Duramax - up close

[John Berger]

A friend of mine stopped by tonight with his new (2002 model actually) Duramax. It was a 4x4. My first impression was favorable relative to general appearance. The side panels and dually fenders being one piece is a bit odd. They are made of fiberglass as well, according to him, which would go a long way towards explaining why they are lighter than their Dodge and Ford counterparts. The drive shaft is humongous and is a one piece unit. I didn't think there was as much room in the front seat area as our trucks, but I did like the leather seats and the overhead console area. The engine doesn't look like it would be hard to work on, with the exception of the turbo which is behind the motor. That struck me as odd, but then again I'm used to my Cummins. He started it up for me and sure enough, albeit quietly, you can hear the diesel knock. It's when you rev it up that any indication that the engine is a diesel exits stage left. I couldn't believe how much it sounded like my Dodge gasser engine. Overall it's a nice looking truck and he got a pretty good deal on it with all of the options. He says he's getting between 15 and 16. 5 mpg driving around this area. It's going to be a work truck for his construction business and will not haul much more than ass. One thing I don't like is the shroud and fan cover. I don't like that plastic/vinyl on any vehicle though. It's just one more thing to take off if you need to work on the radiator. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give this truck an 8 and that's without driving it.

 

[MABurns]

With out trying to start a war I would give it a nine..... and my last two CTDs an 8. 5 (and thats after 30,000 miles of road testing).

 

[John Berger]

This guy has always been a big bowtie guy. He's had his share of Dodge's too. He wanted to go over my truck prior to buying a diesel pickup (this was his first), but this Chevy came along before he had a chance. The price, the mileage and the options, plus his disposition to the bow-tie had to be too hard to pass on.



It's a nice looking truck and it's red like mine. He's going to put a tool box bed (hope I got that right) on the truck as he will probably only carry fuel and a boat load of tools. The bed panels and fenders as one unit is weird. Maybe it grows on you, but I don't know.

 

[LSMITH]

With the power boxes for them now that will take them into the mid-300's for rear wheel horsepower easily and cheaply I give the DMax a solid 8. 5 out of 10. For my uses a Dmax would fit better too, I give my Dodge a 7. Deductions for steering, transmission, and cab room on the dodge, deductions for that ugly arse frame hanging down and thin metal on the Dmax.



Just my opinion, I like the Dmax.

 

[dslcummins]

I have a picture of Duramax dually, the left side of the bed is gone. I never talked to the guy, he may have picked up a rock in his duals, when it came out, it destroyed the outside of the bed. I have no idea how to post pictures on the TDR. John, if I had your email address, I could send it to you.



dslcummins

 

[John Berger]

The Duramax is a nice truck. So is the PowerStroke. I wouldn't switch to them, however. I'm biased towards the RAM. As nice as his truck is, I didn't see anything that would make me give up my truck for a Dmax.

 

[kevincook]

Originally posted by John Berger

The Duramax is a nice truck. So is the PowerStroke. I wouldn't switch to them, however. I'm biased towards the RAM. As nice as his truck is, I didn't see anything that would make me give up my truck for a Dmax.

I agree, I have several friends that have them and like them but I think the new front end looks ugly. Just my . 20 worth!



KC

 

[jelvington]

I work with a guy who is a big bowtie fan. He wants to trade is 1/2 ton GMC for a diesel. Last week he test drove the dmax dually and wasn't too impressed, over the weekend he drove an '03 Cummins dually 4x4. He said he was very impressed and will be going with the Dodge.