• Test drive and invite a professional check of all used Chevrolet Duramax vehicles prior to purchase to reduce the need for expensive after-market repairs.orange coupe image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
  
  The "Weekend Warrior" 2005 Chevrolet Silverado Duramax is a large, modifiable SUV-style vehicle that is dependable, comfortable to drive, high-performing and powerful. The Allison transmission and brakes are effective, but the mirrors, seating, traction and locks can suffer faults from time-to-time, according to the automobile website Edmunds.com.
  
  

Body, Build and Interior

• You can buy a two-door or four-door model of the Duramax with the new power sun-roof package. Both versions have a large, open, rear loading section for cargo. The box style can be either "fleetside" or "sportside." Options include a regular cab (6.5 foot), with additional extras like electric-adjustable seating and extended cab (8 foot) or a cab crew body. Duramax trucks have central locking that triggers using an electronic-style key fob system; automatic climate control and extendable mirrors for wider visibility.
  
  

Drive and Transmission

• All Duramax vehicles come with four-wheel drive as standard, but they can be put into tw-wheel drive, depending on the driver's requirements for off-road driving. The 2005 model has Allison transmission. The "Quadrasteer" four-wheel drive steering option is available for 1500 extended cab and 2005 crew cab pickups. All models have anti-locking brakes as standard equipment.
  
  

Engine and Fuel Economy

• The engine is 6.0 liters and has 8 cylinders. Not as efficient as some vehicles, the Duramax achieves 14 miles per gallon (mpg). Most Silverado vehicles have a catalytic converter system that meets ultra-low emissions standards. Trucks that come with the Vortec 6000 6.0L V-8 engine also have a dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) or bi-fuel system that enables them to function using either natural gas or gasoline. Light-duty trucks with smaller engines, such as the Vortec 5300 5.3L V-8, can run on a blend of 85 percent ethanol and gasoline. The alternator is a 145-amp standard component.
  
  

Dimensions and Weight

• As mentioned earlier, the wheel-base can be between 6.5 and 8 feet long. Weights vary between 1,500 (half-ton) models and 2,500 (three-quarter-ton) models. Capacity is between 1,295 and 4,047 pounds for the 2500 heavy-duty model. Gross vehicle weight ranges between 6,100 and 9,200 pounds. Standard tires include P245/70R17-108S all-season blackwall tires on light-duty two-wheel drive models and P265/70R17 all-season blackwall tires on heavy-duty four-wheel drive models, but drivers can upgrade them. The heavy-duty Duramax wheels are 16-inch.
  
  

Hybrid

• Rarer than the standard fuel vehicle, the hybrid that emerged in 2004 sells only in certain American states: California; Oregon; Washington; Alaska; Nevada and Florida. It has a hybrid Vortec 5300 V-8 engine with a 295 brake horsepower (bhp) and 335 pounds per foot of torque, which matches that of the non-hybrid counterpart.