Check out Duramax - Best Puller?????

[hammersley]

Over on the DMAX Page:



http://forum.thedieselpage.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=007672



I run up and down the road with the Fords and Dodges and Dmax's, while going to rodeos & team pennings and cattle sortings, we often run and camp together. And the Dmax's are always out in front on the hills. On two different trips one of the 6. 0 Fords broke down and we had to go back and move the trailer for them. I am not brand loyal at all, I have towed with and owned the other brands. But I have to tell you it's pretty hard to beat the Dmax allison combo. I would think that maybe there is something wrong with the your trucks. They will run much better after they are broke in also.

I talked to a guy that was unhappy with his Dmax, and he took it back to the dealer and they adjusted the throttle potentiometer (did I spell that correctly?) Something to do with the go pedal. Any way he ain't complaining anymore, except he is crying about the spinning wheels & speeding ticket he got about a week later. I guess some of us just won't grow up! Hope you get it worked out. Drive safe no matter what you drive

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Not saying they are always accurate. The rag tests always show the dmax dead last with a load. Specially in the steep and deep. Guess its all a matter of how much your willing to lie to yourself.

 

[mcoleman]

I don't know about the new 600s with the 48RE but stock for stock with both being automatics a Duramax will kill a Cummins in the hills. That's why my truck is no longer stock. I attribute it to the transmission entirely it has nothing to do with the Duramax engine itself. Western Diesels test showed the Cummins as last on pulling but they weren't using a 600.

 

[phoekema]

I have three friends with the Chevy - a couple with the diesel and one with the big gas engine. All have had problems with the Allison transmission in one form or the other. That surprises me, as I would have guessed the aluminum heads on the diesel would be an issue.

 

[CWebster]

Got a Duramax and a CTD... . stoplight to stoplight the Duramax is definitely quicker. If we stretch it out to a 1/4 mile the CTD will pull even and start goin' by. Haulin' a medium sized load (10,000 - 15000 GCVW) its pretty even, the Duramax can get outta the hole a little quicker (quicker rpm's and transmission) but it can't maintain the speed as well as when the CTD gets rollin. Loaded down and hittin' the hills the CTD just walks on by... . not even close. Comparing a 2000 2500 CTD and a 2003 2500HD GMC D/A

 

[n5ifi]

What about fuel mileage comparisons. How do the big three compare when pulling a load?

 

[GFritsch]

A buddy of mine has a loaded 1 year old Duramax for sale. (CTD on order) It is a 3/4 ton ext cab brown Auto. Anyone?

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

There were three tests. The cummins lost to the dmax on one. The first test it was close with the cummins in the lead. Second test the cummins was walking away from the dmax and catching up to the PSD. Third test. It was a matter of gearing. All three were at max rpm in second gear. The other two had a taller rear end and a few more rpm.

Now here is something I read into that. I think the driver tried to hit third in the cummins and missed. Notice the remark about a dead start on the hill. Which truck do you think would do that the best?

 

[ndurbin]

Another thing I find interesting between the big 3 is; PS and D-maxs are light duty diesel engines while the Cummins is a medium duty diesel. Also if you look at the engines in OTR trucks and tractors your going to find almost always an Inline motor of some sort. Wonder why?



I haven't driven a D-max I was impressed with yet, I've driven a couple of tweaked PS and still really wasn't that impressed. Alil surprised but not impressed.



One thing I've found driving Dodge autos and manuals is in the autos it takes alil longer to get to OD but once I got there I could stay there, where as in the 5 spd. it was easier to get moving and get to OD/5th but I'd have to downshift to 4th on some hills where the auto wouldn't downshift. This was comparing my truck in the sig (minus the #10 plate, AFE, and straight pipe) to a 95 5 spd and a 98 5spd.



Just some of my expriences

Nathan

 

[Cummins Pilot]

This last weekend I was hauling a 28' enclosed trailer with 2 snowmachines, lots of extra fuel, diesel, & gear. (trailer and truck was around 14-15,000) Pulling up Thompson Pass out of Valdez AK I moved into the right lane and kept it at 55mph. Chevy 2500 Dmax with a 12' enclosed trailer and nothing in the bed passed in the left lane. But he was deep into it. I floored mine and accelerated and out paced him just long enough to let him know I had more engine than he did.



The reason semis use an inline six is because its what fits between the frame rails. And they are easier to build and maintain.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

I believe that is incorrect. The reason semis use an inline 6 is it uses less fuel. The side benifit is they are easier to work on. V8s can last a long time too. Inline 6s have more bearing service one less head and are naturally balanced.

 

[GFritsch]

Chebby and Ferd eek out every bit of power the engine can make--Cummins and Dodge eek out every bit of Power the Truck can take. At 300 horsepower the Cummins will go over 300k miles. The others. . I know what Ferds will go under light duty--not impressive!