The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - Looking to buy a 02 duramax need some help!

JohnC · 03-17-2010, 09:37 AM

I have the 1500HD Crew cab Short Bed 4x4. Around town driving mostly I get around 12mpg. The best I have got out of it I did a whirlwind trip to Dallas and back. It was exactly a full tank of gas trip. I filled up, drove about 70-75mph down the interstate, and back, and had to fill up when I pulled back into town. I had just installed my soft tonneau cover on the truck too, and I got 14.5mpg.

When we were looking for another truck for our business we were actually looking for a 2500HD Duramax Crew cab. Since we already had one we knew what to expect from it. I did drive a couple of the 2500HD's with the 6.0 in them, and they felt sluggish to me. The engine just didn't seem to have the power I would expect it to have. Now in the 1500HD's there seemed to be just enough difference in weight that the 6.0 works really well in it. Unloaded that is. I have a 24' gooseneck trailer. When I load it up it doesn't pull near as well as the 02 Duramax we have, which is expected. It struggles mostly from the start. Once you get to speed it handles the load fine, except on steep hills and such. With the trailer brakes it stops it fine as well. In my situation I don't pull everyday with it, maybe once every other week or so. If I pulled more regularly I wouldn't bother with the 6.0, I would go for the Duramax. We bought the 1500HD because a good friend of ours was going to trade it in on a new truck, so he made us a sweet deal on it since the dealership wasn't giving him squat for it. That and since we had the 02 Duramax we knew that the 1500HD was really a secondary truck anyway.

I would just really look at what your needs for the truck will be. The Duramax's will pull just about anything you put behind them, and you get good mpg's out of them to boot. However the maintenance costs are a little more. The cost of diesel where I live is just a little higher than gas. So the difference in mpg's probably equals out. The initial cost is usually more as well, but if you need the power then it's money well spent.

I hope I haven't rambled on too much, and have answered some of your questions.

03-17-2010, 09:37 AM	#7
JohnC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 7,461	Re: Looking to buy a 02 duramax need some help! I have the 1500HD Crew cab Short Bed 4x4. Around town driving mostly I get around 12mpg. The best I have got out of it I did a whirlwind trip to Dallas and back. It was exactly a full tank of gas trip. I filled up, drove about 70-75mph down the interstate, and back, and had to fill up when I pulled back into town. I had just installed my soft tonneau cover on the truck too, and I got 14.5mpg. When we were looking for another truck for our business we were actually looking for a 2500HD Duramax Crew cab. Since we already had one we knew what to expect from it. I did drive a couple of the 2500HD's with the 6.0 in them, and they felt sluggish to me. The engine just didn't seem to have the power I would expect it to have. Now in the 1500HD's there seemed to be just enough difference in weight that the 6.0 works really well in it. Unloaded that is. I have a 24' gooseneck trailer. When I load it up it doesn't pull near as well as the 02 Duramax we have, which is expected. It struggles mostly from the start. Once you get to speed it handles the load fine, except on steep hills and such. With the trailer brakes it stops it fine as well. In my situation I don't pull everyday with it, maybe once every other week or so. If I pulled more regularly I wouldn't bother with the 6.0, I would go for the Duramax. We bought the 1500HD because a good friend of ours was going to trade it in on a new truck, so he made us a sweet deal on it since the dealership wasn't giving him squat for it. That and since we had the 02 Duramax we knew that the 1500HD was really a secondary truck anyway. I would just really look at what your needs for the truck will be. The Duramax's will pull just about anything you put behind them, and you get good mpg's out of them to boot. However the maintenance costs are a little more. The cost of diesel where I live is just a little higher than gas. So the difference in mpg's probably equals out. The initial cost is usually more as well, but if you need the power then it's money well spent. I hope I haven't rambled on too much, and have answered some of your questions.