Dont test drive an 04 before you buy an 04.5!

[GBrzezinski]

I agree. Too early to judge. My 03 has a 4" pipe, too. It's only from the muffler back. My "600" is all 4". Every diesel I've owned has been a dog when cold. Let it get up to operating temp before you hammer it. In winter, that usually takes 15 mi. or so. Just got the new truck, the 03 had 30000 on it. It felt like it was fully broke in at 20-25000. It REALLY smoothed out after that! I'll see how the new one does.

 

[PJ]

I see Im getting slammed so as usual, that is what happens when you speak the truth and try to inform people before they spend alot of $$$. . Enjoy your new 600's. I will continue to enjoy my 305ho HP. . I don't enjoy the rude remarks by guys who seem to know nothing more than a high school kid. Go ahead and spend $40k and then throw another $10k at it and hope you are happy with what you could have got with a stock 04... Have fun. . Im finished

 

[opjohnny]

I have a 4. 5 6 speed and I think on the lower gears the electronic wastegate is bleeding off boost. The same throttle position in a higher gear pins you to the seat. I think it done to keep the trucks from turning into guided missles at the hand of new drivers. Not to mention breaking parts. I have driven 03's 04's and my 4. 5 auto and manual both. I preferred the 325/600.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

The new "LLY" Duramax (590 Ft Lbs version) does just that. . limits power electronically. With the Allison, in 1st and 5th, the power is cut back to LB7 (300/520) ratings. In 2nd, 3rd and 4th the output is at the new rated power.



I'll bet that DC did something similar, especially if it's the 48RE.

There are quite a few crative ways the manufacturer can keep the trucks out of the shop. One is to derate the power.



I also heard that the computer derates until a specific operating temperature is reached. That goes for the DMax and Cummins.

 

[Sarge]

Here is an apples to apples comparison for you. I had an 01' HO 2500 with a EZ, and towed a lot with it. Now I have the 04. 5 3500, straight stock, and the new rig pulls at least as hard as the 01' with the box. The 04. 5 power comes on a lot earlier as well. Both were 6 speeds, with 4. 10 gears, and Quad Cab long beds. The new rig is heavier as well, being a 4X4 dually. I am VERY pleased with the performance of the 04. 5. The ride is better, and the six speed also feels smoother than the 01' did. Don't worry about claims with BOMBED trucks being superior... just find the truck that is right for you, and personalize it to make it perfect for you. The new rig is a great truck, especially compared to the competition. You won't be disapointed with the new Cummins... ..... Sarge

 

[Punkineater]

Originally posted by PBJohnson2

I see Im getting slammed so as usual, that is what happens when you speak the truth and try to inform people before they spend alot of $$$. . Enjoy your new 600's. I will continue to enjoy my 305ho HP. . I don't enjoy the rude remarks by guys who seem to know nothing more than a high school kid. Go ahead and spend $40k and then throw another $10k at it and hope you are happy with what you could have got with a stock 04... Have fun. . Im finished

 

[LEerkes]

I've got about 700 miles on my 04. 5 and I like it more now than when it rolled off the lot. Don't know if it's in my head or what since I have no scientific test data to report but the SOP feel has improved already.

 

[opjohnny]

It is silly to compare a truck with 5 miles to one broken in with 50k. Mine feels better with just 300 on it and the ave mileage keeps going up. Heck I never want to get out of the drivers seat.

 

[GColeman]

I just turned 1300 miles on mine. It keeps getting smoother and the mpg has gone up from 12 to 16. The 16 mpg was achieved while driving at 75-85 empty on flat frwy and a short distance around town. MPG was hand calculated and speedo has been re-calibrated for bigger tires. I have no doubt that it will continue to improve as my others did. This is my 3rd CTD and I can tell it will be the best yet.



I have been in a 2003 HO with same drive train as mine. SOTP feel is about the same except the 04. 5 seems to pull strong at a lower RPM. Also, it seems slightly quieter.



For any folks in Caifornia, this is big on the WOW meter. For you others, it's just another new model and probably not all that big of a deal.

 

[fencebuilders]

Originally posted by GColeman

I just turned 1300 miles on mine. It keeps getting smoother and the mpg has gone up from 12 to 16. The 16 mpg was achieved while driving at 75-85 empty on flat frwy and a short distance around town. MPG was hand calculated and speedo has been re-calibrated for bigger tires. I have no doubt that it will continue to improve as my others did. This is my 3rd CTD and I can tell it will be the best yet.



I have been in a 2003 HO with same drive train as mine. SOTP feel is about the same except the 04. 5 seems to pull strong at a lower RPM. Also, it seems slightly quieter.



For any folks in Caifornia, this is big on the WOW meter. For you others, it's just another new model and probably not all that big of a deal.

Glad you like your rig. I just installed a RAMifier in my '03 s. o. and im guessing 310/544. Im hoping to find a Cali 600 to make a few test 1/8 or 1/4 mile runs with. Mark.

 

[24vtrbo]

I must have driven the same truck as it was the only 4. 5 on the lot, I wasn't impressed by the power either but the truck was head and sholders above my 98. 5 in ride and quality. I have never driven HO before but my seat of the pants feeling was it had about the same power of my 98. 5 with the fueling box turned off. The saleman assured me that they would beat anbodys deal in the area.

 

[PJ]

Garryb17... Did you drive the White Duelly on Chuck Pattersons lot in Chico? I did. That was the 3rd 04. 5 I have driven and I thought it was just as much a dog as the other two. All the guys seem happy that their 04. 5's are now getting 16mpg after a few thousand miles. My 04 HO got 21 on the FIRST tank and I just got 22. 5 on my trip to Chico and back this past week. I bought my 04 with the commitment to do NO MODS whatsoever. It has all the power I will ever need STOCK. My question to all the BOMBERS is why spend $30-$40k for a truck that you then feel you have to throw another several thousand bucks to just to get a few more HP? My 04 is so much more than my 98 and it will pass all the fuel stations with the mileage I am getting. The only real complaint I have is that at the rate the paint is chipping off and the lack of paint on the truck, I will be down to bare metal in another 6 months! Then I guess, I will be getting a real paint job on it with a good non earth friendly paint that will hold up to the elements of the road from daily driving. By the way, I see you live in Paradise. would you be interested in 300 acres on the south end of town?????? Such a deal!

Happy trails

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by PBJohnson2

Garryb17... Did you drive the White Duelly on Chuck Pattersons lot in Chico? I did. That was the 3rd 04. 5 I have driven and I thought it was just as much a dog as the other two. All the guys seem happy that their 04. 5's are now getting 16mpg after a few thousand miles. My 04 HO got 21 on the FIRST tank and I just got 22. 5 on my trip to Chico and back this past week. I bought my 04 with the commitment to do NO MODS whatsoever. It has all the power I will ever need STOCK. My question to all the BOMBERS is why spend $30-$40k for a truck that you then feel you have to throw another several thousand bucks to just to get a few more HP? My 04 is so much more than my 98 and it will pass all the fuel stations with the mileage I am getting. The only real complaint I have is that at the rate the paint is chipping off and the lack of paint on the truck, I will be down to bare metal in another 6 months! Then I guess, I will be getting a real paint job on it with a good non earth friendly paint that will hold up to the elements of the road from daily driving. By the way, I see you live in Paradise. would you be interested in 300 acres on the south end of town?????? Such a deal!

Happy trails

Jackie Kennedy said a woman can never be too rich or too thin. I feel the same way about power - no truck can be too fast or too powerful. There are caveats, of course - nobody wants a driver that would be more at home on a drag track.



When I learned that Cummins engines can handle additional power with little or no increase in fuel mileage (that is, unless you keep it pedal to the medal and only idiots do that), I thought why not upgrade power and towing ability? After all, it's fun!



I guarantee the manufacturer would do it, but then where would they go if they built engines that were maxed out when the trucks hit the showroom floor? What would that do to the after-market businesses?



DC and Cummins offer engines for a variety of people: women who like big trucks, folks like you who are happy with the power offered, and the 20 percent or so who for good or bad reasons want power modules, bigger injectors, stronger clutches, etc.

 

[mgonske]

Originally posted by PBJohnson2

My question to all the BOMBERS is why spend $30-$40k for a truck that you then feel you have to throw another several thousand bucks to just to get a few more HP?

Because no one sells a truck for $41k that already has all that extra power!



Sure, I'd pay for it off the showroom floor (I am lazy, after all), but given that it's so readily available, I have to agree with Jeremiah:

"no truck can be too fast or too powerful"