Does anyone tow their boat with a Chevy Silverado LT with the 5.3 DFM and 8 speed? I'm close to buying a 2020.
Does anyone tow their boat with a Chevy Silverado LT with the 5.3 DFM and 8 speed? I'm close to buying a 2020.
Phoenix 921ProXP Mercury 250 ProXS
I had the 5.3 GMC and it towed fine. I now have the 6.2, and it is not a huge change when towing.
I would love to see a thread with performance from the various brands of trucks and motors. Don't want to steal the thread so might start a new one.
I would like to hear about the new baby Duramax 3.0 towing a full sized Bass Boat. That engine with a 10 speed transmission really intrigues me.
It doesn’t answer your question exactly but I have a 2004 with a 5.3 in it and it toes my 721 just fine. I can only imagine the eight speed will be much smoother. And I know the current 5.3 L engine is much more powerful than mine.
2012 Phoenix 721 pro xp / 250hp SHO
2003 Skeeter TZX-190 / 150hp OX66
I tow my 721 with the ford 3.0 diesel. 17-19 on hwy going 75. great truck for towing bass boats. my last suburban 5.3 did 9-10 on average. the ford's torque is perfect for towing
I have a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 with a 5.3. It tows really well, and I normally get 11-14 mpg with my 721 in tow.
2022 Phoenix 721 / 250 Mercury ProXs / MK Ultrex
HB Helix 12 G4N / Garmin 106sv / Livescope
I had a 2016 GMC All Terrain with the 8 speed, and it had plenty of power to pull, but on semi-hilly terrain it was terrible. That 4 cylinder / 8 cylinder technology was junk. I have a 920 and when the elevation was semi-hilly it couldn’t figure out whether to be in 4 cylinder or 8 cylinder mode and the transmission would start to shutter. Too many roads like that here in Alabama. If it was like other manufacturers were you could turn that off I’d probably still have the truck. Took it to the dealer a few times, nothing they could do. I traded it in because I was fed up with shutter and shaking with the undecided 4 cylinder / 8 cylinder mode. I drove Chevy for years and purchased my first Toyota Tundra - I absolutely love it. 5.7 liters of V8 with no 4 cylinder / 8 cylinder mode just full power when I need it. It’s only a 6 speed but the gears are perfectly spaced and so smooth. I never even considered a Tundra because of all the gas mileage stories, and wow I should have done this a long time ago. I get one to maybe two mpg less than the 5.3 with cylinder shut down technology..... I’m sure I’ll get bashed for this but I’m just being honest, IN MY OPINION in the 1500 class the Tundra is one of the only remaining “trucks” out there. All the others are so caught up on technology it’s crazy. All those fancy features, who will be the first with a 50” screen from dash to floor, some with electric motors to assist off the line etc. heck when will they have massaging seats with back rub feature..... all that will be real nice when your out of warranty and you have to take out a second mortgage to fix it. Just something to think about. I have a Tundra limited and it has the perfect amount of features and EVERYTHING works as it should all the time. The couch for a back seat is just a bonus.
Last edited by Hooked247; 05-17-2020 at 10:14 AM.
I had a 2011 Yuk until a year ago with 5.3L with AFM and 6-pd tranny. I had the AFM tuned off. Was a great car and tow vehicle. Didn't even have it setup perfectly either, with 3.08 gearing.
2017 Phoenix 819
2016 200ProXS, s/n 2B359849, Mod 1200P73BD
I'll also add, though disposed as butt-ugly when the new body style came out, it has grown on me. I think it makes a difference what trim package you select, but I've seen some that look really good. Just wish GM would come out with a competitive engine similar to the EcoBoost.
2017 Phoenix 819
2016 200ProXS, s/n 2B359849, Mod 1200P73BD
Said goodbye to my tundra and got the Chevy. First Chevy ever for me. Trailering to Cayuga next week. I'll find out if it's got enough hp going around the hills there. Report to follow.
BTW. All around driving I'm getting 20 mpg.
Phoenix 921ProXP Mercury 250 ProXS
Be a good test. I'm convinced that trip is uphill both ways.Originally Posted by PhoenixDrew
2017 Phoenix 819
2016 200ProXS, s/n 2B359849, Mod 1200P73BD
IMG_20200515_160402.jpg
The new rig.
Phoenix 921ProXP Mercury 250 ProXS
Nice looking rigs, you’ll like that Ghost mounted on the front!
Just got back from trailering to Cayuga with the new truck. It performed great. Plenty of power. 13.3MPG cruising 75MPH. But when I was on back roads I got better. Hills were no problem. I'd recommend the truck.
Phoenix 921ProXP Mercury 250 ProXS
Thanks for the update. Technology in trucks has came quite a ways. I had 1999 Explorer with a v6 and it got 16mpg normal driving. Amazing the mileage and power they are getting now.
Around town, without a boat behind me, I get 22-24 MPG. Just can't get used to the engine shutting off at lights.
Phoenix 921ProXP Mercury 250 ProXS
i tow my 21 PHX with the new 3.0 L duramax and its awesome. I hadnt ever really driven a diesel prior, except fro some crappy GOV trucks so wasnt real familiar. The power is just there when you need it. IMO, its about the perfect setup for pulling a bass boat. Never tried the ecoDiesel pulling anything so i cant compare. But what i can say is that driving an unloaded ecoDiesel versus the duramax, the duramax wins IMO.
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