Thinking about purchasing a Chevy Duramax or?

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

I'm going to look for a 3/4 ton 4x4 truck to haul my 1950's tractors around plus put on a pickup box camper for my wife and I to take an occasional trip. I'm hoping to find something in the $8,000-12k price range and whatever I buy will 150,000 mile and probably way more than that in the price range I looking to spend.

I currently have a F150 Ford 4 door 4x4 5.3 truck which I use to haul stuff around with a 16 foot car trailer. It's a decent truck but under powered for what I use it for and I really miss not having a larger box.

I've never had a 3/4 ton before so any advise/recommendations/things to look out for/ would be much appreciated. I'm not brand loyal. This past fall a threesome took a hunting trip with a 2001 Duramax/pickup box camper to Wyoming and it road nice and mileage wasn't too bad either.

moresmoke · Jan 1, 2017

Do some investigating of what you would like for a slide in camper first. Make sure a 3/4 ton can carry what you want for a camper. Many require a dually.

DENNIS MIN · Jan 1, 2017

Dave Westland,

I have a bit of first hand knowledge of a 4x4 2003 duramax. It had 250k plus miles on it, no engine work at all, besides oil and filter changes. The auto transmission failed at 175k. Look out for the transfer case oil pump issues, it tends to wear a hole in the case, also be sure the leaky injector issues have been addressed. I sold that truck for 7000.

Now, I own a stick shifted ram 4x4 cummins 2010, new.

Here's what I learned: Ram is slower and doesn't get the MPG the duramax did. The ram ride is not the same, depending on the bed load, it can be worse. Ram pulls the same empty or maxed, and I do like the "j brake" feature. The Ram installed trailer brake is very nice

You know your needs, but I figured 'd give you my firsthand experience. I am not damning or praising either truck or brand.

D.

VADAVE · Jan 1, 2017

I have an 2004 and am mostly pleased with it. That being said there are a couple of things 1) do not buy 2003 or earlier as GM was still sorting out the Duramax even the 04 had some issues. Find a mechanic that understands diesel, I had to go into a farming community to find one, around Washington DC the mechanic just don't! 2) you will pay much more then you think, mine with 160K miles is still valued at 20K. 3) they are not a 1/2 ton truck and don't get around town very well--their BIG. On the other hand they do carry a load--I just brought home a cord of firewood like it was just a normal load with weight capability to spare. 4) they are tough--I had a driver turn in front of me when I was in the intersection and I was at highway speed--it just busted the plastic front pieces and the frame came through the bumper only the hood and left fender was bent--they ARE tough.

Texasmark1 · Jan 1, 2017

Neighbor has about a 2006 or '07 Duramax in a Chev. ? ton. Never has anything negative to say about it. Only thing I recall him saying over the years is that he needed some tires once and he needed to get a transmission filter once as it was time to change it. Must work for him.

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

MoreSmoke,

Good point.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oSd08Gv2M2U/hqdefault.jpg Here is the style I'm thinking we would get. I can borrow a simpilar one for the first trip to make sure the better half is ok with this style of traveling.

DENNIS MIN · Jan 1, 2017

Dave W,

I looked at your picture of the proposed camper. That is an excellent fit for a 3/4 ton duramax. I know. I had one just like it.

Get the best camper tie downs you can, they bolt to the frame and then have spring loaded stainless/aluminum turnbuckles. It is money wel spent.

I'd give you the name, but it's dark and cold in the shed. Torque something...

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

Dennis Min,

Wife said: A stick shift it not in the plans. My previous truck which was a 1999 Dodge 1500 was a stick shift and she really would be desperate before she would use it.

Is there a way for me to check for the transfer case issue you mentioned?

Dave

C. Amick · Jan 1, 2017

My neighbor has one with 330K on it. Don't think he has any major complaints, but the newer ones (as with all diesels) have more complicated emissions junk on them.

ditchwitch · Jan 1, 2017

Youll probably find out a 1 ton Dually is going to be around the same price range and it does have advantages. You say a slide in camper well the Dually will handle it no problem the big plus is how stable the ride and pull will be. No sidewall flex when pulling say on windy days. Between the two truck axles single or dual i prefer the duals. I pull trailers alot and the Duals are much more stable. I owned a 96,03,gas then 03,08,12 which i had sellers remorse a 2015 now in a 2016 all Diesels. Never a minutes trouble with any of them except the 2015.

Bryce Frazier · Jan 1, 2017

About the best year you can get is a LATE 2004 LB7 Duramax until when they changed body styles in 2007.5. Those years was an upgraded LB7 from the 2001-2003 years. They bumped the RMP's a few hundred, and changed the fuel system to combat injector issues. They produce right at 300 horse and I THINK 525 foot lbs of torque, close to those numbers at least (as where the 2001-2003 are like 225 horse).

They are the easiest and cheapest to work on (but still not cheap), do good on fuel, and are VERY reliable. Also have basically no emissions stuff, no DEF, etc.

Due to all of this though, they are the highest sough after power plants to do modifications to, and if you change a few things you can get several hundred more horse out of them, OR, if you go crazy, you can put a different cam in it and change the firing order and get a 1000 horsepower Duramax. This of course makes them hold their value like crazy!

I just bought my first the other day, a Chevy K3500, Crew Cab, Dually. Duramax / Allison. It has 240,000 miles on it, and the dealer my dad works at said that if the paint was nice, they would put it on the lot at $15,500!! Sounds like a lot still to me, but, they are worth it! Pull like nothing else!

bass · Jan 1, 2017

Duramax are good motors; good power. however, they are expensive to maintain.

i had 2 both 3/4T GMC. the first one i paid for 4 times.

examples of cost:
$1000 for water pump replacement
$5000 for injector job
$3800 for transfer gear case
$1900 transmission
$100 fuel filter twice a year

even though maintance is high if i could have found last May when the 2nd GMC was lost in a flood i would have bought a 3 one.

bass

sms · Jan 1, 2017

I had an 05 Duramax, only thing that ever went wrong with it besides normal maintenance was a sensor and that was under warranty. One time a guy at work was telling everyone," I got behind SMS hauling one of his tractors to the show and I tried to catch him to get a better look at it but couldn't". He was driving a car. We live in a hilly area.

notjustair · Jan 1, 2017

Yes, don't get anything early 2004 or older. I've got a 2004 with the old fuel style. I'm waiting for the expensive repair everyone else has needed. Not that it hasn't needed repairs anyway. It's the only pickup that's left me. Twice. Both times was some computer issue. It's a clattering beast that is super sensitive to water in the system and needs the filter changed a good bit. It's the only pickup I've ever bought used and I've hated it from day 2. It's a dually that only pulls the stock trailer, so I don't use it everyday. That (and the tag on a new one) is the only reason it has stayed. I hate that thing. I'm boiling just thinking about it!

ss55 · Jan 1, 2017

Consider how many miles per year you will use your pickup for heavy towing. If the towing mileage is low, you might be better off getting a newer 3/4 or 1 ton gas pickup for the same or less money. Around Omaha, NE, older diesel pickup are very popular with the young single guys, so the price of those pickup is staying ridiculously high compared to the gas models. Crank through the numbers to see if the lower fuel cost, the higher purchase price and higher maintenance cost of a diesel will balance out enough to actually pay-off for you.

OliverGuy · Jan 1, 2017

That must be why everyone asks to buy my low miles late '04 crew cab 4wd! Most have a bunch of miles, mine is a cream puff

pms · Jan 1, 2017

Mine is a 06 with 66,000 miles.Short box xtra cab 4x4.9200 gvwr,Curt commercial duty hitch and air bags.Best of all it has the LBZ duramax factory rated at 360 horsepower and 650 foot pounds torque.Pulls heavy loads no sweat and drives like a Cadillac.Good on fuel too.Also had a Dodge Cummins can't go wrong there either.

Paul

mmfan55 · Jan 1, 2017

Since you stated you are not brand loyal; I'll throw out some Ford info: Ford introduced the "Powerstroke" turbo diesel in mid/late 90s. It was the 7.3. Many consider it the best diesel pickup engine ever built and these are still very sought after even at their age. Next is the 6.o introduced in 2003. That engine had issues from the start. There is a delete/upgrade that can be done to them that vastly improves reliability. If looking at one of those; find out if it has been "bulletproofed". Next is the 6.4. a durable engine but since it is a "polution control' engine it is not known for fuel milesge. 2011 saw the introduction of the 6.7. untill it; the diesel used by ford was built by international. 6.7 is an engine designed and built by Ford. Very seldom will you hear anyone say something negative about the 6.7. You will have problems finding any diesel pickup in the price range you seek that is not ether rusted out bad or near half a million miles. Diesel pickups hold value. happy hunting

buickanddeere · Jan 1, 2017

How many miles annually towing and general transportation? Price of fuel ? Is salt used on your roads?

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

That's whatt I like to hear...

Dave

Nancy Howell · Jan 1, 2017

I got very lucky and picked up a 97 Ford F-350, SRW, 7.3 diesel, crew cab, long bed with 93,000 on it back in 2011. Paid $14,000. It had been kept in a garage and was in near mint condition. Money well spent.

It runs well and pulls well. It is not a 4x4 and has an auto tranny, but still pulls everything with ease. I get 20 mpg on the highway with no load.

Heaviest load I've pulled was around 11,000 lbs. It never missed a beat.

Have had some minor problems, but no major issues.

I agree with some of the others, you will have a hard time finding something decent for what you want to spend.

The 7.3's are still in demand. Two weeks ago someone wanted to know if I would sell mine. No way!

dhermesc · Jan 1, 2017

How many times did you do the injectors? It was an ongoing problem with ours. Under warranty the dealership said to replace only the bad one. Once it was out of warranty they recommended replacing all the injectors at once. Did that once and then went back to replacing them one or two at a time. Lots of money dumped into it before we sold it.

cowdog · Jan 1, 2017

I have owned 2 of them. First was a 2005 , 1 ton reg cab. Second is a 2013 , 1 ton reg cab. The 13 can out pull the 05 no sweat. I my.opinion you can't go wronge unless y o u buy a POS. Spend a little extra and get as new a truck as you can get.

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

Hi Buickanddeere,
Now that I'm retired I put on about 10K on a truck plus 4-5K pulling a trailer. At 15 MPG is 1000 gallons. I live in Minnesota so it's a heavy salt use state. The reason for wanting a pulling truck is that my wife and I want to do a little traveling using a pickup camper. The tractor thing is my pastime. The trips would alter these numbers.
Dave

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

MMfan55,

I know very little about diesels but I did know that the 7.3 was tough and the 6.0 was something to run away from. With that said. The newer diesel trucks are pretty much out out of my budget. I cring when I need to buy a vehicle anyway... On 7.3 trucks that used the 7.3 engine was there a HD tranny that held up with the 7.3? I have associated Duramax and Allison as a good combo.

Dave

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

Pms,

Nice truck. I'd like to find one close to that.

Dave

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

Hi ss55,

I do need to take a look at the gas models with the larger engines. Any recommendations +/- in the same price range? My reasoning for looking at the duramax was soley based on last fall's trip to Wyoming. It had the power and ride.

Dave

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

Hi notjustair,
Thanks for the advise. I hear ya. I hate my 2001 4 door Ford F150 4x4 with the 5.3 gasser. I can't stand the dang short box and it way under power when I'm pulling a car trailer.

Dave

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

dhermesc sir,

Sorry to here you had bad luck. I have to get this right and I don't have alot of money to throw away. What do you end up replacing it with?

Dave Westlund · Jan 1, 2017

Hi Bryce,

From this thread it sure looks like the late 2004-7 are solid trucks so you picked a good time to purchase. I still searching but there are now some model years that I will not touch now. I'd look at gas models and they will be 3/4 tons with a larger V8 but in the same budget range.

Daver

Bryce Frazier · Jan 1, 2017

Stay away from the 8.3L or whatever the BIG Gas motor was for a couple of years, 2001-2004 I THINK. They weren't that great as far as I know. Stick with a 6L. They are rock solid engines, tride and true.

Thinking about purchasing a Chevy Duramax or?

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