2003 Dura-max
 

ANYONE HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THE NEW 2003 DURA-MAX
DUALLY FOR TOWING ?
THANKS

I don't think you will be disappointed,
my 02 4 door short bed has 35000 on it
and has never been in for warranty. Also
this summer i pulled a 35 ft. fifth wheel that
weights 16000 # all over Colorado with no
problems.
Good luck

Dura-max
 

They are awsome I took my 4 door to vegas to pick-up my 36 Apache. It was brand new before the trip at over 80mph I was getting over 15 mpg. I could still go 55 throught the rockys with the boat behind me. I got 12+ mpg in the flat areas,thats better than my 6.0 2000 GMC gets empty. By far the best truck I have ever had .

We have a 2001 with 71k, awesome truck no problems, pulls 10-12 every day and just bought a 2002 crew cab 2500 with the same diesel/allison package. The 2002 must have some improvements in ride quality, its much smoother . We also have a Cummins and Powerstroke, both good but they are not as powerfull, but that will change in late of 2003, and I will as well as my guys look at those as well. Right now, GM has there stuff together, the quietest as well as the most power of the three. Im sure the 2003 are even nicer.:D 0% also helps

My '03 GMC Duramax is back-ordered until Nov due to delays in the engine dept. But have used an '01 to pull race boats to Fl from CA a couple of times. Leaving Monday AM for Sarasota for the poker run and expect no problems. You've gotta love that Allison...

chevy
 

bobby i just bought one friday. they had to find one on the locator it came from kentucky. it is a 2003 LT 4 dr 4x4 with the black leather int.i shopped all around on price. paid $ 860. above dealer invoice. got a $2000. rebate and 4.9 apr thru indirect lending with a high becon score. i looked at the same truck in a ford like every thing about the truck but the interior,even with the leather and bucket seats it still looked cheap ,like a work truck?the dash.,guess just me?.the ford was about 3800 cheaper on a 2002 . havent pulled any thing, but am sure its going to better than my 1996 6.5 was. i figure the hustler is about 10500 to 11500lbs but the car trailer is 14500.lbs. it sure rides better than i expected,the 3.73 gear going to be nice .the duro max takes a little longer to spool up than the ford, different power band, the ford was a at a lower rpm. i think the duro max with the higher peak will tow better at speed aroung 70-75 mph, not lose speed on hills as bad ,just my opinion.

THANKS FOR THE HELPFUL INPUT !!!
I HAVE A 8.1 SUBURBAN NOW 2500 AND HAD A 98 3500 DUALLY 7.4 GAS THE DUALLY WAS STABLE BUT HAD DRUM BRAKES ON REARAND DID NOT STOP WELL THE POOR 8.1 STOPPS O.K. BUT WITH A HEAVY BOAT IS NOT STABLE AND SUCKS GAS ,SO CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THE NEW TRUCK ,:D :D
SHOULD HAVE IT THIS WEEK AND ROB YOUR RIGHT THEY HAVE A KILLER REBATE DEAL OUT NOW ,
ITS A CREW-CAB LEATHER ECT. WITH SOME SOUTHERN COACH
WORKS OPTIONS ASWELL

THANKS AGAIN :D :D :D :D :D

you guys may not like to here this but I made chevy take mine back. I pulled my 45' triple engine Sonic around the country with an F-350, chip exhaust etc. The boat was 18lbs with the Myco trailer and it did a great job. We tried the new Duramax and it was terrible in comparision. I was a chevy fan but the facts are facts. If you go to the Poker Runs and boat races you will see mostly Ford powerstrokes.

I've been watching this motor since it came out. My main concern was the high pressure common rail system. Cummins is going the same way. Watch out for fuel in the oil.

The motor is incredible. Has the flatest power and torque curve on the market. Has a good name trans behind it and is an overall great package. But after more than a year in production why is it on "back order".

One of two reasons 1) they are in such demand they cannot keep up or 2) they are having problems and want to minimize the cost.

I think I heard that the Ford just upped everyone once again. They just dumped the 7.3L Powerstroke and are currently moving to a 6.2L with nearly 600 lbs. of torque.
Kinda like our boats I guess; it's never enough!:cool:

Yukon, or Saburban?
 

Does Chevy put the Dura Max in the Suburban 2500? Why dont they put it in the GMC Yukon XL????

I would rather have the Yukon or the Suburban. I don't really like the lines on the Excursion. I like the Yukon the best, but diesel is much better for towing.

Whats the deal?? Can you get a Yukon, or Suburban 2500 with a Duramax?

:D FORD is releasing a new 5 speed automatic designed just for the new 6.0 engine. :D I'm just waiting for it's release in January.

Now that would be a sweet ride, a Yukon XL Denali with a Dmax.
I don't think that would happen , it would price it's way right out of existence.
I'm sure it would be over 50k, not too many people are going to dish that out.

I would.....

Please please please please GM build a Suburban with a diesel. I couldn't live with myself driving an Excursion with a Powerstroke, but they are making it the only choice. Anyone heard any info on if they are ever going to build one? Supposedly the frame rails are 2 narrow to fit the diesel. Anyone else heard that?

Madmax,
Now that you brought that up I remember hearing something like that ,it was either frame rails , trans tunnel or fire wall.
whether it's true or not I don't know.

Correct me if i am wrong but i looked at a GMC with the duramax about 1 year ago and i think i remember it being about 4kand some change MSRP, yesterday i look and it is over 5K

Duramax diesel
 

Guys, Have you seen the power update through the several different performance websites? For about $800 , you can add approx> 90 hp and up to 250 lbs. of torque to the duramax. It has 4 different performance levels in the module. That would put the duramax at need 400 hp and about 750 lbs of torque. Sounds like a hoss. The web sites are under duramax performance in the search area.

We have the '01 D/A ext. cab dually. No warranty issues, tows like crazy. Towed the Formula from north of Toronto, Ontario Canada to West Palm Beach FL, straight through 75 mph, 12000# on $170 U.S. in fuel. I challenge anyone to beat that for fuel economy. The Mrs. towed through the Virginia Mountains with the cruise on through the night and never slowed down. Scared the hell out of me too when I woke up.

Hey Street, My buddy Karl has a 2002 that he just got that 4 stage chip for! HOLY COW what a difference!!! I thought the truck was fast stock! On the way to the factory last weekend he was towing his Powerquest 380 home. He said soeone tried (And i stress the word tried here :D ) to pass him up on the right in the mergeing lane. He saw them coming and gave it some gas off the line and broke the tires loose in posi! Let off and rolled a few feet and got back on it....same thing! Tried again to gain some ground and he's moving about 15-20mph........broke em loose again!!! And that was in stage two!!! Stage 4 is the balls to the walls performance and its like someone grabs you from the back seat and pull ya when he gets on the gas!! I am beyond impressed with this motor!!
Oh and today he's installing a gauge pillar with EGT and boost gauges.....and an exhaust brake from Banks.....he allready has a banks cat-back on it and he changed teh tries to 265's. Oh and he replaced the headlights with true HID systems! Very sweet! :D :D

another shot :D

Hey Wally , I sell all that stuff too. I have seen the banks brake crack the housing ! It is common !! I would use the BD brake . It's cheaper and dosen't crack !

I have done many of the 4 stage chevy chips too . Those things wake that that sleeping dog up don't they !!! :D My last 2 customers won't use anymore then stage 2 . When I took them out for a ride it scared them to death ! DO NOT TOW IN THE HIGHER LEVELS ! Enjoy !:cool:

Gottahaveit is right on. The 2500, AV 1500, AV 2500, and all 'burbs; share the same chassis. This is the chassis without the room for the Allison or the ZF 6spd. These two trannys are mandatory for the torque of the Duramax.

The 2500HD and 3500 have a little bit higher stance, body lift, frame difference, whatever, it allows for the big trannys.

boot, he was told not to tow in anythng higher then level 2 also.

The guy he bought it from around here has a crewcab dually 4x4 fully loaded and that beast pulls high 14's in the quarter totaly bone stock other then the chip!!! :eek: :D :D


I will pass the info along about the Banks Brake...thanks! :D

Oh and boot, what houseing are you talking about? The brake houseing itself? Or the exhaust part it attaches to? Just wondering...and whats the difference between the two that the BD doesnt crack? Thanks again

Wally, The add on peice is brakeing . they made it longer then others "claiming" more power ........ I don't see how . And you sure can't tell ! The BD brake is a very short peice that adds on and I have had no problems with them . Also it pisses me off that Banks makes you BUY the instalation hardware seperate !!!:mad: It's only $15 but thats just stupid . SOME companies like to sell you things you realy don't need and tell you you do . I won't name any names !:rolleyes: Most companies have at least ONE good product and LOTS of other crap to fill their catalog ! Thats why I sell them all .So I can pick and choose the better parts for my customers . Hope this helps . Let me know if I can do more . JOE

Remember , OSO deals !:D Prices always changing too ! They get better and better with time ....