Alaska to the Lower 48 - will my DMax make it?

[AKfish]

I'm planning to drive down the Al-Can Hwy and pick up a new 20' (23' OAL) 14K bumper pull trailer in early June. Driving back at the end of June with a 3pt 60 gallon sprayer, manure spreader, plastic baling twine, silage bale wrap, stall mats, heated horse waterer.

No real idea of total weight just yet... or it the load will all fit on the space available. However, flexibility and adaptability is paramount - so, I'll haul what I can!!

Nonetheless, I'm not sure if my DuraMax will make it for a 7th trip... It's an '03 with ~135K miles and has had 2 serious breakdowns... one, a transmission cooler line seeping and a rear axle seal! Consistent low 20's mpg on the highway and 10-14mpg towing. Otherwise, the valve covers look just like the day I drove it home.

I thought that I might be having injector problems 'cause there was more smoke than I recalled and more diesel odor. But, it fires right up and has never failed to start even at minus -35F. Towed a 1,200lb load with my 4,700lb goose neck trailer last week and only used 1/4 tank @ 138 miles. So, the mileage is still reasonable; I think.

Might have been a slug or two of the red, bottle Power Service in all my fuel tanks that made for all the stink!

Maybe I should be seriously considering an Eco-Max or some other truck..??

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

AKfish

 

[jpm1]

Well IMO the problems you listed are minor, and at 135,000 your just getting broke in. My old GMC had 263,000 when it died. It was a gasser and the frame was shot in several places, the cause of death resulted in a timing chain that just up and disappeared! You have a lot of life lift but you might want to check the air filter because of excessive smoking and maybe the injectors too! I'de make the trip if itwas me, but then again thats my opinion . . .Good luck and wish you a safe trip . . .John

 

[Turbys_1700]

I would not be overly concerned...
I put 225K miles on my last Cadillac and 185K on the other one...
My Buick has 160K and till going strong...
I know that a truck is a different animal but your DMax should be up to the task...
My F350 has left me stranded twice...
Once for a fuel pump and the other time for a fuse...
Still had to get the darn thing towed and one of those times it was camping pulling a fifth wheel camper...
You just never know but I keep my vehicles serviced like you do and trust them to be trouble free on the road...
Sometimes things just happen that we have no control over but good maintenance certainly helps out...
Once during Christmas we left to go see my in laws in Tennessee...
Roughly a 275 mile trip...
My old Cadillac was running well but I just had a water pump installed...
My mechanic did not replace the water pump seal gasket located behind the pump and the car developed a leak on the trip...
I stopped at a rest area half way up in the mountains while it was snowing and added water...
Made it another 125 miles to my destination, put in water pump sealer from Autozone, and made it home with no issues...
However, my rear end was puckered up the whole time...
Got back and my mechanic repaired the bad seal...
Inspect your truck and take off...

 

[bucktaker]

I want nothing to do with the newest diesels of any manuf. The emissions has stripped the guts right out of them . Maintain your truck, plan for the unknown and drive it till it will not go.

Wish I had my 2000 F250 7.3 PSD back
2003 6.0 PSD F350 ok truck but ate turbos
2007 GMC 3500 crew dmax last of the good non emissions ones

 

[Dmace]

The red bottle Power Service (911) is ONLY for fuel that's already gelled. Your not using it on a regular basis, right?

Other than that, it sounds like the truck is up for the task. I would certainly go through it checking all the fluids, brakes, replace air filter and bring a bottle of Power Service (white-for every tank) and (red-for emergencies). Also, look for an exhaust leak before the dpf, that may be your extra diesel smell.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would sell it and pump more money into the government owned and ran GM by buying a brand new one.

This is a joke for your sensitive types.

Chris

 

[radioman]

The red bottle Power Service (911) is ONLY for fuel that's already gelled. Your not using it on a regular basis, right?

I was gonna say the same thing when I read his post.

As for wil dmax make it - well diesel likes to run......

 

[lostcause]

in today's world of vehicles 135k is not anything major for mileage. pretty much any new vehicle should be capable of 200k without any major issues as long as it is maintained reasonably well. there are always exceptions of course.

leaking lines and seals are problems that can go wrong with any vehicle and really don't constitute major problems, though when you are 1000 miles from home, anything can be a major issue if you have downtime. a new vehicle could have a breakdown too, but at least the repair would be covered by warranty, though getting a trailer towed, downtime, hotel stays, and extra meals can add up fast.

the older duramax engines are prone to injector issues, and they are an expensive animal to fix, and when you are on the road you don't usually have the ability to price shop. a full injector replacement can easily run $2500-$4000 and possibly more. make sure to check the exact date the truck went in service, since the lb7 injectors had a warranty bump up to 8 years/200k miles. since you have an 03 it sounds like you're past it now, but if the truck happened to be sold as a leftover you might still be covered.

edit: the lengthened injector warranty was only 7 years and not 8, so it looks like there's probably zero chance of that still being in effect.

 

[Dmace]

I would sell it and pump more money into the government owned and ran GM by buying a brand new one.

This is a joke for your sensitive types.

Chris

No it's not and your pathetic...

 

[Diamondpilot]

The red bottle Power Service (911) is ONLY for fuel that's already gelled. Your not using it on a regular basis, right?

Other than that, it sounds like the truck is up for the task. I would certainly go through it checking all the fluids, brakes, replace air filter and bring a bottle of Power Service (white-for every tank) and (red-for emergencies). Also, look for an exhaust leak before the dpf, that may be your extra diesel smell.

No dpf in a 03.

Chris