Chevy with 4.8?

I posted a while back about looking for a new tow vehicle and after a ton of research and looking at my budget, I may be having to get a Silverado Crew Cab with a 4.8 vortec. I have a buddy with one and he says it pulls his 5500lb trailer just fine. Wont win any races, but gets the job done. I would love to get something with a little more ooomph!! But for what i need this may work. He gets about 21 mpg in his on the highway so that also factored in. Yes I would love an F250 Powerstroke, but a little out of the budget. Anyway, just wanted to get some thoughts.

I had a 2003 4.8 extended cab 1500 2x4 and we pulled our tige 24V with no problems 260Miles 1 way to the lake. In fact it did a better job then our 99 yukon with the 5.7. Now we tow with a 2007 duramax and it blows the 2 out of the water.

We were looking for a new work truck for our business late last year. From my research and from the dealer there is no advantage to the 4.8 other than initial cost. I think the 5.3 got better fuel mileage.

If you're getting a Chevy, get the 5.3. You'll be glad you did. What is your budget??

I work for a john deere dealership in the summer and drive a 2006 silverado regular cab/long bed 4 x 2 with the 4.8 engine in it.

Usually tow a 20 ft. steel trailer which probably weighs around 2000# and then I have it loaded with another #3000 of equipment for deliveries....around town it pulls just fine with plenty of power. Once I get on the highway at 65 mph with small hills it sucks ass. It always kicks into passing gear and rev's out...pretty much can't use the cruise or it'll shift gears all the time.

I drive with the trailer everyday during the summer doing deliveries and I wish my boss would've sprung for the 5.3 or a diesel. just my $.02 though

On the other hand I tow my boat(2001 pro air nautique) which weighs about 4500# with a 2003 tahoe with the 5.3 in it...not impressed on the highway with that either. You either have to drive in 3rd gear and get like 8 mpg or feather the throttle (without cruise) in Drive.(tow/haul mode on of course) Or else the thing shifts gears all the time.

My budget is around 19k. Definately no more.

You could pick up a nice 2001-2002 7.3 Powerstroke for that kind of money. If I get rid of my 'Burb, Im getting the Excursion with the 7.3. I'm sick of fighting with the truck if I want to take the boat out of town!

I don't know where you are located, but check out http://www.texasdirectauto.com/ . I bought an '04 Dodge from them a couple of years ago. Great prices, super clean vehicles. They delivered it to my door in N.Cal for $1000. It was scary buying a truck without looking at it in person or test driving it, but their price with delivery & 4yr warranty was better than I could find anywhere.

I got rid of my Tahoe that had a 4.8 because it wasn't working for me pulling thru the mountains. I went to the 5.3, put a cold air intake, power programmer with custom tune, and dual exhaust and that trucks works great!

I have the 4.8L in my Tahoe. It does pretty good on a flat highway, but if you throw in some hills it quickly tops out and won't give any more. I have a SAN and it gets the job done, but sometimes we are stuck at 40 MPH giving it everything she has and I have the 3.73 gears too! I would pass on the 4.8 and go straight to a 6.0. Look for a Quadrasteer GMC with the 6.0, there have been plenty on ebay lately...

I sure wish they made the duramax in the Chevy Suburban.

(Message edited by hawaiianstiln on October 01, 2009)

If it were me 19k Will buy a nice older diesel. If you don't really want a diesel buy something used with a larger v8. Should not be hard to find a clean used truck at that price regarless if it's gas or diesel.

Sorry for the hijack, but what intake and programmer did you use Keith? I have a 2003 Yukon with the 5.3L, and can feel a major difference in towing between my old 2001 Sanger and my 2007 VTX. The Yukon is paid off, so I'd like to keep it for a while longer

Get a chevy with the 8.1L!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130334467280&viewitem= &sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

The 8.1 is bad mofo! I had an 02 8.1 4x4 and that thing would tow any thing you putt behind it. The only down side is fuel milage 12-13 unloaded and 8-9 with a 22ft boat.

.....or buy a diesel & double the mileage. Fuel is cheaper, & engine will last twice as long.

The engine will NOT last twice as long.. The 8.1L is a heavy duty industrial engine and has a similar duty cycle as the duramax. It will cost you more in gas but will cost you about 50% less initial investment and be way cheaper to maintain.

Cost is not way more and neither is maintenance. The D-max dubbled my milage. This 02 D-max 4x4 with 80,000 miles,leather,6"lift,18"wheels and tires and lots of extras sold for 14,500.

Maybe in NYC, but not any where around here or on eBay.

Maintenance is more than double in oil alone.

NYC???? Houston TX. They are every where. Get on a diesel forum and look in the classifieds. People in Ca PAY too much for every thing. They will charge like $800.00 to deliver a vehicle to lacation that is close to you. It took me a whole 5 minutes to digg these up. Give me a few hours and I could have more trucks for you to look at than one person could handle. You just gotta know where to look.

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=10&id=5595798&N=4294966752+69&D=9 0&zip=77477&No=0&Ep=search:findcar:used&Rp=R&PP=20 &sV=List&CD=662+14+240+190+398+15+9&Q=6caf7971-0944-48de-a3aa-47aefd88db8a

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=29&id=6002974&N=4294966752+69&D=9 0&zip=77477&No=20&Ep=search:findcar:used&Rp=R&PP=2 0&sV=List&CD=662+14+240+190+398+15+9&Q=6caf7971-0944-48de-a3aa-47aefd88db8a

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=86&id=6042256&N=4294966752+69&D=9 0&zip=77477&No=80&Ep=search:findcar:used&Rp=R&PP=2 0&sV=List&CD=662+14+240+190+398+15+9&Q=6caf7971-0944-48de-a3aa-47aefd88db8a

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=137&id=6095219&N=4294966752+69&D= 90&zip=77477&No=120&Ep=search:findcar:used&Rp=R&PP =20&sV=List&CD=662+14+240+190+398+15+9&Q=6caf7971-0944-48de-a3aa-47aefd88db8a

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=160&id=6220159&N=4294966752+69&D= 90&zip=77477&No=160&Ep=search:findcar:used&Rp=R&PP =20&sV=List&CD=662+14+240+190+398+15+9&Q=6caf7971-0944-48de-a3aa-47aefd88db8a

i picked up my 2004 Chevy Tahoe 2x4 LT with the 5.3L for $15050.00...but not sure if you want a SUV

i'd definantly be looking for something with more power than the 4.8, I bought my 2001 ram 2500 w/ cummins for $15,000 and its a clean truck... there are a lot of options with more power than the 4.8 in your budget.

Steve,
I think this is all relative to 'how much you actually tow the boat in a single season'.

I tow my 2001 X10 with a 1996 2door Tahoe with the 5.7L. This is by no means a preferred setup, but I LOVE the truck and only tow my boat 3-4 times a season so it's no big deal for me.

I know an lot of ppl on WW tow every weekend for 4-5 months a year. At this point it becomes a big concern what you have to tow with. If I towed often like these guys on WW I would definitely get a Diesel.

Yeah it will deffinately be an every weekend project and it will also be my daily driver of 20-30 miles daily. I also have a 12 year old with Spina Bifida who is going to have to be in a electric wheelchair that weighs 350 lbs next year. So i have to get something that I can ramp the WC into as well as tow a boat. So an SUV is not out of the question as long as her chair will fit. As far as pick ups go, its gonna have to be a crew cab. Extended cabs just don't have the room I need. I have thought about a Diesel but just seems to expensive for gas. I don't think an F250 gets 17-18 unloaded in the city does it?

Steve

Both of my diesels. D-max and Cummin's get the same fuel mileage 13-14 in town and 18-19 highway unloaded. I get 13.5 pulling the boat. This also depends on driving habits. I did get 20.5 mpg out of my Cummin's on one 600 mile trip. I drove real conservative. I tend to lean on the pedal pretty hard when I drive.

06 F-250 6inch lift mild programmer and I get about 11 mpg around town and 17 on the freeway. My mileage doesn't change while towing my boat, now when towing 10000 plus pounds the mileage drops huge. There are a lot of deals everywhere as previously pointed out, just spend the time looking around. I love my truck and I have two kids 4 and 4 months and have the crew cab. The cab is sooo big, this truck should fit your needs. Steve, good luck but as you can see you get all the info you need from WW

Well that really narrows it down, but is still easily solved... You need a van... This will solve your vehicle problems... Good Luck!


Van

It has a 9600 capacity which will tow the boat and a 6.0L. Ebay has several of this with low miles in your price range. If you prefer the Ford, plenty of E-350's with V10's are listed too.

Good call Sam ^^^^

Nooooooooooo Vans!!!! Sorry, but my daughter even said NO WAY!!! Been down that road before.

You just haven't found the right van yet...

LOL!! and 8 mpg would really suck!! Ohhh just noticed one was a Duramax.

Vans can be made to look real sweet. You pick make and model diesel or gas. Let you daughter pick the rims and bumpers (accessories). That would make it fun for her too. Just a thought.

Nick, I use the Diablo Sport Predator for my power programmer and got on their site for months working on my own custom tune with the help of their forum. Then magnaflow dual exhaust and K&N cold air. I would call Arizona cold air tho. LOL

I just bought a silverado crew cab with the 4.8 about 2 months ago. The truck is awesome! Its really good on gas too. My father owns a Mastercraft dealership and I pick up and deliver boats for him all the time. Iv pulled pretty much every X series boat with it no problem. It does struggle a little bit when you get into big hills and stuff but its not too bad. How often do you pull? No need for a huge motor in your truck if your not pulling everyday.

I have an 2002 powerstoke crew cab with the 7.3 as well as a yukon with the 5.3 and I paid less than 19k on each. I think you should take that route, you will be much happier in the end

I have had an avalanche with the 5.3 and now have a titan. The nissan has alot more power and gets much better mileage(20mpg, highway unloaded). the 5.3 was lucky to break 15mpg. plus it is tough to beat the room and comfort of a titan crew cab.