i'm moving my family accross country this summer. i bought a 9k trailer because i'm kind of a do it yourself guy. then... i figured that i didn't want to wind out a 5.7 liter gasser tahoe over the cascades and leave the trailer half empty because the truck was maxed out. i'll be building a house when we move, so i figured what the hell, i'll buy a diesel pickup and own it for the next year. use it haul the stuff, and haul building materials.

first of all... you couldn't wipe the smile off my face when i drove it home. you guys know what your doing by owning these things. it seems like a well kept secret, because i never knew there was an option like this. power, function, mileage... list goes on.

as we are getting ready to sell our house, i went to the landscaping supply yesterday to get some rocks for some edging around the house. the guy in the tractor dumped 1200# of rocks into the rhino lined back and the truck did not flinch. getting on the highway, it got to 75 in a damn hurry, and there were no white knuckle stops. these brakes must be huge. truck drove GREAT with a load. i kept thinking about when i would take the tahoe anywhere, and have to put a blanket or something down and shovel in a few hundred pounds just to have a terrible drive home, and wondering if the tires would splode.

so... while i bought the truck for the move and build, i feel like the trip to pick up the rocks was enough to make it worthwhile. the feeling i had could have been worth the money i paid for the truck (well....:) everything from here on out is gravy.

i'm totally converted. i'll be building the house with a garage big enough to fit a duramax for me and my wife.

Nice to see you're a happy camper, Monkey!

Congrats on your truck!! I couldn't pony up for the Dmax, but still very happy with the 2500HD.

Monkey, are you in WA state on the 'wet' side? Where are you moving to?

Congratulations on your purchase of the DMAX.:grd:

I've found you dont really feel it till you have about a ton one, ive had 4500 lbs on it, and it felt like a half ton with a ton on it, you could feel it, but driven carefully it handled it fine.

Monkey, are you in WA state on the 'wet' side? Where are you moving to?
i already have washington plates on the truck (registered at in-laws in skagit valley). we'll be moving in june. i'm taking a close look at bainbridge island, but if i end up not working downtown, i'll prob end up in redmond or another suburb around there.

very very nice country there. i look forward to it. i'm coming from minneapolis, so anyone that tries to warn me of the climate, it falls on deaf ears.

I've found you dont really feel it till you have about a ton one, ive had 4500 lbs on it, and it felt like a half ton with a ton on it, you could feel it, but driven carefully it handled it fine.


4500# :eek: :confused: :rolleyes: Oh! I think I had 6500# in mine and it dropped a couple of inches - still couldn't tell there was weight in it..... :bow: oh 1 ton!!

I know how you feel. My previous truck was an 00 1/2 Silverado LB that saw a lot of rough work in it's short life with me. I've been doing some extensive landscaping the last few years at my house. For bulk stone you weigh in and out and with 3000lbs(I know way over ratings) I'd be looking out my rear view mirror at the road behind me. With my HD it just smoothes out the ride.

Monkey:

Reading your post brought back good memories of the first time I loaded my truck with my 5er. I went from a F250 gasser to the 2500HD DMax and even a rookie like me could tell the difference instantly.

But......what REALLY got me is the tranny. Towing with the Allison is simply a joy to behold. Touch the brakes--smooth downshift. Touch again, downshift again. I can take a 10k# camper plus a 7k# truck from 75 to 25 by tapping the brakes twice. Load that puppy down, press Tow/Haul and let 'er roll!

If you wanted peace of mind when you bought your truck, you got what you paid for.

Rip

Monkey:

But......what REALLY got me is the tranny. Towing with the Allison is simply a joy to behold. Touch the brakes--smooth downshift. Touch again, downshift again. I can take a 10k# camper plus a 7k# truck from 75 to 25 by tapping the brakes twice. Load that puppy down, press Tow/Haul and let 'er roll!

If you wanted peace of mind when you bought your truck, you got what you paid for.

Ripyes... you are right. i was pulling around about 4k trailer today and i kept telling my wife "did you feel that?!?". it's amazing.

when i would tow the same load around a couple weeks ago with the tahoe, my forearms, shoulders, and quads were all tense and i couldn't relax. today, i had to be careful not to forget all the trailer behind me. i really can't believe it. there has to be a lot more people like me out there that didn't know about this 'peace of mind'.

totally converted.

all though... i should have known. 15 years ago, i drove some delivery trucks for a lumber yard. we had a 1 ton f*rd dually flatbed. a couple times i loaded 2 units of mdf on the back. i *think* they were 3,500# apiece?. that did get a bit dicey. but i will never own a half ton again. 15 years ago, an empty ride in a 1 ton was awful. what the heck do they do different now?

these are the kinds of threads I like reading. First time owners actually praising the Duramax, surprised at what it can do, and happy they took the plunge.

I love the fact that the Chevy/GMC Duramax's look just like any other 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton yet have more than enough power to literally move an entire house!

enjoy the truck, it only gets better from here!

word of advice..HIDE YOUR CREDIT CARDS!!

WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING

Do not read any posts that have to do with engine or transmission enhancements.

OR, you to will be converted to the other side.

You think it's good now, just wait til the Edge w/Attitude gets in you blood.

You have been warned.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

i know the feeling. my previous truck was a stepside 1500 and one yard of dirt from the landscaping place would squat it big time. i went last month and got one yard in this truck and it barely flinched. so yesterday i went and told the girl at the desk i needed 2 yards. she asked if i had a trailer and i said no. she said "will that truck hold 2 tons?" and i said it should no problem. so the tractor operator came in and she told him 2 yards yellow sand and he asked the same thing if i could hold over 4000#. i told him its a 2500hd and should not have a problem. sure enough, he dropped both buckets in there and just grinned at me and gave me a thumbs up. he sure was suprised at how well the truck handled it. even though im just a gasser, i had no problems at all on the drive home and the ranchos handled beautifully. thats the biggest load ive had in the bed so far.

110 50 lb feed bags sorta smooths the ride a bit, for some reason it had a bit of "wallow" to it around curves. Rode better 'n a caddy
why did I haul that much???? thought I was only picking up feed for myself and left trailer home.... oh well 75 miles and truck never flinched, matter of fact truck seemed to like it

Life is great when your drivin a new truck:driver: powered by D/A :grd: