6.4 vs. duramax - Diesel Forum

ebachle · 10-28-2007, 11:38 PM

Has anyone had the oppotunity to tow against a Duramax with the 6.4? I'm primarily asking about just cruising down the highway, not drag racing off the line pulling 10k+.

Also, has anyone driven a duramax much and had the opportunity to drive the 6.4?

I have an 06 F350, I'm very pleased with the truck, but I'm not crazy about the 6.0. Don't get me wrong, its been a good engine, but its not very responsive in my opinion. If you drive it like you're mad at it, then it will pull, but you have to mash on it.

TurboForMyTurbo · 10-29-2007, 02:15 AM

down the highway the trucks will pull almost identical. The ford makes its torque at a higher rpm so theoretically it will do better on the highway, but they both are about equal.

Unless you factor in that after a few thousand miles towing 10k+ you will need to work on the front end of the dmax because that junk IFS wont hold up to hard work for very long.

Fordman84 · 10-29-2007, 03:51 PM

I don't know where people come up with this crap, towing 10k for a few thousand miles will cause you to have to work on your GM IFS? I have owned both GM and Ford diesel 3/4 ton trucks, and they each have their strengths and weaknesses. If anything, the GM is in its forte with highway towing. Peak torque at 1600rpm puts you at 60-65 mph with 3.73 gears, perfect. I have driven a 6.4, not loaded, and it was not as responsive as my LBZ. It was not broken in yet either. I like ford for plowing snow with the solid front axle, but for on road towing, you can't beat the duramax.

BIGBEN2004 · 10-29-2007, 07:14 PM

Agreed with Fordman84 ^^^^^^ That is my thoughts also.

HighwayPrisoner · 11-01-2007, 02:59 AM

I hate to agree with Fordman84, but the 6.4 is the loser. Now if a 7.3 was in the comparison, the 7.3 would be the winner.

Fordman84 · 11-01-2007, 10:47 AM

Don't get me wrong, I loved my 7.3's, but it is no way in the same ballpark power-wise as my LBZ. I had an exhaust, intake, and TS chip and I still think this truck would outrun it stock, empty or loaded. I see you have a few miles on your 7.3, thats quite impressive!!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shocked.gif[/img]

meg69 · 11-01-2007, 11:16 AM

I think the only time the IFS suspension on the GM trucks would be a liability would be during extreme prolonged off road conditions. Otherwise towing on the hwy should not be a problem at all.

When I owned my DMAX (01) I towed 10-15K frequently and it never had any suspension or tire/shock/brake issues. It did however have several injector problems which GM refused to warranty, so I got rid of it and bought a Dodge 5.9L. It wasn't till after I sold the DMAX that GM extended the injector warranty. I would have kept the truck a lot longer had I not faced a $4500 bill for injector replacement.

fddriver2 · 11-01-2007, 11:41 AM

How come Fordman84 doesn't have any fords?

Fordman84 · 11-01-2007, 03:00 PM

Traded them all off, I have had 3 1999 super duty 7.3 trucks, and 1 1996 7.3 truck that I used as a plow truck. Drove all three (6.0 PSD, 5.9 cummins, and LBZ) before purchasing my latest truck, and there was no contest for me. I am a smaller guy and the chevy interior is perfect for me, plus the LBZ/Allison is an amazing power train. I do not plow with my daily driver, if I did it would be a ford for the solid front axle. As far as my 99 plow truck, thats just luck of the draw, I got a great deal on the truck, it could have been any brand and I would have bought it, makes no difference to me.

jlpowers · 11-01-2007, 08:59 PM

YEah with the truck in my sig, my cousin could outrun me with a stock, except for straight pipe, Dmax. Made me want one...for a little while.

Chyrel · 11-01-2007, 09:33 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jlpowersf350</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Made me want one...for a little while. </div></div>

Yeah right up until the door handle broke off in your hand before you got it home from the dealer. Then two days later you notice the fuel gauge doesn’t work. Then two weeks later the door locks don’t work! On and on & on!

Fordman84 · 11-02-2007, 03:41 PM

Oh yeah, I have definitely had all of those problems with mine [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif[/img] I have 100,000 miles combined on 2 half ton chevy trucks and 24,000 so far on my new one. The only thing I have ever had to do to them is have the intermediate steering shaft replaced... for no charge. Seriously, I don't like dodge trucks (owned two, but I don't make things up about them. I do have the recipts for a couple of tranny rebuilds though.

Chyrel · 11-02-2007, 04:03 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fordman84</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't like dodge trucks (owned two, but I don't make things up about them. I do have the recipts for a couple of tranny rebuilds though. </div></div>

Note the 6-speed Aisin in my signature?

One could even go as far as saying Aisin / Allison. Didn’t they joint venture in 1995 or something like that!

Hook'em Horns! · 11-03-2007, 11:03 PM

I pull 20+K on triple axle 28'GN with the D-Max/Allison on a regular basis at 70MPH. Only problem is, can't find trailer tires that hold up to speeds. With the Allison combo the 6.4 doesn't compare, IMHO. Towing/stopping is effortless. Maybe the CTD can compete now with a descent tranny.

Rockrunner86 · 11-04-2007, 01:28 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HighwayPrisoner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I hate to agree with Fordman84, but the 6.4 is the loser. Now if a 7.3 was in the comparison, the 7.3 would be the winner. </div></div>

I sold my 99 7.3 6 speed and got a 06 dmax. look at my sig I bought my old truck back and sold the dmax at my loss. I didn't feel safe towing my 15k two place car hauler with the 3500 dmax. Lucky for me the dealership still had my old truck with 178k on the clock. It drives better and I feel safer in it with all the miles on the clock than the weak ifs.

Tyler.