Lil Red - Duramax 6600/Allison 1000 Conversion & OBS/NBS Dash Conversion

[DmaxMaverick]

....I wish there was more emphasis on fuel economy for the new Duramax 6600 powered trucks.

There was. Until the EPA/CARB got in the way. Burning 25% more fuel for 5% improved emissions never made sense to me. It started in the 70's.

Nice looking post office.

[More Power]

There was. Until the EPA/CARB got in the way. Burning 25% more fuel for 5% improved emissions never made sense to me. It started in the 70's.

Nice looking post office.

Yes, emissions compliance is a big part of it. So is the "big-n-tall" trend.

Back in 2017 I drove a Ford Budget box truck that had a loaded 16' enclosed box (furniture and household goods) and towed a car dolly with a Malibu on it from Montana to Tucson - about 1300 miles. That Budget truck was equipped with Ford's 5.3L (if I remember correctly), which produced an impressive 11-mpg for the trip. It never overheated and the A/C worked perfectly even with the baking temps we saw along the way - it was late August. At the time, I thought that that level of fuel economy, with that load, makes it hard to justify buying a diesel on a fuel economy argument alone.

Now, in defense of diesel - I wish my 2001 GMC had had its head gaskets replaced before this 2017 Tucson trip. I would have driven my crew cab Duramax and towed as large a box trailer as U-Haul/Budget offered. Sarah would have had to drive her Malibu, but the trip would have been more comfortable and relaxing. Hills and the Interstate would have been an easy run, and the GMC would have produced better fuel economy. But... there are many reasons (that most diesel owners are familiar with), beyond fuel economy, that make a diesel pickup a better choice for hauling/towing.