Well some of you guys maybe happy to hear i might be crossing over to the dark side and going back to my old roots with another GM (i got alot of heat for defending toyota in the past lol) but this time it's the used market. My redneck nature (and my hunting sales business) want something bold to stand out and this time around speed isn't going to be the number one factor- well kinda! Anyway i'm down to 2 trucks, one a 2005 GMC K2500 Crew Cab 4X4 with a Duramax motor that has 99,000 miles on it and the other is a 2007 Classic Chevy Crew Cab K1500 4X4 with the 5.3L and 17,000 miles. Both are loaded up and each has a 4-6' lift and 33-35' tires and sweet *** rims, dual exhaust and the diesel has a CAI and banks 6 gun also. The miles on the duramax become a issue for me as i hope to use this truck for another 150,000 miles as i now do alot of running with my business and occasionally towing a 19' enclosed trailer. The K1500 on the other hand has no power with those 35X13.5R20 tires on it and i really worry about mpg's with it as most say expect 10-12mpg! I would think the duramax will get at least 4-5mpg better than that i didn't notice any loss in acceleration at all with the mods on the diesel. Price is $22,500 (K2500) vs. $27,500 (K1500) so even though the diesel is the better performer, the mileage is kinda holding me up. I'm going to try and contact the previous owner who is the original and only owner of it to see what has all been done to it to make up my mind. Any input on fuel mileage would be great if you have something similar to these!

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Personally,I would go with the diesel.I'm a truck driver so maybe I am biased against the gasoline engine.You need to haul a 14 footer? The gas powered truck has no *****? Yeah take the diesel.It may have 99k on it but if you treat her right,she'll out last that gas engine,tow circles around it and sound a lot tougher while doing it.Just my 2 cents =]

 

I agree the Duramax is one hellava engine and the best way to handle a lift with huge tires and still tow a trailer and get decent mpg's! Anyway the old train of thought of 100,000 miles= problems won't apply to the Duramax/Allison powertrain, but the rest of the truck is what i worry about.

 

take the duramax......at 99000 miles its not even broke in yet....you will be much happier with the pulling ability of the diesel

 

I agree with 1fast4x4 If you do the PM like you should and treat it right the duramax will outlive the rest of the truck.Just make sure the suspension,brakes and steering are up to par for the towing.I don't know much about these little trucks with diesels and what their fuel consumption is but,I know a '05 International 9400i with a 435hp Cummins and an Eaton Fuller 10 speed transmission with a gross loaded weight of 79,850lbs I can get about 6mpg =]

 

Lol, i better get better than 6mpg's!!!! Seriously though i think 12-14 city and 16-18 highway should still be possible from what i've been told- at least when not on winter blended fuel and it's winter here in wisconsin ALOT!

 

You will be able to get those figures easily and possibly more. Our 06 Dmax is getting about 21 in a mixed driving and thats with no mods. From what I've heard with those mods you should be able to squeeze a couple more out of it. Does it have 3:73's or 4:10s?

Oh and it won't even be broke in til at least 200,000 so don't worry about that. Theres an 04 Dmax crew at my dads shop thats pushing 400,000 and its still running good as ever

 

For me it would be a no brainer. I'd be all over that diesel. A buddy of mine has a Dodge cummins that's all tuned up and pushing over 500 hp. He gets a little better than 20 mpg normal driving.

I have an 01 1500 with the 5.3L engine and 33in tires. In the winter I only get about 9 or 10 mpg. I do a lot of short trip driving back and forth to work, but even when I take a 200 mile trip across the turnpike I only get about 14mpg.

GO WITH THE DIESEL!!!