Hey guys, I am looking to get back into a diesel. I need a quad cab long bed. And Will use it as a work/family ride. Tow occasionally and load it often. I'm not really loving the new body style or the new MPG #'s i am seeing. But from what i head as a daily driver the Dmax is the best. I am looking for long term, good milage and durable.

So convince me, I am starting the comparisons over the big three. So let me get some real owners opinions. I don't have super brand loyal but have owned a dodge and ford 3/4 and 1 ton.

So help me out, will ya?

 

well for what its worth, i have a 07, new style chevy 2500 gasser. it has a nice ride, don't tow well (prolly the 6.0 pushing it). its very comfotable to be in, spend a lot of hours a week in it. not crazy about the trans ( but yours would have an allison) it has been in the shop 4 times now cause the rear seal keeps going out, its around 40,000 now. most importanly the body DOES NOT seem to be holding up real well. i have a nice big topper on it, and the bed rails started to spred pretty bad, so i made bracing for the box, right to the frame. and forget trying to keep those big snowplow bumpers from cracking up. it does not take much for someone to bump and crack them. they are only shiny plastic. over all it is a nice truck (specially since i didn't pay for it), but milage sucks, and i am not sure it will go the 350,000 miles like the old ones did. but thats just what i think, give me a couple more years in it and i will find out. another guy i work with has a 3500 dmax, with an 11 foot utility bed. he says its really nice and hasn't really been giving him any problems, but hes around 10,000 miles yet. his pulls well, and is sufficiant for what our company does.

 

Just like any one whichever brand you favor will probablly be your favorite, unless you get a lemon, and Ford, Dodge, and GM all make lemons. I have 52K on mine and have only had in the shop for a broken taillight. Pulls good has plenty of power, and get pretty decent millage, the worst I can get without a trailer in mid 14 no matter how much I play. I get about 20-21 unloaded on the highway. It is a nice truck and have no regrets buying other than not getting the crew cab.

 

My '03 has been nothing but trouble free. I'm at over 130,000 miles now and only injectors and water pump have been replaced. No other real problems of any kind. I got a good truck. I like mine way better than the new ones. The new ones are butt ugly inside and out and have all the new emissions crap on and the fuel economy isn't quite as good. I couldn't be happier with my truck in terms of reliability. Only issues I have are constant freezing fuel and gel issues in the winter.

 

I'll thro in my 2cents. For a daily driver work/family I would say you will prolly be very happy with a d-max. But there is always a lemon lurkin out there. As for the bumpers in the above post I agree there are crap on the chevy, get a GMC problem solved if your gonna get a bit rough.( different front end). The 6.6 has been around since 2001 so that is another bonus, same eng with a few mnior adjustments. For fuel milage I would think it is close to the top in that department from what i have seen so far. I have an 08 and i would assume the 09's have even more minor improvments. As for fuel gel never had a issue with conditioner...

 

Personally, I think you would be happy with all three. The Duramax is a great engine, the Allison is a great transmission (in you keep the truck stock) and the Chevy rides very nice.

That being said, a Ford or Dodge will do the same thing, so it really is personal preference.

If it is purely a family truck/daily driver, you may want to look at a Mega Cab Dodge. Is has the most room in the cab for kids and adults, but it only has a 6ft bed.

For mpg, you won't beat an inline 6 Cummins, but the V8 Duramax shouldn't be terrible.

What year trucks are you looking at? New ones with the DPF or older ones without the emissions equipment?

 

From what I have hear the Dmax get the best mileage out of the new trucks stock. I would drive all 3 and pick the one you like the best. Dodge has the smallest cab if thats problem since IIRC you can't get the 8' bed with the Mega. I don't know that I would be willing to give the Ford 6.4 a try since the 6.0 was so bad.

 

I have owned all of the big the three at one time or another and I think chevy by far is the best. The only thing that dodge has been better on is fuel mpg. Power wise they all have plenty but the chevy and dodge are a little better. Ride and interior comfort by far go to chevy. You will be happy with one.