Will A 4.8l Be Enough?

[JNorton]

Looking into buying a NNBS crew cab 4x4 LS (for the floor shifter) thats one or two years old and everything I see has a 4.8l and apparently to be able to get the 5.3 you have to upgrade to the LT package (which has the auto-dial shifter).

 

I want to put a 4 in lift and 33's at the most and this truck won't be used except for a daily driver and the rare towing of 20 ft car trailer and 22 ft boat a couple times out the year.

 

Will the 4.8 be good enough or do I need to sacrifice the floor shifter and extra money for the 5.3?

[Stevens03]

Welcome! The 4.8L will get the job done, but depending on what gears you find, will determine how happy you are with the results/performance.

[KMGZ400]

you could get away with towing a 20ft car trailer and a 22ft boat trailer with the 4.8 a couple times a year... it wouldnt be fun though. i would definatley reccomend the 5.3.

 

why are you so against the auto 4x4? i was like you, i just didnt really like the electronic 4x4 or think it was reliable but after owning a truck with for a long time, and its never let me down, my opinion has changed on it.

 

 

 

and if you do get a 4.8, MAKE SURE ITS GOT 3.73's!!!!

[JNorton]

you could get away with towing a 20ft car trailer and a 22ft boat trailer with the 4.8 a couple times a year... it wouldnt be fun though. i would definatley reccomend the 5.3.

 

why are you so against the auto 4x4? i was like you, i just didnt really like the electronic 4x4 or think it was reliable but after owning a truck with for a long time, and its never let me down, my opinion has changed on it.

 

 

 

and if you do get a 4.8, MAKE SURE ITS GOT 3.73's!!!!

 

I just feel like it would break as soon as i needed it and I like being able to reach down and pull a lever i suppose. But you sir are convincing me other wise

[KMGZ400]

i have auto 4x4 on my 2003 suburban that has 156,000 miles and the 4x4 has never let me down once, the auto 4x4 in my 2001 silvy with 90,000 has never let me down either. i would not be afraid of the auto.

 

plus you get the auto 4x4 feature which many people love, it automaticly engages 4 wheel drive very smoothly when it senses the rears spin a little faster.

[Stevens03]

Are you sure the lever on the floor is a direct link anyways?

[JNorton]

Ive seen pictures of the linkage, but i do believe there is an electric motor inside the transfer case? Not sure, i guess its a mental thing but I'm considering the 4.8 because of no AFM then maybe throw a couple of performance mods to it. I still have another month before I make a decision so I'm going to take my time and consider both options

[becker87]

Ive seen pictures of the linkage, but i do believe there is an electric motor inside the transfer case? Not sure, i guess its a mental thing but I'm considering the 4.8 because of no AFM then maybe throw a couple of performance mods to it. I still have another month before I make a decision so I'm going to take my time and consider both options

 

Well if you don't want AFM, opt for the 6.2L, you will be much happier!

 

 

 

But on the other hand, i believe the 4.8L would do the job, it just wouldn't do it as well. If you plan on lifiting, plan on putting in some lower gears as well.

[KMGZ400]

Ive seen pictures of the linkage, but i do believe there is an electric motor inside the transfer case? Not sure, i guess its a mental thing but I'm considering the 4.8 because of no AFM then maybe throw a couple of performance mods to it. I still have another month before I make a decision so I'm going to take my time and consider both options

 

 

thats a good point, i personally would never buy an 07 to 10 GM truck with a 5.3 unless i knew for a fact it didnt have AFM issues

[zalez]

I have a 4.8 and pulled a car trailer with a 1982 olds 98 on it(heavy beast). Pulled it through Wyoming and Colorado in 45 mph wind. It pulled like a dream. But it is also tuned with a predator. I'm not sure how the stock tune would do pulling.

[Doug_Scott]

Take the 5.3, assuming it has the 6 speed. Ratios are just too wide on the 4 speed especially with the 4.8. Even the 5.3 with the 4 speed is 1800 rpm at the bottom of the hill, and over 3000 at the top when towing. Too big a drop between 3rd and 4th in my opinion.

[cghbuilder86]

Personally I wouldn't want a 4" lift and 33's on a daily driver. Fuel mileage will suck.

[ambro_52]

you will be a lot happier with the 5.3, but if you are running a lot of highway and not much towing at all then the 4.8 will do what you need it to. The 5.3 and the 6 spd tranny is getting the same mileage numbers as the 4.8s. So why sacrafice the power!

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

The floor shift is a manual transfer case, no motor on transfer case. My last truck was a standard cab, 3.73 gears, 4.8 liter sittin on 35's. It did fine pulling a trailer once in a while. I did have the 5 speed manual.

[kawtoy_77]

 

 

Ive seen pictures of the linkage, but i do believe there is an electric motor inside the transfer case? Not sure, i guess its a mental thing but I'm considering the 4.8 because of no AFM then maybe throw a couple of performance mods to it. I still have another month before I make a decision so I'm going to take my time and consider both options

My '07 has a 5.3l, and it does not have AFM. Can you not get a flex fuel 5.3l only anymore? I have 84,000+ on mine with ZERO PROBLEMS