anyone know TOWING 4.8 vs. 5.3?

mopower440 · July 9, 2013

I have a 1999 silverado extended cab shortbed 4x4 with the 4.8 and 3.73 gears. I tow a 19 foot boat with it, about 3100 pounds. It doesnt tow the greatest, nothing like my old 1989 silverado with the 350 TBI. It gets the job done on flat roads but it has to downshift on the slightest hill and rev high. I know a 6.0 swapped in would be awesome but i may can get my hands on a good 5.3 to swap in, but wondering if it will tow much better with the 5.3? Anyone ever towed with both engines and same gears for a real world comparison?

mopower440 · July 9, 2013

have you towed with them both, everything else equal, like having the same rear gears and all?

Chris · July 9, 2013

I have towed with a 4.8 and 3.42's and a 9300 pound trailer. I will tow the same trailer Friday with the same gears and a 6.0 swap done. The 3000 pound loads were still felt after the swap. The largest improvement for the towing was 2500HD springs. But if you tow under 5000 pounds the 4.8 is sufficient. If you are going through the work of a motor swap go to a 6.0. Check local salvage yards.

mopower440 · July 9, 2013

Dang, are you saying it still struggled some with the 6.0 with only 3000 pounds?

BruceDeuce · July 9, 2013

I have a 1999 silverado extended cab shortbed 4x4 with the 4.8 and 3.73 gears. I tow a 19 foot boat with it, about 3100 pounds. It doesnt tow the greatest, nothing like my old 1989 silverado with the 350 TBI. It gets the job done on flat roads but it has to downshift on the slightest hill and rev high. I know a 6.0 swapped in would be awesome but i may can get my hands on a good 5.3 to swap in, but wondering if it will tow much better with the 5.3? Anyone ever towed with both engines and same gears for a real world comparison?

get a Black Bear tune and have them tweak your gears and it won't downshift as much

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Chris · July 9, 2013

Dang, are you saying it still struggled some with the 6.0 with only 3000 pounds?

Some, but I have 3.42 gearing and I was on hills.

The 6.0 made a massive difference in the initial take off. I need to change gears and beef up my trans still.

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CapitalTruck · July 9, 2013

I towed a 6500 lbs boat from DE to Corpus TX with my 4.8 3.73 GMT800. Stayed in third the whole way practically. Had to pull a couple of mountains in TN in 2nd. I didn't really do more than 55-60 even on the flat. Having said that, the truck made it and it has 188k on it today on the original tranny. That 3.73 rear end is a sweet one. That was a hell of a long trip.

mopower440 · July 9, 2013

Thats the problem with this one, you have to keep dropping gears to get it up a hill.

mopower440 · July 9, 2013

I have asked this on several different websites with mixed results, some say yes, the 5.3 will do much better towing and some say theres not enough difference between the 2 to bother swapping engines.. so i just dont know..

Chris · July 9, 2013

Like said if swapping go for a junkyard 6.0

mopower440 · July 9, 2013

well, i dont have the money for a 6.0, i cant get a 5.3 for around 500 dollars, 6.0's run 1200 or more..

Chris · July 10, 2013

If the 4.8 is still good, save a little. Salvage yard will be the best place.

Ramin258 · July 10, 2013

I would doubt you are gonna see any significant improvement, at least not for the work and money involved. I personally have not towed a 4.8 vs a 5.3. However I have towed with a ford f150 with a 4.6 and a 5.4. Both had 3.73 gears and the difference was negligible.

Here are the specs I found for the two chevy motors, very minor difference.

4.8L 270hp and torque is 285lb-ft

5.3L 285hp and torque is 325lb-ft

Have you considered going with 4.10 gears? That would help take offs as well as the hills.

Wires · July 10, 2013

I'd recommend the 4.10 gears. I had them with my 5.3L and it worked really well.

The '89 350TBI is only ~190HP, so it wasn't a power house by no means. It probably had better gearing.

mopower440 · July 10, 2013

Thats why im confused, some say theres not hardly any difference, but at the same time, if someone asks what engine to get in their new truck, the 4.8 or 5.3, everyone says the 5.3 because the 4.8 is under powered..