I currently own dodge dually cummins 6spd. We are downsizing for several reasons. 05 Dodge has been a good truck . The biggest problem has been the accel. Vibes . Truck is stock. the 07 dodges are ok. Bad autos are one problem big lights and ginchy emblems all over is another. The cummins i6 can't be beat for simple power. I test drove an 07 crew long bed duramax allison and liked it also. Good power but complicated. Are they holding up now ( overheat and injector issues). The allison is great to drive and have heard good and bad about them. Your site has a ton of problems listed that are kind of scary. The gmc has a great ride but the dodge handles better in corners and can turn on a dime . Bottom line is that the 2 seem to be good overall . I am concerned about the duramax allison compexity.Does anyone have any input that could help me make an educated decision. I think both trucks are good in ther own ways so not to start a war , I just think the gmc may be a better travel truck for the family?

First of all. welcome to the site.

This is not just for people with problems but people to gloat to eachother about our trucks. Its a place to discuss any type of upgrade you can think of, who's done it, and who's had problems with it.

Injector issues were only effecting the 1st generation 01-early 04 trucks and have largely been flawless since.

04.5-05's had some overheating ussues but this did not effect all trucks. I had one and 60,000 miles later, I traded in for an 07.

The Allison is a bullet proof tranny. Lots of power can be put through it. Grade braking is an awesome system.

The Duramax-Allison complexity is an over statement. These trucks are going well over 300,000 miles. Some have gone over 500,000 on stock, untouched tranny's. They make great power and the ride is light years above the dodge's.

Personally, I'm on my second Duramax. Some members here have had many and currently own many....

Dodge is ok.. though the i6 is going out the door.. Duramax is a power production plant far and above the cummins.. and yes.. the dmax is a MUCH better riding, and smoother shifting entity. I wasn't impressed while pulling with the dodge.. it seemed to just go at one speed.. foot in floor.. foot half way.. or foot 1/4 way.. it only accelerated one way.. slow.. but steady I've enjoyed my dmax a great amount more.

I aggree about the duromax allison combo it seems to be well built. The ride is also great. I have been surfing around your site for a few weeks and saw a few alarming posts on engine an trans issues. I don't want to spend 40K on a new truck and have it be on the side of the road. I am used to running engines that have been around for longer with no issues ( Dt 466s and cummins in our larger trucks). with that said I do really like the gmc look and feel on the road , very stable. I will say that the dodge goes into and holds corners better ( in my opinion ).

I dont think the i6 is going anywhere soon.:)

IK don't think the i6 is going anywhere , it has been around a long time . buick fireball 8 ford 300 inline 6 Dt 466 and many more tracktor trailers run an inline 6 . Properly tuned and geared there simple design , power and 1million mile ability speaks for itself. I also think there is always room for many engine designs like the duromax. it seems like it is evolving into a great engine.

You need not be worried about engine or trans issues. The Duramax/Ally combo is a stout package. With routine maintnence, it'll take care of you.

Some people have pushed their trucks to the limit and never had problems.

THat is what i am here looking for , people that have had positive experiences with the gmc. The dealers will tell you anything to sell a truck. Its out in the field when you find out the truth. I was just going by a lot of the posts i saw on this allison board about issues. I have had my dodge dealer tell me that he has never heard of any problems with the cummings dodge combo . What a joke . Plus any one who dos'nt know that it is cummins should not be aloud to sell them.

Personally, I ran 60,000 miles and never had a problem out of my GMC and that was Hypertech tuned to the highest setting as well. It gave me a solid 19 mpg in the process too.

I personally don't think you can go wrong with the Duramax. We run ours up to about 300,000 miles, then we work on them for a couple of days and go again!):h

All kidding aside we have had very good luck with ours. Even while hauling for a living with power adders we normally see around 300,000 before we have any serious issues.

I'm a convert, had an 4.05' and an 05' CTD both trucks had the driveline vibe and injectors that ticked like crazy the 05 had other issues with the trany. I now drive an 06' Duramax. IMHO this is a better package for the way I drive it (everyday driver and tow 6-7 times per year)

The Dodges have their problems also. Major killer of a diesel will be stuck injectors. Both new Dodge and GM run Bosch injectors. The right or correct choice is the truck you like better and are more comfortable in, and fits your needs. Questions like this always remind me of what's better chocolate or vanilla ice cream:cool:

I am more comfortable in the gmc ,plus the wife is happy driving it to. She was never all that happy about driving the 6spd. dually around . Its alot of truck to some drivers. I really like the allison , best auto that i have ever driven . But then i have not had an auto since my 80s for 3 spds. Will the allison need any work done to handle a 9K camper and a 14K gooseneck flatbed 1 or 2 times a month. I.e extra cooling ect.

My camper weights close to 14,000 lbs. I have towed it from TN to TX to WY. I have no tranny mods right now. I did not have any problems what so ever. I used to own an '01 Dodge 2500 LB 5 speed. This truck tows alot better kind of surpised me. I had only ever towed with a standard my whole life this was the first automatic. Very impressive, I am glad I went with a DMAX/ALLISON combo. I don't think you will regret getting one. IMHO

I had a dodge 1/2 ton 4x4 gasser before my 2500hd diesel and I can honestly say that after a spun main eng bearing at 50k,a metal making rear end at 60k and 2 transmissions by 80k.And thats all highway driving,no offroad,heaviest load was a popup camper.Nothing I've read here so far scares me as much as the sight of a ram emblem.I've got 8k on my 2500hd and am very happy so far pulling a 26' fleetwood trailer.

The Dodge I6 isn't going anywhere; just going a little larger to accomidate the new emissions standards. That design is a tried and proven method of long term power and dependability (there's a reason why so many OTR rigs use a similar design). I like it much better than my DM engine.

I wish SO bad that there was a way to hook the Allison up to the I6!!!! Personally, I think that would be the perfect combination.

I like my Dodge for it's 'pep' and longevity. I like my Chevy for it it's quietness and fit. Chevy pickups also seem to ride smoother. The Dodges seem to be tuned more for a 'sporty' suspension feel. I've always chosen the Dodge pickup ride over the Chevy, however, as the years progress, I'm leaning toward the chevy a little more. I don't need the snappy feel in the corners as much and I'd rather have a smoother cruiser. If I have to choose between my chevy or dodge for towing, it's a bit of a toss up: the dodge engine seems to perform better but the tranny could definately use another gear in there.

You can't go wrong with either. They are both fantastic trucks. There will be guys that have had major problems with either one and those that have run them forever. Flip a coin, it's a win win either way. OR, test drive them and pick the one that 'fits' you best :)

I was just going by a lot of the posts i saw on this allison board about issues.
The only problem with trying to do research on a site like this, or one for ford or dodge is you will always have someone looking for answers here that has a problem. The members on this board only represent a minute number of owners and no one just puts up a post in the tranny section just to comment on how much they like their truck. If all members on here posted that had 0 problems(majority) every XXX number of miles it would make helping those with problems a long read. It is set up to help those in need and does a great job at that.
I did alot of research before I purchased mine. Talked to alot of guy's that had each and got the good and the bad. Then I went drove each one off the lot. The lBZ won that hands down. I was fortunate enough to be able to drive a co workers 06 lly pulling a 28' camper and bought mine the next week. I admit I really like the ford "truck" and have owned many but the problems with the 6.0 kept me away. Had it still had a 7.3 I would have had alot harder decision but the dmax/alli for pulling won me over. I was not comfortable in the dodge, not enough room. Love the engine, hated the rest of the truck, especially the 4 sp auto.
The reply's here are going to be mostly biased...period, as if you posted this same question on the other sites. Cummapart, Duracrap, Powerjoke.....read 'em all. I hate seeing those terms used on this site and others. I have owned almost every type of truck out there and have likes and dislikes with all of them. Just because I own a GMC I will not say that ford is junk because I have owned a few good one's. I always leaned twoard ford and my friend twoard chevy. He bought an 06 PSD (I could not believe my eyes) and I bought a DMAX..go figure. It is not scientific but we always compare the two by driving each others trucks and he admitted last week that he may have made the wrong decision for him. Some guy's are just brand loyal and blind. I would rather spend my money on what fills my given needs at the given time and my GMC does that with a fun factor to boot. A few more aftermarket add on's ....bilsteins,swaybars, etc.....and I would not trade my truck for anything else offered on the market right NOW.....in a few years....well we'll see. Good luck with your decision.

I haven't heard anything bad about allison with stock trucks. They seem to last forever. However, you'll probably find most issues are with people like me upping the HP and thus problems. Personally, my last 3 fords had trans issues with very minor mods, +20-40 hp. All 3 fords needed new trans at 125,000-153000 miles. I like the 6 speed auto, didn't like dodge body/trans, didn't want a Ford 6.0, and the new ford has less hp/tq and looks increadably complex with twin sequential turbos. I know in teh import world, the sequential turbos are first to go with single big or non sequential. Love Ford's weight capacity at 13,000 though. If you leave it stock, I think the Chev/GMC is the best way to go.

I wish SO bad that there was a way to hook the Allison up to the I6!!!! Personally, I think that would be the perfect combination.

There is, apparently. I (and everybody else who was at Suncoast) saw one last weekend.

Test drove another gmc today ,one that was right color and options. I belive that i am swaying more towards the gmc. The interior and fit -finish is better than dodge . I am a little concerned about the squirlyness of the rear end when thrown around a bit and 65-70. I relize this is not the safest thing to do but it let me know the truck gets a lot looser or soft at speeds. How does that reaction get with 15 K behind you at speeds. My dodge trails tight at speeds . Could i get a sway bar to settle it a bit or would i get used to the handling differance?

Test drove another gmc today ,one that was right color and options. I belive that i am swaying more towards the gmc. The interior and fit -finish is better than dodge . I am a little concerned about the squirlyness of the rear end when thrown around a bit and 65-70. I relize this is not the safest thing to do but it let me know the truck gets a lot looser or soft at speeds. How does that reaction get with 15 K behind you at speeds. My dodge trails tight at speeds . Could i get a sway bar to settle it a bit or would i get used to the handling differance?


I am a convert from a half ton to my present truck. I was also worried about that. Once you put a load on the truck it will settle out the springs a little. After pulling our camper I notice the ride was not as harsh. Like everything else, you get used to it. I love my truck and will never drive a Dodge again and I owned five of them over the years. Good luck and it looks like you are headed in the right direction.:)

looks like gmc if i can get the right #s.

The Dodge I6 isn't going anywhere; just going a little larger to accomidate the new emissions standards. That design is a tried and proven method of long term power and dependability (there's a reason why so many OTR rigs use a similar design). I like it much better than my DM engine.

I wish SO bad that there was a way to hook the Allison up to the I6!!!! Personally, I think that would be the perfect combination.

I like my Dodge for it's 'pep' and longevity. I like my Chevy for it it's quietness and fit. Chevy pickups also seem to ride smoother. The Dodges seem to be tuned more for a 'sporty' suspension feel. I've always chosen the Dodge pickup ride over the Chevy, however, as the years progress, I'm leaning toward the chevy a little more. I don't need the snappy feel in the corners as much and I'd rather have a smoother cruiser. If I have to choose between my chevy or dodge for towing, it's a bit of a toss up: the dodge engine seems to perform better but the tranny could definately use another gear in there.

You can't go wrong with either. They are both fantastic trucks. There will be guys that have had major problems with either one and those that have run them forever. Flip a coin, it's a win win either way. OR, test drive them and pick the one that 'fits' you best :)

From what I understand the new 6.7 is 2010 emission compliant.

Ps to answer your reply the durmax/allison is the best package out there. Ride, trans and good engine.

hobbes,
Handling maybe from the tires having maximun inflation pressure in them. My truck came from the dealer with 80 all around. Which doesn't help with the handling

Ps to answer your reply the durmax/allison is the best package out there. Ride, trans and good engine.

:exactly:

mine was real rough on the road when i got it.. high pressure in tires as well

Not really firm ride tire pressure thing. More of a spongy loose rear suspension thing. Someone said they do make a sway bar for the prob.

I think they are a great truck! Most of the threads I've seen where someone is really having trouble they have made a lot of performance mods. The more you mess with something the more trouble it will give you. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! Stock performance and loving it.

Dodge is ok.. though the i6 is going out the door.. Duramax is a power production plant far and above the cummins.. and yes.. the dmax is a MUCH better riding, and smoother shifting entity. I wasn't impressed while pulling with the dodge.. it seemed to just go at one speed.. foot in floor.. foot half way.. or foot 1/4 way.. it only accelerated one way.. slow.. but steady I've enjoyed my dmax a great amount more.

I like the comment about the I6 going out the door.... I don't see that happening.

Anyway, I used to own a Dodge and I think highly of the Cummins. Good, solid motor that is ripe for modification. Stock, I think the Duramax is better for pulling (comparing the 48RE to the Allison) and basic driving around town. Much more civilized and responsive.

Granted, I owned a 2nd Gen, not a newer common rail. But the things that you mention that are scary on a Duramax are similar to problems with the Dodge. Both are problematic for only the vast minority of owners. I researched hard and test drove both before I bought a Chevy -- I surely don't regret it.

As I mentioned, the Cummins is great, but Dodge puts a poor package together. Prior to the Aisen 6 speed, the 47 and 48RE transmissions were problematic. On the 47, I had TC slippage with no modification and pulling well under the max tow rating. I didn't want a Megacab and the Quad cab is not large enough. It seemed the logical fit for me to get a Chevy.

there isn't many problems out there with the dodge 48re tranny. i like to check out all the diesel forums sites and i actually see alot more problems with the ford trannies that with the dodges. many dodge owners (hot shotters) with close to 350,000 miles on their rigs with no tranny problems to speak of. the 48re tranny has held up well.

The 48re is still only a 4 speed. When hauling a load and it downshifts to pull a grade it sends the rpm's through the roof. The allison is a much smoother shifting transmission and with 6 speeds its much better suited to a diesel.

I am approaching 200,000 miles on my 06 and its been a great truck. My only failures have been a power mirror motor, and a couple axle seals. You can look at my signature below and see where I have come from and I am happy I did. The allison alone makes the switch worthwhile.

Cause... its... GMC its dynoomite!!!!

The GM may look like a wimp *** truck, but it has the all makings of a real work horse. That Allision /Duramax combo is hard to beat.

Welcome to the forum. I have an LBZ and my dad has a Dodge. We have made note of several items;

Chevy is quieter (inside and out)
Chevy is more powerful
Dodge gets slightly better mileage (freeway driving)
Chevy has more gears so it seems to shift more smoothly
Chevy power seems smoother
Chevy seems to have better grade (transmission braking)
Chevy frame hangs below body and looks like hell
Chevy engine compartment looks much more busy than Dodge
More aftermarket performance products seem to be available for the Cummins
Dodge engine and transmission operation are less dependant on computer control than Chevy (good or bad, who knows for sure)
The Dodge is like having an old, simple and reliable tractor engine nicely fitted to a pickup truck.
The Chevy is like having an engine specifically designed for a high a performance towing pickup truck.

In the end, I am glad I have the LBZ and my father would rather have the LBZ as well. But the Dodge is OK too.

Just our opinion.

Mark

Test drove another gmc today ,one that was right color and options. I belive that i am swaying more towards the gmc. The interior and fit -finish is better than dodge . I am a little concerned about the squirlyness of the rear end when thrown around a bit and 65-70. I relize this is not the safest thing to do but it let me know the truck gets a lot looser or soft at speeds. How does that reaction get with 15 K behind you at speeds. My dodge trails tight at speeds . Could i get a sway bar to settle it a bit or would i get used to the handling differance?

I've got both. The Dodge is my wifes truck.:) I've got the Dodge wheels on my chevy, with 285 tires on it, and my wifes dodge has 285 tires on it. I've pulled with both trucks, stock, the dura will out pull the dodge. I really can't say that the dodge has more low end power either. When I drag race my wife, I put about 3 to 4 trucks on her, and I carry a few hundred pounds of tools in my truck. Pulling trailers the chevy feels more solid and doesn't wander near as much. And the chevy don't have the death wobble problem either.

But on a road trip, I like the Dodge. It gets worse MPG, don't have the power the chevy has. It don't ride as smooth, it's louder. I can drive the dodge all day, and not be tired. Don't really make sense.

That is forsure, these GM's do not handle at all like the 3rd Gen Dodges do.