Anyone pull with a 5300 Vortec chevy?

[bassin_man]

How are Chevy's newer (2000 on up) 5300 Vortec engines work for towing?  They have me intrigued as they seem to get on the upper end of gas mileage with being rated as 19 hwy and something like 15 city.  How much does that go down when towing?  What is your setup as far as transmission and stuff goes?  

[Wayne P.]

I have the 5.3 liter in a GMC with 3.73 axles. I get between 11 and 13 mpg when towing my bassboat and 17-18.5 mpg at interstate speeds not towing. I get 19-20 mpg not towing at rural highway speeds of around 55 mph.

[1fast68]

I have an 04 ext. cab 4x4 with the 5.3. Towing a 93 184 Champ with single axle trailer I get 11mpg. With out towing I average 18. Stock size wheels and tires.

[HPBB]

I have a 2001 Chevy Tahoe with a 5.3L Vortec V8 with auto trans and 3.73 rear.

I tow a 18 foot V-hull & a 28 foot pontoon

This is what MPG's I get

at 70 MPH I get 17-18 not towing, 15 towing

13-14 around town

best I ever got was 18.9mpg while not towing ( also at 60mph)

I towed my friends Nitro 901 with a 200hp Merc and got 15mpg on the highway.

and I just towed a covered car trailer with a 98 corvette in it and it still got 15-16mpg at 70 mph and that was an average over 700miles

every summer I go to cananda, 1400 mile round trip. 4 guys all are gear for 2 weeks. my 18 footer on the back (loaded with more gear) and a 14 foot v-hull on the roof. with the a/c and cruise on at 70-72 mph it still gets 15 mph

My 18 footer is heavy. I use my father inlaws tracker 175 PTX some times and it is lite. I get 16-17mpg while towing it.

As for a set up. It has the heavy duty towing package, oil, trans coolers. I tow in overdrive with the tow/haul switch on. and get my trans oil changed every  year. Truck has over 100,000 miles I put 5000 + mile towing each year. and its  working great. This is the best tow viehicle I have had.

also I only use synthetic oil

[fourbizz]

I run a 2000 Chevy with the 5.3.

I am running a cold air intake with a hypertech power programmer and a mild exhaust.

With 35 inch tires, I get can get 17mpg@90MPH not towing.

Towing I get around 12MPG@60MPH

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have a 04 silverado 4x4  

I get 15-16 usually pulling my 17.5" glass boat.  when you go over 65mph the mileage drops drastically  

The only thing on my truck is the tow package and a K&N air filter.

[2000WHITEGMC]

I have a 2000 Z71 with 5.3L.  I have 40 series Flowmaster dual exhaust, Airaid Intake, and throttle body spacer.

I usually get around 20-20.5 on the highway (not towing)

or 16-17 mpg towing 17' bass tracker on two lane highway.

[bassin_man]

I'm guessing these engines have plenty of power to get those 17-21 foot bass boats going down the road?  I think my next truck is going to be a gmc or chevy with the 5.3 and a tow package.

[1fast68]

bassin_man, the truck has plenty of power to pull just about any bass boat you'll put behind it, but my suggestion and if I could have afforded it at the time. I would have bought a F250 with a diesel. Not that I needed more tourqe to pull it but it sure makes it nice to pull a heavy load with a diesel vs gas engine. I'm not biased by the make of the truck and like the Fords as well as GMs. I just like the diesel in the Fords better. If you ever pull a heavy load with a diesel, you'll never want to pull a trailer of any kind with a gas burner again.

[bassin_man]

A diesel would be my first choice but I just don't think its ever going to be in the budget unless I definitely put off getting my boat once again.  I don't know if I can handle doing that again.

[AdamBrister]

I have an 07 Avalanche with the 5.3l and it does a good job pulling my 18' Ranger.  I recently installed a K&N intake and will have a new exhaust and programmer before I get to pull my boat again, so I should have a little more power.  The Av gets about 20mpg by itself and around 14-15 towing.

[Redlinerobert]

I sometimes pull the Ranger with my dad's '08 GMC half ton that has the new 6L motor.  It struggles slightly when going uphill, but handles it pretty well.  I get MUCH better gas milage in that truck than the H2.

[NAILER]

I have a '05 gmc Z71 w/5.3  and tow a 18' bass boat with no problem. I get 14-15 mpg on highway in tow mode.

[56 crestliner]

I believe Gm is coming out with a 5.3 diesel in 09. they r gunna put it in the 1500's. THat will give u better fuel economy than gas and more horse power.