I have been casually in the market for a truck to handle towing our pulling tractors.

Back when dad still had his business, we had a fleet of 3/4 and 1-ton units. However, when he sold his business about 8 years ago, he let all of them go. Now, 1/2-ton silverados are what we drive.



So, we decided to look for a older towing rig.
Right off the bat, we were NOT going to drop $45K+ on a new diesel.



Which left a few options that I was comfortable with.

Older 7.3 Powerstroke Ford

Dodge with 12 or 24v Cummins.



Problems. One, the Dodge is a dodge. Bleh.

Fords havent had the 7.3 in a while.

The oil field business around here has every desk jocky wanting a diesel, even if he never hauls, or tows with it. The ones that are left fall into 2 catagories.

A Bazillion miles, totally ran to hell.
Good shape trucks that command insane prices for 12+yr old units.



So, **** an old diesel.

I moved on to finding a 6.0 GM setup.

Which led me to thinking: Why not just trade my current truck in on a new GM gasser, and use it for my DD and tow rig?









Before you damn the gasser, hear me out and how I came to this conclusion.



Right off the bat, initial cost. The Duramax option with the allison is pushing $10k over the gasser.



GM 6.0 is as solid as they come. 300,000 mile engine easy.



MX costs. Twice the oil to change. DEF, fuel/water filters.



Ill be towing 10k or less. Usually closer to 7,500lbs





And finally, I live 7 miles from work, and my truck only racks up about 5,000 miles a year. If that.

This goes back to the increased fuel consumption of the gasser over the diesel. By saving 10k on the diesel, I could buy a LOT of gasoline. Also, MPG is not really a concern due to the low mileage I run in a year.
As to MPG when towing, we never go more than about 100miles for our pulls. So, even when it only gets 7mpg on tow trips, cost will be minimal in the grand scheme.



I know the 6.0 is not nearly the powerhouse that the Duramax is, but I just am not pulling that heavy of loads often enough to need it.







Just for kicks, I checked out the new HD trucks yesterday.



A quad cab, Z71, in LT trim with the gasser and a few nick-nack options stickers for about $39k.
Current offers rebates put it at about $34k



A Duramax in the same trim is right at $10k more. Also, its not so much the money. Its the above reasons. I flat out dont NEED it.









Thoughts?

The only technical question I have, is in regards to the 6-speed auto that GM is putting in the HD gassers. How is its rep?

 

The 6L90E is a fine transmission. How much weight are you pulling? Why do you shop for your diesels so close to home where everything you find sucks? Also, if you were glancing at the 2012 diesels and decided they cost too much, why didn't you list the 2006-2007 GMT800 Duramax trucks on your list of trucks you're comfortable with? They have the exact same basic powertrain as the 12 (6.6 Duramax/6-speed Allison) but without all the new emissions horseshit they came out with for 2011.

 

I just did a 6000 km round trip with my old 2000 Silvy 2500/6.0. First 3000 km was from home (South Alberta) to Ohio. Lots of 75 mph interstate. I got a solid 20 mpg (CDN gallon) with no load. On the way home I was pulling a 6500 lb travel trailer. Towed in OD much of the time with the 4L80E when the road was flat. 65 mpg or so average. Averaged about 11.3 mpg on the way home with the trailer.

I concluded the same thing as you when I got my truck 3 years ago. I love the 6.0. With headers/exhaust and a self-tune, it's an awesome medium duty tow rig. I love the sound and low maintenance. The powertrain has been absolutely bulletproof. MPG is decent IMO.

Over 8000 lbs towing or so, I'd maybe think differently.

Actually when I bought my truck I calculated how long it would take me to recover the premium on a diesel in fuel savings. It was like 6 years. And that didn't factor in the $$$ maintenance on a diesel. Just fuel savings, so maybe it would be closer to 7-8 years at my mileage.
And diesels don't like 5800 rpm shift points...

 

Heres my 2 cents since i have both trucks.

A Duramax is the ONLY way to tow. You never have to worry if your load is too heavy or if you have power to get up a hill or pass traffic.


A 6.0 will def pull a load also, not as good and def. not with the confidence or power/ mpg that the Dmax has, but will get the job done.

So its up to you and your wallet.

Its hard to find a better All - around running / performing / MPG of the Duramax. To get 17 MPG around town in a 7000# 3/4ton truck and 15+ towing /22 Hiway is hard to beat.

I believe the maintainence costs people bring up are a cop out and excuse to not get a Diesel. Its really not that bad , Its probably close to a gasser for me as i change oil very often/filters in all my vehicles, im **** haha.

Either way a good GM 3/4 truck will do the job, its up to your budget man.

 

96 or 97 12v 2wd. Pick them up around here with under 150,000 miles for 5-6k. Doesnt get much better than that for a tow tig. Decent mpgs. Way better than a 6.0 with or without trailer. Good price and will absolutley do your towing jobs just fine. Im not knocking duramax or powerstroke. But thats the way id go to get a tow vehicle.

 

A pre common rail cummins 12 or 24v will at the very least meet those mpgs. And they have enough *** to tow the same trailers as a dmax. Cant go get a 2wd dmax without a few hundred thousand miles on it for those prices either. And u cant find an easier motor to work on in the diesel world than a 12v.

 

By all means get what you want, yes the 12v cummins is a great engine also,def a good choice, but you said" a dodge is a dodge" haha, i agree.

I was trying to give you a fair comparison for the 6.0vs. Dmax

My bro has an 04 2500hd CCSB 4x4 6.0, pulls a 28' enclosed trailer , it gets the job done, but 8-10 MPG and no passing power, but def. gets the job done.

And both drivetrains are damn reliable too.

 

6.0 is a great engine and the 480e is a great tranny just be ready to fill it up all the time
the money you'll save on matainance youll spend in fuel as compared to a duri, not that duris break alot but cost alot if and when they break

7.3s are great not many problems but not crazy power
12vs great not crazy power and you cant kill em tons of aftermarket
24s great but the pumps are not the most reliable

what ever you do DO NOT buy a 6.0 ford diesel!

a diesel towing gets better milage than a gasser but not a crazy amount more but the fuel cost slightly more unloaded they get way better milage

a 12v gets the best milage

my duri gets 17/19 city 19/21 highway
my buddys 12v gets like 20-25 all the time

 

If it were me and strictly for work I would find a 91.5-97 cummnins and role with it. Wouldn't worry about the miles or the condition.

 

a dodge is a dodge but a cummins is not a dodge so take it out and stick it in something that's actually hold up. that's what I'm going to do if i ever get the time to do so.
as for the 6.0 it's fine i tow 10k with mine and don't think to much about it. after all why do you really need to be passing cars and doing 75mph plus? it's not as safe and there's a lot of big rigs out there that are going up the hill slower then you so do't worry about it.