Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback - Page 2

Chumly · 12-19-2008, 12:08 PM

I have a '06 Chevy 3500 dually with the Duramax/Allison combination. I have used it for the last year and a half delivering RV's from the factory to dealers throughout the USA and Canada. I have put on 230,000+ miles and have had no problems at all. I bought an Edge controller and use the towing mode when I'm towing and the economy mode when not towing. Watching my driving habits has let me get this thing to get 14+ mpg towing a large fifth wheel camper and to get 22+ mpg running down the highway at 70 mph with no trailer. I switched the trans and differential to synthetic oil and with the braking feature of the Allison, the truck still has the original brakes on it. I looked at them when I changed from the aluminum wheels to the steel ones for the winter and the pads all look like new. The engine is quiet and starts in the cold very well.Last winter I ran to Grand Prairie, Alberta (about 250 miles northwest of Edmonton) and back on a pretty regular basis. The fuel mileage dropped off a lot but the truck never gave me a minutes trouble even at -50 degrees. A lot of the other guys I worked with had Dodges and they do a good job, the Cummins is a heck of a motor and the trucks are a lot better than they were a few years ago. I could outrun most of them and got better mileage than they did. My truck has the factory air cleaner and exhaust and all I do is boost it a little bit when I'm towing. The Duramax/Allison Chevy is my truck of choice, hands down.

Chuck Beach · 12-19-2008, 12:27 PM

what's a duramax or maxi or whatever

Roger K Fain · 12-19-2008, 01:45 PM

I have an '03 Duramax Dually w/ 73K, and it runs and pulls hard w/ the best of 'em, and gets about 12.8 mpg towing, and 20 non-tow. However, it has a feature that switches the charge from the alternator between the two batteries, that causes one battery to overcharge and "puke' acid. I have had the batteries replaced three times under the NAPA battery warranty. I have had the system checked and can find no malfunction in the switching program. Anyone out there ever had a similar problem?

greg fulk · 12-19-2008, 02:06 PM

I have an 03 Dodge with a Cummins & a 6-speed I drove it to work all week last week it took 19.4 gals to fill & had 399.7 miles on the odometer...The thing will/can pull my 24' box with a 3500# Cutlass in it 85Mph! The only thing I've had to fix was a U-joint...but I guess 600 foot Lbs of torque will do that!

Rob Petrie E395 · 12-19-2008, 02:22 PM

There seems to be alot of guys on here with dodges. Have any of you guys had high gear go out of your truck (manual trans here) We saw several including one we had that would be towing down the interstate and all the sudden it was like it jumped out of gear and goto the rev limiter. When you tried to put it back in gear it was gone although if you jumped down a gear you could still get home or to shop to get fixed. Most were covered under warranty still so we never fixed one at my place but I am wondering if the later models are fixed with a update from the factory or is this still happening? Sorry to sidetrack but I thought it might be seen by more guys here rather than start a new thread. We were seeing this regularlly in the 98,99 model years maybe others cant remember back that far.
Rob

Ron Brown · 12-19-2008, 02:29 PM

I had a 2006 Duramax Dually and it did great, no problems. I would say that you might avoid the new body style GMs because of some of the changes made in those two years have seen alot of issues. If you go GM i would say 2006 or older. However alot of Dodges seem to have manual trans. in them. The allison trans is a awsome trans and I would suggest you go with that trans no matter what you buy.

Stock 608 · 12-19-2008, 04:48 PM

I have a 2006 Duramax duallie with allision trans. I've had it since new and is a great truck. I tow a 43 ft gooseneck and it gets around 11mpg. Has great power towing hills.I went to indy in '08 with an open tralier and it got about 14 mpg, from seattle to indy. We added a 100 fuel tank, and we can make it from seattle to pomona on 1 tank. I would recomend a auxiliary fuel tank, especially if your are towing a bigger tralier. Its nice to be able to go a long ways and not stop.

John Lang · 12-19-2008, 05:10 PM

Rob Petrie, I Have a 96 Dodge Cummins Duallie with a 5 speed, and 312,000 mi and in the first 100K I lost 5th gear just the way you did! What happens is there is a waverly?, washer held with a locking nut! when that washer destroys its self, the gear will ride fore and aft and bang on the lock nut, and then there will be times when the gear will only be engaged with half it's gear depth and fail! I had this happen 5 times, and the fifth time they (Chrysler) replaced the entire trans, drive shaft, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and all labor under warrenty at 98.000 mi. They Bitched, but my dealer got it taken care of! Its still in there and working great! The pump has been screwed with, on there nickel, and empty it gets 24 MPG w/3.55 Gear. Pulling a 28 Pace Big Foot loaded at 65MPH 13-14MPG. Cant get rid of it yet ,the rings are just seating. ........... Later, Merry Christmas To all, John & Ginny Lang

Rob Petrie E395 · 12-19-2008, 05:44 PM

John
Thanks for the reply. Have you heard how long this went on before they fixed the problem. I know the 99 and I think some into 00 did it but not sure if it went on after that but curious to know. The newer trucks have 6 speeds not sure how many model years had that 5 speed.

Gordie Kissner · 12-19-2008, 09:54 PM

I've towed a bunch of miles with both and would take the Cummins over the Duramax everytime especially for durability..As far as automatics go the allison is as good as it gets(though not indestructable),Dodge's automatic is definately better than it used to be with the exhaust brake etc..and the 6-spd manuals are both comparable. The other differences between the two would be a toss up IMO.

12-19-2008, 12:08 PM	#11
Chumly Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Snover, MI Posts: 32 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I have a '06 Chevy 3500 dually with the Duramax/Allison combination. I have used it for the last year and a half delivering RV's from the factory to dealers throughout the USA and Canada. I have put on 230,000+ miles and have had no problems at all. I bought an Edge controller and use the towing mode when I'm towing and the economy mode when not towing. Watching my driving habits has let me get this thing to get 14+ mpg towing a large fifth wheel camper and to get 22+ mpg running down the highway at 70 mph with no trailer. I switched the trans and differential to synthetic oil and with the braking feature of the Allison, the truck still has the original brakes on it. I looked at them when I changed from the aluminum wheels to the steel ones for the winter and the pads all look like new. The engine is quiet and starts in the cold very well.Last winter I ran to Grand Prairie, Alberta (about 250 miles northwest of Edmonton) and back on a pretty regular basis. The fuel mileage dropped off a lot but the truck never gave me a minutes trouble even at -50 degrees. A lot of the other guys I worked with had Dodges and they do a good job, the Cummins is a heck of a motor and the trucks are a lot better than they were a few years ago. I could outrun most of them and got better mileage than they did. My truck has the factory air cleaner and exhaust and all I do is boost it a little bit when I'm towing. The Duramax/Allison Chevy is my truck of choice, hands down. __________________ Mike Siegert Great Lakes Pro Tree Association Championship Pro Tree Drag Racing Series

12-19-2008, 12:27 PM	#12
Chuck Beach Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 664 Likes: 12 Liked 58 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback what's a duramax or maxi or whatever __________________ Chuck Beach 3340 STK

12-19-2008, 01:45 PM	#13
Roger K Fain Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clarksburg, WV Posts: 146 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I have an '03 Duramax Dually w/ 73K, and it runs and pulls hard w/ the best of 'em, and gets about 12.8 mpg towing, and 20 non-tow. However, it has a feature that switches the charge from the alternator between the two batteries, that causes one battery to overcharge and "puke' acid. I have had the batteries replaced three times under the NAPA battery warranty. I have had the system checked and can find no malfunction in the switching program. Anyone out there ever had a similar problem?

12-19-2008, 02:06 PM	#14
greg fulk VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: jackson Posts: 1,165 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I have an 03 Dodge with a Cummins & a 6-speed I drove it to work all week last week it took 19.4 gals to fill & had 399.7 miles on the odometer...The thing will/can pull my 24' box with a 3500# Cutlass in it 85Mph! The only thing I've had to fix was a U-joint...but I guess 600 foot Lbs of torque will do that! __________________ Greg Fulk 308 308X P/SA "ALL AMERICAN" Last edited by greg fulk; 12-20-2008 at 02:57 AM.

12-19-2008, 02:22 PM	#15
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback There seems to be alot of guys on here with dodges. Have any of you guys had high gear go out of your truck (manual trans here) We saw several including one we had that would be towing down the interstate and all the sudden it was like it jumped out of gear and goto the rev limiter. When you tried to put it back in gear it was gone although if you jumped down a gear you could still get home or to shop to get fixed. Most were covered under warranty still so we never fixed one at my place but I am wondering if the later models are fixed with a update from the factory or is this still happening? Sorry to sidetrack but I thought it might be seen by more guys here rather than start a new thread. We were seeing this regularlly in the 98,99 model years maybe others cant remember back that far. Rob

12-19-2008, 02:29 PM	#16
Ron Brown Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mt. Washington, Ky Posts: 86 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I had a 2006 Duramax Dually and it did great, no problems. I would say that you might avoid the new body style GMs because of some of the changes made in those two years have seen alot of issues. If you go GM i would say 2006 or older. However alot of Dodges seem to have manual trans. in them. The allison trans is a awsome trans and I would suggest you go with that trans no matter what you buy. __________________ Ron Brown be back soon

12-19-2008, 04:48 PM	#17
Stock 608 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: D6 Posts: 33 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I have a 2006 Duramax duallie with allision trans. I've had it since new and is a great truck. I tow a 43 ft gooseneck and it gets around 11mpg. Has great power towing hills.I went to indy in '08 with an open tralier and it got about 14 mpg, from seattle to indy. We added a 100 fuel tank, and we can make it from seattle to pomona on 1 tank. I would recomend a auxiliary fuel tank, especially if your are towing a bigger tralier. Its nice to be able to go a long ways and not stop.

12-19-2008, 05:10 PM	#18
John Lang Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sheboygan Wi Posts: 391 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback Rob Petrie, I Have a 96 Dodge Cummins Duallie with a 5 speed, and 312,000 mi and in the first 100K I lost 5th gear just the way you did! What happens is there is a waverly?, washer held with a locking nut! when that washer destroys its self, the gear will ride fore and aft and bang on the lock nut, and then there will be times when the gear will only be engaged with half it's gear depth and fail! I had this happen 5 times, and the fifth time they (Chrysler) replaced the entire trans, drive shaft, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and all labor under warrenty at 98.000 mi. They Bitched, but my dealer got it taken care of! Its still in there and working great! The pump has been screwed with, on there nickel, and empty it gets 24 MPG w/3.55 Gear. Pulling a 28 Pace Big Foot loaded at 65MPH 13-14MPG. Cant get rid of it yet ,the rings are just seating. ........... Later, Merry Christmas To all, John & Ginny Lang __________________ John Lang 365 STK, SS

12-19-2008, 05:44 PM	#19
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback John Thanks for the reply. Have you heard how long this went on before they fixed the problem. I know the 99 and I think some into 00 did it but not sure if it went on after that but curious to know. The newer trucks have 6 speeds not sure how many model years had that 5 speed.

12-19-2008, 09:54 PM	#20
Gordie Kissner Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Emmett, Idaho Posts: 221 Likes: 1,318 Liked 18 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I've towed a bunch of miles with both and would take the Cummins over the Duramax everytime especially for durability..As far as automatics go the allison is as good as it gets(though not indestructable),Dodge's automatic is definately better than it used to be with the exhaust brake etc..and the 6-spd manuals are both comparable. The other differences between the two would be a toss up IMO.