So, heres the skinny..

My dad is most likely going to get a new truck before taxes. Rather than getting paid for my summer work, I'll get his old '02 6.0l ext. cab flatbed if he gets a new truck. I know he wants to get another gasser, his arguement is that he doesn't need a diesel, diesel costs more, and the regular servicing would cost more. Other than way more power and moderately better fuel economy, what should my arguement be for getting a Duramax? He said I will probably get up with the new truck when I go to college in 2 years because he wants to still have the flatbed to feed the cows, which is the biggest reason I want him to get a Dmax :D.

What do you guys think? We really only tow a few times a year, when we sell our calves and have to go to move a few steers around, but nothing really heavy. Should I keep pushing for a diesel or suck it up and accept the fact that I won't be drivin' Duramax until a ways down the road. Thanks for any help

Well first, welcome to the forum. Secondly, define "moderately better fuel economy". My dad has a 2000 GMC 6.0 gasser and it gets 10-11 mpg unloaded. My truck gets 17-18 easily driving the same routes, and there are many here whose trucks get upwards of 20.

And regular servicing does cost more on a diesel, but the oil burner more than makes up for it in power and long-term reliability. Good Luck

define "moderately better fuel economy".

Well I'd say around 11-12 sounds about right, but a lot of the driving that truck does is below 40 mph..I said moderately because some people with 6.0l get a little bit better fuel economy. Whats the price difference between a diesel and the same truck with a 6.0l? I'm trying to push him in the direction of an LBZ because I don't like the DPF and trucks without it seem to get better fuel economy. Anyways, thanks for the help

Pricewise, get the 6.0. I had a 2000 GMC 2500 with the 6.0 and loved every minute of it. The truck was very reliable, had good power, and unloaded I got 14 to 15 mpg, loaded I got 9 to 12.

Now, I have the LBZ 3500 dually, and driving exactly the same way in the same location with the diesel I get 14 to 15 mpg unloaded, and 9 to 12 mpg loaded. The bummer here is that diesel here in my part of Idaho costs 60 cents per gallon more. Add that to the much higher cost of the diesel engine compared to the gas, and it is pretty hard to justify having the diesel right now.

That being said, the diesel sure is fun to drive with all that torque. Leaves me smiling every time. So maybe it is worth it.

i just bought a 6.0 in the NBS and my dad bought the D-max and the trucks are identical reg. cab long bed and they get about the same as far as fuel economy 8-10mpg in town and 13-14mpg on the highway as for pulling a trailer the d-max is the way to go i wanted the d-max but couldnt afford the motor/trans combo hope this helps!
Tom

you could add longevity,durability and resale to your arguement with your old man and you could accidentally spill some of that non taxed farm fuel in there too..thats bout same price as gas. i think the diesel option is about 7800

We service some 6.0 liter with more than 300k on them.....they are a good engine.

Shoot I feel for ya. I love every minute having my d-max but I agree, right now it's pretty hard to justify the diesel option right now. Nothing like pulling mountain grades at 1900 rpm. Love the torque!!!! I'd get your dad to drive the d-max lbz and that alone should sell him on the diesel.

you could add longevity,durability and resale to your arguement with your old man and you could accidentally spill some of that non taxed farm fuel in there too..thats bout same price as gas. i think the diesel option is about 7800


all good points, and i could probably get away with running pink diesel except at maybe the rodeo and sales yard, ive heard that they have checked there. plus, then its a farm write off like you said


I think we are good either way really, and i'd push for a used LBZ probably, i think it would cost around the same as a brand new truck. So it probably would be better to go with a gasser? but diesels look so much more fun :(.

what do you guys think of this 2006? is that price about right? http://www.autopages.com/listings/P1016660 (http://www.autopages.com/listings/P1016660)

im my opinion the price is a little high, my friend who is a chevy dealer just sold a truck just like that one except it had less miles for $28,900

so i should pay around $30,000?

when i bought mine out the door it was $33,000 and the new d-max my dad bought was $38,000 out the door

Well we went to a GMC and a Chevy dealer today. The new 2500HDs are pretty nice, but i think i still like the older body styles more. After they quoted us around $38,000 for a ext. cab short bed Sierra with SLT trim and 6 liter engine, my dad told me to find him a Duramax with under 20k on the ticker and we would talk. Anybody know of any around the Northwest? i was also wondering, when its cold in the winter does the diesel gell up like on our tractors, or is there a heater or something to plug in and prevent this? And do you have to service a diesel more often or does it just cost more when you do service it?
thanks again

Use good oil and service it less. Costs more per service because the filters are more and you use more oil. Fuel shouldn't gell, most places mix the on-road fuel or put in additives as soon as the weather gets a little cold because they don't want to be in trouble if someone gells. Ask the place you normally get fuel what they do and when.

I weighed the Gas vs Diesel option quite a bit this time around. I eventually ended up going Diesel. I really only use the truck Apr - to about Nov, but when I am using it I am hauling or towing something. If I wasn't towing as much as I do, I would of went with the Gas engine this time around. And after I finally get a cabin built, I will have less use for this big ole truck. The cool :cool:factor of owning a diesel powered vehicle is definitly there, but eventually reality sinks in and you have to ask yourself if you really need a 3/4 or 1 ton diesel powered truck to get that next 12-pak, or sack of groceries. It certainly cost alot of money to be on the road today no matter what ride you are driving...

Well we went to a GMC and a Chevy dealer today. The new 2500HDs are pretty nice, but i think i still like the older body styles more. After they quoted us around $38,000 for a ext. cab short bed Sierra with SLT trim and 6 liter engine, my dad told me to find him a Duramax with under 20k on the ticker and we would talk. Anybody know of any around the Northwest? i was also wondering, when its cold in the winter does the diesel gell up like on our tractors, or is there a heater or something to plug in and prevent this? And do you have to service a diesel more often or does it just cost more when you do service it?
thanks again

Try www.davesmithmotors.com (http://www.davesmithmotors.com) north Idaho, pretty good deals