New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

[alumi numb]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

The 5.7L isn't significantly bigger than the rest.... but it does make significantly more horsepower.

I agree there is no replacement for displacement, but the 40 or 50 horse difference between the Toyota and Ford isn't because of engine size.

just love to watch the box flex on those things when they hit a rough road because of the frame.
toyota that is.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

The 4L60E does not lock the converter in first or second gear and I'm not aware of any domestic trannys that do.

 

[642mx]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

just love to watch the box flex on those things when they hit a rough road because of the frame.
toyota that is.

Its not near as much fun as watching a Ford catch fire...lol.

 

[ebry710]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I drove a 5.3 Chevy, 5.4 Ford, Hemi Ram, and the Tundra..... After driving all of them, it was clear the Tundra kills them all. Its rated to pull nearly 11,000 lbs and its the quickest 1/2 ton on the market.

I bought a new 5.7L D-Cab 4x4 TRD package.

I think Toyota makes a great truck. With that said, GMC/Chevy has made an attempt to get good gas mileage. The 5.3L is said to get 21 MPG.

Toyota also sells an "as is" truck. When I went down to Toyota and asked about a V-8, 4 door, flatbed Tundra, they said that cannot do that. All modifications to the Tundra has to be after market (non-dealership) which can void the warrantee.

You see I am not asking for much. What I was looking for was a flatbed truck that could tow 6000#, 4 people and got 25 mpg. As many forums have said, a passage vehicle can do that.....except they experience major brake fade and you cannot modify suspension, configuration body for use or weld on them.

A pickup truck should be able to get the gas mileage of a car and still be able to get some work done. Chevy has put their resources into doing that even before the melt down.

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

If I remember my advertising correctly, I think the chevy V8 has better epa rated mileage than the toyota's base V6!

 

[QC]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

A pickup truck should be able to get the gas mileage of a car and still be able to get some work done.

Should is an interesting word . . . I would say could or would if they were the same in aerodynamics, weight and power . . . But that's kinda silly isn't it? I don't expect a Honda Civic to be able to tow 6000 lbs and carry a significant load over that of 4 passengers

 

[642mx]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I think Toyota makes a great truck. With that said, GMC/Chevy has made an attempt to get good gas mileage. The 5.3L is said to get 21 MPG.

Toyota also sells an "as is" truck. When I went down to Toyota and asked about a V-8, 4 door, flatbed Tundra, they said that cannot do that. All modifications to the Tundra has to be after market (non-dealership) which can void the warrantee.

You see I am not asking for much. What I was looking for was a flatbed truck that could tow 6000#, 4 people and got 25 mpg. As many forums have said, a passage vehicle can do that.....except they experience major brake fade and you cannot modify suspension, configuration body for use or weld on them.

A pickup truck should be able to get the gas mileage of a car and still be able to get some work done. Chevy has put their resources into doing that even before the melt down.

So you want a 1/2 ton truck with the ability to tow 6000 lbs, tote 4 people and get 25 mpg?.....

No full sized truck with a V8 is going to get over 20 mpg. If someone tells you theirs gets 20+ mpg.... they're either not telling the truth or they are not great with math.

I drove about 350 miles with my Tundra last weekend, it was getting 16.3 mpg at 80 mph... I thought it was great. My old Tundra (4.7L 4x4) only got 15.9 at best on the interstate. Heck my wifes V6 Solara only gets 27 on the highway and its shaped like a bullet.... and our V6 3000GT gets 23-25 and its a lot more areodynamic than the Solara.

The 5.3 has plenty of power to pull itself and a loaded bed, but if you hook 6000 lbs behind it, its going to struggle. I've drove them, trust me.

I didn't know Chevy made a 5.3 flat bed, but I guess its good if they do. Obviously, one person has a need for it. But, don't expect the mpg thats advertised on the door to come true.

 

[QC]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

No full sized truck with a V8 is going to get over 20 mpg. If someone tells you theirs gets 20+ mpg.... they're either not telling the truth or they are not great with math.

I am convinced mine will, check my first post in this thread. 2+2 = 5 right? Oh, and did I tell you guys that I was abducted by aliens when I was at the lake last year?

 

[642mx]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I am convinced mine will, check my first post in this thread. 2+2 = 5 right? Oh, and did I tell you guys that I was abducted by aliens when I was at the lake last year?

Did the aliens tell you the secret to getting 30 mpg out of a tank?... LMAO.

 

[willieboy]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I have the original 5.3l in our '02 Burb. Great power plant, decent transmission. I think you will be fine with the 5.3l towing 6000lbs. You will feel it, I don't care what anyone says, but it will haul it just fine.

As for the Toyota, I love mine. But toyota does have it quirks, especially when it comes to picking out your truck. But for pulling, I don't think there is a half ton out there that can do a better job. As far as bed flex goes, 36,000 miles on mine in a little over a year, and I have not seen the negative effects yet (nor have I really experienced it). I will say, after watching some crash test ratings, I am glad it flexes there, and not in the middle of the cab like some of the competition.

 

[alumi numb]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

Its not near as much fun as watching a Ford catch fire...lol.

don't know what to say, i drive a dodge/cummins.

 

[ebry710]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

If I remember my advertising correctly, I think the chevy V8 has better epa rated mileage than the toyota's base V6!

Go figure. I still can't believe that Chevy has the highest MPG for a V-8.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

Remember to check those tow rating carefully, most only count if you use weight distribution hitch and trailer brakes.


04 Chevy 2500 6.0 (gas) 4x4

 

[642mx]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

Go figure. I still can't believe that Chevy has the highest MPG for a V-8.

Shouldn't the Chevy get the best gas mileage?.... I mean it only makes 315 horse and 338 ft lbs of torque...

When you make 381 horse and 401 ft lbs of torque, its going to require more gas.

 

[QC]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

Shouldn't the Chevy get the best gas mileage?.... I mean it only makes 315 horse and 338 ft lbs of torque...

When you make 381 horse and 401 ft lbs of torque, its going to require more gas.

Fundamental mistake there . . . Just because one makes 381 bhp and the other 315 doesn't mean that road load cruise of say 87.3 bhp will take different amounts of fuel for either engine. They will be different, and theoretically the higher displacement engine will use more fuel at a given output, but that assumes both engines are equal technically . . .

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I think you guys are making this too hard on yourselves. I tow with a 1990 F250 with a 5.8L V8 (351). It has a lot of miles, almost all towing miles. Still pulls like it thinks its a diesel!

Just drive a few and pick the one that YOU like.

 

[willieboy]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I think you guys are making this too hard on yourselves. I tow with a 1990 F250 with a 5.8L V8 (351). It has a lot of miles, almost all towing miles. Still pulls like it thinks its a diesel!

Just drive a few and pick the one that YOU like.

BEST ADVICE SO FAR!!

 

[ebry710]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I think you guys are making this too hard on yourselves. I tow with a 1990 F250 with a 5.8L V8 (351). It has a lot of miles, almost all towing miles. Still pulls like it thinks its a diesel!

Just drive a few and pick the one that YOU like.

To me a truck is a truck. You can modify anything but the power train. You can chip it, but you can't really improve the fuel economy. That becomes the manufacturer. Once I find a fuel efficient engine I can gear and brownie it to get the power. My 1998 E350 has 200K on the engine and still runs. But I run it for work and at the height of the fuel pricing my fuel bill went up to $150 a week. I use to get 16 MPG now it get 12 MPG. At the high fuel prices I need to conserve fuel the best I can and still tow my trailers.

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

Once I find a fuel efficient engine I can gear and brownie it to get the power.

When you gear down and "brownie" it, you are going to kill the fuel mileage anyway. You might as well just get the one that you just like in general, and equip it however you want.

I'm glad your E350 is still going strong. Gotta love those old Fords! I have to ask though, are you sure you want a vehicle payment? You can buy A LOT of gas for whatever a new truck costs. For the $30,000 you might pay, at todays gas prices and your current 12 mpg, you can put another 180,000 miles on your current van!

Hunter

 

[ebry710]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

As a work platform, the van has a lot of limitations. I have originally bought it for construction organization and on the job tool lockup. It was great for that.

Now I transport fuel for motors and on a hot day it sucks. I also have had to listen to load shifts and rattling gear. Tool transport is still important, but with only access through the back and sided doors I am limited. I also have installed a removable seat bench so I can fit 4 people (family size), but at when in use it cuts my storage access in half.

Now, that my life style is set for a while, I figure I want a 3/4 ton crew cab flatbed. It gives me a versatile work platform with a quiet 4 adult cab. Plus I can add racks to it. I had racks on my van, but I was never tall enough to use it.

Gearing is key to power. I have a guy who can work with me to maintain stock gear patterns to maintain manufactures mpg, but will allow me to drop gear ratios when I climb. Not that different to commercial trucks.

Fuel economy was never an issue before because the cost of a new truck was so much higher than an old truck you could never make it up in savings. But a $3.50/$4.00 per gallon, that is not the cause. With, gas mileage breaking 20 MPG, interest rates at 0% for new cars and 100,000 mile warranties there is a break even point.