my dad is looking at getting a diesel truck. i keep suggesting the silverado/sierra 3500 duramax, but he has heard from others that the duramax has had over heating problems that has caused the heads to warp. so he is thinking about a ford or dodge. the second he suggested dodge i nearly threw up and felt that i need to talk to around and see what everybody thinks. can yall give me the pros and cons of these trucks. he is basically looking at a vehicle he can tow a 30+ft. travel trailer. he wants something that looks and drives well also. are there any more problems with the duramax? thanks for the help....

 

My parents have 2 trucks with the Duramax in 2500HD's and have seen no issues with over heating. The allison trans can really get a load moving and they get pretty decent mileage when towing. The only real problem that is commonly known is injector failures, but the newest year models seem to have less problems with this. Is he looking into a brand new truck or used?

 

I have a 04.5 duramax with 42,000 miles in less than a year and no problems just have done basic maint.

 

This is my truck and trailer last trip I made was to florida and back around 3,000 miles straight with no stopping except for diesel. The truck pulls like a champ is super comfortable on long trips and is alot better than and ford or dodge. I have driven all of them and took my time with my decision. The only thing the dodge had was it was cheaper but that shows with it's wanna be rear full size doors and it's cheap interior.

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i have been looking into diesels a little and from what i see the only one to avoid is the 03+ fords. i hate to be anti GM but i think i like the dodges better. the 03+chevys still look fugly to me and the cummins is just a bad *** motor.

 

You have a 03 Chevy

 

yeah he is looking to get a brand new one.

he has just listened to what the older crowd says about them. he read in a magazine (trailer life) that there was a survey at a camper show and that the results said that dodge had the best truck. i would assume that these people probably went with cheaper truck and never had anything else. i kind of like the ford's but i really don't like the dodges because they look cheap on the inside and i've just never trusted the quality.

 

I agree. When talking about diesels DODGE(IMO) gots everyone beat. That Is one bad *** motor sounds like a diesel and when you put an exhaust on that beast is sound like a 18 wheeler coming out you. The Duramax is good but I dont like the idea is an Isuzu motor and the Quite Technology. Ford's 6.8L is okay my buddy has one on it burns gas like hell and has impressive boost. The turbo is loud when you get on it.

For being a I-6 that cummings HO has 325Hp/605TQ and it runs like it.
I love chevy,but going into buying a diesel buy a Dodge
I would say this tough Dodge Quads have no freakin' room in the back and its uncomfortable, but I heard they are redesigning the Quads for more room.

 

The Dodge has a great motor, however they beg for a five speed automatic transmission like the GM diesels have. As Parish8 said, I would avoid the 03+ 6.0L powerstroke. They have had many problems according to the diesel forums.

 

I thought I read the allison will get a six speed?

Anyway, you guys talk to these folks about the duramax. They are not biased. They just know the deisel thing. KennedyDiesel
Ask them about the so called head problem.