CAN 5.3 TOW 6000 LB TRAVEL TRAILER?

[Stumpy]

I had a half ton crew cab, 4x4 on 33s, with the 5.3, and 4spd, 3.73. I did not enjoy towing a roughly 4500lb enclosed trailer with it. It always felt like a lot of work.

 

[RDF1]

Sure it can tow 6000# but dont worry about trying to use the highest gear. RPMS are your friend.

 

[Supercharged111]

Sure it can tow 6000# but dont worry about trying to use the highest gear. RPMS are your friend.

I thought you were gonna chime in and extoll the virtues of boost when I saw you'd responded.

 

[Schurkey]

Perhaps a moderator will move this thread out of "Engines" and into "Towing".

 

[RDF1]

I thought you were gonna chime in and extoll the virtues of boost when I saw you'd responded.

Just waiting on you to post

Now a 5.3 with the right size turbo will tow like 6000# isnt behind you.

 

[Supercharged111]

Just waiting on you to post

Now a 5.3 with the right size turbo will tow like 6000# isnt behind you.

And gut that 4L60 like a fish!

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

And gut that 4L60 like a fish!

That's why you need an '80.....

 

[RDF1]

The rabbit hole gets pretty deep once started this rabbit chase.

 

[97K1500Silverado]

Towed my 3500lb 10’ tall enclosed trailer with:
1997 k1500 extended cab truck with 350 5.7 vortec 4l60 3:73 gears
2003 k1500 suburban with 325 5.3 vortec 4l60 3:73 gears

Both have performance mufflers and are blackbear tuned.

The 5.7 tows better even though it has less hp than the 5.3. The 5.7 has more low end torque lower in the rev range and it really helps on grades and holding a gear longer. The 5.3 does alright but really needs to downshift and rev to get up any slight incline.

5.3 LM7 325cu
285hp @ 5200
325tq @ 4000

5.7 L31 350cu
255hp @ 4600
330tq @ 2800

 

[BeXtreme]

I cannot stand the 5.3L even with a 6spd and 3.73s in an unloaded Express van. I test drove one overnight that the last dealership I worked for took on trade and had priced for a steal. It was always shifting around and just plain gutless unless the pedal was on the floor and the engine reving to the moon. I do not think towing would hurt the 5.3L, it would just be gutless doing it. I ended up not buying it because I would have had to put a 6.2L or 408 stroker in it for me to be happy with it. FWIW this was before I built the 383 for my 97.

SBC valve should not be hard to find. What size valve is it?

I use a 2011 Suburban with 5.3/6L80 and this is exactly my experience with it. It does it fine, but it is gutless and sucks gas. It got better when I rebuilt the diffs and regeared to 4.10's, but it is still rough. We tow a 6k lb travel trailer with it and it will cruise at 70mph in 5th gear no problem. Pulling hills in the Cascades or coastal mountains it will drop to 55mph and 3rd gear usually. Part of that is that it is an AFM engine and has 230,000 miles on it. It is definitely hurt. I just recently got a donor 6.2 for it and am in the process of cleaning it up and rebuilding it with a decent towing cam to replace the 5.3, that should make it a much better tow vehicle.