Towing-5.7L vs 5.3L or 6.0L?

[puma]

Presently I tow a 28ft travel trailer with a '92 5.7TBI 1500 with 3.73's, trans cooler & temp gauge. I use a weight distribution hitch and the trailer has really good elec. brakes on both axles. The maximum the trailer ever weighs is 5800 lbs. O/D is off and RPM's are around 2500-2600 @ 60 MPH.

That said it does the job alright but is working pretty hard just on flat land especially if you add any wind and then the torque converter normally won't lock up. We all know that the 5.7L TBI is no power house but has a decent amount of torque.

So my question is that if I decide to upgrade to a NBS truck, I was considering finding one with a 5.3L in it. The 4.8L is definitely not on my list.

Or should I be looking at a 6.0L 2500 even though I've heard they're pretty thirsty and I only tow with 5% of all driving that I do.

Any opinions?

[bad2006z71]

well, the 5.3 tows ok but the power is higher in the rpm band, so the truck likes to rev higher. id go with a 2500 6.0 or if you can find one, a vortec max in the half ton trucks. i get about 12-13mpg with my 6.0.

good luck with your decision

[Stratosman]

6.0's can be pretty thirsty, but one other benefit of the 6.0 is the tranny that comes with it.

[bartonmd]

The Vortec 350 pulls MUCH better than your TBI 350 (completely different world!)... The 5.3L pulls a little better than the Vortec 350 (though, it's got to rev a little bit to do it, the power is there), and the 6.0 pulls 6500# like the 5.3 pulls 4000#...

Mike

[bad2006z71]

if you decide on a 5.3 try to find one with 4.10 gears. that will help alot, my 06 with 3.42's sucked badly.

and stay away from early year 5.3's, they were the weakest. go with something like a 03+ and then get a tune on it.

[terryk]

Definitely go for the 6.0L and 4.10 is you can. You get the 4L80E which can handle tons of abuse and keep working.

[smokinsilverado]

If you don't mind getting 11mpg get the 6.0 they tow great and you get a better trans.

If you still want to be able to get decent mileage and be able to tow then go with the 5.3l. They have plenty of power they just like to run at higher RPMs so you have to get used to towing like that. I have towed my 6000lb boat accross the country with my 5.3 and it works great.

[terryk]

If you don't mind getting 11mpg get the 6.0 they tow great and you get a better trans.

If you still want to be able to get decent mileage and be able to tow then go with the 5.3l. They have plenty of power they just like to run at higher RPMs so you have to get used to towing like that. I have towed my 6000lb boat accross the country with my 5.3 and it works great.

True, you don't buy one for fuel economy.

[smokinsilverado]

True, you don't buy one for fuel economy.

Yeah my buddy has a 6.0 and it tows like a champ it is just a thirsty motor. Hence the reason why it's a 05 and only has 23k miles on it. Definetly not good for DD

[rebelbowtie]

i DD mine. you get used to it. none of my trucks i have ever owned got good gas mileage. you dont buy any truck for gas mileage or ride comfort. people whining about 11mpg in a 1 ton truck really get under my skin. also people you complain there truck rides hard. its a truck. and the 6.0 IMO will out tow any small block gas motor. and even out tow some big blocks

[smokinsilverado]

i DD mine. you get used to it. none of my trucks i have ever owned got good gas mileage. you dont buy any truck for gas mileage or ride comfort. people whining about 11mpg in a 1 ton truck really get under my skin. also people you complain there truck rides hard. its a truck. and the 6.0 IMO will out tow any small block gas motor. and even out tow some big blocks

Oh yeah your right, trucks get bad gas mileage if you own one then you have to deal with it. If your going to DD a truck of any kind then you can't complain about mileage you just need to understand that's part of the cost of owning it.

[97chev1500]

I'd go with one with 6.0 in it.That 4L80E tranny will handle the towing alot better than the 4L60E behind the 5.3.My Dad has a 2006 2500 with the 6.0 for his work truck.When he first got it didnt have all that much umph to it.So he got a custom tune done and really woke it up.We have towed 8800lbs with it with no problems.

[rebelbowtie]

I'd go with one with 6.0 in it.That 4L80E tranny will handle the towing alot better than the 4L60E behind the 5.3.My Dad has a 2006 2500 with the 6.0 for his work truck.When he first got it didnt have all that much umph to it.So he got a custom tune done and really woke it up.We have towed 8800lbs with it with no problems.

it will tow more than that. i have had it right at the trucks limit according to GM owners manual when i towed a duece and a half cross country. i wont lie. getting it up to high way speeds had to run the motor up to bout 5k rpm but once i got cruising i could slip it into OD on flat ground and just cruise. the 6.0 is a really good work horse. its a shame GM is scrapping it so soon. i believe if they kept it in production it would become the new 'small block chevy'

[Koots]

I find that the 5.3 loves to rev more than older smallblocks, but talking about needing them to rev higher to tow is all about the incredibly intrusive torque management systems. Seems much more intrusive than the 96-98 vortec gen smallblocks engine management.

Take that away and i bet the 5.3L wouldn't be as bad as you think. I doubt the powerband wouldn't be much different and probably flatter, which is much better for towing.

But the 6.0L is a great motor. I think the 6L's in the 1500HD's and vortec max trucks only came with a 4L60E or 4L65E though. Gotta go for 2500 to get the good 4L80E tranny.

[rebelbowtie]

I find that the 5.3 loves to rev more than older smallblocks, but talking about needing them to rev higher to tow is all about the incredibly intrusive torque management systems. Seems much more intrusive than the 96-98 vortec gen smallblocks engine management.

Take that away and i bet the 5.3L wouldn't be as bad as you think. I doubt the powerband wouldn't be much different and probably flatter, which is much better for towing.

But the 6.0L is a great motor. I think the 6L's in the 1500HD's and vortec max trucks only came with a 4L60E or 4L65E though. Gotta go for 2500 to get the good 4L80E tranny.
1500HD is basically a 2500LD just different TREs and UCA i believe.

[bad2006z71]

1500hd had 3.73 gears, 14sf rear, lq4, and 4l80. crew cab only
1500 vortec max's had 4.10 gears, 14sf rear, lq9, and 4l70. ext and crew cab only

[rebelbowtie]

4L70???? what is that. dont you mean 4L65

[bad2006z71]

nope rpo code M70= 4l70e, i think they updated a few things in the 65e then renamed it the 70e. same for the NNBS vortec max's until the 6spd came out.

[rebelbowtie]

learn something every day

[93ChevyTBI]

the 6.0 is a really good work horse. its a shame GM is scrapping it so soon. i believe if they kept it in production it would become the new 'small block chevy'

what do you mean? are they gonna stop making it? first I've heard of it. Why? Go with something bigger or more fuel efficient?

[Stratosman]

what do you mean? are they gonna stop making it? first I've heard of it. Why? Go with something bigger or more fuel efficient?

they're going with the 6.2

[bad2006z71]

i wasnt impressed with the 6.2/3.42/6spd combo when i test drove one. they were nice but i guess TM is heavy on them. change out the 3.42 to 3.73 and i think that would be alot better.

[93ChevyTBI]

they're going with the 6.2

ok...what are all the numbers on it? hp/torque/economy?

they need to get the heads out of their a$$es and make the baby max!! (small duramax)

[bad2006z71]

the half ton 6.2 with the 6spd is rated at 403hp and 413lb ft if im not mistaken.
and with 3.42 gears something like 12mpg

[93ChevyTBI]

the half ton 6.2 with the 6spd is rated at 403hp and 413lb ft if im not mistaken.
and with 3.42 gears something like 12mpg

Wow!! 403 hp from the factory..impressive. With 3.42's I bet you won't be feeling the torque as much as you should. I'd go 3.73 at the very least, maybe 4.10's. Heck, if it's a 6 speed, it could handle 4.10's easy.

[bartonmd]

I think the VMax really should have had the 4L80E and the full floater rear end... Oh well...

Mike

[puma]

Thanks for all the info guys. It really does seem that the 6.0 in the 2500HD is the route to go for towing, short of a getting a diesel.

As was mentioned I still do like the lower RPM range of the 5.7L compared to the 5.3L and I've heard that the Dodge 5.7L Hemi also needs to rev quite a bit to get any power out of it. I've haven't heard anything about the Ford 5.4L with towing?

With that said is there any mods that can be done to a 5.7L TBI to increase power? I realize that the 4L60E will never match a 4L80E and my little 10 bolt diff. is also light duty, but they both seem to get the job done especially since I carefully monitor the tranny temp. Power on the highway just seems a little weak with the 5.7 TBI when towing.

Fuel mileage is going to be bad no matter what route I take and my 5.7L TBI gives 18 MPG normal driving and 10-11 MPG towing, so I'm not expecting good fuel mileage.

[baca327]

rebuild your trans w/performance kit, new stall converter, cam, lt headers and you would probably be a hell of alot happier with it without the payment. Yukon makes axleshafts for the 10 bolt so you can beef it up. Dont get me wrong its no replacement for a NBS or NNBS w/6.0, 8.1, or DMAX but you would be suprised on the power you can get from your 5.7.

[bartonmd]

I gather than the Vortec heads are most of the power increase of the Vortec engines over the TBI engines...

- Vortec heads (used)
- Aftermarket intake
- cam
- headers if you want

done.

Mike

[tattoo9483]

Thanks for all the info guys. It really does seem that the 6.0 in the 2500HD is the route to go for towing, short of a getting a diesel.

As was mentioned I still do like the lower RPM range of the 5.7L compared to the 5.3L and I've heard that the Dodge 5.7L Hemi also needs to rev quite a bit to get any power out of it. I've haven't heard anything about the Ford 5.4L with towing?

With that said is there any mods that can be done to a 5.7L TBI to increase power? I realize that the 4L60E will never match a 4L80E and my little 10 bolt diff. is also light duty, but they both seem to get the job done especially since I carefully monitor the tranny temp. Power on the highway just seems a little weak with the 5.7 TBI when towing.

Fuel mileage is going to be bad no matter what route I take and my 5.7L TBI gives 18 MPG normal driving and 10-11 MPG towing, so I'm not expecting good fuel mileage.

I personaly think my brother's 5.7 Hemi pulls better then my 5.3, it just feels much stronger which it should because he has a good bit more torque than me. With that said i have pulled around 10k with my truck and it wasnt too bad. I have an 05 crew cab z71 with 4.10 gears.

[02Z]

Presently I tow a 28ft travel trailer with a '92 5.7TBI 1500 with 3.73's, trans cooler & temp gauge. I use a weight distribution hitch and the trailer has really good elec. brakes on both axles. The maximum the trailer ever weighs is 5800 lbs. O/D is off and RPM's are around 2500-2600 @ 60 MPH.

That said it does the job alright but is working pretty hard just on flat land especially if you add any wind and then the torque converter normally won't lock up. We all know that the 5.7L TBI is no power house but has a decent amount of torque.

So my question is that if I decide to upgrade to a NBS truck, I was considering finding one with a 5.3L in it. The 4.8L is definitely not on my list.

Or should I be looking at a 6.0L 2500 even though I've heard they're pretty thirsty and I only tow with 5% of all driving that I do.

Any opinions?

The problem with the travel trailer isn't the weight...it's the wind resistance. If you were pulling a 5800# boat 5% of the time I'd say the 5.3L would be fine...but with the wind resistance too you need the 6.0L...get a tune on it and you'll get better than 12 mpg.

[WhitebrothersCR]

I find that the 5.3 loves to rev more than older smallblocks, but talking about needing them to rev higher to tow is all about the incredibly intrusive torque management systems. Seems much more intrusive than the 96-98 vortec gen smallblocks engine management.

Take that away and i bet the 5.3L wouldn't be as bad as you think. I doubt the powerband wouldn't be much different and probably flatter, which is much better for towing.

But the 6.0L is a great motor. I think the 6L's in the 1500HD's and vortec max trucks only came with a 4L60E or 4L65E though. Gotta go for 2500 to get the good 4L80E tranny.

I HAVE THE 1500HD AND I HAVE THE 4L80E AMAZING TRANS TOWED A 26FT TOYHAULER FULLY LOADED UP SOME NARLY HILLS.....ONLY THING IS I HEARD IF THE 4L80E DOES TAKE A CRAP ITS NOT CHEAP TO GET FIXED :chair:

[Hatfieco]

The 4l80e isnt really any more expensive then a 4l60 to get rebuilt its all time and materials at a shop, heavier trans, bigger parts, more time. The last 4l80e I had built to get behind a 300hp 6.5TD was 1800 bucks out the door. High energy bands, kevlar clutchs, sprag gear upgrade, planetary gears, u joints and a cooler. Its basically a TH400 with OD. People who have said wind resistance are right, thats the killer. Id just build a 383 and have a tune written for your truck. Is that all you guys are getting with your 6.0s? Thats nuts my 7.4 gets 15 on the freeway and with a trailer on I know i get better mileage than a 6.0.

[WhitebrothersCR]

AS FAR AS MILEAGE IF I DRIVE LIKE A GRANDMA IN A BUICK I CAN PUSH 17 18 MPG THATS 65 MPH FLAT FREEWAY LOL MY AVG ON THE DASH SAYS 12.7 I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A LEAD FOOT BUT I DONT MIND THE MILEAGE ITS A TRUCK :whatever: TOWING I DID ABOUT 70MPH THE WHOLE TIME AND GOT AROUND 10 AVG MPG NOT TOO BAD AT ALL I THOUGHT FOR TOWING UP A GIANT HILL HAULIN ASS ( BY THE WAY MY UNCLE IN HIS F150 TOWING COULDNT KEEP UP :daddy: )

[94383Z71]

they need to get the heads out of their a$$es and make the baby max!! (small duramax)

on a side note, i think they do have it. I'm 75% sure it's operational over in the European countries. The fullsize cars if I'm not mistaken, can light trucks.

It's just that US regs are keeping it from over here. It just gets old when people say it's not there when it is

BUT i have to try and double check. I know they have the engine, question is usage

[rebelbowtie]

on a side note, i think they do have it. I'm 75% sure it's operational over in the European countries. The fullsize cars if I'm not mistaken, can light trucks.

It's just that US regs are keeping it from over here. It just gets old when people say it's not there when it is

BUT i have to try and double check. I know they have the engine, question is usage
its not the same engine but its pretty damn similar. isuzu gets to use it over seas. i have seen some youtube videos with 4.5 "dmaxes" swapped into small pick ups and stuff.

[94383Z71]

yeah, they said they were accepting the idea of palming it out in other vehiles as a "win win", It only makes sense it be isuzu. and I couldnt find anything online about it though :lol:

[bored&stroked]

vortec 5.7 should tow better then a 5.3 as they are making 330lbs/ft at only 2800rpm which is right where most people cruise at rpm wise while towing. Id imagine the 6.0 does much better then both as it has the torque to pull and the HP to pass.

[terryk]

The 6.0L is around 4400 for max torque so you wind it up. I loves it. The older 5.0L 5.7L couldn't stand much over 4500 anyway.