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RE: Dmax maintenance interval question
I have been changing my oil in my 07 classic at the 5k mile mark. I always tow with it, and like most other guys here, just makes me feel better. Over $40k for a truck, a few bucks extra for oil over the life of the truck makes sense to me. If I followed the DIC, oil change intervals would be close to the 10k mile mark, if not more. I have read that the GM engineers design the duramax to fail at 200k miles, partly by not having the oil changes programmed into the DIC often enough. I seriously doubt that is true, but I have read it or heard it someplace. At 5k miles the oil is plenty dirty enough to warrant me changing it.
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glamisorbust
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05/17/12 08:33am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Duramax oil drain plug drama
X5 on the fumoto drain plug. I've had mine for a few years and wouldn't have it any other way!
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glamisorbust
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05/06/12 01:08pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Real Experience Please
Same here-you couldn't offer me enough to get my LBZ away from me. After looking for used LBZ trucks back in 2007, it was my decision to just buy a new one, right before they went to that new body style GMT. Best move I have ever made on a vehicle. Not one single problem to date, other than the ISS(intermediate steering shaft)replaced under warranty twice. If you don't know what that is, google it. Very minor problem. Fuel filters are a cinch to change yourself, it only takes about 5 minutes. The allison is the best ever. I love the interior on my truck, but then again I have the classic LT, without the center console. I didn't like the way the console rubbed my right knee. The power is MORE than enough in stock form, no reason to add a tuner and burn out the tranny prematurely. I added airbags on mine for towing my fiver, really helps a lot on bumpy, junk roads. If I could change one thing about my truck I would probably add an exhaust brake, but you really only need that in the steep grades, towing heavy. If you can find an '06 or '07 with an LBZ engine code, you've found gold. Jump on it and don't look back. The truck you are looking at looks great too, it's all personal preference. Hope this helps.
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glamisorbust
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05/04/12 09:41pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Chevy vs. Dodge
I have been EXTREMELY happy with my 2007 chevy 2500HD classic. I bought it brand new in july of '07 and hands down has been the best truck I have owned, period. The engine is quiet and powerful. The allison 6-speed cannot be beat. Silky smooth, grade braking, and it holds the gear you want, as long as you want downhill. I'm at roughly 90k miles and i've never had a problem. Just fill it with fuel and drive it. This isn't my cowboy cadillac either, I use my truck. I tow everything from a heavy 5th wheel toyhauler, to heavily loaded flatbeds, boats, jet skiis, this truck tows everything. I take it offroad quite a bit and haven't had one single problem. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another duramax.
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glamisorbust
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05/02/12 08:38am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Looking for a different towing vehicle...
Here's my opinion-Gas vs. diesel has been heavily debated here, and it really comes down to what makes the most sense to you. Gas is a little cheaper per gallon, but the diesel will out perform the gas unit on any large grade. On flat ground, they will both get the job done and both probably get less than 10mpg. My setup is a 2007 2500HD chevy, crew cab short box, D/A. I pull a 33' 5th wheel toyhauler fully loaded everywhere I go. My diesel pulls this trailer without breaking a sweat. On flat ground, no headwing, 55mph, I get around 10.25(the highest i've ever gotten with this trailer, hand calculated). If I get into some mountains, kiss the fuel mileage goodbye...My diesel will go from 10mpg to about 6 or 7 in a hurry. My brother has the big block 8.1/A and on flat ground he was getting about 5mpg, or in the hills less than that. He also paid half for his truck what I did, and he doesn't have to worry about injectors or a turbo going bad. If you are that worried about fuel mileage you should get a commuter car for all the running around town, and get a dedicated tow rig that will pull the load with ease. I would suggest a dually, this way no matter what trailer you get, you are pretty much covered.
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glamisorbust
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04/17/12 07:50am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2004 Dodge 3500 srw?
I would keep looking also...Same thing around here, every truck I see with stacks poking over the cab is also smoking like a freight train. This can only mean one thing...they put a tuner on it and now they are putting extra stress on the transmission that's already working too hard for the larger tires. No doubt, the truck has not been re-geared for the large tires, making the trans. work that much harder. RUN, don't walk...
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glamisorbust
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04/11/12 09:58am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Big week for the 06 6 Oh
Are you really apologizing for having a dirty truck? That's why we have trucks, to get them dirty, haul stuff around and to WORK. Wash the truck a few times a year to get the big chunks of mud off, otherwise that's what it's made for. I like the finned cover!
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glamisorbust
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04/08/12 11:35am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Should I invest in air bags for my rear suspension?
First thing's first. You probably have the bars cranked a little too tight if it's bucking that hard. Your shocks may be completely wasted too, only making the bucking that much worse. I would start with a set of rancho 9000 shocks all the way around and see how you like that. I personally installed air lift brand airbags and pump on my truck and wouldn't be without them. My 5th wheel is pretty heavy when fully loaded, and it would point the headlights to the sky on my 2500HD chevy. Airbags are so nice, because you can adjust how much air is in them. For me, it took A LOT of that nasty bucking/bouncing out of the rear end. I'm at almost 90k miles with stock garbage GM shocks, so i'm sure they are wasted at this point. The airbags are a great choice if you can afford them, they definitely don't hurt anything. I even use these when i'm not towing that heavy and they definitely smooth out the ride.
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glamisorbust
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04/01/12 09:43pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Which would you buy?
X2 on getting the '06 or '07. The 6 speed is a lot nicer with the tap-shift. The overheating problem on the LLY was probably about half of the trucks, this can be fixed by switching out the intake with an LBZ mouth piece(or so i've read). The LBZ engine is the sweetheart of the duramax family. It is the newest engine you can get, with the 6 speed trans. versus the 5 speed, and all the overheating issues have been fixed.
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glamisorbust
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04/01/12 12:11pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Which would you buy?
Duramax hands down.
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glamisorbust
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03/31/12 11:13pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New tires
I'm running BFG Rugged trail load range E. I love this tire. They are quiet, seem to last forever, and have great all around traction. They are similar to the BFG A/T but the shoulder is a little tighter, less aggressive. I have about 40k on these, and they still have quite a bit of life left.
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glamisorbust
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03/30/12 11:23pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Did I make a mistake???
Get rid of that truck ASAP. Nothing but problems. I have close to 90k miles on my '07 classic duramax and it's never, ever left me stranded. I have a buddy that owns two cummins powered dodges and loves them. I would go with the dodge or the duramax if you can find one like mine with the LBZ generation engine. The newest you can get without all the emissions BS. I almost forgot-My truck never goes anywhere empty. I'm always towing a 5th wheel, boat, flatbed, etc. and I usually drive it pretty hard. 9-15mpg towing, 18.5mpg empty on the freeway.
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glamisorbust
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03/29/12 09:55pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 3M glue removal on my truck
Laquer thinner. I had some of that 3M tape on my window wind deflectors, and it finally failed. Hit the truck with my powerwasher to get most of that junk off, but the glue part remained. Paper towels and some laquer thinner and it came right off.
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glamisorbust
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03/25/12 05:50pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Vintage Tow Vehicles...
My dad bought a '79 3+3 dually back in '79 brand new and ordered it just the way he wanted it. It had a 454 and turbo 400 trans. It was a 2wd, so living in the mountains was a bit of a chore. We pretty much chained it up and never got stuck that way. But without chains, you weren't going anywhere. That truck got HORRIBLE mileage, i'm talking 6 tops. But when gas was less than a buck a gallon, it didn't make that much difference to us. It had two 20 gallon tanks, man we never could pass by a gas station. The truck was built to haul and it did that well. You could basically fill the bed with whatever you want or pull whatever trailer you wanted, the truck would pull it with ease. I even remember having power to spare pulling a lot of heavy stuff. The crankshaft broke on it at around 100k miles. Just going down the freeway and POOF! Anyways, put a new engine in it and it ran until we gave it to a family member for their farm. I love the old school bench seats and the "camper special" option. This one had 4.11 gears too. I think it would be a great tow vehicle, and you'd catch a lot of looks in it too!
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glamisorbust
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03/18/12 10:49pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 08 ford 6.4 dang it, should I?
If it was a problem free truck, why not just buy the same truck again? Ford has a long history of junk diesel engines. If you are gonna try something different, try a cummins. At least that thing will keep on running basically no matter what. I agree, I think ford builds a hell of a truck, but the drivetrains have scared most of us away. I personally have the same truck you just wrecked, and I also have had zero problems. If I wanted to try something different i'd be lookin for a mega cab dually cummins 4x4, pre-6.7.
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glamisorbust
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03/16/12 11:40pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Short bed issues?
I have had both, and currently own a short bed. If I had it to do all over again I would definitely go with the long bed. The short bed is ok for most things, but more than half the time hauling something, the damn tailgate is down. Plywood, drywall, lumber, a couple dirt bikes, etc. I'd rather have the long bed. The only time my short bed has come in handy is going thru a drive thru.
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glamisorbust
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03/16/12 11:35pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Need new truck tires
I run BFG rugged trail T/A load range E. Tire size 265/70-17. I've had them on the truck for 35k miles and they look to be about a little more than halfway worn out. The sidewalls are starting to dry crack, probably from the hot AZ sun. I would buy these tires again in a second. They have been great in everything except for deep mud. The tread will get locked up with the mud and you'll get stuck quickly. Perfect tire for snow, rain and sand.
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glamisorbust
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03/03/12 08:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Firestone or Air Lifter air bags?
What!!!!? $800 for a two hour install job, now that's ridiculous. All it is, is bolting the airbag between the leaf spring and frame, maybe drilling a few holes and installing nuts and bolts. Then, install your air compressor and find a hot wire, run another wire & the air hose into the cab with the gauge. Then an air hose from the compressor to the bags. I think it took me a little over two hours with basic hand tools, taking my sweet time. If you have any skill whatsoever, you can definitely do it yourself.
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glamisorbust
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02/20/12 01:31pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Firestone or Air Lifter air bags?
I have had air lift bags on two different trucks. I have the wired remote w/ pump, works great for adjusting on the fly. Pick whatever is cheaper. I found my complete setup on craigslist from a guy who wrecked his truck and was parting it out. I think I paid $200 for them about 3 years ago.
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glamisorbust
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02/17/12 09:38pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: To trade or not to trade?
If you are interested, I have a very close friend of mine selling his 2003 chevy 2500HD with duramax LB7 and 5 speed allison, long bed 4x4 in black w/ black leather. Truck has 73,000 miles, never been in an accident and nearly in mint condition. He is anal about keeping his vehicles maintained, so I can guarantee you it's a good truck. If you are interested give me a call, truck is located in Big Bear, CA, just outside of los angeles. Send me a pm if you are interested. If that's not an option, there should be PLENTY of used GM pickups in your area, in your price range, just look on craigslist.
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glamisorbust
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02/16/12 04:47pm |
Tow Vehicles
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