New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

[alumi numb]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

As a work platform, the van has a lot of limitations. I have originally bought it for construction organization and on the job tool lockup. It was great for that.

Now I transport fuel for motors and on a hot day it sucks. I also have had to listen to load shifts and rattling gear. Tool transport is still important, but with only access through the back and sided doors I am limited. I also have installed a removable seat bench so I can fit 4 people (family size), but at when in use it cuts my storage access in half.

Now, that my life style is set for a while, I figure I want a 3/4 ton crew cab flatbed. It gives me a versatile work platform with a quiet 4 adult cab. Plus I can add racks to it. I had racks on my van, but I was never tall enough to use it.

Gearing is key to power. I have a guy who can work with me to maintain stock gear patterns to maintain manufactures mpg, but will allow me to drop gear ratios when I climb. Not that different to commercial trucks.

Fuel economy was never an issue before because the cost of a new truck was so much higher than an old truck you could never make it up in savings. But a $3.50/$4.00 per gallon, that is not the cause. With, gas mileage breaking 20 MPG, interest rates at 0% for new cars and 100,000 mile warranties there is a break even point.

not trying to sell diesel trucks or anything by that, however.
from what you have said it sounds like a 2500, 3500 or even a 4500 would be the ticket.
any of the above will handle anything you can throw at it.
there are a number of dodge/cummins out there with a million miles on them.
stay away from the 6.7 d/c as there are emission bugs to work out.
there is a glut of all vehicles out there so you should be able to come up with a great deal.
my 5.9 d/c is more than i dreamed of.
have had no problems with it at all, 79,000 mile at this time.
fords are problematic, i know very little about the dmax chevy other than they are fast.
dodge/cummins is the best puller.

 

[Begester]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I've got a 2007 Chevy Tahoe, 5.3 w/ Active fuel management (shuts off 4 cylinders when your going down a hill) and I get just shy of 20 mpg combined driving, although Its mostly highway for me. Thats without the boat of course. I opted for the bigger rear end and I'm glad I did, I can tow my 240 Sundancer with it (weighs about 6500 lbs including trailer and gear).

Its got plenty of power with a boat of my size behind it. I'll also say that my Tahoe handles/drives like a car, which is a big plus for me.

 

[alumi numb]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

my 2500 d/c has an n.v. 5600 6spd and a.a. 11.5 with 3.73 gears.
has a induction system i built myself, 3 seconds to change an air filter.
wiping down the torque tube with a white rag, the rag always comes out white no dirt at all ever!
the filter minder never shows anything.
i check the turbo about every three days, very easy with this system and no erosion at all.
running 65 in the left lane 1 1/5 truck lengths behind a big rig then rolling into it.
by the time my rear bumper passes it's front bumper i'm doing 110.
65 to 110 in 2 1/2 truck lengths, i swear to you that's true.
this is my daily driver, you will not have a problem doing that with a 5.9.
the 6.7 you might because of the particulate matter filter.
diesel today is not like the old and the turbos sound so sweet.
23 mpg at 65 mph m/t.
for a truck i will never go back to gas again.

 

[alumi numb]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

just wanted to add.
you know those washable blue plastic furnace filters you can get at walmart.
50,000+ mile with those in front of the radiator and any other frontal opening year around.
no bugs or dirt in the radiator and a cleaner engine.
hit the car wash and spray the things clean, works great for me.
the radiator look brand new, no bent fins.

 

[ebry710]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

I've got a 2007 Chevy Tahoe, 5.3 w/ Active fuel management (shuts off 4 cylinders when your going down a hill) and I get just shy of 20 mpg combined driving, although Its mostly highway for me. Thats without the boat of course. I opted for the bigger rear end and I'm glad I did, I can tow my 240 Sundancer with it (weighs about 6500 lbs including trailer and gear).

Its got plenty of power with a boat of my size behind it. I'll also say that my Tahoe handles/drives like a car, which is a big plus for me.

20 mpg combined, based on reality, is great. Especially if it can tow 6500#.

 

[Pony]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

No full sized truck with a V8 is going to get over 20 mpg.

Especially if its a Toyota.

I firmly believe this is possible, and I believe QC is right in his calculations. My 04' 5.3L doesn't have the fuel management system, but I can get 17mpg if I don't put my foot through the floor boards (which I do ). That being said, I have to figure the new 5.3L's with the fuel management system can get 20mpg on a regular basis and probably more if the conditions are right.

A buddy of mine at work has the same make/model/year truck as QC and he has been getting 18mpg so far. I'm guessing when the weather is 50 degrees warmer in a few months he will see 20mpg.

 

[642mx]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

Especially if its a Toyota.

Well, the Tundra does come with 4:30 gears... I don't think the Chevy could do that and still pull these magical fuel economy numbers.

 

[QC]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

And two over drive gears if I recall correctly . . . The rear end is not the only part of this equation, it's trans gear ratio (6th) x rear end ratio x tire rolling radius . . .

I love the Toyota because of the 6 speed, and the tow rating, and the horsepower. I was making a deal on a Toy the day I bought my GMC. The dealer started F'ing with me bad and I walked . . . No other Toyota dealers in LA were discounting the truck then, but this particular dealer was taking a total of 10K off with the factory rebate included. He tried to screw me with the financing and my trade ('03 Expy), so that was that. The other issue with the Toy is it is very hard to find a six passenger with the 5.7 . . .

 

[642mx]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

And two over drive gears if I recall correctly . . . The rear end is not the only part of this equation, it's trans gear ratio (6th) x rear end ratio x tire rolling radius . . .

Not exactly 2 over drive gears. They just call it a 6 speed. In tow/haul mode you don't even shift it out of OD. Just push the T/H button and hook up the trailer.

I love the Toyota because of the 6 speed, and the tow rating, and the horsepower. I was making a deal on a Toy the day I bought my GMC. The dealer started F'ing with me bad and I walked . . . No other Toyota dealers in LA were discounting the truck then, but this particular dealer was taking a total of 10K off with the factory rebate included. He tried to screw me with the financing and my trade ('03 Expy), so that was that. The other issue with the Toy is it is very hard to find a six passenger with the 5.7 . . .

There is nothing worse than a bad dealer... I tried to drive the 09 F-150 before I bought my Tundra... I spent 20 minutes looking at trucks in their lot and nobody would come out and help us... finally my wife and I got tired of waiting, so we left... I would have understood if the dealer was busy, but we where the only ones on the lot.

I've bought 3 Toys from the same dealer, same salesman... they treat us like royalty.

 

[ebry710]

Re: New Chevy Truck w/ 5.3 V-8. Any opinions?

There is nothing worse than a bad dealer... I tried to drive the 09 F-150 before I bought my Tundra... I spent 20 minutes looking at trucks in their lot and nobody would come out and help us... finally my wife and I got tired of waiting, so we left... I would have understood if the dealer was busy, but we where the only ones on the lot.
I've bought 3 Toys from the same dealer, same salesman... they treat us like royalty.

I doubt if there is anyone who would disagree.