2011 Chevy 3500HD - Montana Owners Club

Delaine and Lindy · 06-05-2011, 02:18 PM

We made our first pull today in the new 2011 Chevy 3500HD's. The last Chevy 3500HD was a 2008 and I must confess the 2011 Chevy 3500HD is AWESOME. Had to put it in Cruise Control, everytime I looked at the OD I was running 75+. Up the hill down the Hills it didn't matter. Awesome HP, I normally run 65 mph but the Duramax just wants to stroll. There is a improverment in the ride also, not as good as the Freightliner, but didn't cost as much either. Very impressed with the 2011 Chevy....

jdvier · 06-07-2011, 05:38 AM

I sold my 05 GMC with the duramax, GMC dealer problems in Grand Junction, Co. Purchased a f250 with powerstroke.
Wish I had a duramax again. You are right the duramax loves 75-85 range. I too used the cruise. Good luck and God bless

mhs4771 · 06-07-2011, 05:58 AM

Did you get a chance to make use of the Cruise Braking feature? Nice not disengaging the cruise when going down hill. Just love all the new features, except the DEF, but I guess it's something we have to live with. Save travels and enjoy that TV.

Delaine and Lindy · 06-08-2011, 03:22 AM

The Cruise and exhaust brake system works great.. As for the DEF, I think it will be a plus, I think the fuel mileage will be better and the system will last longer. Only have a 1,000 miles or so and haven't heard the regen yet. The DEF isn't new its been used for some time in other countrys. Talked to a Cummins Tech and he said the DEF is a plus for the life of the Duramax and in 2014 Cummins will have the DEF system, its in the Cab and Chassis now. DEF systems is in the Freighliners now.. If you upgrade Trucks you will in the future have the DEF systems.

Speaking of the exhaust brake I had the factory exhaust brake system on my 2006 Chevy Kodiak 4500 and it worked great. And if you don't like running the exhaust Brake system you can turn it off. However you have to remember to turn the system back on after shuting the engine off.

We have owned several Duramaxs the last being a 2008 3500HD I do think GM has a winner in the 2011's. Happy Trails.....

mhs4771 · 06-08-2011, 06:20 AM

Just wish there was a better way to know how much DEF was in the tank. My first warning told me I had 665 miles left. Per GM you're suppose to get a warning at 1000 miles. Lowest price I have found is at Wally World, same brand as sold else where for more. I have yet to be able to tell when it goes into regen, haven't noticed any difference. I've got just over 12,000 mile on mine, with 80 to 85 percent towing the Monty.

Safe travels and enjoy,

Delaine and Lindy · 06-08-2011, 09:35 AM

I agree there should be a gage to know how much DEF is in the tank. I bet in the 2012 GM Models there will be a gage.

binkyk · 06-09-2011, 10:56 AM

[quote]Originally posted by jdvier

I sold my 05 GMC with the duramax .Purchased a f250 with powerstroke.
Wish I had a duramax again. You are right the duramax loves 75-85 range.

Just curious... why don't you like the F-250 ?

Jdrobone · 06-10-2011, 02:58 AM

Just had my initial oil change in my 2011 3500 GMC dually. 4 gallons of DEF per 5000 miles costs about $28.00. 5 additional quarts of oil in my 2010 6.4 powerstroke (15 qts in the Ford vs 10 for the Duramax) cost about the same - I call it a wash and pick up 1.5 - 2.0 mpg when towing. Beautiful truck. Some say the price of DEF will come down as volume demanded by the new diesels goes up, we'll see.
Jerry

SlickWillie · 06-10-2011, 03:08 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mhs4771

Just wish there was a better way to know how much DEF was in the tank. My first warning told me I had 665 miles left. Per GM you're suppose to get a warning at 1000 miles. Lowest price I have found is at Wally World, same brand as sold else where for more. I have yet to be able to tell when it goes into regen, haven't noticed any difference. I've got just over 12,000 mile on mine, with 80 to 85 percent towing the Monty.

Safe travels and enjoy,

We don't have the DEF, but our best way to see regeneration mode is to have the DIC reading current MPG....we drop down to about 11.5 MPG.

mhs4771 · 06-10-2011, 03:44 AM

Check Wally World for DEF, just under $12 for 2 1/2 Gal container. Understand may even be cheaper at Pilot/Flying J, bulk is suppose to be about $2.75 per Gal, don't know what their packaged price is.

Jdrobone · 06-11-2011, 07:32 AM

Thanks for the heads-up on the DEF prices - those were dealer installed prices I quoted. My point being that the reduced volume of oil covered (more than covered at your prices) the cost of the DEF with the lower volume of oil in the Duramax versus the Powerstroke.
Jerry

mhs4771 · 06-11-2011, 10:41 AM

If you got that price from a GM Dealer you did good. Dealer where I purchased my truck wants $15.00 per Gal, told them don't expect me to by from you.

Jdrobone · 06-11-2011, 12:27 PM

Michele,
Yeah, that dealer is in Virginia. (GMC) don't blame u for not buying from your dealer. As you can see from the other posts that stuff doesn't really cost that much - been used in Europe for some time now. I also bought a gallon container from Pilot for $6 and some change for a backup.
Jerry

Delaine and Lindy · 06-11-2011, 12:52 PM

I have seen several different prices on the DEF. I haven't bought any yet since I only have about 1,200 miles on the clock. Just can't say enough about the 2011 Chevy 3500HD. Its just amazing the power and of course the Allison, really can't say enough about the Allison... The ride is much improved over the 2008 Chevy 3500HD we had.

The only issue is the Black interior DW just isn't going to like it. So ordered a 2012 Chevy as soon as the Dealership can order. Will add a electric sliding rear window and a Moon Roof and a different color interior for sure.... According to a GM Rep there will be very little changes in the 2012's. The grill and some change to the bumper??? Doesn't really matter as long as they don't change the Duramax or the Allison...

mlh · 06-12-2011, 04:31 AM

Well actually the Allison is set for a major upgrade in the next year or so. They just keep getting better.
Lynwood

Delaine and Lindy · 06-12-2011, 05:57 AM

For several years I really don't think the Allison could be improved. About the only changes there has been is to beef of the Allison to handle the power of the Duramax. I don't feel the Allison needs changing, depending on what GM does with HP and Torq. I'm satisfied with what the HP and Torq is now, its awesome.. Haven't found the sweet spot for the Duramax yet, but this was our first pull. Will hook to the Gooseneck and load up the John Deer Tractor and the equipment and the Gator this week, and it will a good test.

Jdrobone · 06-12-2011, 09:06 AM

According to my dealer the Allison was beefed up "considerably" (whatever that means) for the 2011 model year. 2012 is supposed to have the same Duramax so I don't know what additional enhancements would be necessary.
To each his own Lindy. I had a 2010 F350 dually with the electric sliding rear window, and the moonroof. In 12 months of driving I never opened either one a single time. I found this 2011 GMC dually 3500 without the elec rear window but couldn't find one without the moonroof, 'course it had other things I didn't want/need like the rear seat DVD player but with certain "packages" u get what u get, and I didn't want to wait on an order.
Jerry

Delaine and Lindy · 06-12-2011, 09:56 AM

I agree Jerry we had the Chevy and GMC 3500HD's and had the Sunroof and sliding rear window and had two of them had the hanging DVD player. The few times the Grandkids was riding in the Truck they watched the DVD but Delaine and I never watched. The Freightliner had the hanging DVD player and never used it at all.

I agree the 2012's will have very little change, but since we will be ordering the 2012 Chevy, we will order the sliding rear widow and the moonroof. I've decided to get the same interior Delaine has in her Tahoe, it will be Light Cashmere (like tan) the Tahoe is much cooler than the Black. I hate odering also, and our wait will be longer. We can't put the order in for a few more weeks. But we will run the 2011 Chevy until the 2012 arrives... I'm going to try and order it minus the pick-up bed. Happy Trails...

cdaniels · 06-12-2011, 01:37 PM

Been looking at possible a new purschase of the 3500 Chevy/GMC... I do not like the DEFT. but if you improve gas mileage it could equal out. How much gas mileage are you guys getting pulling a 3400 Montana with a 3500?

Jdrobone · 06-12-2011, 10:31 PM

My previous dually, the 2010 6.4 powerstroke got 8.5-10, depending on terrain - I don't have enough miles on this one (GMC) for a good read but seems to be 10.5 to 11.5, probably get a better read with more miles and with the engine broken in - less than 5K on it now. Also pulling a 2010 3400. Folks tell me the new Ford in-house engine gets better than the previous iteration as well.
Jerry

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