Help Me Out Here, Please.

Superdave · 11-26-2007, 11:51 AM

I am trying to buy a new truck and have looked at a Chevy 3500 dually and like the features. BUT, I do not know a thing about the Duramax and the Allison. I am familiar with the Allison history and quality but know NOTHING about the Duramax. Use the truck for everyday back and forth to work and occasionally pull a cattle trailer (total weight 12000#) and plan to take more vacations in 2008 and pull a 39 foot tandem dual travel trailer that weighs road ready 16500#. Have always used a Dodge with the Cummins 5.9 HO engine and auto tranny. Pulls great but I really like the Chevy looks and the interior. I have heard the Allison when using the tow-haul button controls speed pretty well in the hills. Have also heard many guys say they do not like that. With my different Dodge trucks I always pulled in Overdrive and never had any problems. Can you do that with the duramax/Allison? As you can tell, I really need lots of advice. Thanks.

maxtorque · 11-26-2007, 12:22 PM

Yes you can pull in overdrive or 5th gear. The allison is a five speed or six depending what year you buy. IMHO the allison is far better than anything dodge has put out. If you've never driven on you really should. I know you won't have any doubts then. you can turn the tow/haul on and off if you don't like the downshifting. Any other ??s.

Superdave · 11-26-2007, 02:21 PM

I think the 2008 has a 6 speed Allison. I did take a short test drive in a 2008 2500. But you really can not tell anything without putting some miles on one and most dealers won't allow that. Has anyone had any problems with the new particulate regeneration filter?

jduramax · 11-27-2007, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superdave

I am trying to buy a new truck and have looked at a Chevy 3500 dually and like the features. BUT, I do not know a thing about the Duramax and the Allison. I am familiar with the Allison history and quality but know NOTHING about the Duramax. Use the truck for everyday back and forth to work and occasionally pull a cattle trailer (total weight 12000#) and plan to take more vacations in 2008 and pull a 39 foot tandem dual travel trailer that weighs road ready 16500#. Have always used a Dodge with the Cummins 5.9 HO engine and auto tranny. Pulls great but I really like the Chevy looks and the interior. I have heard the Allison when using the tow-haul button controls speed pretty well in the hills. Have also heard many guys say they do not like that. With my different Dodge trucks I always pulled in Overdrive and never had any problems. Can you do that with the duramax/Allison? As you can tell, I really need lots of advice. Thanks.

you won't be disappointed with the duramax. good working truck. nothing wrong with dodge but allison tranny is best in my opinion.

Superdave · 11-27-2007, 06:13 AM

Just received my Turbo Diesel Register magazine and in the tech talk from Chrysler, they say the new 48RFE 6 speed auto works just like the Allison and is a close relative (copy) except the Cummins has an exhaust brake and uses it rather than the tranny to slow the vehicle down. Have driven Chevy 1/2 ton trucks for years and put lots of miles on each one. wonder if the Duramax will give me 300 or 400,000 miles. The 3/4 Duramax I test drove was a smooth sucker.

n0useforaname · 11-27-2007, 09:15 AM

As far as mileage goes....the reason I bought mine is because when I was at the GMC dealership looking at gassers...there was a guy there who was having his 01 serviced...he had 539,000 miles on his truck...and has NEVER had it in for any work other than maintenance....so I bought a Duramax instead.

jduramax · 11-27-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superdave

Just received my Turbo Diesel Register magazine and in the tech talk from Chrysler, they say the new 48RFE 6 speed auto works just like the Allison and is a close relative (copy) except the Cummins has an exhaust brake and uses it rather than the tranny to slow the vehicle down. Have driven Chevy 1/2 ton trucks for years and put lots of miles on each one. wonder if the Duramax will give me 300 or 400,000 miles. The 3/4 Duramax I test drove was a smooth sucker.

i think you could get that kind of mileage out of any of the diesels out there so long as they're properly looked after. my 02' lb7 has just over 85000 miles on it and i think its just getting broken in. bought it new and have used synthetic fluids in everything since i bought it. still works like when i bought it. only problem i had was the injectors which were all replaced under warranty.
nothing wrong with a dodge. cummins speaks for itself. couldn't find a tougher work truck IMO. buddy of mine has 06' dodge 1 ton SRW with cummins. great working truck. would haul anything. but rides very rough and hard on front end parts. only had a year and had to replace several front end parts. for a daily driver and to tow my fifth wheel in the summer its GM all the way for me.....