I'm fairly new to diesels and I'm looking at purchasing one in the next few months. I plan on getting either a cummins or a duramax. My plans for the truck would be a DD/sled puller. With that said which one would better fit my plans? Thanks in advance for any advice.

-cope

 

personally , my favs are 12v cummins and 7.3 powerstroke..

however if ur pullin sht --- duramax has had a few that get some pretty good torque[age]

like the 2006 LBZ
or 2007 LMM which both make around a little over 600 ft-lbs i think

(plz correct me if im wrong guys)

 

get yourself a CR cummins or 12 valve cummins ull be more than satisfied

 

+1 for common rail cummins... but a 12v works too.

Duramax takes some work to be able to tow; their suspension and trans are junk. A cummins is MADE for pulling, which is why they OWN the title of pulling. A 7.3 is also a powerhouse though, and they can do very well also although it will cost more to make less power than a 12v can.

 

85_305, where did u get ur info that a duramax trans and suspension are junk? seriously dude.

now on the the question thats been asked, it has alot to do with how much ur wanting to spend. for the best bang for the buck DD/part time puller, you can not beat a 94-98 12v 5 speed. the problem with the duramax for a puller, is the IFS they have.

imo, best thing for you to do, is go out and drive several different year models of all the different brands, find out what u like the feel the best for a DD then gradualy build it into a DD/puler. thats the best advice any one on here or any where can realy give u

 

You answered your own question.

And those allisons really bite when you start putting power to them.

 

I know several d-max dd/pullers as far as the ifs being a problem they just had to upgrade their steering components. The problem with the tranny is also what saves them, the fact tha if they detect to much slipage the will defuel. If you are going to pull then you will probably upgrade tranny any way. The othe plus side with a d-max is the fact that with a single program you can get 500+ horse.

 

Yes this is true if the allison detects slippage it limp homes the truck.. but the slippage detections rate is rather low, if I recall correctly. Which means much more than stock power and it's slipping.

As far as a single program giving it over 500hp, a 6.0 is right up there with it, let alone a monster 6.4 psd, and the cummins do well also. How many owners have you heard of with over 200k on their dmax? Not a lot. Most of them brag about 150k miles as being a lot. I personally know handfulls of people with more than 300k on their bonestock cummins getting better mileage and performance than those with 1/3 the miles in their dmax

 

man i would just get what you like, as far as modding there will always be sumthing needed to be upgraded depending on how much power your wanting good luck with what ever you get bro!!!!

 

I know a lot of D-Max owners that have over 300k on them. A bone stock Cummins does no better in fuel then a D-max they both do in the high teen's low 20's in the early 2000's. I can agree the Cummins diesel is a very good engine but so is the D-Max.