OK guys, I just bought a 05, Cummins 4x4 QC W/ 3.73 gears my buddy has a 03 2500 Duramax W/3.73 gears, I've got a 7000 lb travel trailer and he just bought a 7000 lb 5th wheel. He rode me hard when I had a 1500 w/a Hemi and the same trailer and he had a 26' 5310 lb trailer. Question is who will ride who after vacation?

 

You'll be riding him.

 

He'll be trying to hitch a chain or strap to you so that he can ride you. Otherwise he won't be able to keep up.

 

Last time I raced a Duramax I had a 3000 lb car on my 1500 lb trailer and he had a small utility trailer (enclosed, so I don't know weight). I had part throttle and he STILL couldn't keep up with me!

I think you'll be victorious in your battles with him.

 

Scott,

He will be able to stay with you.......I had a 2001 DMAX 2500 4X4,Quad. Cab I now have a 3500 CTD, QC, 4X4. The DMAX will not lag behind you....given both are stock trucks.

One thing for sure, the Cummins is much happier towing and requires less effort. As far as truck build, your Ram is 100% truck whereas the DMAX feels like it sits on a car chasis......that's not good IMHO. In time, your buddy will see the light and convert too.

 

From what I have heard on this same arguement. The DMax will build boost faster and have more grunt until your Cummins turbo spools up. That being said, even the Chevy owner agreed the Cummins is more BOMBable.

 

I have folks in a DMAx whiz past me on the flats( i drive 60-65) and then I am passing them on the hills with the cruise on and in 6th. You'll love the CTD.

 

DMax's are fast.......until you attach something to thing.

 

I dont want to be there when your are "riding" him, make sure you do that in private.....(sorry couldnt resist)
My totaly stock 05 Cummins outpulle my buddy's Dmax...We hook the same trailer up and went up the same hills just to see the difference. He now wants to trade his in on a Dodge. His wife is a little upset with me right now.

 

I thought the Duramax didn't come out till '02???

Wouldn't an 01 still have the 6.5??

 

power wise you are going to be better off, my buddy will tell you, as will I, that "if what you want is a truck that will ride like a car, with NO ground clearance, with a $%^& load of power (compared to a gas truck), pretty quiet, then you cant beat the Duramax,..... but for those of us that want it all you're gonna smoke him and you are going to do it and be even quieter than him ( my 03 is much quieter than my buddies 03 Chebby) :?) and have a solid front axle and have a lot of opportunities to make more power (dont catch the bug it will cost you, and your pocketbook in the long run)

 

Nope....first year DMAX was 2001 and it had the "bubble style" hood on it. Chevy really screwed up the following year when they came out with that Avalanche looking thing as it stands today.

BTW: Your buddy will have the advantage transmission wise. I really like the allison despite what the critics, who have never owned one say. It's a great transmission that has very crisp shifting like no other. I also like my 48RE thus far too, but it is not quite up to the Ally standards. I put 70K miles on my DMAX and the allison never gave me a problem except with some software issues early on. I would love to see Dodge get the Allison or equivalent in future rigs.

 

To be honest, he may still be riding you hard this upcoming vacation... But, ask the same question after your vacation 10 years from now

 

the folks that we RV with, DMAX/Allison, always keep me in the rear while travlin' for several reasons.
1. I get 2-4 better MPG. They stop more often for fuel.
2. goin' down hill my EB has much more brakin' than the Allison trans brakin'
3. I can maintain OD and speed on up grades where the Allison drops to lower gear. They say I'm pushin' it to hard.
All that and filters are cheaper[Fleet Guard] than the GM. Plus a 7500/15000 mi oil change schedual that they don't like to talk about. And I don't have to hear that noisey diesel chatter the DMAX has at speed. Guess thats enough for now. JIM

 

Sounds like it depends on the truck to me . We have a mountian here in the state called Sandstone Mt. around the New River . I-64 runs over it around Beckly WV, he made a wrong turn last year and went down it then had to come back up, it's around a 4-5 mile trip up and at the top it takes a turn toward the sun around a 8% grade for the last mile, he told me that his truck pulled down to 55 mph with his 26 footer. I had a opertunity to clinb it 1 month later with my Hemi 1/2 ton and my 36 footer, I topped " Thrill Hill" @ 48mph in 2nd gear flat footed. I thought that was pretty good compared to his BIG Duramax, he was a little impressed too.