Thoughts on 2012 Chevy Duramax 2500HD

[Grady23]

I was going to post this on the truck forum, but nobody goes there. I'm looking at a 2012 Chevy 2500HD Ext cab that is LOADED. 6.6 Duramax, adj pedals, Snow plow package Z-71 trim, Back-up camera(wife loves this). I'm looking to replace my '03 Burban w/ a 5.3 V8. Beautiful truck but LOTS of money. The other reason I want the diesel is looking at buying 37Ft 5th wheel also.
Thoughts and reasonable comments welcomed!
Thanks

[phonfish]

I have an 06 Chevy Duramax that was purchased used. The Allison trans along with the 6.6 lbz diesel is,just my opinion,as good as it gets. Mine is a crew cab with 141,000 miles. The 2012 I looked at was around $58k. There are alot of good used duramaxs out there. Price of fuel is 24cents higher than regular. Now, I have heard good things about the 2012 Ford. I'm just not a Ford guy.

[Grady23]

I have looked at several 2006 trucks because I wanted to stay away from the exhaust issues and all the crap the EPA has forced on the diesel's. Problem is most of the '06 trucks with resonable mileage are 30k. By the time I trade my '03 and with all the incentives I can have a 2012 for only 12K more. I tend to keep my trucks a long time as you can see (2003 Suburban), the wife is all up for a NEW truck with a warrant and all the nice new bells and whisltes.

[Line Sider 09]

Back in the fall my son, purchased a new fully loaded 2011 Ford F250 4x4 6.7 diesel, crew cab and a 6 1/2 foot bed. I believe his trucks rated towing is 14,000 lb. He is getting 21 mpg hwy, 17 mpg city and the truck has a great ride not stiff like I had expected of an F250. Beautiful truck in appearence and performance. His truck is black with the chrome package and leather interior. The back-up cameras are really nice when hooking up.

I have a 2001 GMC Yukon XL 5.3 4x4 that I purchased new in 2001 .When the mileage got to 140,000 miles the intake warped costing me an engine when the oil & coolant mixed making a mess in the engine. I found out from several shops that this is a common problem in GMC products. I always check my fluids weekly and change my oil at 3,000 miles on the dot. My son who is a Ford trained auto technician dropped in a rebuilt GMC Good Wrench engine which has a 100,000 warrenty. This is the second GMC vehicle my wife and I have owned over the years which has had such a problem. The first was 1970 caddy that we purchased new and the head gasket went bad at 60,000 miles. I plan to keep the Yukon two more years and then I am going back to owning Fords. I have had two Fords trucks in the past and never had a problem. My buddy has always owned Fords and never had an issue and he tows a travel trailer all over the country. My buddy last year purchased a new 2011 Ford F150 4X4 with the 5.0 and he loves the power in that truck for towing.

Best of luck in your purchase,
Line Sider 09

[Lone Ranger]

Back in the fall my son, purchased a new fully loaded 2011 Ford F250 4x4 6.7 diesel, crew cab and a 6 1/2 foot bed. I believe his trucks rated towing is 14,000 lb. He is getting 21 mpg hwy, 17 mpg city and the truck has a great ride not stiff like I had expected of an F250. Beautiful truck in appearence and performance. His truck is black with the chrome package and leather interior. The back-up cameras are really nice when hooking up.

I have a 2001 GMC Yukon XL 5.3 4x4 that I purchased new in 2001 .When the mileage got to 140,000 miles the intake warped costing me an engine when the oil & coolant mixed making a mess in the engine. I found out from several shops that this is a common problem in GMC products. I always check my fluids weekly and change my oil at 3,000 miles on the dot. My son who is a Ford trained auto technician dropped in a rebuilt GMC Good Wrench engine which has a 100,000 warrenty. This is the second GMC vehicle my wife and I have owned over the years which has had such a problem. The first was 1970 caddy that we purchased new and the head gasket went bad at 60,000 miles. I plan to keep the Yukon two more years and then I am going back to owning Fords. I have had two Fords trucks in the past and never had a problem. My buddy has always owned Fords and never had an issue and he tows a travel trailer all over the country. My buddy last year purchased a new 2011 Ford F150 4X4 with the 5.0 and he loves the power in that truck for towing.

Best of luck in your purchase,
Line Sider 09

The Intake gasket problem was with the 5.7 L "R" Engine.R would be the 8th digit in the V.I.N. #..The 5.3L LS Engine does Not have coolant going thru the Intake manifold as did the "R" Engine.It was a Poor Gasket design.1999 was the last year for the "R" Engine..except in the Vans if I remember correctly.When the New Body style came out ,G.M. went with the LS Engines such as you have.LS Engines have a Composite Intake Manifold,Really don't warp that I've seen,No coolant thru them..Gaskets do go bad on occasion,will give you a bit of a rough Idle as it sucks in un-metered air into a cylinder or 2 and leans them out.

[Marek]

I have a 11 3500 hd crew cab Chevy. Great truck ! Has only seen the shop for oil changes , and when it picks me up from the Ford dealership when I drop off one of our many Fords. They are always in the shop It s the first Chevy work truck I have owned since the early 90s , we wanted to try them since our Fords are costing so much in repairs to keep them on the road. The new Ford 6.7 is only having a few problems right now , but only time will tell and after getting screwed by Ford on so many things why take a chance !!!!

[granpafish jr.]

I have a few of the duramax 4500's that we run for my landscape business and they are great. I wouldn't hesitate purchasing another one I myself have a 11 F-350 due to GM not offering a snow plow prep package on their crew cab diesel trucks at the time. Seems crazy GM couldn't figure out a way to build a crew cab truck that could handle a plow. Was told by three different GM dealers that the warranty would be voided if a plow was added. That being said so far the ford has been great and rides like a Cadillac. Only time will tell how these new fords hold up.

[Marek]

I have a few of the duramax 4500's that we run for my landscape business and they are great. I wouldn't hesitate purchasing another one I myself have a 11 F-350 due to GM not offering a snow plow prep package on their crew cab diesel trucks at the time. Seems crazy GM couldn't figure out a way to build a crew cab truck that could handle a plow. Was told by three different GM dealers that the warranty would be voided if a plow was added. That being said so far the ford has been great and rides like a Cadillac. Only time will tell how these new fords hold up.

Not sure what dealer told you about the plow prep but on the 11 and up trucks you can hang a plow on the crew cab gm trucks. They have a new boxed frame , heavier brakes and 6k front end. We are looking at new landscape body trucks to replace a few others and not sure what we are going to buy this time as GM has nothing above the 3500 and our Fords are in the shop to much . International is off the list as they are the ones who made the 6.0 and 6.4 for Ford.

[Doggydaddy]

We purchased a used 04 GMC duramax 2500 HD last year & I'm sorry I didn't get one sooner, it has all the bells & whistles it rides great has power to spare we absolutely love it.

[alpha550]

You can't go wrong with the Duramax engine w/ Allison transmission. I had a 2001 that I bought new and I recently sold. Never had a problem with the engine or transmission. Had to replace the front wheel bearings and due the regular maintenance, other than that no problems. I averaged 20-21 mpg highway and around 17 city. Good luck!