Towing with a Chevy 5.3

[Unimog]

I have an 07 suburban. I love the rig and the motor, but I haven't been nearly as impressed with it for towing as the general consensus here. I always thought the 5.7 was a bit anemic for towing and the 5.3 is even more so IMO. I will grant that it does like to rev more than the older small blocks and gets great mileage when not towing. That kind of high revving use makes me think it wouldn't last. For reference, most of my towing is with 4 watercraft - maybe 2800 lbs or so. It does ok, but it slows down a lot going up any steep grade, like Parleys. If I were towing a couple of times a week with it, I would probably look for a diesel.

 

[Maverick]

It's just a 6x12 v nose loaded with framing tools. I'd guesstimate under 2500 lbs.

Ah, I was thinking it was to haul your rig. Sounds like a good fit then.

 

[Bart]

I sold my Dodge V10 and bought a 03 Z71 and couldn't be happier. Almost twice the mileage and I think it pulls just as well. It's not my old Powerstroke, but I really like it. I'm going to add a trailer brake and prolly air bags.

 

[Greg]

I realize this isn't ideal for most people towing with a 5.3, but those GM engines LOVE boost. I've wondered how well a 1/2 Ton GM truck/SUV with a 5.3 would do as a tow rig with either a supercharger or a turbo. Stay out of the boost (if you can ) when you don't need it and get decent fuel mileage and use the boost when towing. Fuel mileage will suffer as you'll be using more fuel, but you're making up for the mileage with the added torque to get you over those passes. I would imagine a supercharged 5.3 would produce similar if not slightly better mileage than a N/A 6.0 engine when towing and get close to normal 5.3 mileage when not towing. Of course just about any supercharger or turbo will cost at least $2500 up to $6000 if it's not DIY or a used setup. Still, that has to be cheaper than a diesel when you factor in purchase price, higher maintenance costs, etc.

 

[Cascadia]

You couldn't have kept this easy for me, could you Greg? You have all sorts of ideas running through my head now, but I need to resist. This is just supposed to be my dd/work truck, although it might be ok to have it turn out like yours. Sans the SAS, cause I can't.

 

[Maverick]

The issue isn't as much about power though, it's about controlling the load with a 1/2 ton truck. That's what makes me nervous. C range tires, soft suspension, etc. At least the brakes are better than they used to be.

Don't forget the wear of running at a higher rpm for long periods of time, plus the lighter duty transmission.

And the delicate 10-bolt rear axle. Hopefully the one you are buying has the 9.5" 14 bolt.

Oops, I keep thinking this is about towing your trail rig, not a lightweight boat or tools.

 

[Cascadia]

Haha. I'm rigless right now. I will tow with it(if I still have it) when I get a rig again but that's only 2-3 times a year. And I'm going to try and go light weight on my next rig too.

 

[Bart]

One of the recent episodes of Horsepower TV they took a 5.3 and added a mild cam and a turbo. They did have to upgrade the head bolts for the extra load of a turbo, but they increased the horsepower to almost 400 as I recall. It was amazing.

I agree with the concerns Brett (Maverick) brings up, but as little as I tow these days, I'm happy with the half ton.

 

[stimmie]

The big question is what gears do you plan on getting in the truck? I have an 05 1/2T crew cab with the 3.42 axles and it's kind of doggy towing in the mountains, but all I have to tow is my pop up camp trailer. My little brother has an 06 1/2T crew cab with 4.10 axles. Way more power off the line and does better pulling a pop up camper up the same mountain. I get better day to day mpgs. He gets better towing mpgs. My truck has 202k on it and runs like a champ. His only has 105k so far. If I had the chance to get a truck as cheap as I got mine in as good as condition, I'd want 3.73s. But I don't so I deal with it.

 

[kawzx10]

We had a 02 5.3 and upgraded to a 09 6.0. I am not impressed with the 6.0. We towed my ramcharger to Moab a couple times with the 5.3. It pulled at 70 easy except for on the steep grades. The only reason we moved up to the 6.0 was because I was nervous about towing that much with a 1/2 ton. I wrecked the 6.0 about 2 months ago and we got a 02 duramax so far I am very pleased compared to the 6.0.


For light towing and occasional pulling I think the 5.3 is the way to go. My father in law also has one and he has 320k on the clock with a tranny rebuild about 10k ago.