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Old 03-07-2012, 06:34 PM   #1
Rondo
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Duramax/Allison Challenge

As we were coming up from mid Georgia and heading to Trenton we decide to take a shortcut and take Hwy 136! For your information Hwy 136 comes up and across Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain. We found this out to late and had no place to turn around once we started into it! The climb and decent is at least a 30 degree(estimate) trip both ways with numerous 15 mph hairpins both up and down! I figured I'd be giving the Duramax/Allison combo in my 2007 Chevy a challenge but to my surprise the combo handled the situation with no problems at all. I turn my monitoring system on the dash to the tranny temp to watch it and it only climbed about 15* in the climb. On the decent I put the trailer brake setting on 10 and down we headed! My navigator in the passengerseat was somewhat "white knuckled" on the way down but we made it with no problems. No hot brakes or anything on either the TV or the Monte. The engine braking worked as it was suppose to and I didn't have to use much brake pedal except for the inital first light touoh of the peddle. When we arrived at the campground, I told the manager how we got there and he said that our assent and decent is the steppest in the mountains around the area. He was really surprised about our adventure coming to Trenton!
 
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Old 03-07-2012, 06:48 PM   #2
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Good report Rondo. We love to go up in the Smokies and the old D/A does a great job. Hope to try the Rockies someday but not without advice received from this forum. Larry
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Old 03-08-2012, 02:16 AM   #3
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You just wanted to scare the DW bad enough she would want to skip the amusment parks I see a plan here to save the money lost on higher diesel prices
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Old 03-08-2012, 02:16 AM   #4
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The 06 07 DA best stock tow vehicle ever made!
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Old 03-08-2012, 02:33 AM   #5
southern thunder
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Congrats on a safe trip.
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Old 03-08-2012, 03:52 AM   #6
camper4
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I swear by my DA. Been across the country twice. Interstates and back roads. Someone at GM made a mistake when they put it together. It couldn't have been that good intentionally.
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Old 03-08-2012, 04:20 AM   #7
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by mlh

The 06 07 DA best stock tow vehicle ever made!
Lynwood
Wow, had to take a double look at the TV in the signature line, Lynwood. I do like our 2007 classic DA, but will add that I agree with your reference to the 06-07 stock models other than the second half of 2007 which introduced the new models. The introduction of the new models is what prompted me to instantly go out and purchase the Classic before they disappeared. One of the best decisions I ever made, after getting married of course!! (Brownie points!!!!)
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Old 03-08-2012, 04:40 AM   #8
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Rondo
Sounds like you will not have any trouble out west on the way to Quartzsite For the 2013 Circling.
Tell Mary we are proud of her for not getting out.
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Old 03-08-2012, 04:42 AM   #9
bullroc3
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I just started to subscribe to Consumer Reports. The first issue that we received is the "Best and Worst 2012 Cars". I looked over the issue and discovered something. On page 84, they list the "Used Cars to Avoid". Under Chevrolet, guess what they list? Yep, the 2006 Silverado 2500 turbodiesel. Don't know why!! We love ours and it does a GREAT job with the Montana. I don't put much faith in their reports.

They also list the '05 Chevrolet Cavalier. Well, guess what else we own? Yep!! Do we know how to pick 'em or what. We bought it brand new and have not had a stitch of problems with it. It is our winter car and it does GO IN THE SNOW!! Again, not much faith in their reports.
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Old 03-08-2012, 01:28 PM   #10
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I generally like CR but they are not always right or wrong. Just info to use.
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Old 03-10-2012, 04:10 PM   #11
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We love our 2008 GMC D/A combo. It has served us well. No problems with engine or transmission. As others have mentioned, when pulling a hill, I put the DIC on the transmission temp, and have never gone over 190 degrees. One thing I have noticed, and perhaps others with the D/A can chime in, is that when pulling a really long grade on a warm day, the engine temp will climb slowly to about 220 or so, and then the clutch on the fan will kick in (sounding like a jet engine) and the temp will fall right back to 190/200 degrees. I've read where this is normal. Anyone have the same thing happen to them?
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Old 03-11-2012, 01:54 AM   #12
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I have a new 2011 3500 Chevy DA LB with a factory exhaust brake-I had a 2008 F250 V10 with a tow command-truck pulled well but was a very hard ride! . I will test it out on a run to Norfolk from OH soon. This new truck is a great ride-I will also get to check the ride hooked up.
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Old 03-11-2012, 03:42 AM   #13
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That is normal, and now I experience the same thing with my new Ford as well. In defense of CR, there were some injector issues in 04-06 Duramax's with injectors going out at the 80-90K mileage mark, as well as a much smaller issue with head gaskets. Expensive repair if out of warranty. I never had a problem with my 05. Two folks here at the Park have had to have injectors redone to the tune of 6K this winter. Having said that, both still love their trucks!
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Old 03-11-2012, 04:09 AM   #14
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Hook, I can tell you that in October of '05 when I was traveling to Carson City, NV for the Rally paid for by Lippert at the time, my D/A combo never missed a stroke! I traveled I-80 with cruise set at 67 mph and the transmission in the tow/haul mode. That is when I learned what this old '05 Silverado was and still is today! I have mentioned before that, I can not give up this truck. Since then, Gail and I have also been on I-40 up thru and down the Smoky's with the cruise set at 62 to 64 mph. It is an amazing machine!
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Old 03-11-2012, 03:26 PM   #15
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Bingo I just think the 06 07 DA is a great truck. If I were to buy a new truck and was going to leave it stock I would buy one but I wouldn't leave it stock. After you get used to over 580 HP 400 just isn't enough. A new Ford I can get over 600 HP for under $2000. TO get that much power out of a DA would cost over $20,000, so I'm stuck with a Ford. Being stuck with a King Ranch really isn't too bad. It is a very nice truck, but then they all are.
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