2008 LTZ-5.3, or 6.0 Questions

[MOPARKILLER]

Hi folks. I mostly fool around on the reloading and gun forums, but I wanted to get some wisdom out of here. I know there are many of you here that have bought trucks and made bad deals and good and so forth, so I want to pick your collective brains.
I am driving out of here to Montana in late May with the Air Force. I have a 2001 Chevy 1500, 5.3 L engine. I have a 6 X 12 foot enclosed trailer, and plan on loading some of my stuff to take down there, like wheeler, furniture, guns, loading gear, whatever. My truck is getting very tired and I am running out of warranty next february, so that worries me some. I am on my third fuel pump, and several other items have died on the truck. Ok, to my real reason for this. Without going into the Chevy versus Ford versus Dodge BS, what are the merits of the new Chevy's with the 6.0 L engines with the fuel management systems on them?? How much does that setup really help fuel mileage? I know the 6 liter is pretty good towing setup, but I am thinking of long term longevity, fuel economy (who isn't?)
and comfort. I am wanting to trade out for a LTZ truck with leather and a lot of features. 4X4 of course. Can anyone here offer some wisdom as to why this would be better than the 5.3 liter engine?? I do have one already and it is OK towing, but even when newer, just didn't have any torque, even with only towing 2 wheelers and gear. Can anyone give me some REAL fuel mileage figures that your getting?? I searched around on here some, but didn't find much. Thoughts? Thanks for any comments.

[nicage]

I had an '00 Silverado Z71 Ext Cab 4x4 with the 5.3L. For a general all round truck it was great. But when it came to towing anything other than in town it sucked. I upgraded to an '07 NBS Silverado Max LT2 4x4 with a Trifecta tune and I love it. I probably wont ever go back to the 5.3. One thing I don't like about the 6.0L is the fuel economy. It sucks, but I like the power the 6.0 has. I bought my truck from Dave Smith Motors in Kellogg Idaho. I got a deal that no one here could touch, plus it gave me a reason to head back home to Montana.

If fuel economy isn't a deal breaker for you than the 6.0 is the way to go. The 5.3 is ok, but by the time you come all the way down from Alaska, through the maple leaf, into Washington State, across into Idaho (don't forget the potatos) and into Montana...that's a lot of towing on a tired 5.3. That's a lot of towing even for a new one. I would recommend the 6.0. You'll find that you'll have less trouble with the tranny, rear end, and engine if you do. Take it from a guy who's gone through it all with the 5.3.

By the way, besides the above mentioned trucks I've owned and currently have I also have an '05 GMC 2500HD SLT Duramax and Ali tran for pulling my 5th wheel. For towing the Duramax and Ali is no competition. I also have an '05 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Z71 4x4 with the 5.3 that I don't use since I got the '07 Max.

Good luck.

[MOPARKILLER]

Nicage, thanks for the info. Right now, I might get 14-16 on the highway with my 5.3 truck. I really need to know what you are getting out of your 6.0 for mileage. Both tooling around town, and on the road. How do you drive, like a 20 year old. (sorry 20 year old guys)Or do you drive like your 50 and ease around and take it easy? That makes a LOT of difference on truck economy ya know. I am 39 and don't hotrod too much anymore, but sometimes, I tend to mash down a lot to get away from some traffic idiots.

[Thechevyman122]

If i was you I would go with the 5.3l again. Remember the 5.3 now has 30 more hp than your 5.3l has. a new 5.3l with a tune, will yeild the best combonation of gas mileage and towing capabilities. You could see 19mg highway (not towing) and could pretty easily tow just about anything you need to.