congrats on the truck purchase handirifle. I was looking for a diesel last winter and found a GM for sale, actually would have considered anything, just needed a tow vehicle with some weight. It turned out to be an 06 LBZ. I knew after I bought it and did some research on it that it is considered a bit of a muscle truck, but I didn't really care as long as it towed well and started well in the cold, which it does. My appreciation for the truck jumped when i was trying to get on the freeway one day and a big rig with a nasty driver fully intended to push me off the road. I only had a short distance to react so I floored the truck. Holy cow talk about a slingshot. The truck took off like a dragster, leaving the big rig and everyone else standing still. I've never had any vehicle, including a few fast cars, that had the raw power that this thing has. I think you'll be happy with your truck, I really like mine.

Yea I still haven't even floored it yet, I've hit about 75-80% throttle so far, and it is impressive, to say the least. I love the truck. Tomorrow I am trying out my new hitch system. I bought a Anderson "Ultimate 5th wheel system" at least I think that's what they call it. It hooks onto my goose neck ball, except it raises it about 16", and the trailer uses an adapter to convert the kingpin to a ball hook up. Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection I was skeptical when I first saw it but after watching the videos, I decided to give it a try. Another guy on the Duramax forum has one and raved about its smoothness.

So everything is installed today, and torqued to specs (takes about 2 min) and tomorrow it gets its maiden voyage. I had the Curt "X" plate goose neck adapter, but it really moved around a lot. This thing is locked solid to the bed of the truck, and the kingpin adapter is locked solidly to the trailer, so we will see. If I am happy, I will sell the Curt slider.

 

[handirifle]

Congrats on the truck purchase handirifle. I was looking for a diesel last winter and found a GM for sale, actually would have considered anything, just needed a tow vehicle with some weight. It turned out to be an 06 LBZ. I knew after I bought it and did some research on it that it is considered a bit of a muscle truck, but I didn't really care as long as it towed well and started well in the cold, which it does. My appreciation for the truck jumped when i was trying to get on the freeway one day and a big rig with a nasty driver fully intended to push me off the road. I only had a short distance to react so I floored the truck. Holy cow talk about a slingshot. The truck took off like a dragster, leaving the big rig and everyone else standing still. I've never had any vehicle, including a few fast cars, that had the raw power that this thing has. I think you'll be happy with your truck, I really like mine.

Yea I still haven't even floored it yet, I've hit about 75-80% throttle so far, and it is impressive, to say the least. I love the truck. Tomorrow I am trying out my new hitch system. I bought a Anderson "Ultimate 5th wheel system" at least I think that's what they call it. It hooks onto my goose neck ball, except it raises it about 16", and the trailer uses an adapter to convert the kingpin to a ball hook up. Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection I was skeptical when I first saw it but after watching the videos, I decided to give it a try. Another guy on the Duramax forum has one and raved about its smoothness.

So everything is installed today, and torqued to specs (takes about 2 min) and tomorrow it gets its maiden voyage. I had the Curt "X" plate goose neck adapter, but it really moved around a lot. This thing is locked solid to the bed of the truck, and the kingpin adapter is locked solidly to the trailer, so we will see. If I am happy, I will sell the Curt slider.

 

[bucktaker]

I think you will be grinning from ear to ear as you travel in the new truck....hopefully you will keep it stock and not fall in to the tuner/mod crowd it will last you a few hundred thousand miles and work hard everyday.

I have a 07 classic gmc with the lbz and 6 speed allision only regret is the empty mileage best is 15 but it is a crew cab long bed dually so I am set to tow anything.....pondered selling it but have decided I will keep it. Paid for and 15 mpg isnt all bad

 

[handirifle]

Yea I don't have much desire to go the tune route, nor the money , and I do plan on keeping it as long as possible.

I took the trailer out today with the new Anderson hitch, and that thing is rock solid. NONE of the bucking and chucking, my others hitches had. My "test" road is about a 30 mile loop, and 10 of it is on our country road. It has all sorts of undulations and pressure ridges in it that usually made for a very clunky trip to the freeway. Not today. I can honestly say I have never towed anything that felt so smooth behind me.

I was on cloud 9 until I got home and was testing it for front corner to truck cab clearance. I was so focused on the cab and rear window, I almost completely over looked the fact that the pin box was climbing on top of the drivers side of the bed. Arrgggggggg!!!!

I was not a happy camper, not happy with myself at all.

Fortunately about 90% of the damage, I have fixed and the other 10% doesn't show on the outside. It was all my fault. What happened was when I installed it, I made sure there was enough clearance to clear the tailgate. I had that issue in the other truck. So thinking all was ok, I proceeded on. The problem, was the kingpin adapter puts the pin box back about 4" and that 4 inches was more than enough to make it contact the drivers side bed rail. Live and learn, good grief.

At least there are two positions I can put the kingpin adapter in, and so I reversed it. This gave MORE than enough clearance for the pin box, so now, instead of the king pin being 4" back, it's 4" forward, so I have to watch the rear cab very closely.

Here's some pics of it at max position

And one of the rig in a straight line.

I'm going to build something to warn me when I come too close to the cab before I whack that thing too. On a good note, now that I am a bit more comfortable with the truck itself, I am simply amazed at how powerful this truck really is. That combined with that Allision 6spd is an unbelievable combo.

I had no idea what I was missing, towing with the Toyota. Not to knock that truck, kept in it's realm of capabilities, that was the most reliable truck I have ever owned. Seven years and 60,000 miles and not one single problem that ever required a repair, by me or the dealer. I know 60K isn't a lot of miles in the big scheme of things, but not many trucks can make those claims. At least they didn't used to. Hopefully that is changing.