Interested here in people who own/finance their vehicle, not lease. Reason is I want to know who has the confidence in their post-EPA 6.6L to keep it for more than 3-5years.

As can be seen in my sig, two weeks ago I ordered a gasser. Now, since then my gf's tow mule for her horses (05 Excursion) has bitten the dust. This now mean the forthcoming 2500HD will take on all cross country towing duties and I'd prefer the 660lb/ft of the big diesel.

I want to keep this truck (gas or Dmax) for around ten years, Now, if reliable the Duramax would be my choice- more power. However, I know the gas is proven and will give me no problems after 100,000miles, do you think the same can be said for the diesel?

I do not want to modify the engine or DPF as I don't want to run the risk of warranty refusal or being prosecuted for breaking emissions laws. (I live in god darn cali)

Please offer up your thoughts as if I'm going to make a new order then I'm going to have to do so early this week.

if your looking for the long haul a diesel is the way to go. the only problem with the new ones is that they have the particulate filters wich they say will last about 100,000 miles or so, and arent cheap to replace. get a diesel if you dont want to deal with the dpf get a 07 lbz wich doesn't have one. the diesel will go strong for 400,000+

If you keep it stock, then I would imagine that you could get alot of life out of the new LMM and you will get the use you looking for out of it, let us know what you end up getting.

Thanks guys, this is good input. Please keep it coming. Pre-purchase jitters always set in and I would rather get the duramax (which seems to have coped with the changes far better than the PSD or Cummins) unless the balance of opinion says I may run into issues.

Again, just to clarify, engine and exhaust will remain stock. Regular service costs aren't a problem, just want a long breakdown-free life.

I'm buying mine and I intend to keep it bascially permanently. I wouldn't have bought a diesel if I weren't intending to. I am keeping mine totally stock, engine wise. I only added airlift airbags to cope with the weight of my Lance 1181 camper and my trailer with Jet Ski's.

I paid cash for mine and plan on keeping it for the long haul. No problems yet.

Please offer up your thoughts as if I'm going to make a new order then I'm going to have to do so early this week.I'd change my order. ;)

i financed mine and dont ever plan on gettin rid of it..as far as reliability i bought my last dmax with over 100k on it..i would never go that with a gasser..i put 35k on it in a year and upgraded to my lmm you. cant go wrong with a diesel

Again guys this is great stuff. To be honest, I posted here to be convinced. However, if anyone disagrees then please also post up as I do want the full picture. I've made a mistake in the past with a truck so I really want to get this right.

If this continues, I guess the only thing left to do is drive over to the dealers. Can't imagine they'll mind transferring my $500 deposit given that I'll be ordering a ore expensive rig from them and I'll put down another $500 to make sure they get it ordered asap.

By the way, noticed my typo in the thread title. Rather dumb.

Get the diesel... you won't be sorry... member on here "dutchpilot" hauls rv's for work and has close to or more than 200k on his LMM already without issue (if I remember correctly).

I financed mine and plan on keeping it as long as I can... just can't justify spending $38-60k on a truck to trade it in after a year or two? But I guess if you can afford it, it must be nice!

39k on the clock for me so far and I've only had minor things happen that very well could have been because mine was not 100% stock. Get your LMM with the 17" wheels and I think they look nice stock! I wanted that originally but ended up with 16's and switched to hummer wheels.

GO WITH THE DIESEL! YOU WONT REGRET IT! I think test driving one will sell you... it sold me! Was going to buy a 1/2 ton but drove the new dmax and was sold!

my vote for diesel x 10! especially because you will be towing...

Get the diesel... you won't be sorry... member on here "dutchpilot" hauls rv's for work and has close to or more than 200k on his LMM already without issue (if I remember correctly).

I financed mine and plan on keeping it as long as I can... just can't justify spending $38-60k on a truck to trade it in after a year or two? But I guess if you can afford it, it must be nice!

39k on the clock for me so far and I've only had minor things happen that very well could have been because mine was not 100% stock. Get your LMM with the 17" wheels and I think they look nice stock! I wanted that originally but ended up with 16's and switched to hummer wheels.

GO WITH THE DIESEL! YOU WONT REGRET IT! I think test driving one will sell you... it sold me! Was going to buy a 1/2 ton but drove the new dmax and was sold!

my vote for diesel x 10! especially because you will be towing...

Thanks Cap. Yeh, I love the OEM 17s.

I will be towing but will use the truck only for the long trips so it will only be a couple of times/yr.

Do these LMMs hold up well as daily drivers with short, stop-go city journeys? If the answer to this is yes then there really is nothing stopping me changing my order.

I got mine with plans to keep at least 10 to 12 years. Have not had any issues yet (knock on wood) with 17k miles. I know there is at least one person on here with over 100k on the LMM so I would think they are just as reliable.

Thanks Cap. Yeh, I love the OEM 17s.

I will be towing but will use the truck only for the long trips so it will only be a couple of times/yr.

Do these LMMs hold up well as daily drivers with short, stop-go city journeys? If the answer to this is yes then there really is nothing stopping me changing my order.


Same way many use their rigs including me, towing a couple times a year. My commute is 8 miles - barely time to warm her up. Some have reported much shorter commutes - she will handle anything you can throw at her and then some. Needs to be driven over 30mph every 350-450 miles or so to clean the DPF is all - Although she will go into regen in city traffic too. Idling all day in the oil fields may not work out so well.

I ended up in one because I test drove the LMM before the gasser just for comparison - showed the wife how QUIET and smell free they are now. Then ordered a gasser as planned - GM canceled the order on me when tooling up for 2008's. So I said to heck with a gasser and got the LMM off the Dave Smith, Kellogg Idaho lot........ Glad it all worked out that way in the end. :D

Keep all my rigs 10 years plus and have averaged 1K a month - any long trip towing or not we take the LMM Beast - it's so comfy!

Only thing worries me is repairs beyond warranty - The engine will go 400K but what about all those computers on board (20 some!)...... Could get pricey when electronics repairs come out of pocket. But that applies to gassers too.

Same way many use their rigs including me, towing a couple times a year. My commute is 8 miles - barely time to warm her up. Some have reported much shorter commutes - she will handle anything you can throw at her and then some. Needs to be driven over 30mph every 350-450 miles or so to clean the DPF is all - Although she will go into regen in city traffic too. Idling all day in the oil fields may not work out so well.

I ended up in one because I test drove the LMM before the gasser just for comparison - showed the wife how QUIET and smell free they are now. Then ordered a gasser as planned - GM canceled the order on me when tooling up for 2008's. So I said to heck with a gasser and got the LMM off the Dave Smith, Kellogg Idaho lot........ Glad it all worked out that way in the end. :D

Keep all my rigs 10 years plus and have averaged 1K a month - any long trip towing or not we take the LMM Beast - it's so comfy!

Only thing worries me is repairs beyond warranty - The engine will go 400K but what about all those computers on board (20 some!)...... Could get pricey when electronics repairs come out of pocket. But that applies to gassers too.

Good read. Learned from every post so thank you everyone. My main concern was suitability as a daily driver not being "worked." I hear you on a run every 3-400 miles, that won't be an issue as I'm on the freeway 1-2 times per week. Hopefully that'll sate the DPFs thirst for derv.

So they will let you change your order without losing the deposit? Hopefully your rdered truck in not being made already.

I towed for over 35 yrs for my own personal use with a gas powered truck.
35yrs as a Teamster driving big diesels (retired now)

Got my first personal diesel P.U. in May 2003, Ford 6.0 loved the truck but got tired of taking it to the dealership for diesel repairs.

I Feb 07 I ordered my 07.5 GMC and recieved the truck June 2007, love the Dmax.
If you have towed with a gasser in the past and then towed with a diesel,you will never go back to gas unless for some foolish reason you think your saving $$$ gas vs diesel.

The better mileage alone with a diesel will pay for itself in less than 2 years over a gas hog.
Even when the diesel prices was a lot higher.

I have since new a 96 Rexhall Aerbus 34' Class A MotorHome with a 460 cu.in.Gasser
5 1/2-6 mpg and a 20k GCVW + flat towing a 91 Geo tracker about 2600 lbs.
And a 04 32' Sandpiper toyhauler 13.5k GVW + tow vehicle a 07.5 GMC with a GCVW about 21k and I get 8-9 mpg with the Dmax.

i plan in running mine 10-12 years which equates to about 400,000 miles for me. I did remove all the emissions equipment but i do think a stock LMM will be very reliable even for the long haul.

So they will let you change your order without losing the deposit? Hopefully your rdered truck in not being made already.

That is to be determined. My salesman gets in later this afternoon so I will talk to him. Deposit was only $500, so if they won't transfer it over (plus I'll give them another $500 for peace of mind) to the Duramax order then I'll just order someplace else. Seems to me common sense that they'd agree given that they'd get their order but lets face it when did common sense ever matter? Plus, it is is very unlike me to change and be indecisive but they don't know me from Adam so they may not want to play nice.

Can it be stopped if it not already being made? He has not sent me a build number yet and said he was going to when he and it. At the end of this I'll have my GM so whether I have the 6.0 or the 6.6 it'll sure be a step up from my Toy I have currently.

It would be worth losing the $500......

Check out Dave Smith motors.......

10yrs/100,000 miles. I'm on the 10 year pace so far. 1st year about 10,000 miles. That's assuming GM is around to fix it or the bank doesn't have to repo it from me.

I bought my truck with the thought of keeping her....... and boy am I happy with her, I have a 14k toy hauler that I pull and no worries!!!

Purchased mine oct of 2007. I do not owe anything on the truck, love the truck and plan on driving it for a long time.

I will have mine at least for the next 10 years. I will probably hand it down to my son, he's 4 now:D! Right now it's my DD and tow vehicle, eventually I'll be getting either a vette or camaro, not sure which one. But that's still a couple years away. I only put about 12K a year on it, about 5K of those towing. So it should last a while! Chris

I think you will be happy with the lmm, it is a beast when towing and stops the load equeally as well. The allison is an awsome set up for towing with the grade braking, brakes will last much longer also with the weight of these trucks, it feels totally planted to the road empty or towing. My camper loaded weighs 15500k lbs and with for grown men in the cag wont even break a sweat rolling down the highway at 70-75. amazing power:D

I bought mine with plans to load a camper on the back and take some vacations. After retirement, maybe Alaska and some extended trips west. Before the market crash, retirement was still 7 years off. Now it's at least 9. I expect to still be using the same truck.

Don't you love it when they come to a diesel forum asking if they should buy a diesel.

Wonder how the guys are feeling that jumped the good ship diesel to go gasser when diesel was $4.00 a gallon not long ago.

I buy every 2 yrs like clock work.I dont finace noway & no how .CASH is good for me.Diesel for longevity .I put 70kto 80k in 2 yrs of drivin on my trucks.

Don't you love it when they come to a diesel forum asking if they should buy a diesel.

Wonder how the guys are feeling that jumped the good ship diesel to go gasser when diesel was $4.00 a gallon not long ago.

You got that right. I paid $1.81 / gal this morning for diesel south of Atlanta. Its cheaper now to drive my LMM than my wife's car.

I too bought mine for the long haul. I keep rides on average 10+ years.

I plan on keeping mine for 10+ yrs and I am happy that I made the move to diesel.Had a 454 for 12 yrs and although I had no problems that was....until I moved up in trailer weight.Once I got over 10k I noticed a huge drop in performance and the truck worked very hard to maintain a respectable speed.I am very happy with the LMM.

I paid cash for mine and plan on keeping it for the long haul. No problems yet.


and i bought 2 for service duty.

I hope this will be the first and last truck I ever own. Once she turns 100k or 5yrs, all the emission crap will fall off. Get the truck, filter the crap outa the oil and fuel and it'll last darn near forever.

Just to add my 2 cents,

For the last year I've driven only 7 miles back and forth to work, in the winter months it doesn't even get up to 160 degrees. I can go for weeks without ever getting on the highway to let the DPF do it's thing. I've had no problems. I did get a check engine light the first two weeks of this routine. Onstar said it was an "emissions related" problem and not worth checking out till my next service. It went off and hasn't been back. In my experience the diesel will actually get better mileage when cold than a gasser, but of course it takes longer to warm up all that steel and 12 quarts of oil. Reason for this is a gas engine must run a rich mixture to keep from misfiring, a diesel just needs the glow plugs.

With diesel prices closing in on gas prices the increased mileage of the diesel will offset the initial cost and also make up for the difference in service costs.

Something that hasen't been mentioned, but at 100,000 miles plus the difference in value of a diesel vs. a gasser is huge. Go find a 10 year old chevy gasser and compare the price to a 10 year old diesel. You'll get your money back and then some.

As for durability the diesel itself will out live 3 gas engines. The real durabitly increase is in the tranny. I have never seen any of GM's gasser trannies last more than 150K miles. My family has owned 3 blazers, 2 S-10's and 3 full size trucks they have all needed tranny work some where north of 100,000 miles and 2 of the blazers needed them before 80,000 miles. The allison is trully 250,000 mile plus capable. When towing the trans is what takes the brunt of the wear and tear.

You are not going wrong with the diesel, this is coming from a long time gasser fan and first time diesel owner.

I'm keeping mine for at least 10 years. I pull frequently an LOVE her power.
The best truck decision ever.

i have to keep my truck for 10 years, 100,000 miles. my girl said i had to when i bought the new truck. it is my third truck, 7th vehicle since we started dating, and she is still on her first car. i have had my truck for over a year with 38k miles on it. no issues to date. with towing the gass motor will wear faster and will reduce engine life where the diesel likes to work hard and will not be affected by towing. my dodge hemi struggled with a 5k pound trailer where the duramax barely flinches at a 10k pound trailer. its awesome. havent looked back since

well I had my old gasser truck for 14 years and it look and ran flawless. This should be my last one unless I win a lottery then I can buy a newer one and then I can really play with this one, when that day comes.

Fleet tested here, and they get :thumb:


Just as an aside, both my 07.5s had the brake pads rusted in place and the slide pins underlubed and rusted by 20k or so miles. Only thing I don't care for on them, but I know how to fix that;).

I have an 05 GMC Denali Gasser. Love the look and feel and the lines of this truck. But I kick myself now for not getting a Duramax. I regret my purchase now for the long haul. Looking back and knowing what I really need a truck for with heavy towing etc. and now wishing it had a Duramax. I would love to have a new LMM after test driving two different ones last year and almost buying. Now the economy has tanked and business is not the same, income is not the same to support the toys as it was in 05 when I bought my gasser and now shes almost paid off. Times have changed, needs have changed and at this moment in time thinking shoulda coulda woulda. Duramax is the only correct choice.

Fine, you guys have won.:D

Cancelled my order via formal e-mail yesterday afternoon. Whether I reorder my Duramax (which will be same sec as my sig but with 660lb/ft) depends on their attitude. Hopefully they don't act like it's my first rodeo. For now I just said that I hope if I choose to order my diesel from them they will transfer the $500 deposit. If they don't then I'll buy from elsewhere (may anyway due to trust issues) and I spoke with another dealer yesterday who said it is illegal for them to hold my deposit (even though they crossed out where it said it was refundable). It's only $500 but if I'm entitled to it then I'll darn well take it- it'll pay in large part for my tires.

Thanks for all the responses (you guys have cost me $7k so don't know why I'm thanking you:)) and please let me know if I need to do anything else legaly to cancel my order other than my email?

75000 on mine and no problems. I have had the PPE on level 4 and no DPF since day one so I know the tranny can hold it. I also pull alot of weight 2 or 3 times a week a few hundred miles.

Plan on keeping mine 10 years or so....love the power this thing has, can't ever even tell a trailer is back there!

so you change your order????:)

so you change your order????:)

They say it's too late to change so I cancelled and am going to order from a different dealer when I get chance sometime over the next 10 days.

I was concerned with the DPF and things the LMM wasn't a reliable daily driver like the 6.7 Cummins but, unless all of you are wrong, it seems my concern was unfounded.

Truck I want has an MSRP of $48,795, invoice is right at $43,600. My first and final offer, which is more than fair, will be $1500 below invoice plus no $700 in "advertising fees" that they add on. So it will be about $42,100 before rebates which should be at least equal to today's $3500. Then there's just the sales tax...

Somebody mention dutchpilot has over 200,000 miles did he have to replace his dpf yet & how much?Thanks

He dropped the DPF at 65K and reported 1.5 mpg gain. Had no problems with it - see his post #30.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=234951&page=3

He has got to be over 200K by now - since he hit 100K in 11 months of ownership April of 2008 (His first post in his thread).

Runs Amsoil and changes every 20K or less - Amsoil should sponsor him - would be great advertising.......

;)