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Vintage465's avatar
Vintage465
Nomad
Oct 05, 2015

First Real Trip with the Duramax

So we have ventured out on our first journey from California to Nashville with the new-ish 2013 Duramax and our new Creekside 20fq. The trailer is likely somewhere around 6000 lbs. at the most. This is certainly a first class ride. I have been pulling trailers since before I was 20 and I have heard people tell me their tow rig pulls like the trailer isn't there. I've never quite agreed with that cause you put anything on back of a truck and you will feel it. Well this is about as close to that as I can imagine. Goes up darn near any hill at 70, generally in 6th gear @ 1600 rpm. Occasionally it downshifts to 5th and ups the rpm to 1800. The generation of tow vehicles we have now days is amazing. I am sure all the Dodges and Fords pull the same way or maybe even better in their owners eyes. Great factory tow mirrors, great factory break control, gets between 10 and 13 mpg towing. The old days are gone and I am digging the new ones! And I can listen to Sirius Radio!
Tow Vehicles

19 Replies

  • N-Trouble's avatar
    N-Trouble
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2015
    ktmrfs wrote:
    N-Trouble wrote:
    Wishin wrote:
    Those diesel's sure are nice, and the newest ones seem to be the best yet.


    Yes and no... New ones do have higher numbers but when you factor in the unreliable/problematic emissions components overall reliability has suffered. Tell your parents to hang onto their 06. Last year before emissions kicked in.


    not me. while I loved our 2004.5 duramax, the 2015 denali duramax is so much better in every respect that it's a no brainer. better exhaust brake, less noise, better ride, no diesel smell or clatter, better fuel economy, more room in the back seat, better nav, better climate control.....10 years has made a huge difference, regarless of brand.

    We've put 12,000 miles on it in less than 6 months.

    Seems like whenever new stds come in it's "hold onto the old one, the new ones aren't reliable." Thats what folks said about 2004.5 duramax, 2007, etc. etc. and based on those I know with newer model trucks, Ford, Dodge or GM, everyone I know has had LESS trouble with newer models, not more trouble.


    You don't get over 1,300 responses if there aren't real issues with these emissions components. http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/2011-lml-duramax-powertrain/193378-calling-out-all-who-had-problems-def-emissions.html
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer III
    Oct 18, 2015
    N-Trouble wrote:
    Wishin wrote:
    Those diesel's sure are nice, and the newest ones seem to be the best yet.


    Yes and no... New ones do have higher numbers but when you factor in the unreliable/problematic emissions components overall reliability has suffered. Tell your parents to hang onto their 06. Last year before emissions kicked in.


    not me. while I loved our 2004.5 duramax, the 2015 denali duramax is so much better in every respect that it's a no brainer. better exhaust brake, less noise, better ride, no diesel smell or clatter, better fuel economy, more room in the back seat, better nav, better climate control.....10 years has made a huge difference, regarless of brand.

    We've put 12,000 miles on it in less than 6 months.

    Seems like whenever new stds come in it's "hold onto the old one, the new ones aren't reliable." Thats what folks said about 2004.5 duramax, 2007, etc. etc. and based on those I know with newer model trucks, Ford, Dodge or GM, everyone I know has had LESS trouble with newer models, not more trouble.
  • Vintage465's avatar
    Vintage465
    Nomad
    Oct 18, 2015
    So we got back to California today after around 8,000 miles for a first trip. We went from California, to Nashville, then up to Ypsilanti MI, down to Richmond Kentucky, then we caught 75 south down toward Alabama and somewhere along the way hooked up on 20 West and came home through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Over all, I had zero problems with the tow vehicle. It got anywhere from 9 to 13mpg, 11-12 being the average. It got nine with a head wind for a couple tanks of gas. Factory Brake Control: Amazing. Factory Tow Mirrors: Amazing. Factory Exhaust Brake: Amazing. Factory Power: Amazing. Factory Cooling: Amazing, the needle never moved from 210 degrees. I think before anyone has a truck like these new diesels they should have to go through the same 25 year apprenticeship that I did pulling trailers with all the bolt on stuff to make them tow worthy. Like I said before, I am sure all the Fords and Dodges are just as impressive as this Duramax.
  • N-Trouble's avatar
    N-Trouble
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2015
    Wishin wrote:
    Those diesel's sure are nice, and the newest ones seem to be the best yet.


    Yes and no... New ones do have higher numbers but when you factor in the unreliable/problematic emissions components overall reliability has suffered. Tell your parents to hang onto their 06. Last year before emissions kicked in.
  • Vintage465's avatar
    Vintage465
    Nomad
    Oct 06, 2015
    rhagfo wrote:
    I guess that would be the definition of too much Truck!:B

    That would be like when we towed DD empty horse trailer home!

    Time to start looking for a trailer to make that oil burner work!


    I consider this perfectly sized! I like going up a hill, stepping on the peddle and watching the speedo climb.....fast!
  • Vintage465's avatar
    Vintage465
    Nomad
    Oct 06, 2015
    rhagfo wrote:
    Did Chevy ever offer a Dmax Burb?

    The only Diesel Chevy ever offered was the 6.2/6.5, normally aspirated and turbo'd. They got good mileage towing, but were very inadequate compared to what's available now.
  • Vintage465's avatar
    Vintage465
    Nomad
    Oct 06, 2015
    alexleblanc wrote:
    gotta love spending pretty much the whole trip in 6th, makes for a very relaxed tow.


    That's kind of the whole thing right there! When you arrive it's like you've been relaxing while towing cause it does all the work. I never even speed up at the bottom of a hill. Just set the cruise on 70 and let it go!
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Oct 06, 2015
    Wishin wrote:
    We normally pull with our 8.1L Suburban, but due to a fuel pump failure in the first 25 miles of our trip this year, we took my parents 2006 2500HD with the Duramax. We went from MI to Glacier NP and it pulled every hill in 6th @ 65-67 mph until we were almost there. Wish I could afford to put a Duramax in the Suburban! Those diesel's sure are nice, and the newest ones seem to be the best yet.


    P pumped Cummins are much easier to get operating in those kind of swaps. Chris

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