2016 Duramax vs 2002 Duramax Mashup

I am kind of amazed how wound up people get over their trucks....and other peoples trucks. We're not in high school anymore. Be happy with yours and let others be happy with theirs. I am happy with mine, and I don't really care what others think of it. I think it's great that Dodges have the most torque. I think it's great that GM has the Allison. Hope the new transmission(German?)works out for Dodge. Really don't know or care where Ford is with the 6.7 and their transmission, just hope it works well for the owners.

Live happy...Die well.

Vote for lamest thread of the year!!
We got the TFL tools, fordaholics and the worlds most interesting man (ole boy with the worlds best LiLY) all in one place!

On a more serious note, the old lb7s are no joke. $600 for a tuner and it blows the doors off anything rolling off the assembly line this year.....

WOW, very defensive aren't we? Doesn't matter that the 2015 or 2016 trucks can pull more than mine as they will because the trailer/RV's we pull/carry do not begin to need more tow vehicle just because it's being made. I don't even come remotely close to needing more truck so why would I want bigger or more capable vehicle? Everyone doesn't need a Class 8 truck to pull the trailer they have, so why spend lots of money earning cash or dig into savings/investments and stop them from their present earning of additional wealth just to buy something not even wanted or needed? You buy what you want and we will buy or not buy what we so desire to. Seems you have still lots to learn yet!

travelnutz wrote:
transamz9,

No, I doubt you do understand. The 2003 Duramax was the LB7 engine and our 2004.5 has the LLY engine. Large difference in engine output to the drive wheels. That's why it's called a 2004.5 model rather than just a 2004 model which had the LB7 version until the mid year change.

FWIW, I owned an engineering company and our main projects were design and engineering of components and structures/assemblies for all 3 of the Big 3 pickups, SUV's, and vans programs. Frame components, engine bracketry and motor mounts, transmission supports etc. Yes, I do know the big 3 pickups well.

Nearly 40 years of it before selling and finally retiring fulltime and I still miss it. Loved it as it was fun and very satisfying, not work! Also it's our 52nd year of RV'ing now from small tow behinds to very large Class A's (mostly Allegros).

Wife likes my fulltime retired "old fart" job/profession I have today and I don't mind it either as we are in our mid 70's!

I understand more than you realize but like most older folk you can't comprehend that not all off the successor generation is lazy and don't have a clue. So I will just step back and let you enjoy your knowledge just like all the other engineers that I have had to deal with in my life because they are always right. I mean there is no way the GM engineers could design a more capable truck after yours because you know....engineers designed yours.

transamz9,

No, I doubt you do understand. The 2003 Duramax was the LB7 engine and our 2004.5 has the LLY engine. Large difference in engine output to the drive wheels. That's why it's called a 2004.5 model rather than just a 2004 model which had the LB7 version until the mid year change.

FWIW, I owned an engineering company and our main projects were design and engineering of components and structures/assemblies for all 3 of the Big 3 pickups, SUV's, and vans programs. Frame components, engine bracketry and motor mounts, transmission supports etc. Yes, I do know the big 3 pickups well.

Nearly 40 years of it before selling and finally retiring fulltime and I still miss it. Loved it as it was fun and very satisfying, not work! Also it's our 52nd year of RV'ing now from small tow behinds to very large Class A's (mostly Allegros).

Wife likes my fulltime retired "old fart" job/profession I have today and I don't mind it either as we are in our mid 70's!

travelnutz wrote:
transamz9,

We drove 2 brands of new loaded diesel pickups in 2013, 2 in 2014, and all 3 in 2015 so we sure do know what they are like and didn't find them that impressive at all. What you don't know is that when our ordered 2004.5 Chevy CC LB 4X4 truck came in, I had it immediately Ziebart rust proofed and then soundproof coated over the Ziebart coating in Spring Lake, Michigan. Then had the firewall and the underside of the hood metal both undercoated and soundproofed since Ziebart wouldn't do it. Also had the same on the "A" pillar door side. A liability issue is what they said at Ziebart and they couldn't do it, Corporate policy! Absolutely no engine sound inside the cab of our 2004.5 from approx 30 MPH on up and a lot quieter than our gas trucks or the SUV's. Most people won't spend the extra $$$ to have their new vehicle properly rust protected and soundproofed but I do and will!

Always get top dollar when trading in or feel good when selling ourselves. To a family member as they often want them and that's what we mostly do and they last with no rust. We live in Michigan where they salt the roads and the 1993 Chevy 2500 ext cab LB 4X4 truck we sold to an asparagus farmer friend now has nearly 400K on it and still NO rust! 23 years old now. Speaks for itself!

The 2015 diesel GM was just little quieter than our 2004.5 D/A but certainly not worth spending an extra $50,000+ when our 12 year old truck does everything we need or have asked it to do and is extremely comfortable to drive and still looks new inside and out. No dents or other blemishes either. The 2015 Ram Cummins was considerably louder noise level inside at from idle to even 70 MPH than our 2004.5. Also, the Ram rode hard and jolty and felt every road joint, bump, or tar strip so much more compared to either the Ford or GM or our truck. Wife is disabled and she said NEVER to the Ram I sure agreed!!!

Our pickups are only used for RV'ing because we have other SUV's and vehicles for daily use or towing one of our boats to a launching ramp when home etc. One of the boats usually goes with us when the Lance TC is on the truck and you can double tow in Michigan so a boat often is behind the 5th wheel too.

Money isn't an issue for us but throwing it away for not a very good reason is! We always buy cash and have for nearly 50 years now because we collect interest, not pay interest, and won't! Money in the bank, Frank!

I understand what you are saying believe me. I also understand that you spent a lot extra to get your old truck to be almost as quite as the 2015 you drove. Do the same thing to the new truck and then go hook to a load. My FIL had a 2003 Chevy D-max so I know your old truck. You can say it does what you need but so could an ole 80's model in good shape. To each their own I guess.

transamz9,

We drove 2 brands of new loaded diesel pickups in 2013, 2 in 2014, and all 3 in 2015 so we sure do know what they are like and didn't find them that impressive at all. What you don't know is that when our ordered 2004.5 Chevy CC LB 4X4 truck came in, I had it immediately Ziebart rust proofed and then soundproof coated over the Ziebart coating in Spring Lake, Michigan. Then had the firewall and the underside of the hood metal both undercoated and soundproofed since Ziebart wouldn't do it. Also had the same on the "A" pillar door side. A liability issue is what they said at Ziebart and they couldn't do it, Corporate policy! Absolutely no engine sound inside the cab of our 2004.5 from approx 30 MPH on up and a lot quieter than our gas trucks or the SUV's. Most people won't spend the extra $$$ to have their new vehicle properly rust protected and soundproofed but I do and will!

Always get top dollar when trading in or feel good when selling ourselves. To a family member as they often want them and that's what we mostly do and they last with no rust. We live in Michigan where they salt the roads and the 1993 Chevy 2500 ext cab LB 4X4 truck we sold to an asparagus farmer friend now has nearly 400K on it and still NO rust! 23 years old now. Speaks for itself!

The 2015 diesel GM was just little quieter than our 2004.5 D/A but certainly not worth spending an extra $50,000+ when our 12 year old truck does everything we need or have asked it to do and is extremely comfortable to drive and still looks new inside and out. No dents or other blemishes either. The 2015 Ram Cummins was considerably louder noise level inside at from idle to even 70 MPH than our 2004.5. Also, the Ram rode hard and jolty and felt every road joint, bump, or tar strip so much more compared to either the Ford or GM or our truck. Wife is disabled and she said NEVER to the Ram I sure agreed!!!

Our pickups are only used for RV'ing because we have other SUV's and vehicles for daily use or towing one of our boats to a launching ramp when home etc. One of the boats usually goes with us when the Lance TC is on the truck and you can double tow in Michigan so a boat often is behind the 5th wheel too.

Money isn't an issue for us but throwing it away for not a very good reason is! We always buy cash and have for nearly 50 years now because we collect interest, not pay interest, and won't! Money in the bank, Frank!

Paul Clancy wrote:
Did the 04 have cat or egr? I know my 02 had no emissions from factory. It also ran out of throttle on long grades towing where the 09 does not.

yup, had cat and egr, it was the LLY not the original (LB7?)

the 15 does have more power, but for what we tow, (10Klbs) either had more than enough power, but the exhaust brake is way superior to the straight grade brake the 04 has.

travelnutz wrote:
One of the major reasons we keep our 2004.5 Chevy Duramax CC LB 4X4 truck is the superb fuel economy when towing our scale weighed 12,800 lb Carriage Carrilite 5th wheel or our 11'4" Lance truck camper. Truck is and only has been used for RV'ing since ordered new in March 2004 (12 years ago) and is getting close to 200K miles on it now and has never needed or had any repairs other than tires, oil etc changes, 2 burned out light bulbs replaced, and new front disc brake pads at just over 125K. Rears are still original and have plenty of thickness left. Truck runs and looks just like new yet, not a bit of rust, very comfortable riding and excellent handling, and far more power than was ever needed. Why would we even want to spend $60 to $70 thousand for a new truck then?

If it's liking the smell of a new truck? It's so much cheaper to just buy an aerosol can of new vehicle smell spray! If you'd purchased the right truck to begin with, you'd still be happy today too!

I am still happy with my old truck. I enjoy the heck out of driving it but until you go and get you a brand new D-max and hook it up and go you will not know what we are talking about. I bought a new truck 2 years ago and it is just simply a dream to drive and tow with. I kept my old truck because like you it is an awesome truck and I have not had to do anything but tires and service. It has become my weekend ride around toy. I get to go out and pull up beside the kids in there brand new trucks that think they have the fastest thing going and send them home with there tails tucked. LOL. I also like the feel of the ole girl, comfy to my buttox.

Did the 04 have cat or egr? I know my 02 had no emissions from factory. It also ran out of throttle on long grades towing where the 09 does not.