Will it pull my trailer?

Mark and Linda wrote:
I have a 2007 Chevrolet with a 5.3 V8. On the interstate I get about 22 mpg. If I hook my two wheel utility trailer to it...16-18 depending on the load. Pulling our 2009 Puma 25RS....it goes to about 11-13. 13 being on a good day.

I just "downgraded" from a 2008 3/4 ton Suburban to a 2015 1/2 ton GMC Sierra with the 5.3/3.42. Both the 6.0 in the Suburban and the 5.3 in the Sierra had 355hp and 383ft/lbs of torque. That said, my half-ton is easily better pulling my camper than the Suburban was. Now, to be honest the Suburban was "sick" I think. It just never felt right, always felt underpowered, could hardly ever hold 6th gear unloaded on the highway.

The new truck is nicer in every way. My camper is about 6,000lbs loaded. My towing capacity in the Suburban was 9600lbs. Towing capacity in the Sierra is 9200lbs. Sure I give up a little in payload 2000 down to 1800, but it's a much better puller.

Oh yeah. Gas mileage was the primary reason I made the change. The Suburban was getting 12-13 empty and 7-8 pulling. The new truck got 10 with the camper through the Flint Hills of Kansas, and gets 19-21 empty on the highway. A bit worse in town, 15-16. But I've also learned how to drive it in town in V4 a lot of the time to help with it.

So all of that is to say, I'd get the 5.3 and not look back. Far superior power and a negligible, if any, MPG penalty.