Tow Vehicle V2.0

[Bandit127]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

Yeah, but an extra 10k wasn't in the budget for a diesel. If I could have done 10k more, it would have been a Sierra Denali.

Duramax's are very good, BUT they eat injectors like its freakin cool.

Ford's (International) 6.0 diesel doesn't eat injectors as badly, but it eats head gaskets and EGR coolers (which are 800 bucks a pop with zero warranty) like you wouldn't believe. We had one F-350 that blew a head gasket due to a plugged EGR cooler. So we changed both, but we had to go through 4 EGR coolers before we went with an aftermarket one. Ford just said "oops, tough ****, happens all the time."

Diesel is not really worth it for just pulling a car around and light duty truck work. sure takes more fuel but at least is isnt $4K everytime it hits a shop because of all the specialty tools and diagnostics. Plus you guys know how to work on gassers. :P

My Snap On guy has a 1,400 hp/3,400 ft/lbs Duramax he uses for truck pulls. THAT is also known as indescribable.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

Duramax's are very good, BUT they eat injectors like its freakin cool.

Ford's (International) 6.0 diesel doesn't eat injectors as badly, but it eats head gaskets and EGR coolers (which are 800 bucks a pop with zero warranty) like you wouldn't believe. We had one F-350 that blew a head gasket due to a plugged EGR cooler. So we changed both, but we had to go through 4 EGR coolers before we went with an aftermarket one. Ford just said "oops, tough ****, happens all the time."

Diesel is not really worth it for just pulling a car around and light duty truck work. sure takes more fuel but at least is isnt $4K everytime it hits a shop because of all the specialty tools and diagnostics. Plus you guys know how to work on gassers. :P

My Snap On guy has a 1,400 hp/3,400 ft/lbs Duramax he uses for truck pulls. THAT is also known as indescribable.

One of the guys that helped me put my Camaro together has a 2005 F-350 with a Cummins 12v 6 cylinder swapped in! He's into the same truck pulling nonsense. Says it makes 1500 ft/lbs with twin turbos. I have no desire for any of that, and that's another reason I didn't get a diesel. I'll run it out of warranty in a year or so, and $4k per service will get really old the first time it happens. Not to mention rebuilding those Allison transmissions..... If you thought a built 4L60e was expensive, price out one of those mothersuckers!

[Skinny]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

. Not to mention rebuilding those Allison transmissions..... If you thought a built 4L60e was expensive, price out one of those mothersuckers!

For what it's worth, the entire 6 years I worked at a GMC dealer, I never once saw an Allison trans come in with an issue. There's a special tool needed to disassemble it (basically it's a giant pair of snap ring pliers that are about 2 feet long). When I left the dealership, that tool was still sitting unused in the box it came in.

The Allison is one of the biggest reasons I like the Duramax trucks.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

Yeah, I wouldn't go near a dealer for a trans in a diesel either. ;)

[Opontee]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

For what it's worth, the entire 6 years I worked at a GMC dealer, I never once saw an Allison trans come in with an issue. There's a special tool needed to disassemble it (basically it's a giant pair of snap ring pliers that are about 2 feet long). When I left the dealership, that tool was still sitting unused in the box it came in.

The Allison is one of the biggest reasons I like the Duramax trucks.

When the Duramax/Allison first came out, Isuzu forgot to put in the engine/tranny alignment pins and there were issues of the front pump seal/bushing leaking.
But that is all I have ever heaard about the Allison failing and it was not the tranny's fault. :)

[88gtman]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

My buddy has had the 6.0L v8 in his 02 2500hd and it does well. It has been extremely dependable for him. The gas mileage does suck though. 11-12 around town and 12-13 on the highway. That is with a 6" lift, 33" tires, ext. cab, mail order tune, and intake.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

Lifted with mudders is always a recipe for **** gas mileage.

[Opontee]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

If he didn't recalibrate the speedo, it will show slower mph and odometer will be slower also. This will make you think it is getting worse than he thought. My don put some 22" wheel and tires on his 06 F150 and instantly the mpg went down. He didn't recal the speedo. I am sure that with the speedo off, he thought it was the tires making the mpg less.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

Recalibration doesn't matter. It's a proven fact, more rolling resistance decreases fuel mileage.

[Bandit127]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

We had a Allison fail in a school bus. Interesting way to remove and install if you ask me, we don't have any lifts for bus's, so we used a floor jack and blocks of wood to slowly let it down (ended up it rolled over, but its 400lbs+ I swear.) and slide it out from under a bus. Then when it came back rebuilt, we used 3 floor jacks and in mm by mm raised it up and installed it.

28 Max Life ATF quarts later it drove out the door.

But you have to give it credit, when it rolled in the first time, it was 25 quarts of fluid low. Filling it quart by quart and constantly looking for a massive pool after the first 5 quarts takes a long time!

[88gtman]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

First, just to clarify he has Nitto All Terrain tires so not nobby mud tires and yes had the speedo recalibrated when he had the tune done. He says he only lost about a .5mpg with the mods.

[Bandit127]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

What ply tire? Maybe he changed his driving style after the mods, but physically speaking, spinning 30lb rim + 25 lb tire vs spinning 30lb rim + 40 lb tire requires more energy. especially at highway speeds.

Then you account drive angle, which yes, more angle requires more energy (plus its harder on the U joints) then wind resistance.

I'm not saying your a liar, just saying its going to be farrrrr from where it was.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

What ply tire? Maybe he changed his driving style after the mods, but physically speaking, spinning 30lb rim + 25 lb tire vs spinning 30lb rim + 40 lb tire requires more energy. especially at highway speeds.

Then you account drive angle, which yes, more angle requires more energy (plus its harder on the U joints) then wind resistance.

I'm not saying your a liar, just saying its going to be farrrrr from where it was.

That's exactly what I wanted to say, just didn't have the time to type. Still no pics.... We picked it up last night from getting the bedliner sprayed in. Rides nice, really tall, so far, so good!

[ssms5411]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

I wouldn't go with a lifted truck even if you paid me, stock height on the trucks is fine, esp. a 2500 HD, one of my friends has a 08' Caddy Escalade 4X4 or I think its AWD actually with a 6" lift and 35" tires , I can barely get in it at 6'4"s and hes 5'7"s,LOL With no step rails. Someone say short man syndrome.LOL Hes already spent about $15,000 just in suspension. This last time it was almost $5000 just to replace his 4 shocks since its a air ride system, then he spent $3000 on his tranny. I think he hasn't gotten the computer flashed for his bigger tires or something, but he def. uses the off roading for his job sites for building custom homes up in the mountains of Prescott. Good to here your liking your truck, I wish I could go new. Lets go with the pics already.LOL

[Bandit127]

Re: Tow Vehicle V2.0

Also proven fact: Bigger wheels and tires = extremely shortened transmission life.