Cummins or Duramax?

[82fj60bigblue]

The 60 is becoming a trailer queen. I am tired breaking my truck on the trail then figuring how I am going to get it home. So its time for a tow vehicle. I am having problems deciding on a 01 or newer duramax or a 03 or newer cummins. I want a crew cab 4x4 and its also going to be a DD so gas milage is in consideration. Let me know what you got and how you like it or just throw your 2 cents in. Thanks

 

[viking cruiser]

I have an 04 cummins always been good to me and tows anything I have hooked up with ease, but it is hard to pass up that allison tranny.

 

[mwalls54]

I just bought a 06 F350 Powerstroke that is probably the best diesel I have ever had. getting 22mpg on the highway and 15mpg towing. I had a 2009 gmc Duramax before that and it had plenty of power but was getting 14mpg on the highway and 10 towing and the crew cab isn't as big. The Druamax replaced my 2006 F250 powerstroke

 

[Cruisified]

5.9 Cummins with manual, no contest.

None.

 

[Off Duty]

The Cummins seems to be the diesel of the day on most forums, and the Allison transmission seems to hold the title in it's department.

I prefer the Ford cab over the Dodge simply because of it's dimensions and creature comforts.

The 2nd for me would be the Dodge Max. but the first thing I'd do with that, is recover the interior!

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Dodge 5.9 24valve common rail with a NV4500 is a great combo. Unfortunaltly, the rest of the truck will fall apart around the drivetrain.
The Duramax Chevy with a Allison is a great, but not as long-lasting combo as the Dodge. I really like the overall feel and power of the truck though.
Ford's have a great looking truck with many modern convieniences in the cab, but the diesel motors (except possibly the 7.3) have historically sucked. Contary to the above post, I have never got anywhere close to 20mpg with a powerstroke. I've driven, through my company, every year model of Ford from 1999 to 2010 models. F-250's with ext. cabs.

 

[Kurtis]

Fords are hands down the nicest truck as far as Interior, room, ride etc quality overall. Between the dodge and the duramax I would go with the dodge. The new autos aren't to bad and the inline still seems to put out the best mileage. Chevy's have decent interior but they feel kinda cheap for that expensive of a truck. They also don't ride the best. The dodge makes up by offering the best engine in my opinion. Not super impressed with the rest of the truck though. So i would go Ford dodge chevy in that order.
Chevy's 4x4 ifs is kinda lame to and easily broken, fords can be had with a solid axle that believe it or not rides better and is way stronger.

 

[vipergrhd]

I'm biased

If i had to buy a tow rig with some room for the kids, i buy me the new mega cab ram with the 6.7l with the nv5600 trans that will last you a long time and if you really want a custom tow rig you could get a cab n chassis that comes with the heavy duty AISIN trans. (yes same trans in your toyota) been working for dodge for 16 years and very rarely had engine and trans. problem with this set up.i love the allison set up in the chevy but don't like the way the truck is set up that is just me. Fords i could agree that they have very nice interior but thats not going to drive you to your destination we had 5 super duty Fords in the lot right now less than 5 years old on 3 of them got traded for a ram.sorry Ford guys. my 2 pennies.

John

 

[Shes Mad]

I have a 97 and a 2010 Cummins. Traded my 2006 cummins for the 2010 because there is more room in the back. If you have kids, or don't plan for adults in the back seats, then no worry.

The auto trans is the weak part of the dodge, so look for a 5 or 6 speed manual. Plan on a complete front end steering rebuild around 150,000 miles. Complete front end parts kits are available on ebay for $250

Fuel economy is best in the cummins at about 1400-1500 RPM, so avoid 4:11 rear end gears. 3:42 is the best, but I don't thing they were available for 2003-2009 models.

Also, the edge controller really gave the 2006 I had a boost.

I love the cummins

The engine will outlast the chassis. I transplanted Cumming into other chassis. Tor down the engines at around 300,000 miles. Absolutely no wear

 

[lehiguy]

If you're going used, get a 2004 or newer 5.9 Cummins mated to the HD auto trans. Do not get a newer rig with emissions on it, the mileage sucks. A mild chip on a Cummins will get you neck-snapping torque and unloaded mileage in the low 20s and with any sort of care will go a million miles (I've actually seen this.) I think its fairly indisputeable that the Cummins is the best motor of the bunch and the Allison the best trans. (My neighbor owns a tranny shop, has nothing good to say about the Ford's automatic trans). I have driven plenty of diesel powered trucks over the many years I spent in the auto industry, I really prefer automatics with diesels. With manuals, its just too slow since the useable RPM range is about 1/2 that of a gas engine and all you do is shift all day. The NV5600 manual trans is one to avoid; no parts availability and it tears itself apart due to case distortion caused by its ridiculous weight, which, as I recall, is about 350 pounds.

 

[vipergrhd]

If you're going used, get a 2004 or newer 5.9 Cummins mated to the HD auto trans. Do not get a newer rig with emissions on it, the mileage sucks. A mild chip on a Cummins will get you neck-snapping torque and unloaded mileage in the low 20s and with any sort of care will go a million miles (I've actually seen this.) I think its fairly indisputeable that the Cummins is the best motor of the bunch and the Allison the best trans. (My neighbor owns a tranny shop, has nothing good to say about the Ford's automatic trans). I have driven plenty of diesel powered trucks over the many years I spent in the auto industry, I really prefer automatics with diesels. With manuals, its just too slow since the useable RPM range is about 1/2 that of a gas engine and all you do is shift all day. The NV5600 manual trans is one to avoid; no parts availability and it tears itself apart due to case distortion caused by its ridiculous weight, which, as I recall, is about 350 pounds.

I would like to make a comment about the NV5600,in the 16 years i have been working with DODGE i have only seen one failure and it only had 4k miles and yes they don't release parts for this thing for one reason it needs a lot of specialty tools.the tools for this thing came in a big crate and requires high torque tightening procedures,so before you knock out something it's good to be informed the main complaint about this trans.is being notchy or hard to shift when new and thats it this trans can be used for heavy duty applications if you ask me.btw it weighs 400+ pounds dry.

John

 

[TheJackRabbit]

I am a Ford man, then, now and forever. That said, based upon what my friends and neighbors say about their trucks I would suggest Dodge, with the Cummins and a manual tranny. If you are using the truck to tow mostly;i.e. not a daily driver and run much without a load, try to get a 4.11 or at least a 3.70 gear set.

of the folks I know with a Duramax, one out of three has had no trouble. One already blew his engine but he drove it like a hot rod with heavy throttle.

I do not know if this is true but I was told by a diesel mechanic that GM instructed Isuzu to build the Duramax with aluminum alloy pistons enabling it to wind up faster and achieve higher RPM than the original iron pistons. I do not know what that portends or even if it is true.

One thing for sure- that Cummins is a well known, tried and true engine.

Anyway, good luck with whichever you choose.

 

[EJ]

I ordered a Dodge 2500 with Cummins/NV5600 QC in 2003. Has over 100,000 miles and is as strong as ever. It has 19.5" tires and wheels to accommodate loads higher than it probably should, but it has been and still is an excellent truck. Mileage is 20-22 mpg with a Bully Dog controller(mixed hwy and town...mostly hwy). I am not a Dodge person...but I am a Cummins fan.

 

[Warhead]

put the cummins in a 94-97 F350 and call it a day, that would be the best IMO

 

[Elbert]

I would think your best "value" would be a dodge with manual trans if you are really going to tow with it. I like the dodge drivetrain...not a big fan of the Cab and deisgin & layout. Don' t know if they come with 6 speed manuals or what.

One issue around here is that there are few dodge dealers to service their products...

 

[mountainibis]

I had an '02 Duramax and now have a '97 Cummins. If you decide to go Duramax, it might be wise to get an 03.5 or newer. At some point in that model year, they changed from the LB7 motor to a newer model (I think it was the LLY). The biggest difference is that the LB7 motors have a bad injector design and location. GM extended the injector warranty up to 5 years/250,000 miles because of this. If you have to get your injectors replaced out of warranty, it's spendy ($3 - $4k for parts and labor, IIRC).

Ride wise, the Chevy was great. I thought the interior was pretty nice, too. I had the 6-speed, so I can't speak to the Allison. My Cummins has north of 380k on it, and still runs like a scalded ape.

 

[71FJ40]

put the cummins in a 94-97 F350 and call it a day, that would be the best IMO

x2

 

[calebmad]

powerstroke, duramax, cummins???

i am getting ready for a long trip from mississippi to colorado and back,, bringing my wife and 2 horses back to mississippi,,, i am a chevy fan all the way always have been but im very worried about the truck making it.. i know cummins is bad ass with a s***ty transmission and front end, i hear powerstroke has a nice 7.3L but i cant say from experience and since i had a 2001 duramax with the alison i thought ya the transmission is good and bulletproof like legend has it if it was a standard,, which goes for the other trucks to.... so im leaning hard towards the duramax,,, can anybody give me a reason not to???? and were do i go to order a standard transmission for any of the main 3? i may be a chevy fan but im open to opinions.

 

[Memphisacc]

Cummins or Power Stroke...Duramax if you hate yourself and like using every tool in the toolbox. Fedex and UPS use Cummins powered trucks for a reason.

 

[pzary3233]

I LOVE our new 6.7 Powerstroke, no problems and we've already racked up 20k miles in three weeks. the only down side to this truck is the DEF, it sucks having to refill it all the time. Once a week for us.

I would choose it over a duramax any day. The Cummins is another very good choice with a manual transmission.