buying a duramax help/ Update, bought a truck!!!

[gonefishin]

I am looking to buy a fully loaded crew cab 4x4 duramax in the next month or so. I am 99% sure that I want an 06 or 07 lbz. Is there anything I should be looking out for? I want one with around 100k maybe 150k if the price is right.

I am also considering a 2012 and up even with the dpf and def. Even though they are way pricier. I just don't want the 2007.5 to 2011 because of reduced mileage and dpf and i don't like the body style as much.

Any advice? I have never owned a diesel. Anything that is prone to go out on these?

Thanks guys

 

[Avery4jc]

As a Cummins fan-boy I'm required to insert some smart comment here about how you should forget the Duramax and buy a Dodge!

In reality though those are great trucks. Sure the IFS tends to eat parts especially if you lift them or put big tires on but every truck has it's weakness. Sometimes I wish my Dodge had a solid trans like the Allison behind it. I've been in enough Chevys over the years to realize they are superior when it comes to that department (especially noticeable when towing).

Interiors are also quite nice in that era. We have three Chevy shop trucks, two of which are '07 classic body style and even with 150k miles on them the interiors are perfect. No rattles, no rips, comfy as day one.

As far as your comment of never owning a diesel. They're great! BUT sometimes repairs can get expensive. That being said I've daily driven and towed with a diesel for about 5 years now in two different Dodges and sure I've had some hiccups but nothing major. I keep a $1k minimum emergency-oh-crap-something-broke fund earmarked for my daily driver just in case.

 

[rjfguitar]

The LBZ trucks are pretty solid, IIRC. They were the result of 5+ years of R&D with the Dmax/Allison combo.

The bad part is they are starting to get older at this point. An '06 is 9 years old now. Most of these trucks are not garaged as they are too long for most people's cookie cutter houses with Prius garages. At this point, paint issues, faded plastic, cracked dashes really start becoming an issue in the hot parts of the country, and I'm sure rust would be an issue in the cold salt covered parts of the country.

Trying to find that "gem" of an LBZ will be tough at this point, and likely they will command a pretty penny too. My '06 3500 Cummins Mega cab is one of those trucks. Only 91K and has been garaged 23hrs of every day of it's life, these are hard to find though.

Oh, and you do plan on towing with this truck right? I always tell people that have no plans to actually pull any kind of trailer to just go buy a 1/2ton gasser, the Diesels just don't pencil out if you don't have stuff to pull. Registration costs, maintenance costs, fuel costs, over all cost of the vehicle doesn't come anywhere close to penciling out unless you need to move weight around.

 

[gonefishin]

Yes this will be for pulling. Travel trailer, my blazer, and boats. I have been tired of the lack of power that the last 2 gas trucks have when it comes to pulling.

I am looking to spend 20-25k on a truck. But most of the nicer ones that I really like are over 30k.... too much for a 9 year old truck if you ask me

Good call on keeping 1k in reserve for repairs.

 

[mtnman]

Stay away from the LMM

 

[rjfguitar]

I am looking to spend 20-25k on a truck. But most of the nicer ones that I really like are over 30k.... too much for a 9 year old truck if you ask me

Welcome to the Diesel market. My 06 is worth as much or more than what I paid for it 6 years ago.

Did you price a new truck? You are looking at $60K. The emissions junk has pulled the price up on new trucks, not to mention the cost of more gadgets and over all inflation. The 06-07 Dodges and LBZ Dmax trucks are a somewhat hot commodity. There are a lot of guys that want them due to the lack of a DPF, along with the rest of the emissions equipment on an 08+.

 

[gonefishin]

Stay away from the LMM

wow what happened here? was it yours?

 

[rebelgregory]

I am also considering a 2012 and up even with the dpf and def. Even though they are way pricier. I just don't want the 2007.5 to 2011 because of reduced mileage and dpf and i don't like the body style as much.

The LMM stopped in 2010. The LML was 2011 thru present. LBZs are popular b/c they weren't prone to injector failures and didn't have the emissions equipment. They're great engines, but over-priced. I have a 2011 LML and love it. I've gotten 23mpg and it has more power and torque than an LBZ. They're not tuner-friendly, but I don't need it to be.

If you're dead set on an LBZ. 2007 is the only year to have in my book. The 2006 had the 5 speed Allison (not 6). But 2007s are pricey, because everyone wants one.

 

[rjfguitar]

If you're dead set on an LBZ. 2007 is the only year to have in my book. The 2006 had the 5 speed Allison (not 6). But 2007s are pricey, because everyone wants one.

I believe this to be incorrect. IIRC, all LBZ's had the updated 6 spd.

 

[gonefishin]

I believe this to be incorrect. IIRC, all LBZ's had the updated 6 spd.

Yep that is correct. 2006 up is 6 speed i test drove 2 this week and 1 2005 5 speed. Big difference in power too

 

[mtnman]

wow what happened here? was it yours?

Broken crank at #1/2 rod journal, my research indicates that it's a really common fail point. Belongs to a customer of mine, will have 50ish hours in replacing the crank by the time I'm done...

 

[rebelgregory]

Yep that is correct. 2006 up is 6 speed i test drove 2 this week and 1 2005 5 speed. Big difference in power too

I stand corrected. The easiest way to tell is the "Duramax/Allison" badge on the doors (now on the hoods). If Allison is written in red, it's a 5 speed. Blue, it's a 6 speed.

 

[Tnsejed]

I've owned my 06 LBZ with 6 speed ally since new.

All LBZ's had the 6 speed. Basically the LBZ was really a 2006.5 year truck.

Not garaged (110k) and the paint still looks good. Plastic of course is a bit faded, but alot of the trucks had the painted plastic options, and not just regular black plastic.

Watch out for overly cranked torsion bars and trucks running hot tunes. If it was me I'd try to find a truck that has never had a tuner on it. Which may be a tall order.

I would also go ahead and say that no matter what you find with over 100k miles the driver seat leather is most likely going to be shot. It happens to all of them.

 

[gonefishin]

I've owned my 06 LBZ with 6 speed ally since new.

All LBZ's had the 6 speed. Basically the LBZ was really a 2006.5 year truck.

Not garaged (110k) and the paint still looks good. Plastic of course is a bit faded, but alot of the trucks had the painted plastic options, and not just regular black plastic.

Watch out for overly cranked torsion bars and trucks running hot tunes. If it was me I'd try to find a truck that has never had a tuner on it. Which may be a tall order.

I would also go ahead and say that no matter what you find with over 100k miles the driver seat leather is most likely going to be shot. It happens to all of them.

I have already ran away from 2 trucks that I really liked because they were tuned....

I have never owned a 4x4 ifs truck. What bad stuff does cranking the torsion bars do? I know it raises the truck some. I am looking at a truck now that seems to have them cranked a little.

 

[toomany]

Watch out for overly cranked torsion bars and trucks running hot tunes. If it was me I'd try to find a truck that has never had a tuner on it. Which may be a tall order.

I would also go ahead and say that no matter what you find with over 100k miles the driver seat leather is most likely going to be shot. It happens to all of them.

I'll also x2 on finding a stock(ish) one. Less chance it's been beaten hard.

The one I just picked up has 220k and the seats are like new. No cracks/rips/tears in any of them. Interior plastic is perfrct too.

Good clean ones are out there, just have to look hard and be ready to buy when you find it.

 

[Tnsejed]

^Damn dude. 220k and the seat is still good! I've never seen one like that, Awesome!

As far as cranking the TB's goes. From what we've seen a little is ok and can still give good balljoint life. Alot of crank means the truck is riding on the dropout stops, so the ride is ****. All the components are at their maximum angles during static ride height. And I have a theory it leads to inner tie rod premature failure. But the Inner tie rods suck anyways so maybe six of one half a dozen of another.

Also, super cranked TB's tends to lead to 315+ tire sizes on different rims with who knows what backspacing putting different moments on the hub assemblies, not to mention just strain from excessive tire size.

I feel the best thing is to leave the front suspension alone and stuff lasts pretty good. I also feel cranked TB's gives a glimpse into the previous owner and how they may have driven the truck.

 

[max 02]

Make sure it has oil in the transfer case! All years from 01 to 07 for sure not positive if the transfer case is different after those years, search "Pump Rub" Easy fix if the case doesn't have any holes in it.

Also the trany cooler lines leak on the LBZ trucks... they all do it in the 06/07s but if they blow you will be on the side of the road. They need to be upgraded or replaced. Not a big deal.

Hope you find a nice one! You will like it!

 

[rjfguitar]

I wouldn't be afraid of a tuned truck, depending on what has been done to it. With buying anything, you have to go on hacker patrol. You will know when you see a hackermobile. Cranked TB's, humungous tune, huge tail pipe, etc.

There are three kinds of mechanics in this world. People that are:
1. a real mechanic
2. someone that thinks they are a mechanic (hacker)
3. someone that should never even get near a socket set.

You want to find one from a person #1, or even #3 if they have enough sense to take it to a professional.

I wouldn't be afraid of a good clean truck that is not stock, if it looks like the owner knows what he is doing and is not a #2. With the age, you could likely even find a truck that has had the Allison gone through and replaced with good stuff like Suncoast for example. A daily drive tune, intake, exhaust, and a good trans upgrade is what I would want and would be on the look out for anyway.

 

[max 02]

I wouldn't be afraid of a tuned truck, depending on what has been done to it. With buying anything, you have to go on hacker patrol. You will know when you see a hackermobile. Cranked TB's, humungous tune, huge tail pipe, etc.

There are three kinds of mechanics in this world. People that are:
1. a real mechanic
2. someone that thinks they are a mechanic (hacker)
3. someone that should never even get near a socket set.

You want to find one from a person #1, or even #3 if they have enough sense to take it to a professional.

I wouldn't be afraid of a good clean truck that is not stock, if it looks like the owner knows what he is doing and is not a #2. With the age, you could likely even find a truck that has had the Allison gone through and replaced with good stuff like Suncoast for example. A daily drive tune, intake, exhaust, and a good trans upgrade is what I would want and would be on the look out for anyway.

That's what I would want!

 

[gonefishin]

So after much searching I gave up on finding the right used truck. I found a good deal on a 2015 duramax 4x4 Z71 LTZ. It has everything that I wanted and then some. I have never owned a fully loaded vehicle before. I love it!! plenty of power and drives amazing! I now have 120 miles on it.