Got bit by the Diesel Bug!

[E-Dogg]

Fellahs! I find myself looking at diesel joints from the big three. Looks like Ford and it's solid axle is doing it but I'm pretty sure I don't need one with a huge lift. I know, one man's version of a lift will differ but I'm not trying to go extreme, if you will. Mainly used for towing a 4200lb car and trailor but still look,.....for lack of a better word, tight. Maybe add some aftermarket upsized wheels and whatever it takes to accomodate them.

What's your take and experience? Money pit? Go gas instead of diesel?

Don't hold back - let me have it. Shocks, lift kit, suspension etc.... what am I lookin' at? Gears?

Thanks in advance,
E

[E-Dogg]

Guys, please, not all at once.

[foreman00081]

go diesel and never look back, oh, and go Chevy, forget about them other two. i looked at em all and the chevys won hands down as the best riding and smoothest driving. and if you want to run up to 37's you can usually do it with only a 6 inch lift, some cranking, and a little trimming. should only need gears over 37", some say over 35" but i think its personal preference cause a programmer like hypertech, edge, bully dog, banks...... can get back the power lost with big tires. oh, and yes they are money pits once you get into modding, but it sure is fun, especially when you can light em up and smoke pimped out hondas in a 7000 pound truck that has tires taller than their whole car!!

PS, check out www.dieselplace.com for more info than youll ever want to know about these trucks, especially chevys

[oneloudz71]

If I could have afforded a diesel I would have one!

[AzzKicker]

Originally Posted by oneloud99z71

If I could have afforded a diesel I would have one!

If you know how to negotiate with the dealer you can get a brand new Ext.Cab/Short bed Diesel with Allison tranny and 4x4 for around the same price as your 99Z71 was brand new. Z71's are expensive just because they have Z71 stickers. Go look at the current price for new Z71's with the 5.3. They will run you 33+. My Dmax 2500HD4x4 was 36-37k brand new. Thats not a big difference.

[DownandDirty]

Another vote for the Duramax. I drove all three before buying my '06. I'm running a 6" Pro Comp w/ 37's on 20's and I tow a 3000lbs car and 4000lbs truck on a regular basis with no issues. I also have the Bully Dog power pup w/ outlook, 4" down pipe with dual 3" exhaust, and the AFE stage 2 air intake.

[GaYJ]

don't own one YET but am going to and it will be a chevy, wouldn't even look at the ford. maybe the dodge but i still lean towards the chevy

[LostBoy]

Gentleman, I think there's 1 key factor we're overlooking, which is that he never specified what year he's been looking at.

[E-Dogg]

You guys are sofa king awesome! I greatly 'preciate it. Keep it coming.

I've been doing some reading and looks like the '06's and prior are the better bet. The newer ones (07's) are expensive(er) and may have a little more emissions crap involved. <---still need to do more research as to if indeed the 07's are as good, better or worse than the earlier motors.

Just came from Courtesy Chevrolet here in Phoenix and they don't have any '06 models and all 4 x 4's.

Question(s):

1) Advantage/disadvantage between 2 wheel and 4 x 4? My goal is mainly towing (not everyday) and a daily driver. Only time I'd go off road is if I have a flat or gotta pee. ;)

2) GMC vs. Chevy?

3) 2500 vs. 3500? non-dually.

4) weak links on these trucks? If any.


Give me the nitty gritty fellahs!

[LostBoy]

If you're looking new stay far away from the Ford 6.0L's unless you like paying for a truck to sit in the dealer's shop. Not much research you can do right now as far as real-world experience w/ the 07's - Those out now aren't the same as those that'll be out in January. If you don't like the unknown, stay 06 or earlier.

1) Personally I refuse to acknowledge 2WD because I'm a stubborn @$$ if for no other reason.

2) Hoods are a little different on '06, but I don't know how much farther the differences go...

3) Depends on how heavy you want to tow

4) If GM made them perfect, there'd be no aftermarket.

[red suburban]

stay away from the ford 6.0, its not anywhere near as good of a platform as their old 7.3.

for the weight your planning on towing, get a 2500 regular wheel (not dually)

since your gonna be on the street all the time, 2wd. less weight to have to carry, fewer potential drive train problems, less maintainance, better fuel economy.

personally i like the gmc's better, not just the front end looks but also the interior. the engine is also tuned slightly better for torque than the chevies.

your choice on the cab/bed arrangements, just depends on what you want/find.

[red suburban]

the 4x4 will give you a rougher ride on road than a 2wd, but still not bad at all. if your worried about losing traction and just feel like being overprepared, get a limited slip in the 2wd. if you want to hot rod the truck, limited slip again. will let you leave 2 black streaks instead of 1. for what you will be doing 4x4 would be a waste.

get a programmer from either edge, bully dog, or banks. also get some guages (can be mounted either on your a-pillar, top of your dash, below the dash, wherever you want) to moniter your boost, tranny temp (if automatic), and your egt's (exhaust gas temp).

the most powerfull year is 06, the 07's in january for certain will be choked up really badly because of emissions testing (y dont they just require a blend of biodiesel at the pumps the idiots) and will require more maintainance, will definatly have problems (new technology always does), cost more, and will be less powerful and less fuel efficient. so go 06 or older.

[foreman00081]

Woo Hoo, 100 posts!
i would try to stay with 03-06, 01's/02's had a few injector
problems, of course the injectors are warrantied to 200K on those years. id go 2500 SRW for what youre looking to tow, 3500 would be fine also just might ride a little rougher unloaded. i like the GMC styling better than chevy but other than styling theres no difference between the two. and like lostboy it makes me shudder to say it but i guess 2WD would be best for you being that its gonna be on the road and you dont have snow down there. and as far as weak links i dont know em all but some i can think of off the top of my head would be that some steering components like pitman/idler arms and tie rods tend to wear out kinda quick but there are several fixes for that like cognito braces. other than that i cant think of too much else. so good luck in your search and i hope to see some pics of your new toy soon!

[Big Angry]

Originally Posted by red suburban

personally i like the gmc's better, not just the front end looks but also the interior. the engine is also tuned slightly better for torque than the chevies.

What? You've got to be kidding me. Do you have any proof what so ever to back this up? If so, please share.

[STLCHEVYHD]

If you plan on tuning it up, you may want to consider 4wd. A boosted launch will yield you a lot of smoke and it won't be the exhaust. All the guys that drag race their D-Max's do so in 4wd. If you plan on lifting the truck, to me, it's an oxymoron to have a lifted 2wd. It's your truck though, do what you want. I'll tell you this, once you get a diesel and you feel the power, you'll never go back. When you put that first tune on it and you go out for that fist hot lap, you'll get scared! They just keep on pulling harder and harder until you let off. It's too much fun.

[dozerboy]

GMC are better they only build Chevy’s on Mondays and Fridays.

[Big Angry]

Originally Posted by dozerboy

GMC are better they only build Chevy’s on Mondays and Fridays.

Now that it's officially cleared up....

[TwoTone98Z71]

you gotta love people who say dumb **** like that...

Go with a Duramax and you will be in heaven IMFO

[dozerboy]

Glad I could help, you guys are just jealous.

[DownandDirty]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

You guys are sofa king awesome! I greatly 'preciate it. Keep it coming.

I've been doing some reading and looks like the '06's and prior are the better bet. The newer ones (07's) are expensive(er) and may have a little more emissions crap involved. <---still need to do more research as to if indeed the 07's are as good, better or worse than the earlier motors.

Just came from Courtesy Chevrolet here in Phoenix and they don't have any '06 models and all 4 x 4's.

Question(s):

1) Advantage/disadvantage between 2 wheel and 4 x 4? My goal is mainly towing (not everyday) and a daily driver. Only time I'd go off road is if I have a flat or gotta pee. ;)

2) GMC vs. Chevy?

3) 2500 vs. 3500? non-dually.

4) weak links on these trucks? If any.


Give me the nitty gritty fellahs!

1) You'll get better fuel economy w/ the 2wd but have a higher resale w/ the 4wd. I don't do alot of offroading w/ my truck (I have other vehicles for that)but it's nice to know it's there if you need it.

2) Your choice. I buy Chevy because it's what I've always owned.

3)Unless you're towing exceeds 10k lbs, I would go with the 2500.

4) They all weak links in some way or another. I agree with some of the other members in staying w/ the '03-'06 model years.

I have an '06 2500 HD 4x4 CCSB that I run the wheels off of it. I've already logged 26k miles and I love the truck.