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5300 Vs 4800 To Tow My Trailer?

blaz246

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blaz246 Enthusiast

blaz246

Posted
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I have a 29ft camper that weighs approximately 6,100 pounds and I presently pull with my 2001 Silverado extended cab. It has a 5300 engine, a 3.42 rear gear and 155,000 miles on it. A friend of mine has a 2004 Silverado extended cab with a 4800 engine and a 3.42 rear gear. I looked at tow ratings on the Trailer life web site and it states that the 2001 5300 will tow 7,000 and the 2004 4800 will tow 6,100. Since my truck has very high miles I was thinking about buying my friend's 2004. I would move the transmission cooler from my truck to his. Would I be making a mistake or will the 2004 do the job? Also, what is the average life of my 2001 5300? Am I on borrowed time or do they go well over 200,000 miles? I appreciate any feedback. Thanks!!

pwall Senior Enthusiast

pwall

Posted
Posted

If the 2004 will tow 6100lbs and your trailer weights 6100lbs, not a good combination.

You'll be maxing out the tow limit.

One item that would help would be to change the read-end to a 3.73 (or even a 4.10).

 

Don't know about the average life of the 5.3 (as in your other post). Mine only has 110,000 miles but it feels as strong as it did when I bought it new in 2002. I've since had it tuned to wake it up. ;)

blaz246 Enthusiast

blaz246

Posted
  • Author
Posted
If the 2004 will tow 6100lbs and your trailer weights 6100lbs, not a good combination.

You'll be maxing out the tow limit.

One item that would help would be to change the read-end to a 3.73 (or even a 4.10).

 

Don't know about the average life of the 5.3 (as in your other post). Mine only has 110,000 miles but it feels as strong as it did when I bought it new in 2002. I've since had it tuned to wake it up. ;)

 

Thanks Patrick. Just looking for other opinions to make me forget the 2004 with the 4800 engine.

Charles

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted

I agree with Pwall. Not enough truck for that heavy of a trailer. You really could use a 2500 for that.

 

I have a 4.8 in my truck and it pulls my boat great but it doesn't weigh anywhere near what that trailer does. The 4.8 is just a smaller displacement version of the 5.3. Both are going 200K plus with no problem.

blaz246 Enthusiast

blaz246

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I agree with Pwall. Not enough truck for that heavy of a trailer. You really could use a 2500 for that.

 

I have a 4.8 in my truck and it pulls my boat great but it doesn't weigh anywhere near what that trailer does. The 4.8 is just a smaller displacement version of the 5.3. Both are going 200K plus with no problem.

 

Thanks for the reply Zembonez! I knew the answer, just needed to hear it from someone else to keep me in line. :dunno:

c4cruiser Enthusiast

c4cruiser

Posted
Posted

At that trailer weight, I would be looking at a 6L motor or a 2500HD with the Duramax/Allison.

 

The trailer may weigh 6100, but you need to add up the weight of everything that goes into the trailer and the truck bed to come up with the total weight. Also the front of the trailer is basically a brick wall facing the wind unless you have some sort of fairing.

 

I tow an open car trailer with my 5.3L '99 Ext Cab Z71 with 4.10 gears. The trailer and car weigh 5300 and I have about 400lbs in tires and tools. At that weight (even though my truck is rated at 7800lbs max towing capacity) I think that is about all I would want to tow with it.

 

A 2500 truck has the weight carrying capacity and the heavier frame and tires to haul large loads. Look for a truck that already has the towing package. You get the wiring harness (including the plug for a trailer brake controller, HD radiator, tranny cooler, and hitch.

 

IMHO, the 04 you are considering just won't cut it.

blaz246 Enthusiast

blaz246

Posted
  • Author
Posted
At that trailer weight, I would be looking at a 6L motor or a 2500HD with the Duramax/Allison.

 

The trailer may weigh 6100, but you need to add up the weight of everything that goes into the trailer and the truck bed to come up with the total weight. Also the front of the trailer is basically a brick wall facing the wind unless you have some sort of fairing.

 

I tow an open car trailer with my 5.3L '99 Ext Cab Z71 with 4.10 gears. The trailer and car weigh 5300 and I have about 400lbs in tires and tools. At that weight (even though my truck is rated at 7800lbs max towing capacity) I think that is about all I would want to tow with it.

 

A 2500 truck has the weight carrying capacity and the heavier frame and tires to haul large loads. Look for a truck that already has the towing package. You get the wiring harness (including the plug for a trailer brake controller, HD radiator, tranny cooler, and hitch.

 

IMHO, the 04 you are considering just won't cut it.

 

I didn't explain, but the 6,100 is the actual weight. The dry weight without LP gas & options is 4,700 so I estimated high at 6,100. It might weigh just under 6,000. The tow capacity of my truck with the 5.3 is 7,000. Thanks, Gary

Woodcutter Enthusiast

Woodcutter

Posted
Posted

I suggest keeping your current ride or looking to buy something else with at least a 5.3 or bigger. Like pwall said earlier, lower gears would make a big difference. It's a shame the 04 your looking at has the 3.42.

c4cruiser Enthusiast

c4cruiser

Posted
Posted
At that trailer weight, I would be looking at a 6L motor or a 2500HD with the Duramax/Allison.

 

The trailer may weigh 6100, but you need to add up the weight of everything that goes into the trailer and the truck bed to come up with the total weight. Also the front of the trailer is basically a brick wall facing the wind unless you have some sort of fairing.

 

I tow an open car trailer with my 5.3L '99 Ext Cab Z71 with 4.10 gears. The trailer and car weigh 5300 and I have about 400lbs in tires and tools. At that weight (even though my truck is rated at 7800lbs max towing capacity) I think that is about all I would want to tow with it.

 

A 2500 truck has the weight carrying capacity and the heavier frame and tires to haul large loads. Look for a truck that already has the towing package. You get the wiring harness (including the plug for a trailer brake controller, HD radiator, tranny cooler, and hitch.

 

IMHO, the 04 you are considering just won't cut it.

 

I didn't explain, but the 6,100 is the actual weight. The dry weight without LP gas & options is 4,700 so I estimated high at 6,100. It might weigh just under 6,000. The tow capacity of my truck with the 5.3 is 7,000. Thanks, Gary

 

 

Given that, you should should be OK with what you have. IT would be helpful to go to 3.73 gears for the added pullig power at slightly higher RPMs. I tow in 3rd gear (no OD) and in Tow/Haul. Gas mileage drops to around 11-12 as the motor is turning about 2800 at 60MPH.

 

I don't think that 155K on the motor is too bad as long as it runs fine and you do regular maintenance on it.

 

If you like the truck with the options you have and the motor starts to get to where in may need rebuilding or replacement, then consider a 6.0L to drop in. From what I have read, it's a relatively easy install and you get the benefits of the added HP and torque.

dogzapper Enthusiast

dogzapper

Posted
Posted

Friend, you really need something bigger than a 5.3. And your rear end should be at least a 3.73 ... better yet, a 4.10.

 

The rule of thumb in trailering is that the Happy Factor ends when your trailer weight exceeds 66% of your vehicle's tow rating. I'm thinking that your 6,100 pound trailer might also not weigh 6,100 pounds. Weight the trailer and you will prolly find that the actual weight is considerably more.

 

You'll end up with a 6.0, on the very light side, or a Duramax. Then you will experience happiness.

 

Steve

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