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Anybody With 2500HD Duramax Experience?

S

SteveTimm

Charter Member
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
444
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
I'm finding myself lusting terribly for a Chevy 2500HD with the oh-so-quiet Duramax engine.

There are so many really knowledgeable guys on the board that I thought I'd ask if I was making a mistake.

All of the rigs available locally are really loaded. ?That's good, because about all I'd have to do is get the bed sprayed with Rhino and have to make the decision between a Leer Tonneau cover and a Leer/GemTop fiberglass canopy.

What do you think? ?Please speak out; I need help here guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:D

Steve
 
Just had an e-mail from one of the members of this forum about the status of my 2500 Avalanche.

Yes, I'll be selling it if I decide to buy the 2500HD - Duramax.

The Avalanche has a little under 15,000 miles on it and has been great. So......if you know of anyone who wants a clean, clean 2500 Avalanche that's been babied, garaged, properly serviced and all around loved, please send them my way.

I'd have to make some compromises with the Silverado 2500HD. The longest model that will fit in our garage is the extedned cab/short bed. So I'd be losing the crew cab interior of the Avalanche, but gaining fifteen inches of bed.

I WILL enjoy the higher ground clearance and especially the improved attack/departure angle of the 2500HD. My hunting takes me into some fairly primative areas and the added off-road ability will be great.

Anyway, to answer the question --- yes, if I decide to buy the Silverado 2500HD, I'll be selling my Avalanche 2500.

To answer an unasked question -- yes, I'll be sticking around the Avalanche Forum whatever I do. Somebody has to keep you guys honest. ;D

And, besides, where else on the Web can you find as nice a bunch of folks and information/help that is as good? Love the Chevy Avalanche Fan Club!!!!!

Steve
 
Gad, I feel like I'm friggin' talking to myself.

Anyway, I took a lengthy drive in a Chevy Silverado 2500HD-LT crew cab short bed. Drove it on the freeway, down rough roads and into the puckerbrush.

My take is this: The diesel engine is every bit the equal of my 8.1 and gets 80% better fuel mileage. It is MUCH quieter than the Powerstroke and whatever the dark side (Dodge) calls their diesel engine. BUT it still smells.

I found the ride very much inferior to the 2500 Avalanche. It was eequal on the freeway, but the minute you hit rough roads, potholes and two-track ranch roads, the Avalanche 2500 was superior.

Basically the 2500HD was a little too damned trucky for my tastes. In the Avalanche, I can do most of the same things and my body will arrive in better shape.

Cutting to the chase; Hell, I can afford the gas. I'll stick with the Avalanche 2500 and be a very happy guy. ;D

Steve
 
SteveTimm said:
Gad, I feel like I'm friggin' talking to myself.
Click to expand...

I'm listening, Steve! ;D
 
Boy, that was a close one ?:cautious: ?Almost lost you. ?;)

You just need a 2500 Av w/ the Duramax :0:

Or an H2 :cautious:
 
A buddy of mine just picked up a 2002 2500HD extended cab. ?He got his for work. ?Its a really nice truck. ?I'd think it could pull a house. ?I too noticed that it rides a little rougher than the Avalanche but it's also intended to tow 12,000lbs so it needs a stiff ride. ?You can't beat the Duramax power or gas mileage. ?He replaced a Dodge Ram 360. ?It was like night and day. ?He was getting 6mpg in the Dodge, when towing his trailers. ?I don't know what he is getting from the Diesel yet. ?I would trade in a heartbeat if Chevy offered a Diesel in the Av. ?Hint Hint for Chevy. ?;)
 
Whew, somebody is actually our there. ;D

Actually, my 8.1 liter is just as strong as the Duramax. Both will easily pull 12,000 pounds and my 8.1 with the 4.10 rear end is an absolute stump puller.

It would be nice to have the better mileage/range, but the ride of the 2500 Avalanche is absolutely superior. Must be its Suburban roots.

The Duramax was everything I thought it would be. My problem is this: If Chevrolet can make the 2500 Avalanche ride like a cloud (which it does), why does the 2500HD have to ride so much rougher?

Yeah, Dodges (the dark side) are primitive and there is absolutely no reason for it.

Anyway, I'm sticking with my Tupper Truck.

Steve
 
I kinda liked the ride of the 2500HD. That's what a truck should ride like. The Av is just exceptional. Maybe the Diesel seems stronger because of the noise it makes.
 
or the smell :9: ;D

Doesn't the 2500 Av have 2-stage leaf springs? I'm surprised that it rides so much differently than the HD's. Hmmm ??? Wheelbase or frame differences perhaps?
 
Not that I've driven or ridden EITHER, but I would bet that the difference is due to 2 things.
1) The expectation from the suspension designers that the Siverado will be carrying heavy loads regularly (Make that work best, and the unloaded ride acceptable) vs relatively infrequently for the Avalanche (vice versa).
2) Frame stiffness. This is what gives the Avalanche's suspension designer the freedom to make it work right, and forces the the Silverado's designer to struggle for the best (s)he can get. No traditional pickup has sufficient torsional stiffness. The frame simply can't have enough vertical triangulation, because there isn't enough vertical in the frame.
 
HEY, I WENT A LITTLE CRAZY

This morning, I was checking the truck advertisements in the paper and saw that my dealer was had the usual "loss leaders."

So, I decided to check it out. If I could buy a new truck cheap enough (to use for dirty work, like barkdust and light gravel) and keep my 2500 Avalanche for trailer use and anything heavy, it might be the right combination.

SO.............I got down there and the "basic" was pretty basic, but priced well at 22,800.

BUT...........They had eight 1500LT-Z-71s at $28,600. I finally zeroed in on a pewter with 4 whole miles on it.

SO............I bought a Z-71 with leather 6-way heated seats, limited slip diff, GM assist steps, flares, trailering package, and all kinds of other stuff. The MSRP was $37,205

The Line-X place is next door and the Chevy dealership has a deal with them.

Anyway, for the truck, Line-X bed coating, six lube & oils ($100.00) and four years of registration & licensing in Oregon I wrote a check for $29,011.00.

Personally, I think it is the best of both worlds. The Z-71 glides over bumps that shocked my spine in the 2500HD. It's fust fine off-road and I won't have a hissy if I want to load some barkdust in it or a bird poops on the hood.

Hell of a deal.

What do you think?

Steve
 
Whoa, I sure love the 1500LT Z-71. After looking at our vehicle situation, I'm going to sell the Avalanche.

If you know of anyone who wants a clean, clean, clean Avalanche 2500 with under 15,000 careful miles, a Snugtop and Bedslide, please send them my way. I put an ad in the "Avalanches for Sale" section of this forum. All of the particulars are there.

I priced it to sell, at $28,900.

Steve
 
SteveTimm said:
Gad, I feel like I'm friggin' talking to myself.

Anyway, I took a lengthy drive in a Chevy Silverado 2500HD-LT crew cab short bed. ?Drove it on the freeway, down rough roads and into the puckerbrush.

My take is this: The diesel engine is every bit the equal of my 8.1 and gets 80% better fuel mileage. ?It is MUCH quieter than the Powerstroke and whatever the dark side (Dodge) calls their diesel engine. ?BUT it still smells.

I found the ride very much inferior to the 2500 Avalanche. ?It was eequal on the freeway, but the minute you hit rough roads, potholes and two-track ranch roads, the Avalanche 2500 was superior.

Basically the 2500HD was a little too damned trucky for my tastes. ?In the Avalanche, I can do most of the same things and my body will arrive in better shape.

Cutting to the chase; Hell, I can afford the gas. ?I'll stick with the Avalanche 2500 and be a very happy guy. ? ;D

Steve
Click to expand...


i agree with you on this one. i have driven a frineds 2500HD for quite a distance on the road. it is very harsh. i have a 1500 so my ride is very smooth. but, if you are looking to tow a bunch of weight the HD is the way to go. if you plan on 5th wheel towing the AV is not designed to do it. and most of all the HD does smooth out real nice when hauling a car trailer w/ a Z-28 on the back. take the trailor off and you feel like your on a skateboard.
 
FWIW, I find the 2500 a little stiffer than the 1500 when it is unloaded - sort of like a large spirited horse with a little kid riding - but throw 500 lbs in the bed and it smooths right out and rides well - I have a couple of friends with 1 ton trucks and they say the same thing - different baseline.
 
I am fairly certain that the 2500 Av is a smoother ride because it has more weight on the back axle. The payload of the pick-up is greater and if you started to load it up I bet it would ride smoother than empty.
 
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