Definitely turn the truck in.

I'd look around for a used 3rd gen, ideally a pre-600 2004 model (jmo). That will be old enough to depreciate down a bit to help the price, but new enough still have a good amount of life left in it.

To me, 3 yrs of age is the "sweet spot" for cost/benefit picture. I'd go newer or older a year or two if need be due to considerations like new model (don't want to buy the first year of a new design) and such.

jmo

 

I see what he means now...ya I was a little confused at first

ben

 

I think that the variations in fuel mileages can be easily explained. The duramax just like the cummins came in many different forms,,,, 03-04 305/555 engine,, probably the best fuel mileage of the common rails,, the 04.5-05 325/600 and the 06-07 325/610. The duramaxs came with the lb7, lly, and lbz, the lbz with the most power, and poorest mileage. Mine has taken some miles to get it up to the mileage that I am getting,, still about 6 or so MPG less than my dodge, but abou on par with most of the guys I know with 05s and 06's. The short box chevys only come with a 98litre tank, whereas the dodge shortbox comes with a 128litre tank. (sorry I dont know the conversion to US gallons) and also when I am calculating MPG I am using an imperial gallon.

I also pull a 13k 5er with a 2300# pin weight,, and I find that the new chevy pulls it every bit as sound as the dodge

Kevin

 

yep fuel mileage is getting worse every year, my 2005 lly had a diablo predator set on 65hp and was the best pulling truck i have ever owned, i never pulled with the LBZ, i was pulling a 32ft bumper pulled travel trailer to Shrevport La. and i was passing 18 wheelers going up hill, i could start out at 70 and by the time i was getting to the top of the hills i could be going about 90, it had one heck of a passing gear, it ran ok when you were getting up to speed but it was killer when you hit the passing gear at 70mph, it also got 13mpg that trip and always got around 17 to 18mpg

 

so is there where we share stories of broken down duramax trucks??

 

I'm wondering if the reason I'm not overly impressed with my truck, and thinking about getting a duramax is because of the fact that when pulling my trailer with the dodge, i hit the top of a hill coming home at 45mph. Now keep in mind that that is with the MP-8 turned off, and i have 35in tires.

The duramax, in stock form, can top the same hill with the same trailer at 65-70 if i really push it. I know some of you are asking why turn the MP-8 off?
Answer is high EGT'S. With it off I'm at 1200 deg.

Is there something I'm missing here? Would a smarty enable me to tow better without raising EGT'S? Or do i need some other part to get to where i want to be. Maybe bigger turbo?

 

Hook 12k behind them and the duramax will smoke the dodge 0-60, take the same load running at 60 and hit a hill and the dodge will keep on trucking and the duramax will downshift, tack out and slow down. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. My personal opinion is that the dodge is a much more substantial truck, and you feel it with a load hooked up. I agree with others saying that the front suspension feels squirilly when pulling a load in the Chevy.

 

What year trucks are you comparing? Because if they are both 06's or 07's you either have a problem with your truck or you need to put down the crack pipe.....

 

Chevy, haha- have fun trying to tow a trailer with that crap. My buddy has one and he can't go over 50 miles on the freeway w/o overheating. I have an 03 dually with an intake and exhaust, and his chev with an edge doesn't stand a chance.

 

That is to damm funny.

But just to play along, If I defected, "BACK" to a Ford, it would be the F-450. The last Chebby I had was in 1972, I sold it to a guy in So. El Monte that made a low rider out of it. 1966 Impala SS....RIP

 

I think that you would be suprised. The duramax is a very good engine, I think that the cummins is better,, but not by alot, the duramax tows good, runs good, is very fast. If your buddy is having problems like that, there is more problems than meets the eye. Not even the ford will have problems like that..... You have to remember, that all three of the big companies sell hundreds of thousands of these trucks, and if all the duramaxs overheated at 50 mph, im pretty sure that nobody would buy one,,,,, so I would have to say that it is an isolated incident... same as the guys that have problems with the dodges, where injectors drop or whatever,,,, no matter what brand you drive there are going to be possible problems,, that is what warranty is for

Kevin

 

Bought a used 02 dmax 4door 4x4 long bed for a truck for the guys to use on the road and to do some research on chevys first hand.

I needed a comfy interior so I wouldnt have to listen to guys moanin if they have to drive out to california or new york that the back seat was to small(two of them are 6'4" 280lbs). I only wanted to spend $20-25,000 and for that you cant get a mega cab so a used chevy or a ford with a 7.3 with about 150,000 on it fit the bill.

So what do I think? It has no boxes or otherwise on it and I hate it. I miss my Dodge more every second im in it. All the way around I dislike the truck. Cupholders interior tranny(good but it still hunts with the trailer I had no problems pullin when I was stock in the dodge but the dodge is standard) mileage probly 16ish bout where the dodge was stock.

Would I do it again yes but only if I was in the situation I was in this time where I was wanting a lower payment I could pay off in a year and couldnt afford a mega. Its a horse a peice, but I will always like the dodges the best for motor, looks, front solid axle(no ifs), cupholders, etc.....

What was chevy thinkin with those stupid cupholders that only a can soda fits in, reeeedickuless. Dont think the cupholders matter put 5 men in a truck for 32 hours and 2 dumb cupholders.

 

I leased my truck a few months ago to get my payments where I needed them. When my lease is up in 4 0r 5 years I will owe about $20k-$22K, at that point I have the option of turning it in and paying for the extra mileage which it will have some. Or, I can refinance on my own or through chrysler and buy it (which I am going to do), or sell it to pay off the amount. Where did you get the $50k number you stated in your first post? My payments are $512.10 for 2 years, then they go to $556.00 for the remainder of the lease. I just dont see how they pulled one over on you, did you read the whole contract and clarify with finance when you got it?

My best friend and his dad have duramax pickups. His dad is a 2005, its a pile and has had overheat and egt issues since they got it. My friends is 2006 and it is a good truck. Dont get a 07.5 its an ugly truck. I would stick with 07 classic if you get one.

 

RACER47, I had an 04 SO model and traded for the 06 and the 06 is a totally different truck. Great power, Trans is way better than the 04. At the time it was painful to think of the lost $$$'s but the 06 is such a better truck that by the time I put the goodies from my old truck to the new one the $$$'s didn't matter anymore. Totally happy with the 06 and no chip needed to pull a 14,000# trailer up Cajon or Whitewater @ 65+..........06 or 07 5.9 all the way!

 

MORKABLE,
Remember, there are always a few people, weather it be on the internet or on the road, that just don't deserve a response