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Towing with a Chevy 5.3

Cascadia

Cascadia

Undecided
Location
Orem, Utah
I'm thinking about picking up an 05 chevy silverado 1500 z71. Wondering if there is anything I should look for? Also wondering how it is towing with a 5.3? What mileage should I expect and what is the maximum I should pull? Can it keep freeway speeds pulling a runner or wrangler? I'm sure lots of you guys have experience with the 5.3 so any insight would be appreciated.
 
TJDukit

TJDukit

I.Y.A.A.Y.A.S.
Location
Clearfield
I had an '03 Z71 Ext Cab 5.3l. As far as I know the Z71 should get you 4.10 gears which will be the best combo for towing. Around town driving to save gas I usually got about 15mpg, on the highway I think I averaged 17mpg but driving between Clearfield and Lehi I would get up to 21 since it's so flat. I towed a 9000lb trailer down in Texas with it and it did ok, the trailer was not meant to be towed behind a 1500 since it had too much tongue weight.

I used it to tow an ATV trailer with two ATV's to South Dakota and on the way back we had that truck loaded down with probably ten deer on top of all of our gear and it did amazing. Only got 11mpg on that trip but it was loaded down heavy. It had no trouble mainting 70-75mph on even the steepest hills. Even had an F150 driving with us with one ATV in the back and he had a lot of trouble keeping up.

I honestly think the 5.3L equiped trucks are probably the best comprimise between an occasional tow rig and good mileage for a truck and they are really comfortable with the leather captains chairs.

If I could go back and do things over again I'd still have my Z71 and my TJ with the TJ at this point being mostly a trail dedicated rig.

When I bought my Z71 I had driven an '02 F150 with the 5.4L and an '05 F150 with the 5.4L and the 5.3L had so much more power I would never even consider a Ford after that.
 
Tonkaman

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
Not much experience towing with the 5.3 but I do think it is the best motor for the daily driver. I've had a 6.0 and it was not impressive, the power was similar to the 5.3 but it was thirsty! If you do get the truck check out EFI Live tuning it will wake up that truck and improve your mileage
 
Maverick

Maverick

old-school
Location
Anywhere, thanks to my geeky droid
The only downside to the 5.3 is the 1/2 ton suspension. And you have to let it rev.

I recall a 5.3 equipped burb/Tahoe towing a Wrangler pull away from me on a hill in Spanish Fork canyon when I had my '99 454 burb (towing my Scrambler). I wasn't happy, even if my Scrambler was likely heavier than the Wrangler.

A good friend of mine has an '01 that he has used many times to tow with me and he can keep up most of the time. We end up getting the same 11 mpg.

Brett
 
TJDukit

TJDukit

I.Y.A.A.Y.A.S.
Location
Clearfield
Maverick is right, the 5.3l makes most of it's power at the higher end but it seems very happy at high revs when you need it.
 
blznnp

blznnp

Well-Known Member
Location
Herriman
When I had my 01 1500 with the 5.3, only thing I towed was my buddies s10, not a lifted one so it didn't the the weight of the big tires or axles, just a 2wd standard cab s10. I liked towing that s10 much more than I like towing with my 07 F150 with a 5.4 with a smaller load than the s10 was with the 5.3. Got 15mpg normally with 35" tires. loved that truck, never had any problems with it. like TJDukit said, could keep up at freeway speeds no problems, unless of course on a good slope.
 
rockreligious

rockreligious

NoEcoNaziAmmo
Location
Ephraim
I towed with a 5.3 for years, I wouldnt want to tow every day, but towing on the weekends it worked just fine...way better than buying diesel and paying the high repair bills.
 
Cascadia

Cascadia

Undecided
Location
Orem, Utah
Sounds like a lot of votes for yes. I'll only be towing once or twice a week. The boat on Saturdays and my enclosed probably Mondays. So not a ton of towing.
 
chicken77

chicken77

throttle jockey
I tow with an 04 Tahoe that has the 5.3, and it works very well. I can pull to Moab with my Toyota on a 16' trailer with no problems. I drop down to 55mph on the really steep sections but that is just becuase I don't like seeing more than 5,000 rpms, the 5.3 has plenty of power. I average 17mpg empty and 12mpg towing. If I had it to over again I would by a Cummins but thats probably due to the fact I have never had owned one..............
 
Chevycrew

Chevycrew

Well-Known Member
Location
WVC, UT
5.3L came out in 98/99... but, there were improvements along the way with tunes, heads, exhaust, etc. So i would get the newest you can afford, but dont be afraid of the earlier ones.
 
T

Toad

Well-Known Member
Location
Millville(logan)
100k for the motor is not a big deal. Fuel pump yes. My bro in law hates his. He pulls a little 19 foot camp trailer 3500 lbs and it is a dog. It sounds like his is the exception or maybe he has been with me to many times in my 7.3 powerstroke :)
 
R

rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
Keep the oil changed. My BIL who owns a shop says he gets them in with bad crank bearings or journals or something like that. Usually around 150K miles. I have a two friends with over 200K miles on theirs with no issues. Still on the original transmissions too. Good motors, you could keep looking and get a 6.0 ltr.
 
Cascadia

Cascadia

Undecided
Location
Orem, Utah
rholbrook said:
Keep the oil changed. My BIL who owns a shop says he gets them in with bad crank bearings or journals or something like that. Usually around 150K miles. I have a two friends with over 200K miles on theirs with no issues. Still on the original transmissions too. Good motors, you could keep looking and get a 6.0 ltr.
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I've heard the mpg's on the 6.0 is terrible. I won't be towing everyday but I want it to be up for the chore when it needs to.
 
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