Chevy 4.8L or 5.3L

[n8dawg]

I'm looking at getting a 2003 Chevy Silverado 1/2 ton, lifted. So I need some input about both of these motors. I've tow'd my 19ft jet boat with the 5.3 up grades but I would like to know how the 4.8 does while towing up steep grades with the A/C on ect.
Thanks in advance.
Currently towing boat with a 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport with the 5.2 V8, Piece of you know what... not happy at all with it's towing capacity. Going back to Chevy.

[VDRIVERACING]

I'm looking at getting a 2003 Chevy Silverado 1/2 ton, lifted. So I need some input about both of these motors. I've tow'd my 19ft jet boat with the 5.3 up grades but I would like to know how the 4.8 does while towing up steep grades with the A/C on ect.
Thanks in advance.
Currently towing boat with a 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport with the 5.2 V8, Piece of you know what... not happy at all with it's towing capacity. Going back to Chevy.
Then you're gonna be real unhappy with the 4.8. I wouldn't settle for less than the 5.3, and with 4.10 gears at that. I have a 2004 Tahoe 5.3 4wd with 3.73's towing a 21' Vdrive(what else!), and it gets the job done, but I sure wish I had bought it with the deeper gears. And if your new truck has large wheels, it will only magnify any shortfall in gearing....

[socalmofo]

I had an 01' Silverado Extra Cab lifted on 35's with a 4.8 (Re-Geared to 4:56) - Towed my 24' Boat, prob near 5k with Trailer, Boat and All Gear. Also towed a 20' Toy Hauler. Towing a jet boat will be no problem with either engine. Obviously get the 5.3 if you can swing it.

[natevortec]

5.3 its the only way to go.... or a diesel

[OCMerrill]

So lets convert these huge CC engines into cubic inches.
4.8 = 293
5.3 = 323
Massive powerplants arn't they.
The good old marketing of the metric system gets us all thinking that these are big engines. The only way to make usefull power is to spin them fast. So be ready to see the tach needle in the 3-4K range most of your trip.
We own a 5.3 in our Yukon with 3:73's. Not very impressive tow-er with our light lavey behind. But once I understood that I am dealing with less than a 327 I calm down. There is no other larger choice in powerplants either.
I could just not imagine pulling a Toy hauler with a 4.8 running 35's. Not saying it could not be done but what an agravating sit in the seat that would be. At least for me.
Stay away from that 4.8.

[HighRoller]

The 5.3 pulls hills really good on grades with a small boat because you can pull it down a gear or two and let the RPM's do the work. The bummer is on small hills where the engine doesn't have the torque to pull OD and you have to slow down to pull 3rd. The 4.8 will pull that boat but I'd get the 5.3 because you have to figure in the extra weight for people and gear plus the fact that it's hot in the summer. Make sure you get a good exhaust and a K&N filter too. They are worth 2+ mpg on the 5.3.

[epeagle]

my 5.3 has been ok pulling my 26ft boat. i wish i would of opted for the 4.1 gears though...
my transmission temp hit 245 going over the grapevine.

[n8dawg]

Well thanks for all the input everyone. After much looking and driving trucks all weekend long. My fiance' and I decided on a 2002 Chevy 1500 LS with the 5.3. Our first trip is this weekend up to Lake San Antonio. We'll see how it does pulling our boat and loaded with all our gear up the Questa Grade. I'm thinking it wont be a problem finally a truck that takes all the towing stress away compared to my Dodge Dakota - windows down, heater on...F - that!!!! I'm over it! Ready to ride in style.
That diesel will just have to hold off for a couple of years!
Thanks again.
Nate

[voodoomedman]

I know I'm late to chime in but I have a 4.8 on 35's. If you can go bigger then do it of course. I'd love to have the 6 litre then I wouldn't have to worry about upgrading later With that said I got the 4.8 because that is what I could get at the time with the color of the truck. Non-stock color that you basically have to kill somebody to get. Anyways it's up on 35's with a 4.56 ratio. Flowmaster cat-back and K&N intake. I can go up Cajon Pass towing 60 no problem with the air on. Now if I punch it then it isn't going to jump anywhere but be a very slow steady increase in speed. But it gets the job done. That is with a boat weighing around 5k on the trailer so a 21 footer should be just fine. If I did the tow every weekend I'm not sure if I would have upgraded already. If I had a bigger boat I for sure would have.

[HitIt]

I think you are going to be happy with it. I have a 2003 2wd 1500 LS extended cab with a 5.3. Just went over the grapevine and this weekend with a 22' cruiser full of gas. Was able to go over 60 the whole time. I am not saying that the truck did it effortlessly but it pulled fine. Coming back (the first part of the grapvine is steeper) I decided to give the truck a break and let it shift down to second. 45 MPH, 3K rpm, temp didnt budge. I would really like a diesel but overall, I think it works fine.
When you are "trailer mode" the damn thing wont shift out of second till it is wound out way higher than sounds right though. Anyone else notice this with their truck?