Silverado 1500

Good News! I have pulled my 7500lbs camper around now on 3 different trips going over 200 miles each. The results of a programmer, Cold Air Intake, and a new upgraded exhaust makes the Silverado 5.3L wake up quite a bit. I am very pleased the way my chevy pulls. I run the speed limit and set the cruise. She runs between 3000-4500 rpms which was exactly what was commented on my question. Mileage I got 8-11 mpgs which is what I expected pulling a thee and half ton camper. Next updates will be LT tires and air bag suspension before my next trip to Tennessee. Thanks for all the advice and informative answers.

The pre '14 5.3 don't compare with the newest gen 5.3 engine. With 355 hp and 383 torque it will out perform the older version. Low end power is amazing for a smallblock engine.

My wife has a '16 1500 crew cab 4wd chevy 5.3 355/383 engine 6L80e 3.42 gears. This truck replaced her old '06 same 1500 crew cab 4wd 5.3 4L60e 3.73 gear chevy truck. Apples vs oranges.
I use it sometimes pulling a 12k gvwr flatbed with a 12' tall tractor/cab with around 9460 lbs on the trailers axles and 1020 lbs on the trucks rear axle. Of course the tractor can be placed anywhere on the trailer for balanced axle loading.
We stay within 250 miles or so on jobs so it gets some leg work on the road.

The '16 5.3 6L80 is hands down better towing a load than older 5.3 versions. In the hills I run the 6 speed in 4th and 5th on the flats. Empty or towing I see no mpg differences between 5th and 6th.

Of course the 5.3 won't compare with my Cummins or the 3.5 EB engine in the F150 but IMO it does good for what it is.

For more 1500 towing power the 6.2 at 420 hp and 460 torque NHT tow package with the 3.73 axle ratio is a butz kicker or 3.5 EB eater says some owners like to brag.

Missouri Man wrote:
I now have a New Silverado

What happened to the truck in your signature?

I hope the trailer in your sig isn't the one you tow with a 1500.

What gear ratio is in your 1500?

I wouldn't want to tow a big heavy trailer with anything less than 3.73 gearing, but most Silverados 1500s have 3.42s.

We naturally aspirated engine owners tow at higher engine speeds than your diesel or Ecoboost. 5th gear/2200-2500rpm on flats, 3000rpm in 4th gear for headwinds and small hills, 4000-5500rpm for climbing hills and mountains. That is reality, and exactly what these truck engines are designed to do.

Missouri Man wrote:
How is everyone else with a Silverado 5.3L V-8 doing pulling a 7500lb tt all over, mileage and power?

I've been towing with 3 different versions of GM's 5.3L for a dozen years now, all coupled to a 3.42 axle ratio, currently tow with a 2012 Silverado and wouldn't ever consider towing a trailer weighing any more than 6000 lbs loaded & ready to camp with it. Aside from grunt under the hood this truck just doesn't offer sufficient payload capacity to tow anything much heavier. Whether newer versions are better qualified for this task I can't say but payload on my current '12 is pretty well topped out towing my current Coachmen which only averages ~ 4800 lbs fully loaded. How one would tow any trailer weighing nearly 3000 lbs more than that is a mystery to me. :h