Looking into buying a tow rig. I have a stealth 19ft v nose enclosed inline trailer. I would like to find a truck and run a sled deck and pull the enclosed. That way I can haul 4 sleds and have a place to wrench and hang out if needed. What is the best year gm duramax to run. I plan on doing Efi live, exhaust and intake for upgrades. I run a newer stock avalanche now, it handles the trailer fine, but with any decent head wind I get about 7 miles a gallon loaded pullin at 70 mph or so. I m up in the air from getting into a newer duramax as a daily driver or a later model and just dedicate it to a hauler. Let me know any thoughts. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
What year duramax?
- Thread starter jhubs
- Start date
06/07 LBZ are probably the best. Although since your going with EFI live and exhaust possibly 07.5+ LMM. Same as LBZ just with emissions. Also depends on what interior you want and your budget. I run a deleted LMM with a few extra goodies and love it. Good luck on the purchase!
What is your budget?
If you plan on running EFILive and making mods I would look for an LBZ (06/07). The current LML can't be modified much w/o losing the warranty. Earlier LLY and LB7 motors can be modded out but came to the table with less HP and have the older 5 spd tranny's. The LBZ and more recent Duramax's have the awesome 6spd transmission. I've had two Duramax trucks and have loved them. Great power in those trucks!
If you plan on running EFILive and making mods I would look for an LBZ (06/07). The current LML can't be modified much w/o losing the warranty. Earlier LLY and LB7 motors can be modded out but came to the table with less HP and have the older 5 spd tranny's. The LBZ and more recent Duramax's have the awesome 6spd transmission. I've had two Duramax trucks and have loved them. Great power in those trucks!
Are the 05's Ok?
Like 9-12 depending on wind. Running 80 pulling 7x27 with 4 sled in it. But I have a 6inch lift and 35"s.
From what I've seen yes. Restricted mouthpiece which can easily be fixed and as anything else, check balance rates.
gm
Ya I was leaning more towards classic body style mainly because of price and ease of modification, warranty is out the window anyways with mods. Can you get by with the pre 06's with the 5 speed tranny, seems you can get them for a much better price than 06-07's, they still know what they want for those!
Ya I was leaning more towards classic body style mainly because of price and ease of modification, warranty is out the window anyways with mods. Can you get by with the pre 06's with the 5 speed tranny, seems you can get them for a much better price than 06-07's, they still know what they want for those!
I have an 06 LBZ with EFI Live and no mods....best combo. Newer trucks have too much crap on them and the LBZ is in high demand so you will pay more for it...but it is worth it.
I wouldn't go with the 5 speed if pulling. Just remember, the LMM's are about the same price as LBZ's and just as good deleted. Same motor just with emissions. Been deleted 10k so far and not a problem.
I think any of them are a good choice, the 5 speeds work just fine for towing they are the same gear ratio wise as the 6 speeds except for the additional overdrive gear. So the 6 speeds should get a little better empty highway economy but its not significant enough to be the deciding factor. The 5 speeds will not handle as much power though, their weak link is in 5th gear (mine would slip on a 70hp tune) and this becomes more pronounced with more miles. But if your planning on running more than 100rwhp over stock on either a built transmission will be required sooner or later.
Now for the motors, the LB7 (2001-2004.5) and LLY (2004.5-2006) have weaker rods than the newer motors, they are typically good for about 550rwhp. Where as the LBZ's (2006-2007.5) are good for almost 650hp. But the LB7's and LLY's have better pistons, the LBZ's are prone to cracking in half, not all that common but there seems to be little reason as it happens on stock and modified motors alike. The injectors on the LB7's had issues, they tended to crack and because they were internal would dilute the engine oil with diesel. There are very few LB7's that haven't had the injectors replaced at least once. The newer motors have better injectors but still can fail, but less commonly. The newer motors have more emissions equipment which can cause issues, but as for fuel economy they all seem to be similar (2001-2010) with the older motors tending to have slightly better economy.
As for EFILive, if you plan on doing the tuning yourself the LB7's are by far the easiest, as they don't have a VVT and there is far less tables to play with. But either way I would also recommend both boost and pyro gauges with any power level over stock while towing.
But as long as the truck is in good condition, has been well maintained, and is priced right I don't think you can go wrong.
By the way here is what I have.
2002 Chev CC/SB 4x4 2500HD LB7
S&B Intake, 5" MBRP, BD Wastegate Actuator, BD Trans Converter Flexplate, EFILive by Me, FASS Titanium 150gph, Autometer Pyro and Boost Gauges
I also dynoed 507 hp / 883 ft*lbs on my dyno only tune this summer.
Hope this helps.
Now for the motors, the LB7 (2001-2004.5) and LLY (2004.5-2006) have weaker rods than the newer motors, they are typically good for about 550rwhp. Where as the LBZ's (2006-2007.5) are good for almost 650hp. But the LB7's and LLY's have better pistons, the LBZ's are prone to cracking in half, not all that common but there seems to be little reason as it happens on stock and modified motors alike. The injectors on the LB7's had issues, they tended to crack and because they were internal would dilute the engine oil with diesel. There are very few LB7's that haven't had the injectors replaced at least once. The newer motors have better injectors but still can fail, but less commonly. The newer motors have more emissions equipment which can cause issues, but as for fuel economy they all seem to be similar (2001-2010) with the older motors tending to have slightly better economy.
As for EFILive, if you plan on doing the tuning yourself the LB7's are by far the easiest, as they don't have a VVT and there is far less tables to play with. But either way I would also recommend both boost and pyro gauges with any power level over stock while towing.
But as long as the truck is in good condition, has been well maintained, and is priced right I don't think you can go wrong.
By the way here is what I have.
2002 Chev CC/SB 4x4 2500HD LB7
S&B Intake, 5" MBRP, BD Wastegate Actuator, BD Trans Converter Flexplate, EFILive by Me, FASS Titanium 150gph, Autometer Pyro and Boost Gauges
I also dynoed 507 hp / 883 ft*lbs on my dyno only tune this summer.
Hope this helps.
M
mike_s
Well-known member
I would suggest exactly the opposite. If you are going to drive alot of unloaded highway miles, then by far the 6speed is the better choice. However, if you are going to tow, and tow over many hills, you wont spend much time in 6th anyways. Lugging the engine in 6th gear will drive EGTs up, and with tuning they can easily get too high. Plus, if you run a lift and bigger tires without diff gear changes (as most do) then you'll be even further out in 6th gear. The duramax makes the meat of its power right about 2100-2500 RPM, so to try and tow something at 1800 is counterproductive.
The 6speed is a little stronger than the 5speed stock, but for my money i wouldnt run either one unmodified with anything other than stock tuning.
I tow with an 06 lbz 4 door long box and tow an 8x24 enclosed car hauler trail usually with 4-5 sleds in it also running an edge attitude withe juice controller. The egts don't run to high when pulling in the mountains once in a while they get up there on long pulls but that's with the cruise on at 80 mph and it holds 6th gear most of the time. The 6 speed is great for all around. Also the 06 on up have engin braking when in tow haul mode. A few years back on a trip west we had my 06 and a friends 05 sort box 4 door bothe running the same controller same 4 place trails with 4 sleds on each. The 06 got 2-3 miles a gallon better and didn't down shift as much as the 05 did on the longer pulls.
I was looking at the used market on LBZ's low mileage(50-75K), CCSB loaded....But they were so dang expensive. Then I looked at the LMMs, they were close to the price of the LBZs, but I ended up pulling the trigger on a new 14 LML Chevy. There were many reasons I went with the LML, stronger frame, drivetrain, tranny, motor, and now having custom tuning ability. Plus I will be the one to that puts all the miles on it. I already have full deletes, and H&S MCC with PPEI tune pack. I know my warranty is shot, but I wasn't ever planning on having a stock diesel, and most of the warranty issues on the LML is the dang emissions crap. But like Bugito said, what is your budget and what is your end goal? I always try a look at the vehicles potential and see if it a good platform to build on. I never keep my vehicles stock....
I love my '11 Denali LML but I miss being able to do some simple mods. 4" exhaust and a tuner to give me some additional power. I can't afford to lose my warranty. But the stock LML is a better truck than a stock LBZ. It hauls smoother, disc brakes on all four, traction control (nice for towing sleds), exhaust brake, remote starting (iphone app too!), AC seats and many other features. But still...I miss my LBZ.
J
joshua335
Well-known member
99% sure only the 2011+ trucks have engine braking... Yours has transmission braking... LML has both. I drive a fully deleted 2011 duramax, found the LBZ tricks were overpriced. I spent a little money and did full deletes for not too much more over a used loaded LBZ. Although my truck is SLE, so not apples to apples
S
skidoo2012
Active member
d-max
i have had a 04 LB7 and it pulled god i had edge evolution and 4 in turbo back loved it except the fact of putting two sets of injectors in and a high pressure pump...now have a 2008 and love it, EFI live S&B intake and 4 inch turbo back....havent had a single problem with it yet and pulls really good...
i have had a 04 LB7 and it pulled god i had edge evolution and 4 in turbo back loved it except the fact of putting two sets of injectors in and a high pressure pump...now have a 2008 and love it, EFI live S&B intake and 4 inch turbo back....havent had a single problem with it yet and pulls really good...
