Ok fellas I need some straight info from you all. I have never owned a diesel. I am a retired GM employee so have always had GM gassers. Currently I own a 2003 1500HD Silverado LT CC 6.0 3.73 axles ratio. I am taking delivery of my first travel trailer this weekend a 24' Komfort 2005 model with a MVWR of 7700. It will work with my current vehicle in regards to the 1500hd GCWR.
I will only be towing this unit about 1 weekend a month a one or two times a year for 1-2 week vacations.
My questions are I am looking at the 8.1 with Allyison trans, locking differential and either 4.10 or 3.73 axle or the Duramax and Allyison combo. I know that the pros of the Duramax are quiter than the other diesels, great torque, allyison transmission, should provide a long engine life and much better mileage. Cons price, noise vs gasser and some increased costs to maintain and the inherant cold weather and locating fuel issues. 8.1 Gasser pros quiter, allyison trans available, maintainence costs generally less, easy to locate fuel, no cold climate issues, allot of power and capacity similar to Duramax, about $4000 cheaper. Cons engine life most likely much shorter, louder on climbs, much less gas mileage, softer resale, less torque than diesel.
I need you fellas to convince me that I would benefit greatly getting the Duramax. I did go by local dealer and started one yesterday and sat in it with doors closed and noise is not too great and I suspect I would get used to it like anything in time. However my wife dislikes the noise more than I and she would not be in it except for the times we tow so she is less likely to get used to it and find it unobjectionable. I have not yet driven it and have no idea what to expect. I anticipate it is more sluggish than my 6.0 but maybe not as the 6.0 is 3.73 and so is the Duramax.
Your thoughts and personal feedback will be very helpful in my making this decision.
Thanks
Bob
:grd:

My duramax was my first diesel and i'll never buy another gas truck. that's all i can say.

I bought my first diesel (2500HD CC with Duramax/Allison) last Friday. I'm still getting used to it. I'm especially annoyed at the LLY drone which occurs at 58 to 60 mph. In my 6.0 gas truck I got about 12.5 mpg in the city and 16 on the highway. So far, I'm getting about 16 mpg in the city with my Duramax and it only has 300 miles on it, so it's not even broken in. I haven't been able to check the highway mileage yet, but I don't think it will be as dramatic as the city mpg difference.

I'm very happy with my diesel and I'm glad I bought it. I also, bought it for it's fifth wheel pulling torque.

Your wife will get used to it. It's really not that noisy. I bought mine after my wife emptied our savings account and left.

My duramax was my first diesel and i'll never buy another gas truck. that's all i can say.
ditto

The 8.1 is a great engine, it will haul anything with ease, but your fuel mileage will suffer greatly. I bought a Diesel and haul anything that I can hook to it, the noise? Not even noticed anymore. Cruise down the highway in the thing at 70 and I bet you wont even hear it. The mileage gains, resale, power, longevity will sell most.

I had a 6.0 last year and owned it for three months and traded it in for the deisel, I tried to improve the performance and after all said and done the best milage I could get was 15mpg ( Bassani Headers, Borla Dual Exhaust, Hypertech Programmer) Don't get me wrong nice truck but I was looking for longevity, so I went with the Duramax. I have increased performance w/ Banks Monster Exhaust, Six-Gun w/Speed Loader, and afe Stage II) I average 17 around town and cruising on the highway (emty) 75-80mph I get 18+. I tow but nothing but my scoot, and once a year I tow three of them on a car trailer and get out of state for a trip. I performs well and I am happy. My wife doesn't like the get up and go of the deisel (she doesn't have a clue about the Banks-- Yet) Once on the road it is as quite as any gasser I have driven.

I am more impressed with the warranty then with the gassers 100,000/36,000, I have yet to have any real issues with the vehicle (11 months old and 27,000 mi).

That's my opinion:grd:

I had a 6.0 last year and owned it for three months and traded it in for the deisel, I tried to improve the performance and after all said and done the best milage I could get was 15mpg ( Bassani Headers, Borla Dual Exhaust, Hypertech Programmer)
this brings back memories.. my 03 6.0HD..exact same thing. I did exhaust, hypertech, intake, Gibson headers...blah blah.. the BEST mileage I could get from that motor highway AND city was 10mpg.

sold it, purchased the Duramax. First tank on highway was like 19, city was 15...already a huge improvement and getting better with each tank.

I got rid of my 2000 chevy 1500 piston slapper and got the DMAX. It's my first diesel and I'll never go back to a gasser. The noise isn't bad at all. In fact I've made mine noisier by enhancing the turbo whistle. With the tuners I have and driving like I was running from the cops I get 15mpg. If I'm nice I can get 20mpg. That's avg. city and hwy combined. Good luck with your decision.

Bob,

Your 1500 HD will do the job just fine for the amount of towing you do, and the weight of the trailer you will be towing. You'd be money ahead by keeping your current truck.

With that said, I would never get the 8.1 over the Duramax. You hit the nail on the head when talking about "Soft resale" on the 8.1. However you are even more right than you stated in your post. You will likely take a deduction below book value when you trade the 8.1 in. Especially if fuel prices continue to climb. Case in point: The Dodge V10 gas hogs can't be given away anymore...

The Duramax on the other hand will retain most of the $5,000 dollar cost you spent on it. Check it out for yourself at KBB.com
If you bought a 2001 with the duramax and paid $5,000 over base price, How much would that Duramax/Allison option still be worth??? I haven't checked lately, but last time I did The Duramax/Allison added over $4,500 to the current price of the truck.

The extra fuel economy of the D max over the 6.0 or especially the 8.1 is just money in your pocket!

P.S. The stock Duramax would walk away from the 6.0 gasser 1500 HD in a race...

Last night just traded my 2004 avalanche for 2005 c/c 4x4. This diesel is just plain awesome, should have bought one before my avalanche. Read you guys for two weeks getting info,and confidence to spend the cash, this is a great site.

As long as I can keep affording a diesel, I'll never go back to gas again, either.

As for noise, these newer diesels are so quiet that I sometimes miss the old Cummins sound and/or Detroit clank, rattle, and roar! I don't feel that noise is a legitimate excuse for not liking diesels anymore.

As for everything else, it just doesn't matter to me--for some reason diesels fascinate me, and I've always just loved anything that burned diesel. I swear I need a BDC sample taken now and again! (That's Blood Diesel Content.)

Diesel exhaust is an added benefit as well--I generally slap a little #2 on my neck before a date, too.

Good stuff.

If you know someone that has a DMAX that you can borrow (to test towing your trailer) do it and you will have the answer you are looking for. Had):h a PSD and loved it but the DMAX is the new love of my life.

Range: One of the few design mistakes in the short bed truck is having only a 25 gallon fuel tank. That may be a noticable problem if you are planning to buy a a 8.1 gasser short bed tow vehicle. I get 13.0 mpg towing a 7,000 lb trailer with my Duramax. I would be lucky to get 9 mpg if I had the 8.1 gasser. So, with the 8.1 gasser, my max range would go from 338 miles down to 225 or less. Considering head winds, distances between stations, desire to have a reserve, etc, you would most likely be fueling up every 130 miles or less with a gasser. I previously had a 5.7 gasser (milage about 9.2 mpg towing) and was always planning for the next station when the trailer was hooked up.

Noise: I think you and your wife will find it is a non issue. Actually, the noise seems more noticable at idle than at cruise. Road noise and such drown out the engine and exhaust noises once you strart cruising. You can easily carry on a conversation at cruise. (Depending on your wife, the could be good, or maybe it is a bad thing!)

Upgrades: You can upgrade the power on a diesel much easier and cheaper than on a gasser.

Cold Weather Operation: You mentioned concerns about the impact of cold weather. Let us know where you are located and maybe some of the members can provide specific information about operating in your area.

I've had mine almost a year and I still look forward to driving it.

Most important piece of advice .... Take one for a test drive, ASAP!

Robert, with the diesel you'll never look back. I was a rat lover for 20 yrs. and in 01 I tried the diesel, now I hope I never have to go back. It's a little more noise in town accelerating, but thats about it. Highway speeds are very plesant. And the fuel range is fantastic!

My buddy is a sales manager at a Chevy dealership. He says you cannot give away an 8.1 equipped vehicle now. Used DMax's are gold according to him. You will make up the $5K upcharge on the back end. I've owned 6 new Chevy gassers since 1989 and will never go back...unless diesel hits $4/gallon!! :eek: Then I'm walkin'! :muahaha:

The cold really is not an issue. I live in tropical minnesota and if you just plug it in every night it actually starts faster than when it is actually warm out. Even on the nights when I forget to plug it in, it starts...a little rough and smokey but it gets going. Last winter it got down to -30 and it started without plugging it in. No problems. I keep the winter cover on over the radiator and the truck stays nice and warm.


as for the noise it actually puts my wife to sleep on road trips, which can be a benefit as to not hear that blah blah blah for 1000 miles.....

hope this helps....later

I bought the D/A simply because I don't want to go to Heaven or Hell without having had the experience of owning one. If it is your desire to own one and if you can do so without breaking the bank, get it. Can't think of anything worse than lying on your death bed with your last thoughts being "Wish I had bought the DMAX"

I think it depends on how long you are going to own the truck. Everyone keeps talking about how much you get on the resale value. I bought my Diesel to keep it for at least 10yrs. min. I had my 93-Suburban for 8yrs(till the motor went while towing). I have the 8.1 in my work truck. The only reason for this is they didn't have the diesel available in the cab & chassis at the time. I have a few associates with the diesel and they are getting 50% better gas mileage than I am with similar rigs. I think it is just your choice. The 8.1 is a great motor but the gas mileage will kill you on the towing. Spend the extra for the diesel if this is going to be yours for a while. Good luck with what ever you purchase.:ro)

Look at how much better the diesel resale is with gas at $2 per gallon, just wait until it hits $2.50 or better and you will not be able to give away the 8.1. I have owned mine for a year, and previously had an 03 2500HD with the 6.0. I liked the 6.0 well enough, and do not do that much towing, but overall I like the dmax better...