Used Dmax or New Cummins

[davisenvy]

I am currently looking to upgrade to a newer truck. I now have a 2006 Duramax and I am looking at a 2016-2017 with 0-10k mi Cummins or 2013-2014 50k mi Duramax.
Apples to Apples the Cummins is a cheaper truck and I do honest beleive the Duramax to be a better set up, but can't justify the extra cost of a Dmax. I am leaning towards the Cummins. I think the Dodge has a nicer interior and the exterior isn't bad either. Is the Duramax worth that much more than the Cummins?

Please don't turn this into a diesel vs gas debate and Ford is absolutely off the table.

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


This one?

That thing stripped most likely weighs close to the same as a fully dressed Duramax or Power Stroke!

I will take simplistic by the pound over the other two. Chris

Agreed!!!

I took the plant tour in Columbus last Summer it was a great experience watching the American workers (FISH) assembling the engines. :B

[4x4ord]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
You want a public opinion poll? Why not look at the annual sales numbers....Ram vs Chevy and GM combined?

How about the guys that use their trucks to make their living as HotShotters and RV Haulers. RAM far outnumbers the others.

In the past if I was going to put 150,000 miles a year on a truck truck I would have felt the Cummins was the best choice. Certainly Ford would have been out of the running. Today's trucks all have an amazing powertrain. The most likely components to give trouble are probably the emission related parts....And all three are likely using the same parts anyway.

[4x4ord]

deltabravo wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
Ram vs Chevy and GM combined?

Chevy IS GM.

Yep that's why the GM and Chevy sales figures need to be combined.

[Me_Again]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


This one?

That thing stripped most likely weighs close to the same as a fully dressed Duramax or Power Stroke!

I will take simplistic by the pound over the other two. Chris

[deltabravo]

4x4ord wrote:
Ram vs Chevy and GM combined?

Chevy IS GM.

[Cummins12V98]

4x4ord wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
You want a public opinion poll? Why not look at the annual sales numbers....Ram vs Chevy and GM combined?

what do those numbers really mean? folks like the looks better? get a lot cheaper? get a better trade in on one vs the other. had a bad $$$ experience with a Dakota in the past?
bumpy

They mean diddly squat but at least it is a complete sample. Another way to view it is to look at the number of engines Cummins manufactured for Ram vs how many Isuzu built for GM. After 24 years of manufacturing Cummins built their 2,000,000 engine for Ram. Isuzu started manufacturing the Duramax in 2000 and by May of 2007 they had hit the 1 millionth milestone.

Based on the way I bought my Ford, I think if I wanted a Chevy I would probably buy a Chevy without looking at the Ram and if I wanted a Ram I would probably buy the Ram without looking at Chevy.

Edit: it's interesting that Duramax sales appear to be slipping. In March of this year the 2,000,000th Duramax rolled off the line.

This one?

[Dr_Holiday]

Having owned several Ram / Cummins trucks I can speak to only them. My current truck is a 2012 with just shy of 140k miles on it.

We tow a 5th north and south on I-75 all summer. The truck has never not done the job. I do take great care of the drive line it. Every spring I do a complete trans service through the cooler lines, and replace both trans filters.

I also open both front and rear diff and clean them and replace the fluid as well as drain and fill the transfer case.

Both fuel filters get changed out every 10,000 miles and when the oil change light comes on I use Shell Rotella T6 full synthetic 5w-40 oil in it.

Every 67,500 miles its due to have the EGR cooler and valve removed and cleaned, I had the dealer do it the first time, and the 2nd time I did it and also changed out all the coolant. Its been a great truck and continues to be a great truck but they all are only as good as you treat them.

[Cummins12V98]

4x4ord wrote:
You want a public opinion poll? Why not look at the annual sales numbers....Ram vs Chevy and GM combined?

How about the guys that use their trucks to make their living as HotShotters and RV Haulers. RAM far outnumbers the others.

[davisenvy]

Brisk wrote:
OP I have been a GM guy my entire life. When it came time to buy a new (to me) truck last year I drove a newer Duramax and a newer Cummins. They both had things I liked but the cost/feature ratio of the Ram won me over. The price was cheaper and the truck was significatly nicer inside than the GM. 15months and 27k miles later I am extremely happy with my decision.

I think I am coming to the same conclusion. I have always been a GM guy myself, but can't justify the price compared to what the Ram has to offer.

[Brisk]

OP I have been a GM guy my entire life. When it came time to buy a new (to me) truck last year I drove a newer Duramax and a newer Cummins. They both had things I liked but the cost/feature ratio of the Ram won me over. The price was cheaper and the truck was significatly nicer inside than the GM. 15months and 27k miles later I am extremely happy with my decision.

[4x4ord]

ng2951 wrote:


Mine has been far from problem free but has 200,000 miles on it. I have had the fuel filter primer pump fail, transfer case motor (4WD) going bad, the water pump leak, the thermostat stick open, the alternator almost fail, and a leaky hose on the power steering pump.

So far, I have been happy with my Dmax.

As bad as that is for repairs, you're still happy with your truck. My father has a '04 Ram which has never been off the highway. He uses it solely for towing his 5th wheel around and it only has about 80,000 miles on it. Although it is in very nice shape he has spent nearly $4000 keeping it up. He is thrilled with his truck. I have an '03 Duramax with about 250,000 miles on it which I have totally neglected. It overheats, the transmission slips, power windows and door locks don't work, 4wd doesn't engage, battery goes dead if left connected for more than 2 days, AC doesn't work, no radio.....just the stuff that comes to mind. I am obviously not impressed with my GM but I suppose if I had spent $4000 on it every 80,000 miles maybe it would be in beautiful shape and I would be as thrilled as my father is. Maybe someday Honda will make a truck.

[Bumpyroad]

ng2951 wrote:
My advice is find a few really good diesel mechanics that are working at a successful shop and talk to them. They see what breaks down, what stays out of the shop, which ones are the most expensive and time consuming to repair.
.

wait, you want to confuse us with facts??????
bumpy

[davisenvy]

4x4ord wrote:
You want a public opinion poll? Why not look at the annual sales numbers....Ram vs Chevy and GM combined?

I don't really go with what the majority wants. Obama is a good example.

I absolutely love my LBZ Duramax, but I have recently purchased a FW and feel that I need a little more towing confidence. According to the numbers I am several hundred over on my payload and that doesn't make me feel very comfortable. The truck tows the FW great, but from what I have read and have been told by friends, the newer trucks tow much better. Just from the test drives I can tell you the brakes alone are worlds above my trucks brakes. My LBZ has been a great truck, but I think the newer trucks (even with the emissions junk) will tow safer than my current truck.

[ng2951]

The Dmax LBZ was one of their best engines ever. GMC did some dumb things on the 2500 like not installing a lift pump that they put on their 3500s.

Once you get into the years of the emmission control equipment every last one of them (GM, Ford, Chrysler) had one problem or another. The new ones are just starting to get out of those problems so I would be leary of almost anyone's new model.

Mine has been far from problem free but has 200,000 miles on it. I have had the fuel filter primer pump fail, transfer case motor (4WD) going bad, the water pump leak, the thermostat stick open, the alternator almost fail, and a leaky hose on the power steering pump.

All told that was just under $2,000 in repairs. I had only two times being left on the side of the road. One for stupidity when I put gas in the tank instead of diesel a few years ago. The other was on a 100+ degree day around 6,500 ft towing a 10K pound trailer when the engine went into limp mode on fuel pressure. The fuel hose and filter were the suspected culprits and just letting the engine cool for a 1/2 hour allowed us to drive another 4 to 5 hours to get the filter changed (that was 2 years ago).

You are going to get so much garbage about everyone's great diesel it will make your head explode. My advice is find a few really good diesel mechanics that are working at a successful shop and talk to them. They see what breaks down, what stays out of the shop, which ones are the most expensive and time consuming to repair.

Do your homework first and learn a lot about them before you try to talk to them. At best you are going to get 5 minutes, but it will be the best 5 minutes you have prepared for.

BTW, I was going to get a Dodge Cummings without the pollution gear, but my mechanic talked me out of it. He said the Cummins engine was good, but everthing else was the problem.

So far, I have been happy with my Dmax.

[4x4ord]

Bumpyroad wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
You want a public opinion poll? Why not look at the annual sales numbers....Ram vs Chevy and GM combined?

what do those numbers really mean? folks like the looks better? get a lot cheaper? get a better trade in on one vs the other. had a bad $$$ experience with a Dakota in the past?
bumpy

They mean diddly squat but at least it is a complete sample. Another way to view it is to look at the number of engines Cummins manufactured for Ram vs how many Isuzu built for GM. After 24 years of manufacturing Cummins built their 2,000,000 engine for Ram. Isuzu started manufacturing the Duramax in 2000 and by May of 2007 they had hit the 1 millionth milestone.

Based on the way I bought my Ford, I think if I wanted a Chevy I would probably buy a Chevy without looking at the Ram and if I wanted a Ram I would probably buy the Ram without looking at Chevy.

Edit: it's interesting that Duramax sales appear to be slipping. In March of this year the 2,000,000th Duramax rolled off the line.