which motor to go with

[TexaBamaBass]

Thinking of getting a new (to me) truck... looking at 3 options. Mostly driving to work and such, towing the boat whenever I can, and occasionally towing a 35hp Kubota tractor.

[ChrisH]

I think we have about the same truck, Kelly. I have a 5.3 with heavy tow package and 4.10 gears. Tows my Skeeter super easy and I pull a 37hp Kubota for my parents too. Gas mileage is not the best (15 unloaded/13 towing). If I was gonna do it over again I would buy the same truck. The diesel is ideal for towing but if you look at it, I tow probably less than 15% of my driving miles so I personally dont think its worth it. I would love to have one, dont get me wrong but the fuel is killer and its around a 10 grand difference going from 1500 with a 5.3 to a 2500 with a diesel.

I have seen some good deals on 2500s with the 6.0. Those would pull well but I cant imagine the mileage being great. The 1500 with a 6.2 sounds very nice to me and the reports are impressive but I havent driven one so I cant comment. Good luck

[Billy Bob Joe Ben]

That 5.3 should do the job unless you want to run 80 mph up hill I've got the 6.0 that I used to pull a 70hp JD with a loader on a 24' float and it did the job but the mileage is terrible. As soon as I sell that tractor I wouldn't mind having a 5.3 myself.

[LuckyMesscun]

If its used vehicle your safe bet is the diesel, only because they are so durable. I had a 07 5.3 and it hated my bassboat. The road to lake from here has lots of hills with 75 & 80mph speed limits and the 5.3 struggled to just keep up with traffic every hill it would down shift to the point that just left it out of overdrive but then got 10mpg. The diesel is a totally different animal, its a beast! There are only 2 hills that will make that bad boy shift and when it does down shift you are passing everyone cuz they are struggling to get up it themselves. 13.5 mpg 77mph avg. My .02

[Tamale]

The Chevy 5.3 just does not tow well. I hate it. My Z71 had the 5.3 and 3.73 and did ok, but it down shifted at every hill. Now you can't even get a 3.73 rear end, unless you buy 2010+ LTZ package, but even then I've heard conflicting reports. I hear all half ton Chevy pickups come with the 3.43 regardless. My wife has an 08 Tahoe with the 5.3 and 3.43 gears and it sucks ass when towing. Sure it will pull it 75-80 on relatively flat highway, but hit a hill and you'll be doing 55mph if your lucky once you reach the top. Unless you let it down shift and rev up to 5000rpm so you can make it up with out losing all your speed.

I'm not saying the 5.3 can't tow, I'm just saying it can't tow nearly as well when compared to Dodge, Ford or Toyota. It's not even close. I will never consider the 5.3 for towing ever again when there are way better options out there. It's just not comfortable having to be conscious about the constant switching of gears or the slowing by 15mph going up hills, the increased cab noise, etc.. The Duramax on the other hand will pull just about anything effortlessly.

[saebass]

got to go with the dirty max

[rangerguy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Tamale &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">The Chevy 5.3 just does not tow well. I hate it. My Z71 had the 5.3 and 3.73 and did ok, but it down shifted at every hill. Now you can't even get a 3.73 rear end, unless you buy 2010+ LTZ package, but even then I've heard conflicting reports. I hear all half ton Chevy pickups come with the 3.43 regardless. My wife has an 08 Tahoe with the 5.3 and 3.43 gears and it sucks ass when towing. Sure it will pull it 75-80 on relatively flat highway, but hit a hill and you'll be doing 55mph if your lucky once you reach the top. Unless you let it down shift and rev up to 5000rpm so you can make it up with out losing all your speed.

I'm not saying the 5.3 can't tow, I'm just saying it can't tow nearly as well when compared to Dodge, Ford or Toyota. It's not even close. I will never consider the 5.3 for towing ever again when there are way better options out there. It's just not comfortable having to be conscious about the constant switching of gears or the slowing by 15mph going up hills, the increased cab noise, etc.. The Duramax on the other hand will pull just about anything effortlessly.</td></tr></table>

+1 I had a 5.3 and it sucked towing a 21 foot boat.

[Murray]

I have an 07 z71 with the 5.3 and 3.45 rear end I "try" to to my 4000lb boat and I have to go no more than 60 in 3rd gear or it will shift constantly and i get 9-10 miles per gallon.It tows the boat worse than my ford ranger with the 4.0. I towed the same boat with the wifes jeep liberty with the 3.7 in it and it did ok and I got 13mpg with it!!


Modified by Murray at 9:51 PM 5/12/2011

[flyingwillie]

I am very disappointed in my new Yukon XL with the 5.3. AND I have a small boat (18.8 ft) with only single axle trailer! I had the 6.0 litre before and it was much better. I went to the 5.3 to save gas but there is very liitle difference there.
Don't get the 5.3 if you tow anything.

[billius]

I've had several 5.3liter Silverados and Sierras. They do fine pulling a boat. Especially the newer versions with the 3.08 rear end and 6 speed auto transmission. They do shift a lot and do slow some in hilly terrain. (But they are supposed to) The way to counter act that is to use the tow haul mode in situations like that. To say they are not good for pulling is crazy. Sure they don't have the power and torque of a 6.2 or as a diesel, but they are fine for most people towing. After all, the great percentage of time driving your truck Kelly, is going to be NOT towing your Cat. A diesel would be the best towing truck, but for pulling a boat or that tractor your talking about it's over kill. I'd like to have a diesel, I just can't justify the extra expense for towing a 20'+ bassboat. Everything about a diesel is more costly than a gas engine, except for two areas, gas mileage towing and the engines last longer, as long as you maintain them...usually.

[transamz9]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billius &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> Everything about a diesel is more costly than a gas engine, except for two areas, gas mileage towing and the engines last longer, as long as you maintain them...usually.</td></tr></table>

........and fuel mileage not towing. Change the oil half as much as a gas motor. No plugs to change. No coils to go bad, and the power is unreal.

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by transamz9 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

........and fuel mileage not towing. Change the oil half as much as a gas motor. No plugs to change. No coils to go bad, and the power is unreal.

</td></tr></table>

Change the oil half as much, at about twice the cost...no savings there. With a GM V8, you don't change the plugs at all for around 100K miles...no savings there. Hmm...

[TRCM]

My 5.3 gets the same or better mileage when compared to the ctd I traded in on it (empty and loaded).

oil change = less money now
registration = way less money now
more comfortable on long trips
have 4 doors now, not 2
easier to maneuver
no more shifting/clutch pedal
less expensive fuel
less expensive tires
no smoke on the boat under load
much quieter driving

[transamz9]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by TRCM &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">My 5.3 gets the same or better mileage when compared to the ctd I traded in on it (empty and loaded).

oil change = less money now
registration = way less money now
more comfortable on long trips
have 4 doors now, not 2
easier to maneuver
no more shifting/clutch pedal
less expensive fuel
less expensive tires
no smoke on the boat under load
much quieter driving
</td></tr></table>

I don't know what year your Cummins was but your 5.3 ain't gonna touch my 05. I also have 4 doors. My fifth wheel is white and have never had a problem with smoke on it. The only thing you here at speed is a little turbo hiss. My father in-law has an 08 Chevy crew short bed with the 5.3 and he followed me down to G-ville in April with his 19' Ranger and that was it. I was pulling 18,000# that is 12'6" tall and we got the same mileage. You say no shifting and I have to call BS on that also. You may not have a clutch but pulling a load that 5.3 is going to shift up and down up and down.

[transamz9]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billius &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Change the oil half as much, at about twice the cost...no savings there. With a GM V8, you don't change the plugs at all for around 100K miles...no savings there. Hmm...</td></tr></table>

I don't know about that. I take care of 30+ trucks at work and the gas trucks ain't far behind in price. Now days your gas motors hold anywhere between 6 and 8 quarts. Filters ain't much different either.

[TRCM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by transamz9 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

I don't know what year your Cummins was but your 5.3 ain't gonna touch my 05. I also have 4 doors. My fifth wheel is white and have never had a problem with smoke on it. The only thing you here at speed is a little turbo hiss. My father in-law has an 08 Chevy crew short bed with the 5.3 and he followed me down to G-ville in April with his 19' Ranger and that was it. I was pulling 18,000# that is 12'6" tall and we got the same mileage. You say no shifting and I have to call BS on that also. You may not have a clutch but pulling a load that 5.3 is going to shift up and down up and down. </td></tr></table>

Yes, no more clutch...as in my bad left hip ain't got to push in the clutch pedal anymore

it was a 97 12v, in a 3500 dually with 4.10's. 8000 lbs of truck and when loaded it would smoke if you got on it...black not blue.....

for me, money wise it is a wash, but the new truck is much more comfortable.

Yeah, I can't tow as much as I use to, but I don't have anything heavier than 6000 lbs to tow anymore, so no need for such a big truck

[transamz9]

See , that's what I'm talking about. You are comparing apples to oranges. I had a 99 3/4 extended cab and my 05 rides , handles , runs way better. 6000# ? I will get 16-18 MPG pulling that all day long. The duramax would be the better choice for towing and fuel mileage by far any day.

[TRCM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by transamz9 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">See , that's what I'm talking about. You are comparing apples to oranges. I had a 99 3/4 extended cab and my 05 rides , handles , runs way better. 6000# ? I will get 16-18 MPG pulling that all day long. The duramax would be the better choice for towing and fuel mileage by far any day. </td></tr></table>

Nope, just comparing my old truck to my new one.