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Old 04-20-2016, 11:14 AM   #1
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I Love My Diesel

Finally put my Duramax to work pulling back the new toy hauler over the weekend. With the additional 8,700 lbs and big box behind it, the truck cruised along beautifully. Turned on the tow\haul, exhaust brake and set the cruise at 67, she purred along at 1600 RPMs. Definitely sucks a lot more fuel than the 19 MPG I got on the way to get the trailer, but was in the 11 MPG range.

But more impressive to me than the towing power, is the stopping power of the exhaust brake. There were a couple tight ramps and places where we had to slow down quickly, and with barely having to use the truck and trailer brakes, the exhaust brake brought everything to a quick stop. I had no idea how great the exhaust brake would really work until I had that kind of weight behind me.

The non eventful ride home, no sway, no white knuckle moments, no feeling like I couldn't stop really made me appreciate the research I did and settling on the diesel and Equalizer hitch set up.
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Old 04-20-2016, 03:48 PM   #2
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I bought my first Diesel in February. Had it a week and I left on a 2800 mile trek with the W&P. Made me wonder why I waited so long to buy one!

Enjoy!
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Old 04-20-2016, 04:51 PM   #3
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I like mine as well , but can be a pain when they decide not to run right. Had a duramax last year on vacation,. Acted like it would starve for fuel. Would run for awhile then go to reduce power mode. Have to stop , shut off , wait 5 min then go again . 9 hour trip took 15 wondering all the way if it would make it. Got us home . Changed 4 fuel filters on that trip. Never did find out what the problem was. Traded it . Makes me gun shy what the new one will do this year .
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Old 04-20-2016, 04:51 PM   #4
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Yep, I'm in the "I don't know why I waited so long" club, too...
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Old 04-20-2016, 05:20 PM   #5
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I am now on my second I had a 6.4 Powerstroke for 6 years and now have a 6.7 Powerstroke. The 6.7 tows my 14K fifth wheel even better than my 6.4 which was incredible.
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Old 04-20-2016, 05:37 PM   #6
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Yep, I'm in the "I don't know why I waited so long" club, too...
Ditto. Granted I bought it 3 years ago but still!
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Old 04-20-2016, 05:57 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Big Red and 30WR View Post
I like mine as well , but can be a pain when they decide not to run right. Had a duramax last year on vacation,. Acted like it would starve for fuel. Would run for awhile then go to reduce power mode. Have to stop , shut off , wait 5 min then go again . 9 hour trip took 15 wondering all the way if it would make it. Got us home . Changed 4 fuel filters on that trip. Never did find out what the problem was. Traded it . Makes me gun shy what the new one will do this year .
That's what the diesel mechanic is for. I've had 2 Duramax and about to get my third and never had an issue. Sorry to hear about yours.

I've used diesels for years and will not tow with anything else.
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Old 04-21-2016, 05:05 AM   #8
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Yeah... 8700 lbs is a cake walk for modern diesels. My 14k 5er barely makes my cummins work on flat ground... looking forward to playing with it in the mountains with the exhaust brake!
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Old 04-21-2016, 05:37 AM   #9
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Add me to the "why did I wait so long list as well..."
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Old 04-21-2016, 11:39 AM   #10
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My 2001 F250 7.3 did a great job for 12 years including the first trip of this year. Found a deal on an F350 6.7 and moved up I hope to a newer (2015) crew cab. Hoping our first trip with the new truck will be in the next week or so.
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Old 04-21-2016, 11:40 AM   #11
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Had two Rams with Cummins diesels. Never again.
Had to wait in lines with the big boys for fuel - had many difficulties finding the diesel pump when pulling into gas stations- they are much noisier than gassers- newer ones need DEF additives- maintenance is much more expensive than a gasser.
Now have a 2015 Ram with the V8 Hemi and 8 speed automatic. Just got back from a 4000+ mile winter trip and it pulled the 2016 3029W Windjammer like a dream. 62 MPH at 1700 RPM. On the flats it was running in the ECO mode.

Happy trails,
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Old 04-21-2016, 11:42 AM   #12
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The exhaust brake you are talking about is really the Allison transmission doing it's work... they are amazing transmissions.
The Duramax part of it will show it's ugly face soon enough...
Turbo's going out....
Head gaskets blowing....
Injectors failing....
Fuel pumps going bad...
Glow plugs shot...
Routine service at $200...
I run a business and we have had 6 Chevy Duramax's... Every one of them is junk. We've sold most of them and with them goes the headache. When they work, they are great machines, but the "cost of admission is not worth the show"....
I hope your experience is better than mine...

Enjoy!
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Old 04-21-2016, 11:43 AM   #13
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Had the Cummins, went to a Ford V10.... Went back to the cummins.

No more gassers for this guy!


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Old 04-21-2016, 11:46 AM   #14
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My 2001 F250 7.3 did a great job for 12 years including the first trip of this year. Found a deal on an F350 6.7 and moved up I hope to a newer (2015) crew cab. Hoping our first trip with the new truck will be in the next week or so.
You will be amazed with the newer truck. The ole 7.3 was great but the newer diesels are just mind blowing!
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Old 04-21-2016, 11:59 AM   #15
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The exhaust brake you are talking about is really the Allison transmission doing it's work...
That's not correct. Exhaust brakes on newer diesel HD trucks use turbo backpressure by adjustable veins within the turbo. Certainly the transmission does some work by downshifting to increase RPMs, as the greatest backpressure is going to come at those higher RPMs, but that is only the case when tow/haul mode is enabled.
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Old 04-21-2016, 12:00 PM   #16
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Yep, we picked up a 2015 F-350 CC DRW 6.7L last week. Heading out with it tomorrow for the first time. Our TH weighs in about 8k without bikes and we're looking forward to it.
I knew why I waited, couldn't swing the payment until now, but just had to be patient.
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Old 04-21-2016, 12:04 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by lunar50 View Post
My 2001 F250 7.3 did a great job for 12 years including the first trip of this year. Found a deal on an F350 6.7 and moved up I hope to a newer (2015) crew cab. Hoping our first trip with the new truck will be in the next week or so.
You'll love that motor. I had a 2008 6.0 and a 2010 6.4. My current truck is a 2012 F-350 6.7. Ford said it would get 17% better fuel mileage than the 6.4 and by my calculations, it was exactly that.

My cousin builds Ford transmissions and this transmission is one of the best things I find about the newer trucks. They have a new 9 speed (or is it a 10, I can't recall) coming out. I drove a rented 9 speed Dodge van taking wrestlers to the state tournament two years ago and hated it. Too much hunting, so I would expect the same thing from the Ford truck, although you can still lock it out for towing/hauling.
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Old 04-21-2016, 01:05 PM   #18
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Had two Rams with Cummins diesels. Never again.
Had to wait in lines with the big boys for fuel - had many difficulties finding the diesel pump when pulling into gas stations- they are much noisier than gassers- newer ones need DEF additives- maintenance is much more expensive than a gasser.
Now have a 2015 Ram with the V8 Hemi and 8 speed automatic. Just got back from a 4000+ mile winter trip and it pulled the 2016 3029W Windjammer like a dream. 62 MPH at 1700 RPM. On the flats it was running in the ECO mode.

Happy trails,
Thanks for your complaints. Hope the OP blows it off with an "Oh well"
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Old 04-21-2016, 01:26 PM   #19
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Had two Rams with Cummins diesels. Never again.
Had to wait in lines with the big boys for fuel - had many difficulties finding the diesel pump when pulling into gas stations- they are much noisier than gassers- newer ones need DEF additives- maintenance is much more expensive than a gasser.
Now have a 2015 Ram with the V8 Hemi and 8 speed automatic. Just got back from a 4000+ mile winter trip and it pulled the 2016 3029W Windjammer like a dream. 62 MPH at 1700 RPM. On the flats it was running in the ECO mode.

Happy trails,
The fact you state they are noisier than gassers makes me question when you last owned a diesel?? My neighbor rode in my truck for the first time this weekend, he has a brand new RAM gasser and he commented about how "quiet the new diesels" are. I've owned the truck for 6 months and just had to add DEF for the first time. Never have a problem finding diesel pumps in my area, and the fact I usually fill up on the reservation it's actually costing me less than my Silverado 1500 gas did.

To each their own.....
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Old 04-21-2016, 01:32 PM   #20
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The fact you state they are noisier than gassers makes me question when you last owned a diesel?? My neighbor rode in my truck for the first time this weekend, he has a brand new RAM gasser and he commented about how "quiet the new diesels" are. I've owned the truck for 6 months and just had to add DEF for the first time. Never have a problem finding diesel pumps in my area, and the fact I usually fill up on the reservation it's actually costing me less than my Silverado 1500 gas did.

To each their own.....
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