L5P Duramax Tuning: The Wait is Almost Over

Posted on September 19, 2018November 30, 2018 by Kamil

The Problem

Things are changing in the automotive space. Automotive manufacturers are making a push to make vehicles uncrackable. 15 years ago, you could swap out the exhaust on your truck, or turn the pump for some quick horsepower gains without any issues! Recently, emissions devices were introduced to Diesel trucks to lower emissions output. These devices include DEFs, SCRs, and EGRs. These changes forced us to purchase a tuner to either work with emissions or disable them if you want to use a turbo back exhaust and other performance parts. Tuning always comes out quickly after a new motor is released. So why are we two years in and just now getting close to having L5P Duramax tuning available?

The answer? GM has worked very hard to make these trucks virtually uncrackable. By using state of the art security and encryption methods , they made it extremely difficult for most tuning companies to crack the ECMs and TCMs these trucks are equipped with. From what I understand, every truck is equipped with a different key exchange. This makes it impossible to create one tuning solution that could be implemented on every l5P. What’s worse is that if one manufacturer is doing this, it’s likely the others aren’t far behind. So to you Powerstroke and Cummins guys, enjoy it while you can!

The Solution for L5P Duramax Tuning

So how are we going to tune our L5P Duramax trucks? You can either compromise and purchase a generic tuner that doesn’t offer delete tuning or you have to swap your ECM and TCM. In the last couple of days, HPTuners has announced their L5P ECM and TCM exchange service. You send them your ECM and TCM and in exchange they will send you their modified version. The new, modified ECM and TCM will allow you to tune your truck. Several companies including duramaxtuner.com and PPEI are working on creating tunes for these new ECM’s. According to HP Tuners website, they will start shipping ECMs by September 21st. This ECM exchange service costs quite a bit, at $2500. This doesn’t include the tunes! We are anticipating costs of $4-5,000 to successfully tune your L5P.

5 Types of Truck Hitches

Posted on September 19, 2018October 13, 2018 by Kamil

When people hear the word hitch, they typically think of ball mounts. Hitches are the primary mechanisms that connect a tow vehicle and the trailer. In the case of receiver hitches, the hitch is what you insert your ball mount into. There are actually different types of hitches to pull different styles of trailers. Here is our brief breakdown:

Receiver Hitch

Receiver hitches are the most commonly and widely used. They are bolted on to the frame of the tow vehicle and feature a square tube that a ball mount shank can be inserted into. Depending on your vehicle, they can vary in size and weight capacity and are categorized by classes 1-5. A front receiver hitch is also available that is bolted in to the front of a vehicle’s frame and can be used for things like a snow plow or cargo carrier. To tow using a receiver hitch, you need a ball mount. If you don’t know what type of ball mount you should buy, click here. If you are going to be towing with your receiver hitch frequently, we recommend you invest in a high quality ball mount. We use our Gen-Y Rubber torsion hitch for heavy towing!

Gooseneck Hitch

Unlike standard receiver hitches, gooseneck hitches are mounted in the bed of your pickup, usually above your truck’s rear axle. Because of the location, the trailers weight is placed on the entire truck instead of just the back end. This allows for greater stability and greater tow capacity! We typically see goosenecks on equipment or livestock trailers.

5th Wheel Hitch

5th wheel hitches are also located in the bed of a pickup. Just like goosenecks, they are placed at or above the rear axle. They do take up more space though, as the coupling component is on the hitch instead of the trailer! We most commonly see 5th wheels used for towing campers or travel trailers.

Pintle Hitch

Pintle hitches also boast impressive tow ratings. Frequently used in construction, they have weight capacities up to 60,000 lbs GTW! With a pintle hitch, the pintle is attached to the truck and connects to the lunette on the trailer. With big commercial trucks, the pintle is often connected to the frame of the vehicle. They can also be inserted into the tube of a regular receiver hitch.

Bumper Hitch

Bumper hitches do exactly as the name implies, mount to your bumper. They actually have impressive tow capacity as well, but are limited by the weight capacity of your bumper.

Gas vs Diesel Trucks: Why Diesel has our Vote

Posted on September 14, 2018September 17, 2018 by Kamil

Is it worth buying a diesel? They typically cost more vs their gas counterparts as diesel engines are considered an upgrade. They cost more to maintain and fix and diesel prices are more expensive at the pump than regular gas. If you don’t know much about trucks and you’re just looking at price tags, it may be difficult to justify the purchase. Once you understand the benefits, however, there are actually a lot of reasons a diesel truck may hold greater value and be more practical for you. Here is why Diesel gets our vote.

Torque

When you see people towing heavy loads, it is usually by a Diesel. Let me give you an example to help you understand the difference between a gas and diesel full size truck. A 2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon equipped with the best in class 6.4L Hemi has 410 Torque lb/feet. That same year truck equipped with a 6.7L Cummins produces over 800 lb/feet of torque. You’ll find the same scenario regardless of which make of truck you choose. There are a variety of reasons why diesel trucks produce more torque, with the main reasons being turbo boost, stroke length, and cylinder pressure. They are actually more efficient as well. Because of its much higher torque, a diesel will be able to pull a heavy load at a much lower rpm range resulting in your truck not having to work as hard.

Longevity

When was the last time you saw a gas truck running well at over 200,000 miles? Diesels are built to be abused, and for a long time at that. It’s very common to see Diesels with more than 200,000 miles. Many have even made it to a million miles! I personally have a 1984 Ford F-250 with 6.9 IDI motor in it and it just hit over 200,000 miles. If you’re planning on putting mileage on your truck or keeping it for a long time, diesel is the way to go!

Fuel Economy

As if power and longevity aren’t enough, Diesels get better fuel economy as well. In the last couple of years, 1/2 ton trucks have started to come out with diesel engines too! Both Ram’s EcoDiesel and Ford’s 3.0L Powerstroke are capable of getting close to 30 mpgs on the highway and over 20 mpg in the city. Even the big, 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are getting close to 20 mpg highway. Add a trailer or bigger wheels and tires and any truck will suffer mpg wise. In my experience, i’ve always experienced less of a drastic drop in mpg in a diesel.

More Aftermarket Add-Ons

My favorite thing about diesels is that they have so many aftermarket products available to improve your truck’s horsepower, torque, and fuel economy! Gas trucks have some aftermarket parts too, but performance wise the parts just don’t make as much of a difference. Tunes, turbo kits, fuel system upgrades, and exhausts make a huge difference in diesel trucks. There are numerous diesels making 1000+ horsepower and 2000 torque. Yes, I understand this doesn’t make for a practical daily driver. The point i’m trying to get across is that with a diesel you have a lot more options and ways to customize your truck to make it the perfect truck for you.

Depreciation

Being an old sales consultant at a car dealership, I got to witness depreciation in all its glory on a daily basis. The older your truck gets, the more miles you put on it, and whether you’ve been in an accident all can have a huge impact on your truck’s value. There are more factors that affect depreciation too. With that being said, Diesel trucks depreciate much less! Take a look at craigslist, an 02 F-250, 7.3 Powerstroke with under 200k miles can still be sold for $10-15000. That just doesn’t happen with gas trucks. You may have to pay more initially, but you will get more later!

Summing It All Up

Diesel trucks can cost you more money, but if you can afford it, we think you should consider making the upgrade. Whether you buy a Duramax, Powerstroke, or Cummins you’ll never want a gas truck again. Diesel trucks are more powerful, last longer, and get better fuel economy! If you’re someone that likes to customize your truck, they have more performance options available. You will find out when you go to trade or sell your truck that they depreciate less too! Convinced you should buy a Diesel yet? The next decision is even harder. Which Diesel truck is the best for you? Powerstroke, Cummins, or Duramax? We’ll be doing write-ups about all of them soon, to help you out!

Picking the Right Ball Mount for Your Truck

Posted on September 13, 2018September 13, 2018 by Kamil

So you bought a truck. Now it’s time to put all that torque to use pulling your boat to the lake. Before you can get out there though, you need a ball mount! With hundreds of different options out there ranging from cheap to really expensive it can be hard to make a decision. Where do you start? What are some important qualities to look for in a ball mount? How much should you spend? Let us, at Diesel Resource, help you out!

Start with Size

Size is important when it comes to your ball mount. You need to select the right receiver size otherwise you will need an adapter. Receiver size depends on the class of hitch your truck is equipped with. There are five classes that are based off of weight. It varies, but most full size trucks will have a class IV or V receiver. It’s best to check your truck’s specifications to see what you can safely tow and then buy the hitch accordingly. It is so important to know what your trailer weighs and always make sure your hitch and ball mount are up to the task!

Is your truck lifted, or do you plan on modifying the tires or suspension in the future? You might need an adjustable ball mount! You want your trailer running parallel to the ground when connected to the truck to maximize stability and control. If your truck sits too high or too low it could be an issue! With adjustable ball mounts, you can adjust the height of the ball mount up or down to make sure you’re hooking up the trailer to the correct height. For extreme differences of height, you may need to add a stabilizer kit to maintain full tow capacity. For regular circumstances, it’s not required. We actually always purchase adjustable hitches for our personal trucks, even if it’s just for small adjustments.

Important Features in a Ball Mount

There are some basic features we think you should consider when purchasing your ball mount. Here is our list:

Adjustability: If you have a lifted truck, you need a ball mount with this feature.
Ball Size: Make sure the ball mount you purchase has the proper ball mount for the trailer you pull.
Invest in a Dual Ball or Tri-Ball: If you’re going to be pulling different types of trailers, you should invest in a multi-ball hitch. This makes changing ball sizes really easy and less time consuming.
Finish: I spend a great deal of time polishing up my truck, and it’s important to me that my hitch looks up to par! If you’re not going to be towing super heavy, an aluminum hitch may make sense! It will keep your hitch from becoming corroded and look good when towing!

How Much Should I Pay for a Ball Mount?

There are so many ball mounts out there that you can purchase, but it really comes down to how often you’re going to use it, and how heavy you are going to tow. If you’re going to tow infrequently, a cheaper option probably makes the most sense. You should also consider the features that are important to you. If you drive a stock truck, you don’t need to invest in a 12” Drop hitch. Be honest with yourself about what features you need, and base your decision on that. A standard ball mount of good quality shouldn’t cost more than $200, with many being way less than that. Even adjustable ball mounts will be around that figure.

If you’re going to tow frequently and with heavy loads, I recommend you invest in a better ball mount. There are some really high quality products that can have a big impact for someone who tows frequently. They may be more expensive up front, but it will be worth it. Read the next section for some luxury features for those of you who tow frequently.

Ball Mounts for Frequent Towers:

If you are someone that uses your truck to pull a trailer a lot you should consider investing in a better hitch that has some premium features. Here are some features we recommend:

Tongue Weight Scale: If you’re no stranger to towing, you know how important tongue weight is. It used to be a pain in the @$$ to calculate, but thanks to some innovative minds in the industry, there are now ball mounts with built-in tongue weight scales! Protect yourself from trailer sway by staying in that 10-15% sweet spot.
Torsion System: Your truck and trailer can take a beating going over rough roads, potholes, and bumps. With a standard hard-connection hitch, 100% of that inertia is transferred between the truck and the trailer when you hit a bump. With torsion hitches, however, only 10% of that inertia is transferred. This results in a much more comfortable and stable ride. It also saves your truck and trailer from metal fatigue as a result!

We recently reached out to one of the most innovative companies in the space, Gen-Y! They manufacture hitches, ball mounts, and more to help create a truly different towing experience. When it comes to features, our 16k Adjustable Torsion Hitch is packed with them. We use it on our L5P Duramax. It has both a mechanical tongue weight scale and a patented torsion system to make towing easier than it has ever been before. Check out our review of Gen-Y’s torsion hitch to find out more by clicking here.

Gen-Y Adjustable Torsion Ball Mount Hitch — The Gen-Y 16K Torsion Drop Hitch I Use on my Truck

Gen-Y 16K Torsion Drop Hitch Product Review

Posted on September 7, 2018June 17, 2019 by Kamil

Do you actually use your truck? Whether you have expensive toys you haul to the Mud bog for the weekend or heavy trailers you have to pull for work, Gen-Y has the hitch for you. They are the “Towing Gurus” and have a huge variety of products available on their website that will save you wear and tear on your vehicle and trailer, while also making towing around that huge load a breeze. Not only are they reliable and essentially bulletproof products, but they’re assembled and manufactured in the USA! I’m a huge supporter of American made products so naturally this was a huge selling point to me. They have tons of convenient accessories that you can use with their hitches like hitch steps, hitch tighteners, and pintle hooks and were also recently awarded with the #1 Best Loading Ramps in the Country for their Gen-Y Ramps!

We recently contacted Gen-Y about their patented Torsion Drop Hitch for our own L5P Duramax and were BLOWN away by the results. These guys are doing it right! Even the package they shipped the product in was bulletproof. It consisted of two separate boxes, one inside the other, filled with styrofoam blocks to keep the product safe! I manage an AC company and frequently witness expensive, damaged equipment from manufacturers. It’s very nice to see a manufacturer that cares about their product and their customers enough to package their products the RIGHT WAY. There wasn’t a single scratch or defect with the product, leaving us at Diesel Resource thrilled!

I don’t think i’ve ever been so excited about a hitch in my entire life. I watched a Semi back into our loading area at the shop and load this package on a hand truck! A hand truck! The package was 100 lbs! After ripping open the packaging like a little kid at Christmas time, there it was, a massive powder coated rubber torsion drop hitch rated at 16,000 lbs. The finish is really fantastic. It’s not painted like many of the cheaper hitches out there, and will help keep the hitch pretty for a long time to come. All the hardware and components of the hitch are extremely heavy duty, allowing you to worry about the job at hand, and not if your hitch, truck, or trailer is up to the task. One really neat feature this hitch is equipped with is a mechanical tongue weight scale. This will help you prevent any dangerous trailer sway that could occur when pulling your trailer. It also has adjustable Anti-Rattle screws that help keep your hitch snug inside of the receiver tube it’s in. The Ball Mount can be adjusted up or down to accommodate any truck as long as you purchase the proper drop size. They have options available up to 21″ of drop, so even your mud truck could have a fully functioning hitch if you wanted it to.

I never thought a hitch could genuinely make a truck look better, but this hitch is an absolute beast. It’s quite heavy, so it’s probably best to ask for a buddies help to install it. I’m a big guy so I got it on by myself, but boy what a difference compared to my old hitch. I was rear-ended in my Megacab not too long ago. There was no damage because of the hitch, but I can’t even imagine what that lady’s mini van would’ve looked like after running into this brick wall that Gen-Y created.

Here’s some ways you’re missing out by NOT having a Gen-Y Rubber Torsion Bar Drop Hitch:

The tow vehicle and trailer track independently giving you greater control and added safety by reducing sway and trailer bounce.

Greatly increase braking control since all the weight on the tow vehicle and trailer is distributed evenly.

With Rubber Torsion Hitches only 10% of the trailer inertia transfers compared to 100% using a hard connection hitch giving you the ultimate control.

Bumps, potholes, expansion joints, curves, hills, and other drivers can be a hazard, keeps you under control when confronted with these conditions.

Save Gas & Your Tires: The 90% smoother ride allows you to glide instead of bounce increasing gas mileage.

Reduces trailer and content fatigue. Metal fatigue caused by traditional towing results in your trailer and its contents taking a beating. Products increase life and help hold value!

Drive a show truck that doesn’t get used very often? This is, in our opinion, the ONLY hitch that will make a big statement on your show truck. Nothing says “I’m A Bad@$$” like a 100lb powder coated Gen-Y Drop hitch on the back of your truck.

Diesel Resource | Your go-to diesel experts

Month: September 2018