i have the 6.2L. 91 Octane (or research grade as it’s called) is hard to find. I run 89 in mine and have had no issues for 76000 miles. I’ve parked it now and will only use it to haul my boat since I bought Lexus GX 460 yesterday!Originally Posted by MichaelJ3
Wish i had the same luck with the 5.3 as everyone else. I have a 2018 silverado 1500 with the 5.3, 3.42 gears that is a dog. It isn't in the same ball park, towing wise compared to my 2014 f150 with the 5.0. If you want a 1500 that will tow get a tundra.
Pulling in L5? If not, do it. Significantly more torque, less shifting, and better mileage.
John Clark — Findlay, Ohio
John, what do you mean, pulling in L5? Thanks!
Pull it in 5th gear instead of 6th. 5th is still an overdrive, but it's not as tall a gear as 6th plus it locks out he AFM when you take it out of drive.
Are you talking about the Tow/Haul Mode?
Nope, pull it down in 5th gear. Tow Haul just changes the shift points and lets it down shift going down a mountain etc... Putting it in 5th gear manually locks out 6th gear. It'll still down use all the other gears in the transmission as you slow down, stop etc...
You can Google using Silverado in "M5" and find several articles on people having issues with GM's transmissions unshifting too soon. MY 2014 6 speed did this and it drove me nuts. You either had to drive it like you stole it or drive it like an 80 year old man trying to get the best possible MPG. There was no 1-1 gear ratio in my 6 speed. Fourth gear was an under drive and 5th and 6th were both overdrives. While I liked the smooth shifts compared to the old 2008 4 speed 3.73 I traded in I sure missed the 3rd gear 1-1 option. I got that back with my Tundra's. 4th gear in them is a 1-1 with the 4.30 rear end. I seldom need it, but when you do it'll pull a damn house LOL.
You CAN use Tow Haul, but my GM owners manual said it was for towing 75% of the rated weight. No bass boat that I know of weighs that.
I pulled a Cat Cougar all over the place with GM's, heck I even pulled it with a 4.0L 4-Runner. I just had to be careful and leave extra stopping room in the Runner. You CAN pull that big Ranger with the Silverado!!! It just doesn't pull it with the same authority as the Tundra, Eco Boost Ford, or Hemi Ram without the 6.2 in the GM.
A popular option with 5.3L GM owners is installing a tuner that electronically reprograms the factory shift points and disables the cylinder shut off. I worried about the warranty since my 2014 stayed in the shop for warranty issues and my 2008 blew up with 40,000 miles on it.
The problem with the new trucks is the EPA, and manufacturers worrying about fuel mileage. These trucks have the horsepower at the crank to tow well, but due to drive by wire and other torque management systems it just kills the power. The new trucks like my 2018 silverado loves to run in 3rd and 4th gear. As previous poster said new trucks upshift to soon, and that coupled with torque management makes the truck feel like a dog. I usually lock my truck out of 5th and 6th, and run around town in 1-4th gear and truck does great. In 4th gear at 55mph it turns about 2200rpm and that seems to be its happy place.
That is very interesting! You learn something everyday. I didn't know people were driving in M5 until I saw it on here and googled it. May have to check this out. Thanks!
FWIW, i tow my 1850 LS with 150 4s with my 2013 Suburban LTZ, with zero issues. Hills, passing, stopping, etc are all awesome. Now, the rig “only” weighs about 3800 best guess, loaded with fuel, equipment, etc. I have the Max Towing package with 3.42 rear end an GM 6 speed auto. Throw it in tow haul, set the cruise at 65 or 70 on the road and it purrs along getting 15 MPG and not breathing hard. I’d imagine the 6.2 is even better, but for my needs...that Suburban is money.
2016 Ranger 1850 LS Reata / Merc 150 4s / SmartCraft / Lowrance HDS Carbon SS3D
You can tow any bass boat with any V6 engine or larger truck. The 5.3 short base won’t have any effect. Still same engine, brakes, ect except the bet is a tad shorter. That truck will have zero issue pulling your boat. Yes the larger boats are a little heavy, but not 10,000 pounds heavy. As far as a 3/4 ton, just to pull a bass boat is over kill
True, it is overkill, but I'd rather have too much power than not enough. I had a 5.3L V8 in my 2007 Tahoe and yeah it pulled my 2009 Z520, but:
1. I could definitely tell the boat was behind me and I had a couple "pucker factors" when I'd try to stop quickly even with the 4 wheel brakes on the trailer.
2. It would immediately downshift and shoot up to like 3k rpms at the slightest incline on the interstate or even if I slightly gave it gas to pass someone on a flat grade on the interstate
3. The rear end bounced a ton even with a level trailer, correct drop on ball/hitch and acceptable tongue weight.
With my current rig, I can't tell the boat is behind me. It rumbles up the steepest grade on the interstate without downshifting, stays in 6th gear at 1200 rpms and actually feels like a dog trying to pull out of it's leash.....
I will never pull with a gas again. Diesel for life.....
Last edited by 22RangerZ520R; 11-22-2018 at 09:28 PM.
2022 Ranger Z520R | 2022 Platinum F250
Apex 19 | (2) Apex 16's | Mega 360 | Mega Live
The 6.2 in the new gmc Denali is a pretty awesome puller. And when not pulling hauls azz when you need to pass a slower moving vehicle. But nothing comparison to a new f350 diesel thing will pull a house down my son has one and its pretty cool!!!!
2017 521c 2022 Mercury ProXS 250 4S
Braking shouldn’t be an issue on any full-size truck. Trailer brakes are for stopping the trailer
2011 Ranger z521/2023 250ProXS
Pull my z22 with a dodge ram 3500 cummins deleted. Love it
I have a 2010 with the 6.2 and 6 speed. No problems here either.
2003 Ranger 521VX
2003 Mercury 250XS S# 0T652530
2018 f 150 super crew XLT with towing package, 4x4 , 5.0 v8 . The best part zero percent financing And handles my 520 L no problem.
2018 Z520L , 250 pro xs, ultrex 112 , hds 16 carbon , hds 12 carbon both on bbt mounts. Dual power poles
Been pulling my 521 with a Dodge 2500 and just switched over to a F150 with a 5.0 never again. Will switch back to HD as soon as possible. My 521 is a load on that F 150. Don’t talk about fuel mileage when the boat is behind it.
Last edited by Talon man; 11-23-2018 at 08:34 PM.
Again, you can tow a boat with a Ford Ranger if you want. The diesel trucks have a heavy duty frame, brakes, suspension and transmission. This means less wear and tear on your vehicle. I have 160k miles on my 2013 2500 Duramax and it pulls just as hard today as the day I bought it.
If you pull with a 1/2 ton non will beat a 3.5 eco......that said my 2.7 eco wipes the floor of my partners new 5.3....I have a 520l....he has A 521
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