Thinking of a new tow vehicle.

[ocurtis]

you must mean the Duramax.. the ecodiesel is the Ram1500 engine.

I had the 2017 ram 1500 ecodiesel and wouldnt buy it again.. terrible throttle response. However, I have heard wonderful things about the Duramax 3.0 -

I usually pull the R3 with my 2010 Ram 3500 Mega Cab with the 6.7 Cummins but this last weekend was just a short 20 mile each way trip to our local pond and we had an extra kid with us, so I decided to pull with my 09 Yukon XL for seat space. Had 1/4 tank of fuel when we left the house and was showing 112 miles DTE...let's just say the 5.3 V8 doesn't like pulling the R3! I turned the last corner into the gas pumps taking the extra kid home after dropping the boat at home that evening and the Yukon died literally a vehicle length from the gas pumps and wouldn't start. I had to borrow a gas can, put a gallon in it to get it to start and then finished filling it up....30 gallon tank and it held 33. Holy smokes...never done that before. Lesson learned I guess on fuel consumption...was getting 8 mpg at best...towed fine and felt good braking, etc. but man did it eat the fuel! I've got almost 200,000 miles on the Yukon and looking to upgrade my daily driver in the next year or so....looking at the specs on the new Yukon's with the EcoDiesel's....anyone have any input on those?

[Big Block Power]

you must mean the Duramax.. the ecodeseil is the Ram1500 engine.

I had the 2017 ram 1500 ecodiesel and wouldnt buy it again.. terrible throttle response. However, I have heard wonderful things about the Duramax 3.0 -

I usually pull the R3 with my 2010 Ram 3500 Mega Cab with the 6.7 Cummins but this last weekend was just a short 20 mile each way trip to our local pond and we had an extra kid with us, so I decided to pull with my 09 Yukon XL for seat space. Had 1/4 tank of fuel when we left the house and was showing 112 miles DTE...let's just say the 5.3 V8 doesn't like pulling the R3! I turned the last corner into the gas pumps taking the extra kid home after dropping the boat at home that evening and the Yukon died literally a vehicle length from the gas pumps and wouldn't start. I had to borrow a gas can, put a gallon in it to get it to start and then finished filling it up....30 gallon tank and it held 33. Holy smokes...never done that before. Lesson learned I guess on fuel consumption...was getting 8 mpg at best...towed fine and felt good braking, etc. but man did it eat the fuel! I've got almost 200,000 miles on the Yukon and looking to upgrade my daily driver in the next year or so....looking at the specs on the new Yukon's with the EcoDiesel's....anyone have any input on those?

Our new Gen 3.0 eco d is good. I'm not a fan of turbo lag though on the diesel.
I have not heard good or bad on the little dirtymax. Personally I would get a 6.2 or 6.4 either way. Just me.

[dustinm]

Diesels were never known for quick rpm. just mpg, torque and lugging ability

[shrfdeputy]

you must mean the Duramax.. the ecodeseil is the Ram1500 engine.

I had the 2017 ram 1500 ecodiesel and wouldnt buy it again.. terrible throttle response. However, I have heard wonderful things about the Duramax 3.0 -

I usually pull the R3 with my 2010 Ram 3500 Mega Cab with the 6.7 Cummins but this last weekend was just a short 20 mile each way trip to our local pond and we had an extra kid with us, so I decided to pull with my 09 Yukon XL for seat space. Had 1/4 tank of fuel when we left the house and was showing 112 miles DTE...let's just say the 5.3 V8 doesn't like pulling the R3! I turned the last corner into the gas pumps taking the extra kid home after dropping the boat at home that evening and the Yukon died literally a vehicle length from the gas pumps and wouldn't start. I had to borrow a gas can, put a gallon in it to get it to start and then finished filling it up....30 gallon tank and it held 33. Holy smokes...never done that before. Lesson learned I guess on fuel consumption...was getting 8 mpg at best...towed fine and felt good braking, etc. but man did it eat the fuel! I've got almost 200,000 miles on the Yukon and looking to upgrade my daily driver in the next year or so....looking at the specs on the new Yukon's with the EcoDiesel's....anyone have any input on those?

Our new Gen 3.0 eco d is good. I'm not a fan of turbo lag though on the diesel.
I have not heard good or bad on the little dirtymax. Personally I would get a 6.2 or 6.4 either way. Just me.

Did you say 6.4?

[Mike in SC]

I pull my 2003 220 with a 5.3L Chevy engine. It doesn't complain, gets the load moving pretty quickly. But I would never expect close to normal gas mileage pulling the boat. Even a diesel is going to take a significant amount more fuel to pull, although not as much more than a gas engine.

[Elkhunter2372]

I pull my 2003 220 with a 5.3L Chevy engine. It doesn't complain, gets the load moving pretty quickly. But I would never expect close to normal gas mileage pulling the boat. Even a diesel is going to take a significant amount more fuel to pull, although not as much more than a gas engine.

Yeah I understand that Mike...with my old 196 Monterey behind the truck I could leave Grand Junction, tow all the way to Lake Powell which is roughly 200 miles away, and get back to Green River....so about 300 miles total on a tank of diesel...would still have about 1/8 tank but not enough to chance a 100 mile run across the desert at interstate speeds. Took the R3 down in January...same truck...was below 3/4 tank when I hit Green River so topped it off again there....on down to Lake Powell, back to Green River and had to fuel up again. The R3 is much heavier than my Monterey....I just didn't expect the Yukon to drop that low on MPG....I get around 18 with it as my daily driver in town. I'm a fan of diesels for towing especially and I typically keep a vehicle till I drive the wheels off of it...so as kids grow and friends join and future grandkids maybe...I like the thought of that little Duramax diesel in a new Yukon XL...the 5.3 I have now is getting tired approaching almost 200k miles...it has been bulletproof...have owned it most of that 200k. Replaced an alternator, battery a couple times, and tires....that is it...along with normal scheduled maintenance. I love that thing...and will most likely replace it with the same, but would have to look long and hard at the little diesel in a new one.

[bruceb58]

The big problem with the Duramax 3.0 is the payload is going to be around 300# less than the 5.3L. Not a big deal pulling a boat since tongue weight isn't high but if you want to pull a travel trailer, it can be limiting.

I was thinking about a diesel in a 3/4T truck. The problem for me is the cost of the emission equipment failing after 100K miles. Can get quite expensive on the newer diesel engines.

[Krob1114]

I was thinking about a diesel in a 3/4T truck. The problem for me is the cost of the emission equipment failing after 100K miles. Can get quite expensive on the newer diesel engines.

Amen brother.
In the last six months I've had to replace the DPF sensor ($750), EGR valve ($1000), and thermostat ($800) on a Mercedes diesel. Before that the oil cooler ($2500). All this in addition to the normal maintenance.
Last night, the low oil light came on in my wife's Acura MDX. It has almost 200k miles. It dawned on me that I'd never even opened the hood and had to look at the engine. 200k miles with no repairs....and it's our third Acura. Why did I buy a Mercedes?

[mdadgar]

In the last six months I've had to replace the DPF sensor ($750), EGR valve ($1000), and thermostat ($800) on a Mercedes diesel. Before that the oil cooler ($2500). All this in addition to the normal maintenance.

I did the oil cooler 2x on mine in 110K miles. At least MBZ covered it the first time.

Wait until you need the timing chain.

- Mark

[Tuscany]

Diesels were never known for quick rpm. just mpg, torque and lugging ability

Drive a new 2020 Ford Powerstroke, or probably any late model diesel from the big two...sorry BB
The acceleration is anything but old diesel like.

Put it this way, I drag raced with my son’s 2019 Jeep Wrangler while getting on the I-90 after a day on the water.. he mashed it to get around me on the merge.. so what was I supposed to do?
Easy work....The only thing that may be slightly impressive was that I was towing the boat.

[cmattj]

so what was I supposed to do?
Easy work....The only thing that may be slightly impressive was that I was towing the boat.

Bravo!

[dustinm]

Diesels were never known for quick rpm. just mpg, torque and lugging ability

Drive a new 2020 Ford Powerstroke, or probably any late model diesel from the big two...sorry BB
The acceleration is anything but old diesel like.

Put it this way, I drag raced with my son’s 2019 Jeep Wrangler while getting on the I-90 after a day on the water.. he mashed it to get around me on the merge.. so what was I supposed to do?
Easy work....The only thing that may be slightly impressive was that I was towing the boat.

Yours looks great and even better with that boat behind it.

I worked on diesels for 20 years. The new ones are better but I will never own one, much less one out of warranty, well unless I was putting on 50K+ loaded miles per year. Even then I would find a pre emissions model.

I will also say chipped diesels wont hang with my stock gas .5 ton at a stoplight or roll. The only way my friend can get around is after my speed limiter stops me. 2 weekends ago my wife took the pickup for some errands and she had some 20's kid pull up along side of her at stoplight with a merge ahead much your situation. He had the stack in the center of his box like all the other cool kids. Anyway when the light turned green she heard that thing "making all kinds of weird noises and black smoke" and it kind of scared her. She didn't want that guy in front of her. So she said she just pushed the pedal down a little more and went around him. All while knocking down 23 mpg on her trip.

[Big Block Power]

Diesels were never known for quick rpm. just mpg, torque and lugging ability

Drive a new 2020 Ford Powerstroke, or probably any late model diesel from the big two...sorry BB
The acceleration is anything but old diesel like.

Put it this way, I drag raced with my son’s 2019 Jeep Wrangler while getting on the I-90 after a day on the water.. he mashed it to get around me on the merge.. so what was I supposed to do?
Easy work....The only thing that may be slightly impressive was that I was towing the boat.

Sorry T I'm with Dustin on here. The #1 diesel truck that we sell is a great cruiser but isn't going to win any races. I love the Cummins but. I drove the new Gen 3.0 today. Very little lag but not going anywhere fast. Smooth as heck these are though. 24+mpg at the first 1400 miles on that truck.

[Tuscany]

Ive driven diesel trucks my entire life.....Trust me, things have changed...
I got to tell you guys, just go drive a 20+ 475/1,050 Powerstroke. You will view it differently and may not bet your lunch money against it at a stop light.

Also, for a three hundred bucks, you can buy this neat little device that intercepts and overrides the factory “fly by wire” throttle input. It’s not a tune, just a simple and adjustable ECU throttle response over ride. You won’t believe what the factory has limited to keep throttle input slow and easy on the drivetrain. Set it on “performance 10” and it’ll snap your head back and it’s really too much response for the road.
https://official.bankspower.com/pedal-m ... le-curves/

[Tuscany]

Diesels were never known for quick rpm. just mpg, torque and lugging ability

Drive a new 2020 Ford Powerstroke, or probably any late model diesel from the big two...sorry BB
The acceleration is anything but old diesel like.

Put it this way, I drag raced with my son’s 2019 Jeep Wrangler while getting on the I-90 after a day on the water.. he mashed it to get around me on the merge.. so what was I supposed to do?
Easy work....The only thing that may be slightly impressive was that I was towing the boat.

Yours looks great and even better with that boat behind it.

I worked on diesels for 20 years. The new ones are better but I will never own one, much less one out of warranty, well unless I was putting on 50K+ loaded miles per year. Even then I would find a pre emissions model.

I will also say chipped diesels wont hang with my stock gas .5 ton at a stoplight or roll.

I respectfully disagree..There were a few engines that just had the goods.
I had a 2008 6.4L with a simple deleted, KEM tuned, 5” straight exhaust Powerstroke that would run low 12s in the 1/4 with little old me driving it. Matt could probably get it into the high 11s.

The 2020 updated Powerstroke has plenty in stock form.
I would never mess with tunes on a modern diesel. I like a full warranty.
I would bet though..since DEF use has been turned up, and EGR has been reduced, I wouldn’t be afraid to buy and keep a new one if that’s the approach some are afraid of.