GM 5.3 engine
After towing for 26 years with a 1965 Chevy Van (w/292-TH350), DW and I are getting too old to put up with 100 degree temps in it cause it has no air.
So we bought a pristine '04 Envoy 4.2 to tow our '04 Tahoe Lite (22'). Since this "lite" TT weighs over 4300 lbs and the Envoy 4900 lobs, the Envoy is at max capacity and does struggle on steep mountain passes, but it does it. We've also found it's a little too small to carry the camping gear we want to take.
So we're looking for bigger tow vehicle with a V-8.
We actually prefer an older Class B motorhome (the new ones are over $100,000), but they are very few around here (Pacific NW). So we're also looking at '95 to 2005 Chevy or Dodge vans with Chevy 350 or 6.0 or 360 Dodge engines. Also looking for same year Suburbans.
We've found that most of the Suburbans have the 5.3 engines. Since I haven't paid attention to the newer engines available in the post-2000 GM trucks, I'm not sure the 5.3 is big enough to move itself and the TT. I know the 6.0 would be perfect, but there aren't many of those, even in vans. Supposedly the 5.3 replaced the 350, but that's 322 ci compared to 350 ci.
So, anyone tow with a 1500 Suburban or Chevy van with the 5.3? Wondering if it would tow better than the Envoy which has the 4.2 6 cyl? (Since the TT is not that heavy, I'm not afraid of towing with a 1/2 ton since the '65 and Envoy are both 1/2 ton or less).
So we bought a pristine '04 Envoy 4.2 to tow our '04 Tahoe Lite (22'). Since this "lite" TT weighs over 4300 lbs and the Envoy 4900 lobs, the Envoy is at max capacity and does struggle on steep mountain passes, but it does it. We've also found it's a little too small to carry the camping gear we want to take.
So we're looking for bigger tow vehicle with a V-8.
We actually prefer an older Class B motorhome (the new ones are over $100,000), but they are very few around here (Pacific NW). So we're also looking at '95 to 2005 Chevy or Dodge vans with Chevy 350 or 6.0 or 360 Dodge engines. Also looking for same year Suburbans.
We've found that most of the Suburbans have the 5.3 engines. Since I haven't paid attention to the newer engines available in the post-2000 GM trucks, I'm not sure the 5.3 is big enough to move itself and the TT. I know the 6.0 would be perfect, but there aren't many of those, even in vans. Supposedly the 5.3 replaced the 350, but that's 322 ci compared to 350 ci.
So, anyone tow with a 1500 Suburban or Chevy van with the 5.3? Wondering if it would tow better than the Envoy which has the 4.2 6 cyl? (Since the TT is not that heavy, I'm not afraid of towing with a 1/2 ton since the '65 and Envoy are both 1/2 ton or less).
