I am buying a new truck either a crew duramax or a 1500 with the vortex max 345hp. I have a 5.3 know but I am looking at a travel trailer or camper and a enclosed snowmobile trailer. A diesel is over kill for me but I can afford it now and I know I will get the the money back at resale. Diesel is about 10-15cents cheaper here. I like the capability of the duramax but like the ride and lower height of the 1500. Help I cant deside.

In my opinion, it all depends on the size of trailers you're looking at. Also, pulling an enclosed trailer is often like pulling a parachute..

Duramax all the way, even if your trailer is only 5,000 pounds or so you will love it.
If I were you I would make sure you get the new LBZ, it has so muck power and is so quiet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can make sure you get the newest duramax by looking at the 8th digit in the vin. You want to see a "D" and not a "2". I know there are a lot of you "2" guys out there but I am just trying to help steer a person as I would like to be steered.
Dan

The Duramax is the ONLY way to go, I drove a Max Vortec and it runs and pulls good but is not comparable to a DMAX, That is the reason I sold my 1500 Z71 for my DMAX!

resale,resale,resale....look at gassers that have 100k+ miles and diesels that have the same miles. You pay more up front but get it all back in the meantime and also get to enjoy it!!!!!

I am buying a new truck either a crew duramax or a 1500 with the vortex max 345hp. I have a 5.3 know but I am looking at a travel trailer or camper and a enclosed snowmobile trailer. A diesel is over kill for me but I can afford it now and I know I will get the the money back at resale. Diesel is about 10-15cents cheaper here. I like the capability of the duramax but like the ride and lower height of the 1500. Help I cant deside.

Test drive both and take it from there!!

i never tow and i got a duramax.

Definetly get a duramax. Hands down, we own both and the Duramax is way more fun. Not to mention nearly 22 mpg, less maintenance, and more power.

All of my life I have lived with trucks that just were not up to the task of pulling, hauling or even going to the store for groceries. For instance, my Toyota double cab got decent freeway mileage (about 22.5 MPG) but did not handle my 5,500 lbs trailer well at all because it just was not designed for that use. Resale was good and reliability was excellent.

My Chevy half ton got bad mileage and pulling a 5,500 lbs trailer was really just about all it could do, especially in the mountains. Resale was essentially a “hose job” for me, like most other cars.

I decided to put a bullet in my truck problem with a LBZ D-Max. Doing so allows me to pull any trailer, any where at almost any speed. Re-sale is excellent and reliability has proven to be excellent as well. Gas (Diesel) mileage is also very good for a 7,000 lbs truck.

My primary decision making points were (in order of importance) safety, capability, reliability, economy and finally resale value. Spending the extra money for the D-Max was without question the correct choice for me and my family.



:ro)

Anyone for the gasser even for light trailering.

I have owned both of these and I will tell you now that you will spend more money on gas with the 6.0 and 4speed than you EVER will with the Duramax and the 5 speed.

The power and mileage on the Duramax will blow away the 6.0

I can also tell you that I tried everything in the book to get better mileage out of that 6.0 and it just won't happen. I did headers, exhaust, chip, filter... never got better than 11mpg city AND highway.

DURAMAX!

Just my $.02 and it's better to have more than have less any day.

I have the detuned Duramax in a Express van and it outperforms my 6.0 Suburban . I actually get a kick out of it. The Suburban averages 12 mpg and the Duramax is 19 mpg . When I replace the Sububan it will be with a cc Silverado with a healthy side of LBZ .

I have owned both of these and I will tell you now that you will spend more money on gas with the 6.0 and 4speed than you EVER will with the Duramax and the 5 speed.

The power and mileage on the Duramax will blow away the 6.0

I can also tell you that I tried everything in the book to get better mileage out of that 6.0 and it just won't happen. I did headers, exhaust, chip, filter... never got better than 11mpg city AND highway.

DURAMAX!

Just my $.02 and it's better to have more than have less any day.

Hey,

Briano,

Sounds like you would not have been any worse off if you had of bought the 8.1 instead.........

IMHO either grab a 1500 5.3 with 3:73 or get a Dmax. Thats the way I will eventually go!!

Well I own an 01 LB7 and we have a 04 identical truck at work with just the standard 6.0 gasser. The gasser pulls our small trailers ok and gets the job done. There really isn't any comparison between the two though. Even though they are both stock the Duramax pulls so much better and struggles so much less that it is a no brainer to me to go with the diesel. Plus the allison tranny is alot nicer also. The milage is so much better while towing with the duramax that alone could be the turning point, 7-10 with the 6.0 and yet to get under 12 with my duramax grossing 18,000lbs. Go with the duramax.

I believe that the 6.0L 345 hp Vortec engine (LQ9), [345 hp @ 5200 rpm 380 lb-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm] is only available on the 1500SS. This truck is only available as a 2WD Extended Cab Short Box.

If you want a 1500 with 4WD and/or Crew Cab, the 6.0L V8 (LQ4), [300 hp @ 4400 rpm, 360 lb-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm] is only available on the 1500HD which is a crew Cab Short Box.

I agree that the 1500 should have a softer ride, but also a much lower GVWR.

1500 & 1500SS - 6,200 Lbs
1500HD - 8,600 Lbs
2500HD - 9,200 Lbs

The 6.6L Duramax (LBZ) Diesel has more horsepower and torque and they are available at a much lower RPM [360 hp @ 3200 rpm & 650 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 rpm]. Trailer towing will be a world of difference with the Duramax and the 6-Spd Allison transmission, so will the fuel economy (Last I checked, the 1500HD with the 6.0L gas engine and 4-Spd transmission was rated at 9 mpg City / 12 mpg Highway).

Also, as stated above, the resale value is a lot higher on the Duramax.

My brother has a 1500 EC/SB with the 5.3L V8 Gas engine and pulling his small 3,000 Lbs travel trailer you can definitelly tell the trailer is back there. He tells me that his fuel economy "sucks". Pulling it with the 2500HD Diesel, you can't hardly tell that the trailer is behind you.

If you can easily afford either one, get the diesel. In most applications you'll enjoy the added performance.

I believe that the 6.0L 345 hp Vortec engine (LQ9), [345 hp @ 5200 rpm 380 lb-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm] is only available on the 1500SS. This truck is only available as a 2WD Extended Cab Short Box.

If you want a 1500 with 4WD and/or Crew Cab, the 6.0L V8 (LQ4), [300 hp @ 4400 rpm, 360 lb-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm] is only available on the 1500HD which is a crew Cab Short Box.


Wrong....you are thinking of the way it used to be. You can now get the "Vortec Max" 345hp 6.0L in a standard non SS configuration.

If you can easily afford either one, get the diesel. In most applications you'll enjoy the added performance.

:exactly: I have the 6.0 in a crew cab HD. My city mileage is a solid 11. Not bad for me as I don't tow anything more than 3-4000 lb. My next truck will be a DMAX just for the power and tunability alone...

they have the vortec 6.0 max and and im not sure whats in the ss truck, but i would definately get the duramax, you will love it! Mine hauls a$$ and doesnt suck gas! Diesel hands down!

Wrong....you are thinking of the way it used to be. You can now get the "Vortec Max" 345hp 6.0L in a standard non SS configuration.You might be correct; I don't have access right now to the dealer ordering information, but I just went to the GM website to build a 2007 Silverado Classic and the info I posted above is what I found. Maybe they haven't updated their website yet. Wouldn't surprise me if they haven't.

The 345hp vortec is know available in a 4x4 crewcab. 7000lb gvwr very nice truck to drive and $10000 cheaper. I can afford the extra payment at 0% for the duramax, but it is still a lot of money. My towing will mostly be short trips every couple weekends mostly less than 200km trips 120miles. I will most likely test out both monday and make my final decition.

the diesel will pay for itself over time, and you can expect up to 19+ mpg, i get like 18.7 with my 06 lly and i like to play with the pedal sometimes lol

My vote would have to be the DMAX. If you can aford it, go for it. As mentioned above, you will get the the upfront cost back on resale. The difference in power is huge. I own a 5.4 Ford (300HP and 12mpg) and at full throttle doesn't come close to the DMAX at half throttle. My father has an 05 Z71 ext. cab and all I can tell you about it is don't buy one. Its got the 5.3/Auto combo and no balls. 45HP in the Vortec Max can't help out that much. The DMAX is just a fantastic piece of machinery. Milage is great at 18mpg mostly around town and in the back country. My Ford on the same weekly route only gets 12mpg. Again, just my opinion the DMAX is the only way to go.

DMAXBOB
(p.s I have never towed with my DMAX but I am sure it would do a great job.)

Mine is kinda bad with towing, but i think it was because it was wet out a little. I have a 29 foot haulmark v nose snowmobile trailer and it was fully loaded, and it would just spin the tires pulling out to do anything, even if i went light on the throttle, but it tows nicely on any dry surface lol

I have owned both... I tow snowmobiles up and down NH all the time. 4 place Sno-Pro enclosed trailer with 6.5 foot head room. Guess what the Gas motor pull the thing just as good as my duramax...! Same exact truck... The gas motor would get 10mpg towing the trailer the duramax would get 12 mpg towing the same exact load. Unloaded forget it duramax gets 16mpg where as the 6.0L would average 10-11... I did manage to get the 6.0L on a run from VA back to Maine to 15mg... LOL On the highway in the middle of the winter with the dmax not even broken in I was getting 18mpg. Now I have seen it hitting 20mpg in the summer on the highway. Loaded MPG sucks on both of them. 10mpg on both towing my brothers TT 25 foot long. Drove from Maine to diseny world averaging 10mpg the whole way.... With the vnose trailer I get better mpg.... My brother also owns a two place sno-pro same exact trailer as my 4 place expect its 2 place. With that in tow I have seen up to 13 to 14 in the mountains heading from Twin Mountain NH to Pittsburg. This is small single lane in each direction type of roads with average speed around 45mph... I am putting a cap on my truck to see if it will help with MPG towing.. I would not go back to the gas motor just cause of the empty MPG being so much higher...

I had a 2001 Ford f250, and it would get around 6 miles per gallon towing, it had the 5.4, and had little get up and go with the trailer behind it, the lly i have gets like 14.8 towing the trailer, so i dont think thats so bad, how do you get 10-11 around town with a 6.0 and get the same towing lol, id expect towing to be under like 8 with a 6.0

I have owned both... I tow snowmobiles up and down NH all the time. 4 place Sno-Pro enclosed trailer with 6.5 foot head room. Guess what the Gas motor pull the thing just as good as my duramax...! Same exact truck...

"edited" There is a huge difference in the power and throttle response of the two engines. My best advice would be to go test drive both and make up your mind. You will proably notice a big difference between the two. The 8.1 with the 450ish ft/lbs of torque comes closer to a gas/diesel comparison of power, but the diesel still out performs the gas.

DMAXBOB

Not to call SnowBandit a liar or start a pissing match but there is no way that the two pull the same when the DMAX has almost double the torque. There is a huge difference in the power and throttle response of the two engines. My best advice would be to go test drive both and make up your mind. You will proably notice a big difference between the two. The 8.1 with the 450ish ft/lbs of torque comes closer to a gas/diesel comparison of power, but the diesel still out performs the gas.

DMAXBOB

:exactly::exactly::exactly::exactly::exactly::grd: DIESEL POWER!!

Doesn't the high HP 6.0 gas, require high octane fuel?

They recomend high octane but not mandatory

you wont really notice the difference in performance, you would definately be better off with the diesel, you dont have to have the allison (even though its really nice) that would cut down on 2300 of your diesel costs.

The LQ9 in a 1500 and the DMAX in a 2500HD or 3500 are two totally differenet trucks. My little bro has an X-cab 2X4 Vortec Max and it is a very nice truck. However, I would hate to have the fuel bill that came along with towing regularly. My DMAX gets way better mileage empty and it is not even a ball game if a trailer is attatched. You will pay a premium for the diesel but as others have said it is repaid at resale and at the pump in some areas, and the maintenace for the diesel is a little more expensive too. For a daily driver his truck is pretty fast and seems to drive "lighter", but with a mild tune the DMAX can keep up. It's a truck and people buy them to tow and work not race right?;) :cool:

Hope that helps!

Get the Gasser!!!
That way there will be more diesel fuel left for us diesel guys to have fun!!! LOL

Doesn't the high HP 6.0 gas, require high octane fuel?

where I live Diesel and High Octane gas are about the same price. HIGH!!!

Trust me the 6.0L had no issues at all pulling that load... Lack no power to get up and go... Were talking loads in the 7,000 pound range.. Now I bet if I was pulling 12,000 pounds I would have noticed the difference but the didn't with these loads...

i test drove 2 trucks before i bought my duramax, i drove the 6.0 HD and then the duramax and there was no comparison, the duramax is amazing. my uncles sitting here with his 5.3 suburban 1500 talking smack, im going to have to take him for a ride in a second lol

Not all 6.0's are gas hogs. My dad's, with 315,000 miles on it, still gets 16 on the highway. He got rid of his lly to keep his 6.0 because the mileage was so close to each other. Unless your going to keep your truck for 150k the diesel won't pay for itself. As far as spending more money on the gas truck, I kinda doubt it. To me my diesel is high maintanence. Don't get me wrong I like my LB7, it will haul, and it will pull anything. But unless you just want a diesel or really need it....

I currently own a 2003 2500HD with the 6.0, and lets just say I'm thinking about upgrading to a Duramax. I tow a 26ft toy hauler with 3 quads, and my truck completely craps out going up some of the hills in CA. I also just got back from a 227 mile trip and spent $150 on gas one-way and the tank has a little more than 1/4 tank left. :(

where I live Diesel and High Octane gas are about the same price. HIGH!!!

true, but if you compare the 6.0 mileage I was getting, 11-15 mpg. And you consider I now see 16-25, with a diesel, it should seem like an easy choice.

I mean lets say that on average there was a 4mpg difference, multiplied by 26 gallons and we're talking about 104 miles added onto the range.

Gas Range @ 11 mpg is around 286 ( according to what I have observed)

According to these numbers, Diesel Range is 36% better than gas. Whats this mean? If he buys the diesel over the gas, it'll be like not paying for fuel 1/3 of the year.

On EDIT: yes I have seen 25 mpg in my DMAX. It was unloaded, driving 55 mph, on a relativley flat stretch of Ohio highway. Since I have found the GO pedal....let's just say I getting in the mid-teens.

I would get the Duramax purely for the Alison transmission and the 100k mile warranty. Its just a bonus that is has incredible horse power and torque to boot :ro)

I kind of wish I had bought the Diesel for the cool factor but I honestly don't need it and couldnt justify the huge price increase.

WHY OH WHY GM DOES THE DMAX HAVE TO BE SO EXPENSIVE!!!


Can a 5sp be put in place of the 480le ? That would greatly help the 6.0 mpg factor.

I kind of wish I had bought the Diesel for the cool factor but I honestly don't need it and couldnt justify the huge price increase.

WHY OH WHY GM DOES THE DMAX HAVE TO BE SO EXPENSIVE!!!


Can a 5sp be put in place of the 480le ? That would greatly help the 6.0 mpg factor.

That's a darn GOOD question! I don't remember it being an option on my '01. And the new ZF 6sp would definetly aid in increasing mpg. So would a 3.73 rearend.

WHY OH WHY GM DOES THE DMAX HAVE TO BE SO EXPENSIVE!!!


Because its worth it ):h

And people are willing to pay ):h

Because its worth it ):h

:exactly: It's primarily an application thing thing for me and it was worth it based on my needs. I asked myself, "Do you need the additional torque of a diesel for pulling or hauling?" If so, and you do it regularly, the diesel will handle it and won't be overly stressed doing so. Couple that with a transmission that can also handle the load stress, HP and torque of the diesel and you have the complete package.

If I hadn't had a need for that hauling capability, or my loads were smaller, I'd have gone with the gas engine and 4L80E trans. I compared specs for gas and diesel trucks across the market and I don't think a gas engine/trans combo would hold up as long as my DMax/Allison combo will over time and considering the loads I haul.

And it looks like several of my friends and relatives who have the NoStrokes are now regretting that decision as they are having tranny probs which, unless I missed something in my evaluation of the market, are equipped with a tranny that was initially developed for gas engine applications and has been beefed up for a diesel application. That seems to be a penny pinching compromise that is coming back to bite F**D in the butt!

Anyway, I'll put the soapbox away. I needed a diesel for the reasons stated above, I like GM products and it was the best unit that met my needs.