Diesel Tow vehicle options

[Donnie]

Chuck,
the cummins are all good. its everything else around it that you want to avoid!

[ZL1mike]

My first diesel GMC 2005 fully loaded with trailer package - 2500 extended cab long box, I love it and like any body else here that has had one will probably never go back to gas tow vehicles.

I drove to and from Florida and Toronto and on the way back home I got over 1100 kilometers to the tank ( 128 liters )not pulling a trailer.

I have just bought a new 32 ft enclosed trailer and it pulled ok but when fully loaded I liked a little more power so I bought the Bully Dog kit with Outlook and I'm looking forward to installing that little option.

Duramax LLY 5 speed Allison.
Totaly love it !

[YenkoYS-199Stinger]

I'll add to mine from before.

My 2005 Crew/Short bed Duramax Banks pumped up gets 10-11 pulling a trailer(loaded) at 70-80. This is either pulling the car trailer or the boat. The car trailer is open and the boat is 13,000 wet full of fuel. (1994 Cigarette Top Gun-38 foot). If I pull the car trailer empty it gets 11-13. The Banks goodies did not really effect the mpg but the power is worth the $$$. 150hp and 3003#'s of torque for $1500.00.

One of the other at the dealer that I vintage race with has the Bully Dog on his and loves it.

--------------------

Chris
1967 Yenko Stinger YS-199
2005 Duramax LLY/Allison 5 speed/ Banks Power
Southeast of Disorder

[musclcar]

thanks to all the stringent emmisions standards on all the diesel trucks for 2007 this is what happened to the new 2008 superduty trucks

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...ipe_fires.html

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
My first diesel GMC 2005 fully loaded with trailer package - 2500 extended cab long box, I love it and like any body else here that has had one will probably never go back to gas tow vehicles.


[/ QUOTE ]
You ever driven a 8.1L/Ally truck, or even a 6.0L? We have both an 8.1L and a Dmax, and until we hung the Edge on the Dmax the 8.1L would *easily* outpace it with a load. And best as I can tell, their ain't a lot of difference in fuel mileage, either...however, while you can turn down the torque management on the 8.1L and gain some power, it is a lot easier to turn up the wick on the Dmax!

[mrrec]

I made the mistake of buying an 8.1 back when the Dmax was just out and the dmax was hard to come by - traded it after about 6 months. Sure, it had some power, but with automatic it was buzzing 5k rpm on the hills. 5 mpg. We're talking serious towing of 20k lbs and wind resistance. I've put 200k miles on dmax trucks and the same load as the gasser results in 8 mpg and never out of overdrive on 6% grades. The dmax pickups get 20 mpg empty. Your lucky to get a best of 15 EVER with the 8.1. Absolutely no comparison!
Dave

[Chevy454]

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The dmax pickups get 20 mpg empty.

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I'd be hard pressed to say our Dmax has even gotten *close* to 20mpg...we had (and still have) the 8.1L, and heard all the "20mpg" quotes before we bought our Dmax, and thought it all sounded perfect: great fuel mileage *and* a better towing package, where do I sign! But we haven't seen it...mid-teens at best empty, probably. And then you figure in the all the extra cost @ every service interval, and then the 30 cent per gallon premium for diesel fuel (which I have *yet* to understand!). FWIW, the gentleman we bought our Dmax from pulls a 45ft horse trailer w/living quarters, and said he thought his 8.1L powered truck actually handled the load better and was *the* setup for heavy towing...but then again, he was selling the Dmax dually to help pay for the new Dmax powered TopKick he had sitting in his driveway! LOL!!

Don't get me wrong, I *love* our Dmax, and other than the obligatory injector failure and a burnt ring & pinion, the truck has been flawless...pulls our 45ft 2-car very well. But our 8.1L is a brute...I just wish I could plug into the harness and turn the wick up another 100hp like with our Dmax! Seems like I heard GM is doing away with the 8.1L this model year, though? Any word on that? I wish they'd pour the development into that powerplant like they did the LS series engines...

[BUIZILLA]

my 2006 Dmax 4WD gets right at 20 mpg at 75 mph, and 15.3-15.7 around town, 100% without a doubt.

[bilede]

My 2005 4x4 duramax got 20 empty and 16 pulling open car trailer with 6000 pound chevy truck on it. sure miss that truck.

[m22mike]

I have a 01 Silverado 8' box, 8.1L, Allison, 3.73 gear. Bought it new and at the time did not feel I would get the use out of the Duramax, I only have 20K on the truck now.
I pull a 24' box and the thing can run 75 with little effort. I love the Allison, awsome tranny.
I see around 10 mpg when I tow and the same just around town, I love jack rabbit starts from a traffic light ! Hard to keep your foot out of it.
I do not think Chevy offers that motor anymore ??
One small issue with the my 8.1, since new I have always had to top off the oil about every 1500 mi. or so.
Mike