Pulled the trigger today on a Duramax

[wmonroe]

I have to wonder why you would touch another GM product when your last was returned under the lemon law? Chris

They're all put together by humans and all have lemons, just luck of the draw.

 

[wmonroe]

Well I got the Curt X frame adapter for my 5th wheel hitch, hooked the trailer up to it and got the hitch leveled out. I took it for it's maiden tow, and although it was a short run, only about 25 miles round trip, I am amazed at the power of this beast. The wife drove it for the first time the other dy, I was driving the Tundra, for the last time. We were meeting the couple that bought the Toyota. I am really gonna miss a lot about that truck. If this one is half as reliable, I will be happy. On that note, the power extending mirrors, didn't extend. Dealer says they are aftermarket, so not covered. Oh well I like the tall rectangular ones better anyway. I applied my funds from the Toyota towards the loan so it's half paid for already. I like that part. I am slowly tweaking the little things I want different, to make it mine. I am still looking into getting it tuned with the LBZ tune. Might have to jump through some hoops, but I think I can get it done. From what I read that's about $90 for 60hp upgrade. Kinda hard to beat that. This truck turns much tighter than the Tundra ever did. I had an '06 GMC 1500 before it got returned for lemon laws issues, and it turned really tight, but it was a extended cab model, and this is a crew cab. I expected it to make real wide turns also, so it was a pleasant surprise. Other than that it's taking some getting used to with the controls all in different places. Overall I have no regrets. I know it's only temporary, but right now 91 octane gas and diesel are the same price at $3.99 a gal. I had to use 91 when towing with the Tundra, so I am pleased. I had to take the hard bed cover off to tow, obviously, so storage of that thing is gonna be an issue I have yet to figure out. I had to use the elec winch in the shop to lift it, but I will figure something out. The truck actually had 85,xxx miles on it, and now is about 86,500 or so.

That's good to hear you are happy with it. What about one of those pulley/winch systems that mount to the ceiling and lift the hard top off jeep wranglers? A buddy of mine has one and it makes taking the top on/off his jeep a breeze.

 

[handirifle]

A couple months ago I bought a 440lb elec winch from harbor freight and it lifts it just fine. I just need to figure out where to store the darn thing.

As for getting another GM, I figure like Monroe said. Luck of the draw. Actually the lemon law story is WAY too long to post here, but I ended up getting my money back and buying a Toyota, in a BIG part because there was only one GM dealer within 50 miles of me then, and one Sales Manager insisted I deal with him (on getting my 2007 replacement), and him only and he started being an a$$hole. One day I told him I was tempted to get my money back and buy a Toyota, and he said "maybe that's what you should do". So I walked out of their office, got the BBB rep on the phone and she promptly got the GM rep on a 3 way call. The GM rep was FLOORED at what was said.

I heard from some other sales guys a week later that the sales manager got his behind reamed by the GM general office, for over an hour.

Anyway, when I started my quest for a diesel truck, after 30 pages of posts from guys on this forum, and hundreds of net articles on the good and bads of various diesel trucks, I settled on the GM '06. My first move WAS to get another truck, but I would NOT have one and have to deal with people like that. It cost them plenty for that mistake. believe me.

 

[handirifle]

I'm glad you're enjoying your Duramax, I love mine. I think you made a good choice in buying that extended warranty too. As far as getting your engine re flashed with a higher horsepower tune, I would pass. Personally if I could get my engine flashed to produce 60 less horsepower and pick up 1 or 2 mpg I would do it without hesitation. From what I've seen the LLY engines get some of the best fuel economy and they really produce more than enough power for your needs as is. If you aren't only towing with it why pay for power you don't need every time you fill up? I tow up to about 16,000 pounds with my DMax and I would feel completely confident doing so with 50 less horsepower if i got an extra 1 to 1.5 mpg when not towing even if it meant I had to accelerate a little slower or had to drop speed some more like the big rigs have to going up the steepest grades. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about economy as my LML DMax gets way better fuel economy than my 6.4 Powerstroke did but your pre DPF LLY is known as one of the more fuel efficient diesels why mess with the fuel economy if you don't need the power? No matter what you decide good luck and enjoy. Your era GMC is one of the best looking ones in my opinion.

Good points, and although I have no desire to detune it from the 300hp it has, by 60. Less power, to me, equates to slower climbs up the hills with my 5th wheel, and if I wanted that, I would have stayed with the Toyota. The mileage is a bonus, my first goal is pulling power, and I am not in a hurry to do anything, until I've had the chance to make some trips with it as is. As it stands now I have the extra durability of the LBZ built into the mechanicals with an LLY tune, so the engine ought to hold up real well to anything I care to hitch behind me. Keep in mind that for ME, when I say anything I hitch, that means I am darn comfortable with a 30ft trailer and no desire to go longer. I might get a taller one or one that has bigger slide outs, and thus gets a little heavier, but one with about 11K gross would be about it.

And not to be snide, but you could always detune that LML with EFI live or similar, if you REALLY want to. I talked to a lot of guys with the 7.3 PS's from 99-01 and with 250hp, none of them wanted less power. My hope is to tow more and more each year, and the more I tow, the more I want to make sure the rig doesn't struggle up high mountain passes.

Like I said, I want to get a few trips under my belt with it to gauge future desires. But if I had 397hp and 765lb torque, a 60hp loss would not feel as bad to me either. It's interesting that with almost 75hp more than your 6.4PS you still get better mileage. It tell me there is more to mileage than just HP numbers. I know HP is gained by either more fuel, or better efficiency, or both.

And for the record, the '06's were my favorite year of GM trucks, period.

 

[handirifle]

ALso, I bet not one of those big rig drivers would go up the hills slow if they didn't have to. If they had the power, they would hammer right up there.

 

[Lt CHEG]

ALso, I bet not one of those big rig drivers would go up the hills slow if they didn't have to. If they had the power, they would hammer right up there.

I hear what you're saying. For me it's largely a matter of the best overall balance of my needs. If I was towing all the time then my unloaded fuel economy would probably not be as much of a concern and I'd probably really want all the HP I could pull out of the engine. I only tow about 20% of the time so I'm okay with loosing a little speed going up hills if I could pick up an mpg or two for the 80% of the time when I'm not towing.

You are also totally correct that starting with 397/765 puts me in a different position relative to my power needs. I would feel a lot more comfortable dropping from say 397/765 to 350/675 than I would feel about dropping from 300/625 to the 225/475 that my old 7.3 PS plow truck put out. For me I think the 325 HP rumored to be delivered by the new Cummins V8 would be nearly ideal. I guess what I'm saying is that the stock LLY power numbers seem like a pretty good power level as is, and I don't think it would be worth me paying more either at the pump or even for a tune to get more power than I need. But it's certainly nice to have the choice, and for the record I subscribe to Diesel Power magazine and love reading about the capabilities of these engines and these guys cranking out 1,000 horsepower at the rear wheels. So I'm glad we can do whatever we want with these engines.

 

[handirifle]

Yea no doubt, having the options for more power is very nice. It's a HUGE step up for me coming from the 2006 Tundra I had. It's 270hp and 315lb torque felt absolutely puny after I got this truck. The funny thing is empty that truck seemed to accelerate faster, but that's where it ended. There is a 7% grade just a few miles down the freeway from here and NEVER having the truck downshift while climbing that 3 mile grade is a very pleasant surprise. Really the engine doesn't even sound like it's working. My Tundra would have downshifted from overdrive and have to hold 3000+ rpm to maintain 65 or so up that same grade.

From all the responses I am getting here and combined elsewhere, mpg's seem to be a wash, and varies from truck to truck, as far as LLY vs LBZ. Either way I am getting better mileage than the Tundra, and I noticed at 7-11 station today that 97 octane gas was actually MORE than diesel. If I remember correctly it was $4.19 for 97 octane and $4.15 for diesel. Both are up from a week ago. Their 87 octane was $3.95 a gal, and that station is almost always one of the cheapest around.

So although fuel prices seem to be all over the map, for no apparent reason, I figured I might as well have the power on tap when I need it. Main reason I went diesel in the first place.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yea no doubt, having the options for more power is very nice. It's a HUGE step up for me coming from the 2006 Tundra I had. It's 270hp and 315lb torque felt absolutely puny after I got this truck. The funny thing is empty that truck seemed to accelerate faster, but that's where it ended. There is a 7% grade just a few miles down the freeway from here and NEVER having the truck downshift while climbing that 3 mile grade is a very pleasant surprise. Really the engine doesn't even sound like it's working. My Tundra would have downshifted from overdrive and have to hold 3000+ rpm to maintain 65 or so up that same grade.

From all the responses I am getting here and combined elsewhere, mpg's seem to be a wash, and varies from truck to truck, as far as LLY vs LBZ. Either way I am getting better mileage than the Tundra, and I noticed at 7-11 station today that 97 octane gas was actually MORE than diesel. If I remember correctly it was $4.19 for 97 octane and $4.15 for diesel. Both are up from a week ago. Their 87 octane was $3.95 a gal, and that station is almost always one of the cheapest around.

So although fuel prices seem to be all over the map, for no apparent reason, I figured I might as well have the power on tap when I need it. Main reason I went diesel in the first place.

Diesel prices fluctuate 2 weeks behind gas here. So if gas jumps 50 cents this week diesel will mid month. I have been driving a diesel pickup since 1998 and it's always been this way in my area.

Chris

 

[lutt]

It amazes me how fuel differs in other parts of the country. We are fortunate where I live, Memphis has a fairly large refinery, plus we have fuel pipeline recieving station 30 miles from here. I pay 3.59 to 3.69 for diesel for the truck, and that pretty much stays that way here of late. Gas jumps around quite a bit. Got down around 3.00 a while back. Don't know what it is now, looks like about 3.09 a gallon an 3.54 a gallon for diesel. Been gone here at work for a month so I has to look it up. LUTT

 

[Diamondpilot]

It amazes me how fuel differs in other parts of the country. We are fortunate where I live, Memphis has a fairly large refinery, plus we have fuel pipeline recieving station 30 miles from here. I pay 3.59 to 3.69 for diesel for the truck, and that pretty much stays that way here of late. Gas jumps around quite a bit. Got down around 3.00 a while back. Don't know what it is now, looks like about 3.09 a gallon an 3.54 a gallon for diesel. Been gone here at work for a month so I has to look it up. LUTT

I bought fuel today just down the road from my house. Reg $3.65. Diesel $4.25

Chris