Looking to upgrade my TV

oxcamper · 08-19-2021, 05:58 PM

Hello everyone, I'm looking to upgrade my tow vehicle. I've been looking at a 2016 GMC 3500HD dually with a Duramax diesel and Allison trans.

I had a 2000 GMC dually gas and loved it, but it finally gave up the ghost, so I am familiar with the vehicle. What I don't know is about the engine. While I have all my farm implements diesel, I've not had a car or truck with a diesel engine.
I am familiar with the ins and outs of diesel costing more, fuel is more expensive, makes it up with longer mpg, and diesel engines generally last longer.

The specifics are:
2016 with 73K miles dually long bed.
it's very clean inside and out, and set up with goose neck (which I need for my stock trailer), and all wiring and brake controller.

they're asking $59k.

I don't know about maintenance costs for the engine, i.e. oil change, fuel filter change, DEF, etc.

For those of you with diesel tow vehicles, is this worth pursuing? Any helpful suggestions or comments are most welcome.
Thank you in advance.

RFSims · 08-19-2021, 06:22 PM

Buddy has a 2016 Duramax, I have a 2019. I am a DIY so I change my own oil and filters. Walmart has Mobil Delvac 1300 Super 15W-40 for $28 for 2.5 gallons (10 qts) and AC/Delco filter $9. oil change $37. His 2016 and my 2019 uses around a gallon of DEF per 1,000 miles or so (less when towing RV). Wal Mart Super Tech DEF 2.5 gallons $7. I change my oil at 5,000 miles so 5gallons of DEF and oil change costs me $51. Fuel filter good for 20,000 miles and I think he pays around $100 to have it changed, might be $150??? I think he gets his oil changed for $100 or so.
Can't help on the price. Used diesel trucks ain't cheap.

Wouldn't tow with anything else.
Gasoline is or washing grease off car parts
Alcohol is for drinking
diesel is for pulling

oxcamper · 08-19-2021, 06:35 PM

Thank you, good info. I know I have very little maintenance on my tractor engines other than oil changes.

PopFla · 08-19-2021, 06:38 PM

I've had two diesel Rams over the years. A friend who owns a dealership told me when I bought the first one "diesels are just getting broken in when they hit 100,000 miles". He was absolutely right. As long as you stay up to date on maintenance, you'll get many years out of a diesel.

AlaskaErik · 08-19-2021, 09:54 PM

Diesel fuel is more expensive? I passed a gas station yesterday and diesel was a full 50 cents cheaper than regular gas.

RobRockz · 08-20-2021, 12:06 PM

It is everywhere from Florida to Pennsylvania

jbflag21ds · 08-20-2021, 12:31 PM

I have a 2015 2500HD Duramax. Fuel filter is still at 30% after 25k. DEF is about a gallon per 1,000 miles even when towing my admittedly smallish trailer across the country. But DEF is cheap so I don't even count it. Oil life is good. Getting oil change, fluid top off, tire rotation, inspection done at the dealer's express lane is 100-ish bucks, totally worth it to me even though I am capable of doing it myself.

Fuel costs are offset with discounts like Good Sam getting $0.08 per gallon even using the truck lanes. TSD card is even better for big discounts a lot of places.

Insurance can be slightly higher. But if something breaks motor related, its often more expensive of a repair and often you need to find a place that has diesel techs.

Bad VGT parts stranding you in nowhere TX sucks but all mfg's have issues so its luck of the draw honestly. When mine broke, the dealer 45 min away that was the only place that would even consider taking it in, has 2 diesel techs only, the rest are not qualified to work on it, so it was a week to get diagnosed, parts in and the repair done.

CGK · 08-20-2021, 01:29 PM

You didn't say much about the truck itself (Denali, HD, accessories, etc.), but from what I've seen in our area the price appears to be somewhere in the standard to very good range. Everyone is getting top dollar for trucks these days, and there don't seem to be a lot of them on the market, so if you see one you like for the right price, you'll probably want to move on it quickly before they sell it to someone else. Our local GMC dealer sells the new trucks before they even make it to their lot! Good luck!

LittleBill · 08-20-2021, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbflag21ds

I have a 2015 2500HD Duramax. Fuel filter is still at 30% after 25k. DEF is about a gallon per 1,000 miles even when towing my admittedly smallish trailer across the country. But DEF is cheap so I don't even count it. Oil life is good. Getting oil change, fluid top off, tire rotation, inspection done at the dealer's express lane is 100-ish bucks, totally worth it to me even though I am capable of doing it myself.

Fuel costs are offset with discounts like Good Sam getting $0.08 per gallon even using the truck lanes. TSD card is even better for big discounts a lot of places.

Insurance can be slightly higher. But if something breaks motor related, its often more expensive of a repair and often you need to find a place that has diesel techs.

Bad VGT parts stranding you in nowhere TX sucks but all mfg's have issues so its luck of the draw honestly. When mine broke, the dealer 45 min away that was the only place that would even consider taking it in, has 2 diesel techs only, the rest are not qualified to work on it, so it was a week to get diagnosed, parts in and the repair done.

I also had a 2015 2500HD Duramax 4x4 SRW SB till I traded it in on a new 2021 3500HD Duramax 4x4 DRW LB. It had about 62,000 on it (just getting broke in

) when I traded it. It was a great truck and never had a problem with it. I towed my Jayco 6800 GVW TT with it and the worst MPG on the 2500HD was the best I got with the 2010 Avalanche that I had before the 2500HD. Wouldn't want to go back to a 1/2 ton pulling that same TT, which I still have for deer camp. Now talk about overkill when I go to pull the Jayco with the new 2021 3500HD DRW.

Be safe -

Ejs4029 · 08-20-2021, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobRockz

It is everywhere from Florida to Pennsylvania

It's the same price here or a few cents more in my next of the woods this is a pic I took yesterday at my local Sam's club in Mooresville, NC

BM Welder · 08-20-2021, 04:50 PM

I had a 2004 Duramax that had almost 300000 miles on it when I traded it for my 2014 Duramax when the time comes I'll get an other one. I have 187000 miles on my 2014.

RobRockz · 08-20-2021, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

It's the same price here or a few cents more in my next of the woods this is a pic I took yesterday at my local Sam's club in Mooresville, NC

They must have price gauged me since I had out of state plates lol. Cheapest I could find in NC was 3.04 but again, this was either off of 95 or in the tourist areas

oxcamper · 08-20-2021, 06:12 PM

Thank you all for your input, I pulled the trigger today and bought it.
Its a 2016 3500HD SLT (lots of bells and whistles, most of which I really don't need but will find "necessary" as time goes by).

Thanks again.
Boss Ox

High Country Duramax · 08-24-2021, 07:40 PM

I bought my 2015 duramax with around 72,000 miles on it and never thought twice about it. Pushing 140K miles now. Only repairs have been the DEF tank heater (was fixed under warranty) and XM/nav antennae (I did myself). I don't plan on getting rid of it anytime soon. Does great with my camper. I've added helper springs, timbrens and one size taller tire for the increased weight rating.

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