If you can afford the D get it you will love it. Iam a big chevy fan. But just so you know, my dad has a 6.0L,4.11 gears in his HD and pulls a 312 sprinter, and it does a great job.(GAS) 16 miles no trailer,9 with trailer.ANYway my 2 cents
I purchased a used GMC 3500/damx and I still smile when I use it to pull my trailer. My personal opion is, use a diesel for pulling,the benefit is, when loaded down or not, these beasts get some pretty decent MPG figures and they will pull most any load effortlessly. You'll not regret it.
When pulling a good sized trailer your truck will tell you one of three things when you hook up and push the accelerator pedal to the floor:
if you have a 1/2 ton with all the towing upgrades: "hang on I will be with you in a moment, it takes a little while to get going"
if you have 3/4 or 1 ton with a gas motor: "no sweat I can handle this"
if you have a 3/4 or 1 ton diesel: "trailer, oh is that what's back there, man I wish you would hook me up to something that I can flex my muscle with"
I have pulled loads at work with a 1/2 ton gas, 1 ton gas, and 2 different 3/4 diesels. The two diesels were the last two trucks including the current one. Diesel is hands down the best when towing
If price doesn't matter go with a diesel, just be prepared to have a permanent grin plastered on your face, especially when you put on that left blinker, check your mirror, and move over to the left lane to make a pass while going up that long uphill stretch on the interstate.
I have had my grin for 7 months now.
2007.5 Chevy Silverado 2500HD D/A CC 4x4
2006 Jayco Jay Flight 28FKS
Exploring America while building its industry.
Currently in Whitney, TX
"Electricians, really what can't they do?"
"Real trucks don't have spark plugs."
jamez641 wrote: ...if you have a 3/4 or 1 ton diesel: "trailer, oh is that what's back there, man I wish you would hook me up to something that I can flex my muscle with"
''
Great analogy! I love it.
Sadly though, as of the post-2007 models, diesels have lost some Omph! Not to bad mouth diesels, I too am the proud owner of an 08 Duramax. It's only two weeks old.
Here's a brief list of what's wrong with the current diesels (from ANY engine maker) and 2010 models are slated for WORSE performance loss yet:
First, Newer diesels have this crappy "DPF" (diesel particulate filter). Yes, it's good because it prevents almost all of the black soot smoke which makes a diesel a diesel. But, the filter(s) even though are "self cleaning," cause losts of problems. Look at the PowerStroke problems with Ford for instance. The new diesels (dodge, duramax, powerstroke, caterpillar, detroits etc...) can not idle for extended periods without the filters getting clogged and the engine's computer shutting down performance. Chevy calls it "limp mode." Basically, the engine drops performance dramatically. It only allows the engine to "limp" you back to the dealer for repairs. The only way to clean the DPF filters is to run the engine for 20 minutes or more at around 2500rpm! Read here: WASTE OF EXPENSIVE FUEL. If that doesn't work, only the dealers/mechanic can fix the problem for $$$. It's not warranty covered IF the diesel engine owner doesn't follow specific steps to prevent the DPF from clogging up. (Too long to explain here on this forum).
Second, there is a device called an "EGR" (exhaust gas recirculator) on the engines. This "parasite" reroutes 20% of the exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber to be burned again. Yet, it offers absolutely NO engine horse power or performance gain. In fact, it takes away power from the engine without explaining it longer in this forum. Yes, the benefit is again, cleaner air. The sad thing is it makes the inside of the engine dirtier without going into a lengthy detail.
What does all this emissions stuff mean exactly? Well, it means that the oil one must use now is the new API (American Petroleum Institute's) rating of "CJ-4." This is the newest diesel oil that is EPA approved for emissions standards. It is a cleaner oil that produces less nasty emission soot, but the oil doesn't stand up like the older CI-4 and CI-4 plus diesel oils as far as longevity and again, "performance." With post 2007 diesel engines (i.e. diesels with DPF's), if you DO NOT use the "CJ-4" rated oil, you will destroy your PDF, which again causes severe problems with your engines emission equipment and the ignition computer starts to shut down performance, big time. (i.e. "Limp mode" operation kicks in). All this means is you have to take it to the dealer and the repairs are usually not covered by ANY warranty. Make sure you're diesel oil is "CJ-4" rated for post 2007 engines.
Lastly, and this is a big one: Post 2007 diesel engines have significantly lost the higher MPG fuel efficiency. Why? Because the post 2007 engines have been designed to produce LESS compression in order to clean the DPF's! With less compression (compression is and always will be the leading factor which makes a diesel stronger than gasoline engines regarding torque and lower rpm's) the engine must use MORE fuel in order to clean the DPF's.
So in actuality, becasue the "enviromental-ghestapo" police want cleaner air, they've actually made diesels "weaker" in performance and fuel efficiency. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for cleaner air, but the current technology in attaining cleaner air has really been bad for the best performance of a diesel. There is give and take.
Don't expect any post-2007 production diesel engine to be such a "gas saver" as the famed pre-2007 engines. Again, 2010 is slated for even stiffer emission controls by the federal EPA. We'll see just how the "big-3" diesel makers deal with those rules and hopfully, the technology will allow better fuel economy and cleanliness without sacrificing power/torque/performance that a diesel is known for.
All that being said though, the diesel continues to be a very powerful and efficient engine when is comes to a "job specific" purpose. That is, towing and hauling heavier loads than the best gasoline engines can do.
* This post was
last
edited 04/08/08 04:20am by AirSupport *
View edit history
First, Newer diesels have this crappy "DPF" (diesel particulate filter). Yes, it's good because it prevents almost all of the black soot smoke which makes a diesel a diesel. But, the filter(s) even though are "self cleaning," cause losts of problems. Look at the PowerStroke problems with Ford for instance. The new diesels (dodge, duramax, powerstroke, caterpillar, detroits etc...) can not idle for extended periods without the filters getting clogged and the engine's computer shutting down performance. Chevy calls it "limp mode." Basically, the engine drops performance dramatically.
Second, there is a device called an "EGR" (exhaust gas recirculator) on the engines. This "parasite" reroutes 20% of the exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber to be burned again. Yet, it offers absolutely NO engine horse power or performance gain. In fact, it takes away power from the engine without explaining it longer in this forum. Yes, the benefit is again, cleaner air. The sad thing is it makes the inside of the engine dirtier without going into a lengthy detail.
What does all this emissions stuff mean exactly? Well, it means that the oil one must use now is the new API (American Petroleum Institute's) rating of "CJ-4." This is the newest diesel oil that is EPA approved for emissions standards. It is a cleaner oil that produces less
Lastly, and this is a big one: Post 2007 diesel engines have significantly lost the higher MPG fuel efficiency. Why? Because the post 2007 engines have been designed to produce LESS compression in order to clean the DPF's! With less compression (compression is and always will be the leading factor which makes a diesel stronger than gasoline engines regarding torque and lower rpm's) the engine must use MORE fuel in order to clean the DPF's.
. Thanks, you've given me something to think about.
2005 Ford F-150 Lariat
2007 26 FBSS Puma, XM Radio,
Beautiful wife,
2 Kids, a
Yellow lab(Kramer) and
a Brittany(Newman)
Offline
