I went to the dealers on Wed night to finally pick-up my new 5500 Kodiak. I only ordered it back on Feb 3, 05. After 15 weeks of waiting I got the chance to drive it to the upfitters which is about 40-50 miles away to drop it of for them to fab the utility body. Well I sure hope that all the hipe that I have read on this site for the last 2 months about Duramax is all true because what I felt the other night was not even worth talking about. I know that the truck is fresh and needs to brake in, But what a lame excuss. If LRX stands for 300 HP I would have to say everybody has been touching themselfs to much!!! I did not pull across any scales to see what it weighs, however the shipping tags claims 8,117.20 lbs. I have a 1976 5500 with a 10.5 dump that weighs in at 9905 lbs with fuel and a driver and has a 4speed man. with a 2 sp rear axle and is powered with a crate 350 from GM with a standard 2 barrel carb, I know it will leave this D/A combo in it's own fumes. I have around 8-10 K on this motor and the original delivered over 80 K so I am hoping that I will see some improvement after the break-in period. If anybody can make me feel better about this new truck I sure would like to hear it!!!

After 10K Miles there is a noticeable difference I felt in the LB7 of mine. The engine seemed more 'free revving' and fuel economy numbers were better. For a while I was not as impressed as I wanted to be.... now at 80K miles, I can definately say no regrets.

Bubba you bought the baddest truck on the planet bar none at that 19,500 class it will out pull haul and out last anything. :) :hail: Give it a chance.. my 4x4 is a dog off the line but i didnt by it to dust mustangs. ..it will grow on you and the first guy that tells you how cool your truck is it will make it all better..

KINGSMT,

I have about 4500 miles on the truck. After about 5K it started to run better. It was really tight. Does your truck seem like it is choked down? Really slow and hesitating if you put the pedal to the metal? It will loosen up. My mileage sucks. It is about 10.5 or so empty and about 8 towing my 40' 5'er.

With the low gears, freeway cruizing is pretty reved up. I really didn't like the 75 mph speed limiter. Not that that has been removed, it is much better. Also, the truck is much more responsive off the line.

I bet it rode like a tank without a bed. My truck is 12,080 pounds. The ride is pretty nice now. I think I'll change out the front shocks and put some dual bilsteins on.

What options did you get? I hope air ride seats. Post a pic for us.

TechProf

Roidman & Techprof1: Thanx for the reply to my post regarding my new 5500. I will have the truck back around 2 weeks. Once the body shop completes the utility bed I will post the pictures of the complete unit. I did order the truck with D/A LRX which is the 300 hp version. The truck is only 2x4 with the Front apperance package, A/C, PW & PDL, AM/FM CD with upgrade speakers (which did not sound to good) double frame, upgrade rear suspension, sway bars, Front tow hooks, 4.78 rear axle, Limited slip, Michlins Hi-way treads, 47U Dark Green Metallic. I can see from the pictures posted yours are layed out, but I am using mine for my everyday driver and I am in the construction field and get quite dirty & greasy everyday. I climb a lot of red steel which has cutting oil all over from the bolts so I pic up alot of that mess. I lay out all of the footings and set all of the anchor bolts and reinenforcing steel as well as pour the concrete. I own all newer ( 1998 & up) heavy equipment and have daily maintence routines to perform as well. I basically ordered mine with the small comfort needs due to the fact of the use application. I would have ordered a extended cab if available but GM only offers Crew Cab. Ford offers extended cab in their 650 class but I had bad luck with 7.3 and Ford left me hanging so that left me with a bad taste. I own 9 personal Chey products as well as 21 GM products for the business, with only one Ford product left in the fleet. So I felt that I didn't want to contaminate fleet again with a off breed! Plus it is bad enough still owning one Ford as it is!! Their light bulb went out many years ago, that's why their emblem is shaped like a egg (always Broke). I know I may seem very unhappy but when I ordered the truck for myself they told me 6-8 weeks which turned out to be 15 weeks -6 days. I had also made the comment to the dealer that if I didn't have my Truck by Thursday I had already picked out a 335 Peterbuilt and was going to purchase that by Thursday at lunch time. Somehow GM lost my truck because it was built on 4-18-05 and knowbody knew where it was. Amazling GM seemed to make it appear Wed morning and was certain of my word. I had left a $1,500 deposit and this made a binding commitment on my part but I was willing to fight that at a latter date. I also am a particial owner of a company who supplies GM with brake parts for other models and I felt that I should show some regard to that. I will keep You guys posted about the performance and will post pictures as soon as I receive the unit back. Thanx, Dan

KINGSMT,

I have about 4500 miles on the truck. After about 5K it started to run better. It was really tight. Does your truck seem like it is choked down? Really slow and hesitating if you put the pedal to the metal? It will loosen up. My mileage sucks. It is about 10.5 or so empty and about 8 towing my 40' 5'er.

With the low gears, freeway cruizing is pretty reved up. I really didn't like the 75 mph speed limiter. Not that that has been removed, it is much better. Also, the truck is much more responsive off the line.

I bet it rode like a tank without a bed. My truck is 12,080 pounds. The ride is pretty nice now. I think I'll change out the front shocks and put some dual bilsteins on.

What options did you get? I hope air ride seats. Post a pic for us.

TechProf

I am so sick of my ride! its bad loaded and worse unloaded it shakes the hood moves it creaks and growns.. Are you custom fabricating the dual shocks or can you buy them ? What about Timbrens to replace the bumbstops? Front swaybar? Can you order single shock replacements?

I am so sick of my ride! its bad loaded and worse unloaded it shakes the hood moves it creaks and growns.. Are you custom fabricating the dual shocks or can you buy them ? What about Timbrens to replace the bumbstops? Front swaybar? Can you order single shock replacements?

I was at a 4x4 shop in Phoenix last week. They are big into lifts kits. We looked at a lot of different ways to go. I think what will work is a loop on the top and an adapter at the bottom that bolts right into the existing shock lower bracket. I think that it will make a huge difference on the ride.

On a side note, about 6 weeks ago I was down at the sand dunes by Yuma, AZ and I was trying to climb this mild hill in 4x4. The front axle would just hop. The stock shocks do not work very well.

Once I get all the pieces and parts figured out, I'll post the part numbers and some pics.

Hey TechProf that is a sweet looking rig!! I`m in Phoenix did you Buy from a local dealer? I was quoted almost $100 K Last week for a F650 Dressed. For that I`ll go Buy a Pete to tow my 5er.:cool:

My fuel mileage came around at 35000 miles. I average 10.2 pulling and 14.3 not pulling. I run 65mph 2300 rpm with 4.78 gears. I pull all types and sizes of trailers.When it comes to the ride ,when the springs flatten out it will ride a little better . Iam going to install the mor-ryde system ,will let you know how it works-out. Animal 4500 RV TRANSPORTER

Hey TechProf that is a sweet looking rig!! I`m in Phoenix did you Buy from a local dealer? I was quoted almost $100 K Last week for a F650 Dressed. For that I`ll go Buy a Pete to tow my 5er.:cool:

Hi aztowbum,

Yes, bought it at Chapman. Give Dominique a call. Tell him Mike sent you. They had 3 in stock about 3 weeks ago. Only two wheel drives though. They are really into the 4500/5500 line. He is in the fleet section.

Thanks...I like it too:ro) .
Mike