Good-bye Duramax Hello Cummins

[Sixpac2]

I wanted to say Thanks for all on the forum and to Big Bob and George for the time to chat. I recently traded my 03 Duramax Dually and am the Happy owner of a 04. 5 Laramie 325/600 3. 73 Silver, six speed, stick, Dually. I have 1100 miles on now and I and the Wife are very happy and pleased with the truck. Ther are so many Difference between the two trucks. And many little items that I notice each day. In the process of installing a new 5ver Hitch and can't wait to go pulling in a few weeks.

Thanks to all. MarvOo.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Welcome aboard!

The Dodge is an awesome truck. There aren't many things you'll miss. The only things better on the other side of the fence are the ride, and the G80 locking diff. But both trucks have the same 11. 5" AA axle so I think a donor G80 from a wrecked GM truck ought to fit! The reason I'm saying this is because there are a few here that think the AntiSpin we have is not too great.



Have you ever owned a Dodge Cummins pickup before?



The GM trucks are nice and I've test driven a few but when it comes time to buy another truck it'll probably be a Cummins Ram for me too.

 

[Sixpac2]

First Dodge. My brother in law worked for cummins and he said I need to get a cummins for pulling heavy. It took alot of talking and purfume to get my wife to look at a dodge. I have always been a GM guy as has my dad and grandfather. So I went for the d-max with out looking at others. We had 13k on her pulling a GCW of 21. 5k with our 5ver. It pulled ok and the allison was great. dodge really needs a 5 speed. The ride empty was good but loaded with the 5ver and the ride went to cra-. I and my wife were always complaning and hunting for the right combo. The dodge empty rides a slight stiffer but you can tell there is no frame flex and it works the suspension and the firmer ride is great. It steers like a race car and can actually turn around in a parking lot. My d-max bucked with the fiver and even though I was use to it iy steered like a cady. What can I say. Was and still is a GM boy but so far I love the truck and dodge and most the cummins. marv

 

[Chris N5CWM]

I've always been a GM fan as well. My first truck was a '94 Chevy K2500 ext cab long bed 4x4 with the 6. 5 TD. It was a great truck. I only had to tow 6,000 lbs so it did fine and the mileage was great for a large pickup. I traded it in for a 2001 Dodge 3500 6x6 5 speed ETC Cummins quad cab. Had that one for almost two years, then bought the one I have now. The new GMC 2500HDs are nice and I've thought about going back to GM for a while now that the DMax has been out. Found a 2004 with the new LLY DMax, 310/590 loaded with everything. . $48K! Too rich for my blood for a pic-em-up! My '94 was $28K and people thought I was nuts. With incentives and invoice pricing I can only get down to the low $40K range out the door on one.

The new Dodges are priced much more competitively. A new 2500 Laramie is quite a bit lower than that price wise. I've been looking at them too. Hard to find one with the options combination I like though. Cab lights, 6 speed manual, floor shifter for the 4x4, 'light group', steering wheel controls, etc. The inventory trucks around Houston come close but usually have pushbutton 4x4 or no cab lights, or it's a 48RE. I've driven three with the 48RE and I MUST shift my own gears. I don't want to order one because I'd go nuts waiting for it. The 2500 I have now is fine. . only 54K miles so it's barely broken in. Has all the stuff I want too, and it's BOMBED the way I want so I will keep it for a while. Haven't had it back to the dealer for ANY work since I bought it new either. And I do all of my own maintenance, except for the front end alignment. . don't have one of those machines in my garage.

I'm sure you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of the Dodge. They've changed a LOT in the past few short years. Even compared to my 2001 it's a much improved truck.

You've already done the most important thing that all Cummins Ram owners should do. . JOIN the TDR!

 

[Punkineater]

Congrats. You're going to love that Cummins when you get some weight behind it. Smart choice with the 6-speed as had you chosen the boat anchor automatic you would have been wishing for that Allison a few miles on down the road. Welcome.

 

[geusterman]

Congrats Marv. You "just did it" and now you can look under your own hood and not mine! I wondered what happened to you after my trip to MT. I loved my 6spd in the 02 but I know that for what I do (10K tow and camper) the 48re will be fine. Plus I can drink a latte AND answer the phone in heavy traffic. I really like my truck and imagine Dodge will get our mileages back up there. My first bomb is my flatbed then matching aluminum front bumper. So macho it scares me. Going to do Kent's Bilsteins from T-Rex. BTW, if your trailer is pounding you check the tow section on this site and see the Kelderman air ride site. I had their air on my 02 and it made it a Chebbie... in back anyway. More axle wrap though. Did you get the Big Bob deal from Dishman's Butch? Best in the NW! Come on by now that you got your ride... George

 

[BIG BOB]

Marv,



Congrats on the new truck. Hope you enjoy your new truck as much as I am enjoying the GHOST RIDER! Great talking with you. If you are up in this area, give me a call.



I like George, am enjoying the 48RE! My truck is my office alot of the time.



I have several trips planned this year with the travel trailer. I can hardly wait!

 

[geusterman]

Gee, I like you too, Bob. George

 

[Prairie Dog]

Enjoy the new ride! Sorry Chris but I'm gonna have to disagree with ya. The 11. 5" LSD works far better than the Dana 70 I had in my 93!

 

[MABurns]

I had some second thoughts when I traded in my 02 Chevy 2500HD D/A on the latest CTD Ram. Mainly because I did give up a nice riding CREW CAB!



But like previously posted-- Get your hitch installed, yank the fiver around and you'll wonder why you thought that D/A was a good combo.

 

[klenger]

It's interesting to hear these comments from post chevy owners. The reports I hear from chevy owners on irv2.com all seem quite happy with them. Personally, I like the lower profile look of the chevys, but would never give up the CTD/NV5600 combo, not even for a Allison.

 

[loncray]

Is it just me, or do Chevy/GMC products not get taken very seriously when talking diesel trucks? Obviously as a Dodge owner I hear a lot about Dodge, and I seem to hear a lot about Ford, but when folks are discussing serious trucks with diesel engines, the General's vehicles aren't part of the discussion. Not dissing Chevy, just noticing a trend.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

loncray

I know when I looked for a new truck, Chevy wasn't even an option. Why? They dont have a truck that would even compete with Ford or Dodge. That was back in the mid 90's. I never looked back. I know I've always heard and remember slightly that chevy were the ones that took the reliability out of the diesel, with their gas conversion diesels that they tried putting in cars and they never started. Really, since then, I never considered chevy an option. I do have a friend that bought a Duramax last year, and he likes it so far. Myself, I'll stick with reliability, fuel mileage, and that never ending

 

[Sixpac2]

Hi george , I bought the truck at Peterson Stampede Dodge In Napa ID. Very nice guys and down to earth. My brother inlaw lives miles aways there and they had a truck with all I wanted. So I flew over, saw , drove, Liked and the rest is history. I would like to get in touch and stop buy some time. Talk later Marv

\

PS are you and big bob going to the BD dyno days in april?

 

[MABurns]

It's interesting to hear these comments from post chevy owners. The reports I hear from chevy owners on irv2.com all seem quite happy with them.

I was quite happy with mine as well. It pulled better than my previous two CTDs. But then again a stock 94, and stock 99 with AT where not earth shakers.



The Allison does an excellent job of getting the power of the Duramax to the ground. But it comes at a cost (power robbed). I guess I never knew what that same power (comparable 305/555)with a 6 speed manual meant. The GM product is a nice riding truck, pulls well, and I kinda miss the full size crew cab-- but I know now, the CTD and 6 speed does it with a whole lot less effort.

 

[boonsur]

I'm just glad to see you researched Dodge enough to get the 6-speed. It embarasses me when people switch from Chevy, only to realize Dodge's auto's can't take the Cummins' torque (and have other issues as well).



Enjoy! and remember, it gets much better when it's broken-in, and then, BOMB'ed

 

[Camp]

I will let you guys know what I think of the switch. I just sold my 2500HD with the 6-speed. Tomorrow I should be picking up my 3500 CTD DRW. I needed more truck for the enclosed race trailer I am buying and Dodge gave me a better deal. My chevy was a great truck though and pulled like a freight train. As for milage, I have no dreams of the new Dodge getting the economy that my Chevy did. I was getting no less than 20mpg empty and as much as 24mpg. Most of my buddies have Dodges and couldn't compete with me in that department. Yep, I know the new truck is going to be a lot heavier and that will factor in to economy.

 

[geusterman]

My first diesel was a K2500 4x4 mechanical pump 6. 5TD. Easy cab and bed access. Quieter than CTD. Turned up pump and boost... ran like a 350. Wonderful riding and 4L80E very tough. Towed 12K fifth for 30K miles. Gave to brother at 120K after freezing the radiator in a sleet storm in MT and blew a head gasket. Arggghh. Put a mechanical 6. 2 in with the turbo and it is running great today. Bought an 02 CTD for the CTD. Rough riding, too high but simple and powerful (6spd). My new 600/auto is like the old Chevy with a CTD. Best of both worlds. Plus our new 48re is better than the 4L80E. If it dies after warrentee the performance shops will make us a real good transmission. There are more reasons now to buy a Dodge than the CTD. George

 

[MABurns]

I have no dreams of the new Dodge getting the economy that my Chevy did. I was getting no less than 20mpg empty and as much as 24mpg

Must be another example of what the Allison robs from the Duramax. Best I did with a 2500 HD D/A was 20 empty and towing it stuck. At times 9 to 11. I do better with the CTD/6speed than the D/A empty. I just don't have the miles towing to tell if its better there, but I do know the new truck isn't roaring (downshifting) to 3200 RPM so its bound to be better!

 

[Sixpac2]

I agre MA burns, Best milade I got with the duals and D/A was 17-18mpg empty and towing 5ver 9-10 if runnug easy. Empty my dodge is at 16mpg at 60-65mph now. so I am not losing much and when 20k rools around I'm sure it will be better.

At 21k GCW If there was aslight headwind or a slight incline or running up to whistler ect. I had to feather the go pedel or The D/A would downshift and the rev's scream.

I am not a fast driver but I got the Manual so If I want to go up a slight incline or hit a slight wind I plan on just pushing on the go pedal and let the cummins pull.

waiting on a part for my 5ver hitch (a pullrite) should be here on Fri then hopully on saturday I will get to really try her out. Marv