Thinking of trading the my 06 powerjoke for a GMC duramax - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

nh500sl · #1 04-02-2007, 01:13 AM

I have a 2006 duramax diesel and I'm really not that happy with it. I drove a GMC with a duramax and it felt like a much better riding and driving truck. I have had a lot of issues with the ford including headgaskets, and two turbos. I'm really disgusted at this point with the ford and really miss my 99 silverado, at least the thing made it to 100k and did not fall apart on me.

t walgamuth · #2 04-02-2007, 06:44 AM

cummins with six speed.

i have a 3/4 ton single tire quad cab dodge 03 with 65K miles. no issues. starts runs tows perfectly. i have a lot of towing miles with it. utility trailer with various loads including a lot of miles with benzes on back. 35' travel trailer which i tow at 73 mph and get from 11 to 13 mpg. solo i get 20 running 75 and 80.

i am still running the original brake pads all around and still am running the factory front michelins.

i have had two seeping plugs on the head and an obscure issue with the ac.

my one modification has been to install nine way adjustable rancho shocks which transformed the ride and handling of the truck unbelievably.

the ford and diesel owners i know have had issues with the engines.

tom w

Ara T. · #3 04-02-2007, 06:53 AM

The 07 Silverado is a freakin' nice truck and I dont even like trucks (no use for them). The way that truck rides is unbelievable, rides worlds better than my 300D, which is something I hadn't really seen in a truck, ever.. even with my 20 year old car and its worn out bushings.
Test drive one, you'll be amazed how far pickups have gone.

catmandoo62 · #4 04-02-2007, 08:30 AM

if you do trade the powerstroke don't expect to get much,everyone is aware of the 6.0 problems.i'll agree with the cummins if your gonna do some major towiing,but two things about the dodge's,they are hard on frontend parts(ball joints,draglinks etc)and they do ride like a truck.if you want a car like ride the d-max is gonna be the way to go,the first d-max's had injector issues,but i think most of those have been cured,plus the allison is an awesome trans.

POS · #5 04-02-2007, 08:51 AM

I've owned both Chevy pickups (HD gassers) and Ford Powerstrokes (7.3 and a 6.0). I prefer the Chevys because the interior is light hears ahead of Ford's. I don't think you'd be making a mistake at all.

WVOtoGO · #6 04-02-2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

cummins with six speed.

tom w

X2

That one's a given.

deerefanatic · #7 04-02-2007, 09:18 AM

Except, the duramax is gutless compared to the cummins and powerstroke.... I went to the truck pulls at the county fair this year.. The BEST duramax came in seventh, and it had LOTS of power mods as it belonged to a farmer in my area that I know of.... All the rest (1'st through 6'th place) were fords and dodges, heavily modded dodge in first place, my neighbor's chipped ford 7.3 second.... then a mix of the two brands from there through 6'th place.

Honus · #8 04-02-2007, 09:26 AM

My wife has a 2000 F350 Powerstroke (7.3 liter) that she uses to haul horses. It's got about 75,000 miles and has been well maintained. We had problems with the limited slip differential, but those were covered by warranty. The only other problem we've had was a failed cam position sensor. We came close to buying a 6.0 a couple of years ago. Good thing I am such a procrastinator because by the time we got around to talking price, we realized that we wanted nothing to do with that motor.

I understand the 2008 Fords have a new Powerstroke. We will see what comes of that. I like the Ford trucks better than Chevy or Dodge. I just wish I could get a Ford truck with Dodge's Cummins motor and Chevy's Allison transmission.

Oh, well.

t walgamuth · #9 04-02-2007, 01:22 PM

all the big diesels are now available with the allison.

the six speed new venture manual is used in all three also.

tom w

daveuz · #10 04-02-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nh500sl

I have a 2006 duramax diesel and I'm really not that happy with it. I drove a GMC with a duramax and it felt like a much better riding and driving truck. I have had a lot of issues with the ford including headgaskets, and two turbos. I'm really disgusted at this point with the ford and really miss my 99 silverado, at least the thing made it to 100k and did not fall apart on me.

Any mods on the truck?

iwrock · #11 04-02-2007, 02:10 PM

Dang. I third the Cummins Turbo... A friend has a modded 03 or 04. Its hauls more than just big loads of stuff. Hes got a coupla of grand in mods to it. He was third fastest at the track one day last summer, coming in behind a Renntech SL65 and a Renntech S600...

My second choice for a truck would be a 2000ish F250/350 with the 7.3 motor. Its a good workhorse that can be had fairly inexpensively now...

PaulC · #12 04-02-2007, 04:58 PM

Cummins. The Dodge 2500 is a nice truck. A friend of mine has a 2006 with the Hemi. The only flaw that I have found is that the shocks are too firmly valved, even for a 3/4 ton. The truck tends to pogo a bit at certain speeds and on certain highway surfaces. I don't know if the heavier Cummins counteracts that; it may. If not, a good aftermarket shock may be of help.

POS · #13 04-02-2007, 07:32 PM

The problem with the Dodge is that it's a piece of crap with the best engine/tranny combo out there. Problem with the Chevy/GMC is that it's the best truck out there with a half-ass engine/tranny. Problem with the Ford is that it's a half-ass quality truck with a half-ass quality engine/tranny.

I quit buying the diesel pickups - not worth the headache to me.

t walgamuth · #14 04-02-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Cummins. The Dodge 2500 is a nice truck. A friend of mine has a 2006 with the Hemi. The only flaw that I have found is that the shocks are too firmly valved, even for a 3/4 ton. The truck tends to pogo a bit at certain speeds and on certain highway surfaces. I don't know if the heavier Cummins counteracts that; it may. If not, a good aftermarket shock may be of help.

see my post about the rancho shocks.

fixed the problem of dancing wheels.

tom w

t walgamuth · #15 04-02-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

The problem with the Dodge is that it's a piece of crap with the best engine/tranny combo out there. Problem with the Chevy/GMC is that it's the best truck out there with a half-ass engine/tranny. Problem with the Ford is that it's a half-ass quality truck with a half-ass quality engine/tranny.

I quit buying the diesel pickups - not worth the headache to me.

now i have had eight gm trucks. and i do not find the dodge a pos.

tom w