GM Duramax 2500 owners

[Acheron2010]

Something to consider with the forever truck - get a ceramic coat. My 2015 Silverado 2500 (gas) just got the treatment, good for 5-6 years of not having to wax, looks fantastic. For me, it was a two-day job and about $800.

[BSmiley]

I bought a Chevy HD2500 new in 2006, after owning a Ford F-150 for 9 years. I had looked at the Ford 6.0, about the time Ford decided to build its own Diesel engine as they had had so much trouble with the 6.0.

I must say I made a wise choice, and really, really like my 3/4 ton diesel. I had never owned a diesel before, and don’t have to use the DEF, but it pulls our Airstream with ease, even up the Rocky Mountains. Mine has the 34 gallon tank, so don’t have to fill up so often, and have measured 15.2 mpg best. After the switch to low sulfur, mileage has dropped to 13, but I still like the truck. Have had problems with glow plugs burning out, have replaced most all of them. Have replaced an alternator this summer, and have 130000 miles on the truck.

[renderit]

Def fill on mine is right beside the gas cap under the flap.

Interested in a front hitch, I could see that working well at my storage facility. Have to look at that. Just ordered the parking lot ball conversion for the ProPride.

Any suggestions?

The hitches for the front I am finding are only good to 500#. Would that even work with the 900#+ 25'GT? Just for parking purposes? Or is this a no go...

[Mr._D]

My first Duramax was a 2003 2500HD Crew Cab 6'bed, drove that truck daily for 15 years and it had 386K miles when I sold it. My current truck is a 2019 3500HD Crew Cab Duramax dully.

You should not see much of a difference in towing MPG, maybe 3-4 less. The Chevrolet Duramax package has been the best truck I have ever owned. Keep it serviced and don't do stupid non OEM stuff and it will last for may years to come.

There are 03's out there with 650K plus and still going strong.

[jkueffer]

Hi, I just purchased my second GMC 2500HD Denali after driving the first one for nine years. Great truck... no problems.

[PC Conner]

This is the link to my front hitch:
https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Tite-650...9815865&sr=8-1
Cost $135.
Since I use the front hitch at only extremely low speeds I have not worried about the weight issue. I bought a wheel attachment for the trailer, but after talking to a career U-Haul worker, I did not use it. Never had problem. Be advised, at least for me, it took a lot longer to install than the instructions or You Tube videos showed.
But, very happy with the front hitch. Of course, I need a good spotter on the phone or radio because I can't see anything past the front of the trailer. MDW does a great job--putting my 27' FC through a 10' gate!

[renderit]

Good to know. Thinking that it might be a good thing for weird situations, but also because my storage unit may be a challenge. Worked well for the 20 with my old 1500 but now the truck AND unit will add another maybe 10' with the PP hitch. The front unit and the 'lot ball' for the ProPride might be the way to go.

[ekbruster]

Originally Posted by renderit

Thanks all.

I am looking at the tire monitoring which is in the app but the truck did not have the sensors with it.

I see I can get some on amazon for 59-79 bucks which supposedly work with it. A relearn tool for 20 bucks should cover the rest of it. I would prefer the type I have now which screw on the stems instead of the 'in-tire' type, but it is what it is...

Does anybody make aftermarket cameras to make the trailer disappear? 595 from GMC seems a little high...

Save your money on the learning tool, all you do is set up the truck to pair the sensors and then walk around and deflate each trailer ture a bit until the truck beeps at you, so as long as you have an air compressor to put a few pounds back in your good to go.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by Acheron2010

Something to consider with the forever truck - get a ceramic coat. My 2015 Silverado 2500 (gas) just got the treatment, good for 5-6 years of not having to wax, looks fantastic. For me, it was a two-day job and about $800.

.....I never wax 4 years looks like new still with 50,000 miles...I will spend my money on tires..as nothing is forever..I want another new one..I may do it I’m only 74

[renderit]

You gotta change the tires on these things?

Actually, looking at all those bolts maybe it ain't so funny...

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by renderit;

You gotta change the tires on these things?



Actually, looking at all those bolts maybe it ain't so funny...

I replaced mine at 42k... about 1/2 of that was towing. Could have gone another 5k perhaps but with winter coming here in Colorado and low tread it was time.

BFG KO2 with the heavy duty tread compound was a huge improvement in ride quality. I had no idea the difference a tire could make in ride quality until I switched off the oem goodyear wranglers my truck came with.

[Ch47d1sg]

Waiting for delivery of my 2021 2500hd Z71 Duramax. Hoping to have it next couple of days . Am pulling the Flying Warrior to Indiana for the US National for shooting competition.

[DED56]

I have been pulling my FC 27 for 7,000 miles so far with my 2020 GMC 2500 HD diesel Denali. I had a Tundra previously and pulled boat trailers with it but never pulled the AS. I love the GMC although I too thought it was a bit of a tank early on. That feeling disappeared fairly soon as I got used to the height and size of the vehicle. All the cameras are invaluable for maneuvering the truck in tight situations. The truck pulls the 27 relatively effortlessly. The Allison transmission is impressive, it will hold a speed going down steep hills and is smooth dealing with up and downhill situations. I have had to make two panic slowdowns from 65mph when elderly people pulled onto the freeway going about 20mph. No issues with the braking performance. I get 14mph pulling the AS and 19mph on a mix of highway and stop/go driving. I wouldn’t have any other truck at this point.

[Vantair]

2020 GMC Denali / Duramax here too and coming from a 2014 GMC Denali 1500 with 5.3. 12.5MPG Avg towing.

Overall this is an impressive comfortable beast towing our 25ft INTL. and the power, 10speed Alison (smoothness) diesel braking, surround cams and although tall hood 3k payload is fantastic by comparison. 14.5-15MPG Towing and low 20s Hwy. stop and go to local side streets 16 -17 MPG.

Wife far more impressed with the new 2500 and so prefers to tow with it herself more….that is if I ever let her ! Ha.

Biggest complaint is can’t get it into the garage like the 1500. Oh well !

[Ch47d1sg]

New owner here too. 2021 Z71 High Country Duramax and Allison. Replaced 2016 Silverado heavy half with 6.2l gas and 5k airbags in back

12.4 towing FC30RBT, 22.5 hwy. 16ish city. Effortless first pull for 1000 miles on break in run. Will never look back. The beast (2016) was and will always be loved. The Warhorse (2021) is a far better machine

Be safe out there

[rickmc]

While towing our FC 27FB with our AT4 3.0, we were over the 1436 lb payload. You could tell we had max'd the PL out. Doable but didn't feel confident. I was lucky enough to be able to swap it for a Denali 2500 HD 6.6L D-Max. Just finished a 6K trip. Flawles ride power, stability and comfort. I was also impressed with the Pro Towing system capabilities. Going from a 1436 lb payload to a 3052 lb payload is a total game changer!

[RexRad]

I just purchased a GMC 2021 2500 HD DURAMAX Denali a couple of weeks ago. 1200 miles on it so far. Sold our 2007 Silverado 2500 duramax last week. Upgraded for all the trailering features and camera system, and to pull our new AS 30 RBQ Classic. Installed the rear camera on the AS (details posted elsewhere on this site) to get the invisible trailer view. Love it.

Ford and Ram don’t have the invisible trailer camera system, yet. For that reason alone I would stick with the GM.

Yes, the RAM and Ford have reportedly better interiors, and are reportedly quieter. Fords are more expensive. But we like it so far. Plenty comfortable. The old truck was relatively trouble free for 135 k miles, so we are comfortable with GM products. But I like the trailering features on the GMC, and we also have a gooseneck horse trailer. Plenty of power, lousy mileage. I think we got 9 mpg going to our campsite last weekend. Longer trip coming up this week.

[tjdonahoe]

Ford and Gm 10 speed joint venture transmission where did Allison go?

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by Vantair

2020 GMC Denali / Duramax here too and coming from a 2014 GMC Denali 1500 with 5.3. 12.5MPG Avg towing.

Overall this is an impressive comfortable beast towing our 25ft INTL. and the power, 10speed Alison (smoothness) diesel braking, surround cams and although tall hood 3k payload is fantastic by comparison. 14.5-15MPG Towing and low 20s Hwy. stop and go to local side streets 16 -17 MPG.

Wife far more impressed with the new 2500 and so prefers to tow with it herself more….that is if I ever let her ! Ha.

Biggest complaint is can’t get it into the garage like the 1500. Oh well !

Allusion? Check on that. Joint venture with Ford transmission

[jaybauman]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

Allusion? Check on that. Joint venture with Ford transmission

Kinda.

Yes, GM and Ford worked together to design 10-speed transmission technology (for both HD and half-ton versions). In many ways, this is quite a reimagining of an automatic transmission, and the joint development was a strategic move to keep design costs down for these unique products.

While they share a fundamental design, by no means are the final products identical. Difference include the fact that there are HD and passenger variants (would anybody mistake the Allison in a 2500HD for the 10-speed in a Suburban?). Also, each company has put its own nuance on the final unique products that they have brought to market. Ergo, there is quite a bit of difference between the Ford version and the GM version for both the HD and half-ton versions--from final commercial design to manufacturing location.