Loudmouth LS1

iTrader: (10)

Put this in here cuz I know you guys are always towing ur cars and can speak from experience. I'm gonna be in the market for a new work van here soon and I can get a killer deal through my company with ford or chevy. So which one is better, the duramax or the powerstroke?

Main thing i'm lookin for is longevity and gas mileage, power isn't as big of an issue, cuz i'm sure either one has plenty of power to tow the car wherever I wanna go! So let's hear some opinions here guys, what kind of mileage are the two gettin, and which one is stronger and will last longer? Thanks for any help in making my decision and if it makes a diff, will be either 05 or 06 model depending on when I go to buy it.

LASTLS1

iTrader: (7)

Old 7.3 powerstroke ROCKED! New 6.0L Sucks! It smells like ****, mileage is as bad as a gas engine. Bad turbo lag. Also the turbos are working overtime to pull a trailer! The ONLY thing better over the 7.3 is that it's quiet. I don't like the trans either.

gator's 99TA

iTrader: (2)

teh milage in the 6.0L powerstrokes are horrid. the new LLY duramax isnt that much better unfortunately but still better than teh cummins. if you are concerned with fuel milage stay away from teh fords. i love the way they look and are more truck feeling with teh solid front axle. interior is cheaper, fells liek a big *** ford ranger as compared to the GMCs IMO.

the performance of the two goes to the ford only b/c of the big gearing in the 5 speed auto of the ford. both 5 speeds are nearly identical. both will do the job flat out. ford does have a very high reving diesel though.

SPEEDYws6

iTrader: (9)

Duramax is still getting the bugs worked out of the fuel system. It's been changed a few times now. LB7 injectors are junk. LLY alot better but still issues. The new system came out this year and hasn't been out long enought to know how it will do. GM seems to be standing behing these engines pretty good, 200k mile warranty on injectors. Other than injectors it's a really good engine.

SPEEDYws6

iTrader: (9)

Yeah, GMC interior is SOOO much nicer. Even W/T trim can be a good looking interior. 06 Allison is now a 6speed with a **** load of good features for towing, can't remember them all right now. Lot's of other things have been upgraded for 06, but they have slipped my mind also.

Racer8102

iTrader: (12)

My first diesel was a 2001 cc/sb 4x4 ford, ok i guess, but I now have a 2004 Duramax cc/sb, I have upgraded exhaust to 5in run a 100hp programmer and an differnt intake setup and whould never think of anything else other than another duramax. I recently pulled the car to the track, just out of curiosity at the end of the day pulled it in the staging lanes, full of all the crap the family and I take to the track and I also run 325/60-18's (prolly 75-80 lbs tire/wheel) do a little burnout and it ran a 14.8, not really beating on it and ac going. Pulling a trailer I normally get 14-16mpg and empty 18-22 depending on my mood.

10.5 Dave

iTrader: (5)

I've owned all of the big three's diesels in the last 5 yrs and the Dodge Cummins I drive now is the strongest puller and gets the best mileage of them all in stock form.But since Dodge doesn't put a Cummins in their Freightliner van it's irrelevant.

If you getting a Chevy van with a Dmax it will have to be an 06 and they come with the 4L80E not the Allison.

The Ford is available with the 5sp auto tranny like the tucks.

I've owned Ford and Chevy vans and until Ford redesigns it's vans I won't buy another one.The Chevy has better brakes and a much nicer ride than the Fords.Another thing to consider is the Fords are much more likely to roll over in a crash due to their 4x4 look,narrow track and short wheelbase compared to the Chevy.
I've put almost 70,000 miles on my 03 3500 Chevy cargo van in 2 yrs and when the time comes to replace it I'll get the same ride but with Dmax power.With a 3.42-3.73 gear and a light foot 20-23 mpg should be doable.

Loudmouth LS1

iTrader: (10)

Sweet, that's what I was lookin to hear, looks like i'm goin with the duramax when the time comes, thanks guys!!!! Oh and I thought the vans did come with the allison, that's what I was told, hmmm? Doesn't really matter I guess though, cuz the 4l80 is indestructible anyways, so no biggie!

LASTLS1

iTrader: (7)

Problem is the Chevy is too small inside. Also my partner has a duramax along with another friend. They take turns driving each other back and forth to the service dapartment. Another thing!!! Has anyone noticed that deisel fuel is .50 higher than gas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so much cheaper to refine. It's only one step up from heating oil. So the benifit from saving money from the mileage we are suppose to be getting is off set by the price of diesel fuel! Has no one else noticed how bad we are getting ______! Andy

chpmnsws6

iTrader: (70)

get a dodge truck and just put a seeled camper on it

Loudmouth LS1

iTrader: (10)

No can do, company rules gotta have a van, plus I don't think that'd give me as much room as a van anyways.

TTPMatt

iTrader: (18)

2004.5 Dodge Ram 3500
- TST Products Powermax Computer Box
- TTP 4" Exhaust
- aFe Intake
- !cat
- 4.10 Gears



Daily driven. Gets 22mpg. 24' enclosed, loaded trailer gets 16mpg. It's fun blowing away LS1s rowing through gears with a 4 ton pickup

Nine Ball

iTrader: (38)

Nice results Matt! I also love my 2004.5 Dodge Cummins. I get 14-16 towing, and 18-22 mpg empty. Mileage steadily increased since I've owned it, it started out getting 15-16 when new, now it has approx 40K miles on it.

gator's 99TA

iTrader: (2)

how are you guys getting 22 mpg when other guys are getting 12 mpg (3500 duallys) in their dodges? the best we got driving empty ( i wasnt driving just sitting passenger) was 15 mpg on all highway. we hand calculated the milage over a 600 mile run.

TTPMatt

iTrader: (18)

Tony: Same deal here, I'm at 39k (Single rear wheel).. Mileage def. got better and I am very impressed with the mileage while "bombed." I lay into all the time to leave black soot hundreds of feet behind me. It's quite funny during the summer time with everyone's windows open, no more road rage middle fingers or cursing, now you get the soot

I actually dropped down to 3.73 gears now, the dyno runs were done with 4.10s. I improved about 2-3mpg on avg. The best thing about the 6-speed is around town mileage is only a few mpg off. Also remember I have a 106 mile commute round-trip to work everyday and most of the time it's sitting in traffic coming home.

10.5 Dave

iTrader: (5)

The best mileage I've ever gotten is 19.4 mpg in my 100% stock 2004.5 6SP DRW Quadcab 4x4 with 4.10's.I typically get 17-18 mpg on Summer fuel at 75 mph or less.In the Winter it drops 1-2 mpg.

I get 11-12.5 mpg pulling my 44 ft gooseneck trailer that weighs 9,000 lb empty as long as I run 70 mph or less.

These engine's sip fuel when babied but will really suck it down if you run them above 2300 rpm's.

I ran 85-90 mph for several hrs on a trip back from Florida last Spring and got 13 mpg.

Loudmouth LS1

iTrader: (10)

So basically, chip/exhaust/intake will make the already pretty decent mileage even better and add power, woohoo!!! I'm pretty light on the pedal while driving around in my work van, can get in trouble if some nosey ****** decides to tattle on me, so i'll probably get pretty good mileage most of the time!

1fastWS6

iTrader: (3)

How the HELL are you guys getting that gas mileage??? I'm getting 17-18 MAX typically and about 10mpg towing a 7000# 24' enclosed trailer....keeping my foot out of it too. Truck has 10k miles on it and a Predator programmer set on the 'best mileage' 60hp setting.

BTW, diesel here is $3.49/gallon and regular is $2.25.....I wish I'd bought the 6.0L gas engine. :o(

Titanium

iTrader: (6)

It really depends how fast you drive, I can do 80-85mph on the highway UNLOADED and get 14mpg or I could do 60-65mph and get 17-18 easy. I'm about to throw on my TST next week I can't wait

EDIT: if you plan to bomb your Duramax be sure to stay under 500 crank hp as the block cracks and the rods bend also.

chpmnsws6

iTrader: (70)

but they will still last longer then the junk 6.0
ford replaced the best thing they had...... the 7.3
i'd say get the duramax

cummins guys, you wouldn't happen to be on DTR would you? my dad is 99cummins and i'm 99purplecummins on there