Chevy 6.0 vs. 5.3?

[Sutty]

My kids are outgrowing my extended cab.....I had aspirations of driving my truck to 3-400 K but I guess someone else can

So I am looking at buying a chevy crew cab. How much difference in performance is there between the two engines? I tow a 18 foot crestliner and am sure either would be fine for that but at some point I will buy a wheel house and don't want to regret the decision. I'd appreciate some pro's and cons that I might not be thinking about.

Lets stay outa the other brand debate please

[overdalimit]

My little brother tows a 29 foot travel trailer with a 5.3 suburban and has no regrets. That is a 327. I can only assume that the bore and stroke are the same as the old legend. My math tells me that the 6.0 is a 377. Good engine/more torque but will use more fuel. The 6.0 did have some issues when first introduced but they have addressed them and now it is pretty much rock solid. Both have the same tranny. I believe you have to move up to the 8.1 or the Diesel for the Allison.

[Jaspernuts]

My uncle has the 6.0 and it is a pig on fuel compared to the 5.3. He gets about 11 with that beast.

[Ralph Wiggum]

My math tells me that the 6.0 is a 377.

366

[harvey lee]

I have a 5.3 and pulld my 16 ft boat and the mileage is approx 16-17 depending on how I drive. Plenty of power to tow this boat.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

I have owned several 5.3's and 1 6.0 and I liked them both. The 6.0 seemed to have alot more torque and was geared more for towing and work. The 6.0 was rated at 300 h.p. and the new 5.3 is rated at around 310 or so. For your application, I would say the 5.3 should do nicely for you not to mention the extra fuel economy when your not towing. I got around 16 with the 6 litre unloaded and I currently get between 18 and 23 with my 5.3 Silverado unloaded and depending on the wind. I pull my SnoBear (3200lbs,) with the 5.3 and don't have any problems and still get around 16 m.p.g. Hope this helps!

[WingDing2]

I have a 2003 6 litre Silverado I get 12.5 around town and 15 hwy.

If I load it up with my 27' Sportcraft I get 11 mpg... but you can bet it sure does a good job!

I dont tow the boat anymore and was thinking of unloading the truck and found out it was worth about 12K I think I'll keep it!

[Outfitter17]

I have a 6.0 in my work truck, duramax as a all around truck and my fiance drives a suburban with the 5.3.

With the 6.0 I get about 13 on the hwy empty 10 in town and 9 towning anything.

The duramax gets 19.5 avg. on the hwy, 16 in town and 14 towning.

The suburban gets 18 on hwy, 13 in town and around 13 towing.

If I were you and you don't want to just to the duramax, I would go with the 5.3. Plenty of power and when you are not towing you will get the bonus mileage.

[harvey lee]

A suburban might not be a bad option either as one can purchase some pretty nice used ones for a real fair price. Nice when a person wants to go fishing with a group too.

[Sutty]

thanks for the advice, I'll aim for the 5.3

[eyepatrol]

I'm going to reflect the exact same sentiments as Outfitter.

My best friend has the 6.0 VertecMax engine (345hp) and gets 13 - 14 highway, 10 - 11 city and 9mpg regardless of what he is towing. That engine is a brute and will pull just about anything and then some. Will suck gas too like a bad alcoholic!

I've got an '05 Silverado 1/2ton CC with the 5.3 and just love it! I pull my 18' Alumacraft around no problem with that truck. In fact, it pulls better than our '05 Tahoe that has the same engine (might be geared differently). The 5.3 is a workhorse. I get 17 - 19 on the highway, 13-14 city and 13 - 14 pulling the boat up to and back from Canada this year. I couldn't be happier.

[IFallsRon]

I've got a 4.3 in an extended Silverado. Yesterday on a bad ramp, I had trouble for the first time ever pulling my fat glass boat out of the water. Perhaps if I had some box weight it wouldn't have been a problem.

I've also got a Suburban with the 5.3. It has performed as expected and the mpg hasn't been the worst. We recently pulled a 5,000 travel trailer to Wisconsin Dells. I mostly ran around 60 mph and had no trouble tromping on it to get out of traffic trouble.

[Sutty]

Thanks for the posts, the 5.3 sounds like it will fit the bill.