Cummins or Duramax

I owned an lbz that started my ownership days with 82k on it, just sold it 268k had the heads off at 211k and I couldn't believe how great everything looked.

I liked the ride but hated the upgrade or mod costs, yeah it ran like a f'r efi tuned and built trans, but I still love my old W350 cummins more, in fact I bought another 89 dodge to play with.... some might call me stupid but dollar for dollar the old Cummins is super cheap. Just my opinion. :hehe:

In for entertainment

Wow. Ok, sure. I'll bite.

We have owned a 93, 95 Auto, 95 5 speed and 6 speed, 98 Auto, 2000 5 Speed, and 2010 68RFE Dodge/Cummins....we have owned 2001, 2003, 2004.5, 2008, a pair of 2009's, 2012, a pair of 2012's, and a 2015 Chevy/Duramax's

All have been daily driver and tow rigs...trailers have usually been 30' and 35' goosenecks, grossing between 30K and 50K lbs.

Guess what...the newer they get, the less you have to "drive" them....they just handle what they're doing easier. The Cummins might have more bottom end grunt, but they both do the job...and at 50K gross, mileage is about the same. 2010 6.7L Cummins has been a head gasket eater, and other than that, they've all been fairly reliable. The Duramax's have from 26,000 and 385,000 miles, and like any common rail, they might need injectors at some point...might not.

Buy what you like, nothing wrong with either.


Hasn't this been beat to death since 2001 when everyone knew the Isuzu would be a POS?
Chris

I miss how my efi live lbz was like a racecar and my 14 dodge with efi feels like a heavy turd in comparison. Really miss the Allison. Hopefully there is a trans, turbo, tune combo that will livin this this up. My dmax was always on the turbo and ready to blow the tires off. Although my dodge doesn't drag bumpers when I go offroad and tows at 1400 rpms instead of 3000. Two different applications imo.

Any of the newer trucks will do the job just fine. I love the old 12 valve dinosaur cummins...did heavy hotshotting with those for years. Engine wise I like the nature of the beast, the sound, throttle response feel n everything. I could never run a common rail cummins without a muffler n stay sane. As far as newer trucks go my last one was a 2011 LML and with the the hotshotting I've done with it I will gladly give up the cummins now. All these years I swore I'd never tow heavy with a v8 or auto but this engine n transmission combo is the smoothest most refined setup available in my opinion. We have a 2012 and a 2015 Ram with cummins/Aisin. They are nice and do the job just fine but stock performance there still more awkward gear hunting. if I run one for a day it makes me appreciate the GM truck all around more. The 2011 n newer GM chassis will carry by far more weight without squatting at the penalty of a harsh ride in the rear empty. The handling/steering of the GM is unmatched. At the end of the day if I run anything else I am by long shot more fatigued.

Well, I haven't been in many Chevy's as far as a Duramax...the comforts of the 2015 Laramie Longhorn Editions are very nice and handle quite well, but after approaching 15k on a 10k 40ft gooseneck, one can definitely feel it...I can agree w/ the older Dodge trucks about the body and interior. I do like the sound of a tuned up D-Max, love the v-8 sound. I can see the price difference on D-Max over Cummins.

On equally tuned trucks, say 500-600hp, which is the best for fuel mileage, I know the ride quality would be Chevy. Which one is better for each, compounds or singles?