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Which would you get?

  • 2001-03 Chevy Duramax

    Votes: 36 46.8%
  • 2000-02 Dodge Cummins

    Votes: 41 53.2%

Duramax Chevy or Cummins Dodge?

11K views 109 replies 36 participants last post by  brimy311 
#1 ·
I am in the market for a new truck. I can't decide which one to get. It will be my Daily Driver (only drive like 10 miles a day). I am looking at 2001-2003 in the Chevy and 2000-2002 in the Dodge.
 
#39 ·
The early 2000 Duramaxes had issues with the injectors and one of the connecting rod bearings that would spin and black the squirt hole to oil the turbo.

My bro in-law had an '01 Duramax with nothing but issues. I also don't think it was right to begin with, because some days it would fall on its face anytime you got on it.

Those years specifically, go with a Cummins.
 
#46 ·
I myself own 2004 Gmc Duramax and love it. I would find one with the LLY coded engine, however the other older years are fine. To my knowledge, Gm did extended the warrenty to around 200,000 miles on injectors. My brother has 2002, My Dad 2003 and they have, well over 100,000 miles with only one injector issue on the 02 and Gm covered it. If you only drive 10 miles, I would still buy one and take the long way home!
 
#47 ·
This is exactly why I have had a hard time deciding, seems it is always about 50-50 which ppl prefer.

Chevy Pros:
Nice Ride
Quitier Desiel
Nicer Interior
Newer body style
Smooth shifting automatic

Chevy Cons:
Lower fuel mileage
More expensive
Possibly shorter lasting Engine? (not many ppl running 200k+ trucks yet)
Push button 4x4
Possible Injector Problem

Dodge Pros:
Cummins proven motor
available in 6spd manual
Better fuel economy
Lots of aftermarket parts
Cheaper/more available
4x4 shifter

Dodge Cons:
Same body style for almost 10 years
Crappy Automatic
Vp44 lift pump issue
Rougher ride
Louder Motor
 
#50 ·
That looks about right. I've had two dodges myself (96 and 00, both ext-cab longbeds), both towed well. driven a LOT of 91-06 dodge diesels.

I have a 96 dodge V10 currently, gets 11mpg empty, 9-10 mpg toying my toyota (9.5 mpg @ 75mph towing to tellico, likewise to harlan, for reference, overdrive on except hills), 3.55 gears, 135k miles with a raised cap on the back. I figure my toy/trailer's same weight as yours, they had the same tires and drivetrain..

If you are determined to get a diesel for a daily driver, I'd get the duramax with an allison. I think one of the biggest improvements in trucks is better automatics, they really help get things rolling. So many trucks (fords STILL) are saddled with 2.4x first gears and wide gear spacing.

If you drive 10 miles daily, I'd really recommend against it. Buying used, you'll probably pay $5000 minimum more for the diesel, and be paying 10-15% higher fuel prices, plus higher maintenance costs, that will eat up any fuel savings you'd see. You'll be idling for 15 minutes every morning to warm up.


I think the chevy is better to live with daily, better ride/handling, newer truck, etc. You might be able to go through the drive thru without turning off the motor.


If it was me, I'd go find a newer chevy with a 8.1 or maybe a 6.0. You'll be able to pick up 2-3 model years by not paying for the diesel. But I never do what the cool kids do.
 
#49 ·
You know my preference just because I have a Cummins. No matter what you chose, find a station that sells bio-diesel and run at least B2 if not B20. This new ULSD crap will take years off the life of your motor. The bio adds back a lot of the lubricity that is now missing from this so-called eco-friendly shit.
 
#53 ·
On every trip I have been on with my 98' Chevy, I have been very frustrated with it's towing. On our last trip, I had a hard time keeping up with the pack from st louis onto Flat Nasty.

I am not trying to do what the cool guys are doing, I don't care about fuel mileage, I don't care about cost to get one over a gasser. I just want to set the cruise and drive, tow 70 mph and not have to loss 10mph going up a slight hill.

I have problems with my 4L80E jumping into 2nd gear on pretty big hills and ppl with the 6.0L have the same issues from what I have read.
 
#56 ·
Well, first, don't use cruise, use your foot. Cruise lets the rpm drop too much before doing something about it, then it can be too late...

That sounds weak, though, if, at 70 mph you can't pull hills in 3rd gear. Even in my 5.9 dodge, I used could go up things like zilwaukee, etc, without resorting ever to 2nd gear.


I wasn't the happiest towing with my 5.9 dodge on anything but flat. But I like my V10. It makes more HP and Torque than the cummins from the same years(until the HO diesel came out).

It'll be replaced with a 4 door half ton in 2 years when my Fusion lease runs up.
 
#71 ·
Brods- If you are so anal about your maintenance, you would do like I do and send out a sample of your oil from every oil change. I still run Rotella and sample every interval. I can easily get 12-13k out of an oil change without losing any oil quality. I'm at 103k miles and Blackstone told me after the last sample that I have one of the best running 600's that they have ever tested, at least in terms of the sample analysis. It's a cheap $20 way to get an idea of any issues inside the engine before they become catastrophic failures.

I would guess that my Cummins is averaging right with yours for mileage. On a good day on all highway I can get 18mpg. But, I didn't buy it for MPG. I bought it to be a tow rig. I was blown away when I pulled a high profile 36' enclosed gooseneck back from Texas with a load of H1 wheels and tires. Truck, trailer, and cargo grossed 27,600. Even loaded like that I still managed 9mpg in the mountains on the way back. That is why I bought a diesel.

Brian - Check out www.cumminsforum.com if you haven't already. You see trucks posted for sale around this area once in a while.
 
#73 ·
I'd have to agree with Brods on maintainance. Every 5K miles I have to buy 16 qts. of oil and a $15 filter; every 10K miles I need a $30 fuel filter.

<edit>I should mention that the design of the HEUI fuel system is hard on engine oil, requiring the frequent changes </edit>

This is a moot point for Brian, as I have an old PSD in a 2wd F250, but it would definitely be cheaper to maintain a gasser. I bought my diesel for the very same reason Brian wants one - then sold my Jeep. :sonicjay: I have also towed through the mountains and appreciated the turbo (a gasser loses about 3% of its power for every 1000' above sea level, i.e. a 300hp gasser is only making about 210hp at 10,000') and also the rolling hills in Missouri pose no problem.

I voted for the Chevy, as it seems the dodges build quality isn't up to par with their oilburner. Also, the Chevy truck will net you the Allison transmission - I don't like my manual transmission in traffic jams. For the model year of Ford I was looking for, the auto transmissions seemed like a 60,000 mile "wear item".

Good luck in your search!
 
#75 ·
I am not going to buy a Bigblock because I like the idea of being able to sell this truck in a few more years. It is hard enough to move my 98' gasser right now.

My 98' gets 11mpg around town and about 13mpg on the highway. I only have been averaging about 7-9mpg towning 10 hours away through mountains and rolling hills. The biggest down side is not the mileage but the lack of power to maintain speed.

I am not worried about cost of repairs, cost of maintaning or having to work on it. I am pretty sure I am capable of that.

It's pretty simple, I have weighed the advantages or disadvantages of having a deisel and I have decided to buy a deisel truck. I plan to tow out west, tow for 16-20 hours to do some wheeling and I am not going to do that in a gasser.
 
#82 ·
I am not going to buy a Bigblock because I like the idea of being able to sell this truck in a few more years. It is hard enough to move my 98' gasser right now. It's more the market then the fact it is a gasser, I looked a ton of trucks before going with a new one, many are still for sale. I think the resale on Diesels is going to fall soon, espescially with all the fuel, emissions, and regulations crap.

My 98' gets 11mpg around town and about 13mpg on the highway. I only have been averaging about 7-9mpg towning 10 hours away through mountains and rolling hills. The biggest down side is not the mileage but the lack of power to maintain speed. I dont think you will get much better mileage in a diesel, but you will have the power you are looking for.

I am not worried about cost of repairs, cost of maintaning or having to work on it. I am pretty sure I am capable of that.

It's pretty simple, I have weighed the advantages or disadvantages of having a deisel and I have decided to buy a deisel truck. I plan to tow out west, tow for 16-20 hours to do some wheeling and I am not going to do that in a gasser.
Your right, with a 350, 5.3 etc or any small gas motor you are not going to do that.

Towing with my truck '07 5.3 liter anything more then 6 hours with a jeep behind it would get old, or I would have to go 60 mph.

For long trips and medium to heavy loads a diesel or a big block make the trip SO much more enjoyable.

Since the choices are not big block or diesel, the choices are diesel to diesel. I would recommend getting the better truck.

The engine is only one component of the truck, the dodge wins that in general. The cummins is just plain good. The duramax is good, but not as common.

The tranny comes next, stick or auto? If dodge, you probably should go stick, if chevy you must go allison. However even the allisons where out and fail.

IFS or Straight axle? At this point the only thing in my opinion that matters is outers, your never going to ask your truck to do anything that would break the ring and pinion, its a tow rig. Which wheel bearings and brakes and ball joints and half shafts/axle shafts are more serviceable and tend to last longer? How important is ride quality?

Beyond those 3 components which are the main mechanicals and the main failure points you come down to interior, looks, etc. Personal opinion stuff.

I like the chevy better, but I think they tend to cost a bit more.

Happy truck shopping, its fun, and frustrating all at the same time.
 
#90 · (Edited)
Brian, I'm not going to talk you into a gas motor and out a diesel. But towing with a 5.7L compared to a 6.0L Chevy is a night and day difference. I tow a 30 camper that weights roughly 7800lbs, with a '99 Suburban 5.7L and 3.73 gears and it struggles. My Suburban was in the shop for a new fuel pump so borrowed a buddies 2000 Chevy w/6.0L and 4.10 gears. The 6.0L towed like the camper wasn't even behind it. Both sucked fuel tho' towing.

I'd still get a diesel if I was you...just wante to bring up that point about the two Chevy engines.
 
#98 ·
On this same note, going from a 6.0 Suburban to towing the same load with '90 Cummins truck was night and day.

If you are wanting an auto, I would say Chevrolet, Dodge otherwise.

Another note, I saw something mentioned earlier about idling. Cummins recommends not idling their engines more than five minutes I believe. It has something to do with the mass of the head. The temperature difference between the block and the head stresses the headgaskets or something.
 
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