2007 6.7 Cummins....or a 2008 Duramax?

Which one is better? I used my father in laws 2008 duramax today to haul my tractor home and I was highly impressed with the power and the Allison transmission. Curious how the Dodge Cummins with their 6 speed auto compares. Been shopping around the last couple of days and found a dodge very reasonably priced.I haven't driven a 6.7 Cummins yet so I'm curious how it compares.
 
They are both good engines, I would take the Allison transmission behind the Duramax over the Ram.
 
The new dodge automatics are very good now you couldn't give me one of the earlier ones the manuals had some issues but can be fixed with a little know how . I had a 2001 that I spent 5000$ on and it stilll didn't last . My buddy has a 13 Cummins with the 6 speed auto with 413000 miles never been into the engine or tranny he hauls a triple axle Wilson stock trailer he hauls cross country another buddy has a 12 with the 6 speed that has 400,000 miles he hauls fifth wheel campers cross country he had to replace a tranny this year he has a programmer and has the emissions bs deleated these are 3500 dually pickups not the cab and chassis . Another freind has an 05 Duramax and he replaced the Allison again programmer and all that on it
 
If you can find a late model RAM, 2013 or newer with the Aisen transmission I don't think a better pickup truck has ever been made.

And I've driven Fords for over 36 years, owned my '96 F-250 PSD for the last 20 years.
 
I agree with David...

If I wasn't biased to Chevys, I would consider either engine, I think that they are both very good. But, that Allison is a VERY proven and trusted trans, and there is just nothing that seems to go wrong with them?!
 
Well i am not a SLUSH BOX fan of any automatic at all. My one friend still works at a Dodge dealer as a G.M. He was telling me how great the new slush box was and how BULLET PROOF they were, I was looking for a newer car for the War Dept. and he was rying to sell me a 2013 200 program car with only 10000 miles on it , so we took it for a test drive and i was going to buy it till they would not address some issues with the car that i found on the test drive as he tod me oh you can do that. NO i am not working on a new car that your selling me so the dealership can pocket the expence of replacing rusted brake rotors . As we were walking thru the service dept they hasd not one but TWo newer Dodge trucks with the Cummins and the NEw and inproved slush boxes scattered across two work benches . one was a 20013 3500 crew cab dually and one was a 4500 signal cab cab and chassis , both 4x4's and both still under warranty . Myself i have had several slush boxes in my time driving and each and everyone has failed at some point in time . The longest living slush box that we have owned is the one in our 2003 Dodge Durango and it now has close to 220000 miles on it BUT now i have a problem with the shift solenoids . It will not down shift into low or second , but you can shift it manualy . Nothing that around three hundred bucks won't fix , but one of these days if we keep it i will have to do the transmission . I use to run slush boxes in two of my 3/4 tons that i plowed snow with and if it made it thru the warranty before it went out i was lucky but then i had to eat the repair , the 78 that one did not far to well as the first plowing season with it it was down five times in six weeks . Three rebuilds and one new transmision and the new one lasted three days . I ended up doing the next rebuild and had to dig into my old stock of C6 parts to build a tougher transmission and make changes to pressures and shift points and add in more disc's and plates to all three clutch pac. Then it lasted five more years before it went down. Myself i have never had a manual transmission fail me , a clutch yes but not a manual . So i'll take the words of advice from and old iron hauler , and those words were ( if ya want to haul iron then it takes iron to haul it). Back in the late seventy's one of the local trucking co. was up dating there fleet of tractors and as we call it the DOG POUND ( the local Mack dealer ) talked the owner into equip the new truck with the 444 Cummins with allisons because they would pull more and be a lot less work for the drivers since they were hauling Coal up out of strip mines and across od back roads with lots of hills and turns and ever equied them with grade retarders . The first one went down two weeks after being put in service , one was lost to loosing the transmission while coming up out of one of the nastest mines on the big hill and the truck went down the hill backwards and rolled five times , the driver bailed as soon and the trans blew before it was moving to fast as there was noway to hold a loaded truck on that hill with the brakes backwards. The remining ones all had problems and after a few months they all that were left had the Allisons removed and went back to a 13 speed Road ranger ,problem solved.
 
I agree both engines are great and are proven to go 200,000 plus. One thing I'm finding out is these duramax trucks aren't cheap. The dodge I found is 5000 bucks cheaper than most of the duramax trucks I've found in the same year and close to same mIles.
 
My father has a 2004 Dodge with the high output 5.9 Cummins engine with the automatic transmission. I have a 2002 Chevrolet with the Duramax and Allison automatic transmission. Both trucks have served both of us well. I am a bit partial to the "pre-emissions intense" diesels with particulate traps/filters, urea injection, and the cooled EGR, as it seems there remain some bugs to work out with these engines. I think we are at a stage where the industry needs to fine tune these emissions add-ons still yet and we will get to a point where the diesel engines with all these smog controls will become as reliable and as fool proof as the gasoline engines with all their electronic controls are today. With that, the Cummins is essentially a "hopped up" industrial diesel engine, while what GM and Ford offer are classified as automotive duty diesel engines. The in-line 6 cylinder design is what is used in agricultural and construction equipment, as well as over the road trucks. I believe the Cummins does offer an advantage in terms of longevity and in use for pulling, in the long run. You probably ask, then why did I purchase the Duramax. I am not pulling heavy loads day in and day out, and I preferred the crew cab and creature comforts of the Chevrolet over the Dodge. In these years, I believe the Allison is the better auto transmission. If you get into new models, I have read the Aisen auto transmission is a very good and durable transmission. If you find either truck in a well kept and maintained condition, I don't think you could go wrong with either one.
 
The dodge I found is a 1 owner truck but it does have a few miles on it, normal for a Cummins truck. I asked the salesman if I could talk to the previous owner and I have yet to hear back from them on that but it is the weekend so I will see if that pans out. I don't know if this truck has been "deleted" yet or not. From the looks of the truck it doesn't appear to have ever pulled a gooseneck. The receiver hitch has definately been used. So I can't imagine it's had a rough life. Time will tell! But man its hard to pull away from that duramax. It was so quiet going down the road and during my trip I encountered a 1.5 mile 7 percent grade and I gave her some pedal and up we went. Didn't lose speed at all and it didn't shift down either. After that I was sold on a duramax ability to pull.
 
There is a reason why almost every hot shot you see is driving a Cummins.
There was a day when the Allison 1000 was leagues ahead of the Dodge 4 speed autos. But those days are long gone. But even then, the Dodge autos could be easily upgraded to handle more power than the Allison 1000, but nothing could be done about it being a 4 speed.
Now, the 68RFE in Ram is every bit as strong as the Allison 1000, if not better.
Some will say the 1000 shifts better. That's because of the programming from GM, that will never work in a Cummins truck. That programming defuels the Duramax to make shifting easier.
Every truck has its issues, but if I had to pick one from the other and both trucks were equally equipped, Id go with the Ram hands down. As far as the trucks themselves are concerned, one really isn't better than the other anymore.
But the Cummins 6.7 and 68RFE combo is better than any Duramax and Allison 1000 combo.
 
Dodges are built cheaper too. I am discouraged by how ALL brands have cheapened out over the years, but, when I look around here in town, 2006 ish dodges are loosing their paint, or have rust holes showing through in the lower parts of the boxes! I've not see a chevy looking like that yet?? Besides that, for a Chevy guy like myself, they are the best, and I'll pay that $5000 more to get one! :p
 
I have had 2 Super Duty's and one Duramax, I like the way my Ford rides and pulls trailers much better than the Chevy.
 
We have sold them all, manager drives a duramax, loves it. I like it better than the Dodge service truck we had at the tire shop. Construction company we maintained trucks for ran all 7.3 fords. They traded off every 7.3 ford they had for Dodge and Duramax. They did not want to put all there money in 1 basket like they did with the ford. They tell me as far as durability there is very little difference detween the Dodge or Chevy. The Chevy's are cheaper Overall to run than the Dodge and seem to ride better. The last new was purchased in 2014.
 
(quoted from post at 20:29:26 03/05/16) Which one is better? I used my father in laws 2008 duramax today to haul my tractor home and I was highly impressed with the power and the Allison transmission. Curious how the Dodge Cummins with their 6 speed auto compares. Been shopping around the last couple of days and found a dodge very reasonably priced.I haven't driven a 6.7 Cummins yet so I'm curious how it compares.

you better get a gm product because i think that is how you're leaning any way get what you want and dont' look back. if you are into some hevy and often hawling you better find a good used early 2005 dodge with a new venture manual 6 speed and a 5.9 cummins and add a jake.
 
Have friend that works for emergency equipment manufacturer (fire and rescue trucks). They cannot build on GM chassis as all have light duty axles and suspension.
 
(quoted from post at 08:15:35 03/08/16)
(quoted from post at 20:29:26 03/05/16) Which one is better? I used my father in laws 2008 duramax today to haul my tractor home and I was highly impressed with the power and the Allison transmission. Curious how the Dodge Cummins with their 6 speed auto compares. Been shopping around the last couple of days and found a dodge very reasonably priced.I haven't driven a 6.7 Cummins yet so I'm curious how it compares.

you better get a gm product because i think that is how you're leaning any way get what you want and dont' look back. if you are into some hevy and often hawling you better find a good used early 2005 dodge with a new venture manual 6 speed and a 5.9 cummins and add a jake.

I would prefer a G56 over the NV5600. Hard to find good parts for a NV5600 anymore and yes, they do blow up.
 
(quoted from post at 14:57:26 03/10/16) What do those numbers represent?

G56 is the 6 speed manual transmission that is still offered in Ram/Cummins pickups.. They began offering it in 2005. The NV5600 is the 6 speed manual that they used to put in Ram/Cummins pickups. It got discontinued in 2005.
 
Ha-Ha.... I was thinking the same thing! The OP starts out discussing merits of a Ram pickup vs a Duramax and WHOOOSH, Tractor Vet changes the topic to buying a used car and then him tearing up pickup transmissions plowing snow FORTY YEARS AGO!
 
Test drive the dodge on some rough pothole roads. Drive at least 50 mph and make certain the right front wheel hits a pothole . This must be done to see if the front end needs complete rebuild. Problem is known as the dodge death wobble. Usually happens between 45 - 50 mph. Own 2 dodges. Great trucks until the death wobble happens. Scares the crap out of you the first time it happens.
 
(reply to post at 01:15:35 03/08/16)
.................if you are into some hevy and often hawling you better find a good used early 2005 dodge with a new venture manual 6 speed and a 5.9 cummins and add a jake.'

AMEN! '04 1/2s and '05s set up like that are 'the cream of the crop'; absolutely amazing in the high Rockies! 8)
 
(quoted from post at 05:26:24 03/10/16)
(quoted from post at 08:15:35 03/08/16)

you better get a gm product because i think that is how you're leaning any way get what you want and dont' look back. if you are into some hevy and often hawling you better find a good used early 2005 dodge with a new venture manual 6 speed and a 5.9 cummins and add a jake.

I would prefer a G56 over the NV5600. Hard to find good parts for a NV5600 anymore and yes, they do blow up.

Maybe so but i see a whol lot more g56s goin south than the 5600s and the clutches are junk!
 
I don't see many G56's blowing up on stock trucks. The stock clutch is junk. Its modified trucks that are pushing north of 800 ft-lbs is where you see G56's failing because of case flex.
 
(quoted from post at 05:20:14 09/12/16) I don't see many G56's blowing up on stock trucks. The stock clutch is junk. Its modified trucks that are pushing north of 800 ft-lbs is where you see G56's failing because of case flex.

yep one less bearing than 5600 but that is not a problem if the clutch slips :roll: egr delete will smoke them
 
I have a 2008 RAM CTD 4x4 Quad Cab 6-spd Auto and pull a 14k GN trailer loaded with 8-10,000 lbs of tractors pretty often.
Mine is deleted as I had a exhaust gasket leak and had to remove all the stuff to get to it.
It is way more powerful since the delete even though I am running a stock tune. Removed the exhaust cat and have a straight 4" pipe.
The 6-spd will not hold 6th gear when towing. The engine torque overwhelms the transmission ability to hold and it stutters. I generally run it in 5th when towing as I have a lot of hills around here. I have to be throttle sensitive as again, the motor will over-power the transmission going from 4th to 5th. Once locked it it will handle it.
I have 58,000 miles on the truck and from what I read on the CTD forums, this is normal on deleted trucks.
Saving money to buy a built transmission to pull like I want to.
Other than that I have no complaint with the truck.
Non-deleted it would bog down on some of the hills, whereas now it does not.
I previously had a 2005 5.9 6 spd and 2006 5.9 Auto. I wish I had manual 6-spd in mine now.
I do agree GM trucks ride better and are much lower. Mine sits pretty high making it hard for my wife to get in
 

With EFI Live available for common rail cummins, you have a lot more ability to build a quality towing tune that is able to defuel on shifts, tune in automatic turbo braking on tow/haul, etc. All the stuff that we have been doing with Duramax's for years...

I have not an ounce of experience with the newer dodge automatics, I can only speak for the older ones... this is the reason that ever since the Allison has been available, I have been driving a Duramax. Now that said, I also expect a lot more from my truck than dragging a small trailer on weekends. It as it is also a plow truck, a work truck, a farm truck, and a family truck.
 

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