Isak81

We tow a tractor with my dad's tahoe. All it has is a tune and it did fine although she reved pretty high. I would just do a 5.3 with Doug thourley tri-y headers. They improve torque better than long tubes.

black954

My 5.3 suburban 3.73 4x4 was a gutless pig but it towed my 5,500lb bronco + 2000 trailer just fine but only got 9mpg towing. My ccsb 3.73 5.3l silverado feels like it has much more power and tows the same trailer/bronco while getting 11mpg. Both motors are stock. I did put firestone airbags on the silverado and it was a huge improvement towing. With a supercharger, it would be a beast I imagine. The 04-07 Hemi ram 4x4s are much better tow vehicles than the 5.3L Silverados but they get **** mileage loaded and unloaded. That Hemi has awesome low end torque. Your Camaro should be no problem what so ever with a stock 5.3L silverado I'd just make sure you get the tow package with the G80 3.73 axle

zz454Chevelle67

My 5.3 01 Z71 was a dog towing till I supercharged it now it tows with ease, killed 7 60E transmissions tho, they didnt like it much at all. Fuel mileage towing for me is terrible,7 mpg towing 7000lbs.

DarkblueTA

Everyone,

Thank you for your input.

custm2500

iTrader: (10)

I had an 06 Tahoe with a 5.3 and now have an "01 Denali with the 6.0 and there is a big difference! The 5.3 pulled some heavy **** and didn't complain at all but the 6.0 does everything easier. I had over 10,000 lbs behind the Tahoe and it did just fine.

The 5.3 had a tune, 3200 stall for some of it's towing life, and no muffler. The Denali has only a 3200 stall so far and has pulled a few loads. With the tune, I expect the Denali to really trump the hell out of the 5.3.

You are looking to haul a fairly light load with the race car, but you have hills. I would really shoot for a 6.0 or plan to swap one in a 1500 truck. I live on flat land and the only hills I go up are on-ramps to the expressway.

CDN SS

iTrader: (1)

FWIW I tow with a 5.3 in a 2010 4x4 CC with 4.11 gears stock ht tires and it tows well I tow a enclosed car trailer with car inside 7k.... but I have 6spd auto tow in 5th at 2500rpm 68mph get 9mph easy 10 ona good day hills wont be a problem but strong headwinds can be ......

Previous truck was 2004 2wd 5.3 with 3.90 gears and 33 tires towed in 3rd .the 2010 is better on power and mileage both had Black bear tunes otherwise stock

IMO for towing occasionally spend your money on gears, then mild tune and dont try to tow below 2200rpm if your pullingalot of wt like me pick your speed you want to cruise at and gear accordingly you will be fine ............ if you tow alot yes a diesel or bigger gasser I went with 5.3 because its my DD and city mileage was important my experience is 6.0 are not great on gas in city ........ your call


Tried a supercharger yes more power but mileage was horrible at steady 70mph cruise with trailer ....

LPCWS6

I had a 2000 5.3 Tahoe and compared to my 2005 6.0 VHO the 6.0 has way more power and gets better gas even though I drive like a much bigger a$$hole.

SalvageZ28

iTrader: (4)

7.3 fords are the biggests turds I have ever seen. you will get better fuel economy in a 6.0 in a 1500 truck. My dads old 2002 6.0 awd denali xl got better fuel economy than my 2003 rcsb 4x4 5.3. Im currently building a 6.0 bored .60 over for my truck

Doc_speeder

iTrader: (1)

Towing with a gasser is all about gearing. You're not going to pull the big hills in OD or even 3rd with a 5.3 OR a 6.0. Pick gears that will give you about 4200-4500 rpm in 2nd gear at say 50-55 mph. Then you'll be in the sweet spot for the long hills without revving your guts out or falling out of the powerband. Also, for an actual tow rig, leave the big *** tires at home. Even with the appropriate gears, they give higher rolling resistance.

I tow with my cam/heads/headers/tune 6.0 through the mountains with about 8500 lbs. I certainly wouldn't want any less motor...

Whitecrewcab

iTrader: (2)

I have an 06 CC with the 5.3. Mods are cam, 3000 stall, headers, full exhaust, CAI, TBSS intake/throttle body, tune on 22" wheels with 3.73's. I have made probably 2 dozen trips back and forth across Texas with an 18' car hauler and it'll run 80mph all day long with 55-6000lbs on the back. It will drop to second on a few hills if I don't get a good run at them or if traffic forces me to back off any. Truck gets 19 mpg unloaded and usually about 11-12 loaded. If you are just gonna pull an open trailer, even a 5.3 1/2 ton should do it, if you plan on an enclosed later, go ahead and get a diesel for the long tows. The enclosed trailers are like pulling a wall through the air and just the drag kills power.