which engine/package?

[jayjma20]

hey, i'm currently starting to look at new trucks. looking to trade my 07 ram 2500 hemi for a half ton. i'm likely going to get a silverado 1500 ltz. my question is what should i get for a engine package. for the most part the truck will see lite duty in town. but i will need to tow a few times a year. 4-6 times a year about 400 kms trips. trailer is a 09 trailite 32 quad bunk model fully loaded looking at around 7200lbs. could a 5.3l pull this and pull it ok? or should i be going to the max trailer package? i haven't been to a dealer yet just started looking online and wanted to get some feed back from any one who might have first hand expirience. any info would be great

thanks

[bwlaqua]

7200lbs. i would get a 2500hd. built a little sturdier. but if your going with the 1500 get the max trailering package. it will ride smoother.

[cracked_up]

If you go and drive trucks with the 5.3 and the 6.2 you will no doubt end up with the 6.2.

 

Anyone here with a 6.2 will tell you get it, guys with the 5.3 will tell you they wish they had the 6.2.

 

So join the club and go for the 6.2, you'll be glad you did! With that kind of weight get the NHT package.

[2010LTZ4x4]

If you go and drive trucks with the 5.3 and the 6.2 you will no doubt end up with the 6.2.

 

Anyone here with a 6.2 will tell you get it, guys with the 5.3 will tell you they wish they had the 6.2.

 

So join the club and go for the 6.2, you'll be glad you did! With that kind of weight get the NHT package.

 

 

x2

[RyanbabZ71]

4.3L V-6

[jayjma20]

thanks for the posts, that was the route i was leaning towards. i love my hemi but the 2500 rides like a dump truck. any thing i should be aware of with the gmt900s?

[wurgs]

Traction control, afm, and torque management all suck otherwise the best truck I've ever owned

[yamahas]

What is wrong with the traction control? I found it worked wonders in my truck. Well compared to my 97 sierra that was a 2 wheel drive without rear differential lock..

 

When I say it works wonders I mean I see a huge difference with it on vs. off. I never use it except for the other day when I wanted to play around a bit in the snow.

[cracked_up]

Traction control, afm, and torque management all suck otherwise the best truck I've ever owned

 

6.2's don't have the afm, the torque management is just another good reason to get a Black Bear tune.

[jayjma20]

good to know. know what is a black bear tune? sorry for the newob questions

[cracked_up]

good to know. know what is a black bear tune? sorry for the newob questions

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showforum=141

[Stevens03]

Hands down, 6.2L, you'll love the power, the ride and they get similar mileage to the 5.3L with alot bigger smile

[music]

I'll throw in my 2 cents. Our camper is 32 ft bumper-to-tongue, and ~7000 lbs fully loaded. With everyone onboard, it's right at 13,000 lbs combined weight (weighed @ CAT scales).

 

but i will need to tow a few times a year. 4-6 times a year about 400 kms trips. trailer is a 09 trailite 32 quad bunk model fully loaded looking at around 7200lbs. could a 5.3l pull this and pull it ok? or should i be going to the max trailer package?

 

Yes, a 5.3L with the tow package and 6-spd/3.42 configuration will pull it "OK". I'm pulling the same with a 4-spd/3.73 combo, and the 6-spd should be a little better. It's going to downshift to get the power on hills, probably in the 3000 to 4000 rpm range on most steeper grades. The 6.2L/3.42 will pull it easier, but the "max tow pkg" with the 6.2/3.73 is going to be the best. Handling will be almost identical for all, with a slight edge to the NHT (the springs are rated for ~300 more lbs). The 6.2L requires premium fuel to get the numbers you see on GM's site, but you can run regular and still probably have 20% more power. Since you tow a camper, I'd go with the max tow package (if you go w/ the 6.2), to get the extra 300 lbs of rated payload. I can't speak to daily driving mpg, but I believe EPA's numbers myself, which put the 6.2L at about 2 mpg lower than the 5.3 when running empty. Towing mpg will be about the same.

[Stevens03]

My 6.2L NHT with 3.73 gears gets solid 13-14 mpg around town and 17-18 highway

 

Edit:

I also run 89 most of the time unless I'm feeling "froggy", then I'll run 93 for a while. You can feel a performance difference between the 2 fuel grades, but it's minimal.

[music]

My 6.2L NHT with 3.73 gears gets solid 13-14 mpg around town and 17-18 highway

 

 

Those numbers look right to me. My 5.3 gets 16/17 around town, and 19/20 highway. Towing the camper is a very consistent 10 to 11 mpg (I try not to go over 65 mph when towing). Of course, some folks seem to do a lot worse than both of us with the same motors.