new truck?

[gero1]

i am looking for a new(01,02) truck, leaning towards a chevy 1500 with the 5.3,tow package,ex cab. i think this would be fine around here but was wondering how it would do pulling the 22 on a long haul....to mi or fl

[Dr. Dan]

:smash: I have a 2002 Suburban, and it is also a 5.3L, it has the Tow Haul Feature. I Tow alot...and I have had no Issues, but keep in mind a Suburban is different in Center of Gravity compared to a Pick Up...so I am not sure a Pick Up with that engine would be....the 22 can push ya alot....

I had Towed it also with my 5.8 Lightning, with Gas Shocks and a Rear Air Bag Kit...it Towed it fine...but it did not pull or stop it like the Burban. They are excellent for Towing, two of my Best Friends also have Burbans, and both haul 22's....none of us have had any issues. My Burb has the smaller engine...theirs are BBC's so mine is better in gearing, but in hills there is no substitute for Horse and Torque.

Good Luck

Doc :bighug:

[gold-n-rod]

Look for a nice GMC Sierra C3 or Sierra Denali. They are the same except that the Denali has the quadrasteer standard and it's a towing dream. Both are 1500-class trucks but have the 6.0 and heavier brakes. They have AWD (no low range) and either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. They are rated to tow between 8700 and 10,000#. Both are extended cab models with full-luxury appointments.

The C3 was built only in '01 and the Denali with Q-steer from 02-04.

I have seen nice, low miles C3's sell for +/- $17K.

My C3 pulls my +/- 8000# boat like it's not even there.

Go to www.awdgm.com for more info and a message forum.

[DON N.]

Not A Chevy But A F_ _ _ ! I Have 2001 F-150 "7700" Package ,5.4 V-8 , Auto ,3.89 Axle's . Pulls My 22c Very Well ! If You Find One Check It Out .

[Donzigo]

My son has a 1500 Silverado & I have a Yukon, both have 5300 engines. Both tow the 22 Classic like it didn't exist. I have towed my Z-33 for short distances, 50 miles and less. Not a problem. If I were to tow on the expressway and for a long haul, I'd much prefer the extra foot on the Suberban, Denali, & Tahoe - XL models. I might add that my son has the Dually - GT Bridgestone (I think), tires that sure ride nice. I have Firestone Wilderness that seem to have soft sidewalls. Heck, I'm bouncing and weaving all over the road, compared to my son's Silverado.

[gero1]

donzigo you might want to try a rear sway bar, i put one on my short bed and it made one hll of a difference, was well worth the 145.00 thanks to all

[Darrell]

A 1/2ton 4x4 Chevy/GMC with a 5.3 and 3:73 gears has a about a 7500lb towing rating, It should handle a 22 with no problems.

Darrell

[John W]

I have a 2004 F150 with the 5.4 Titon, extended cab and towing package. I towed my 04 sweet 16 out to Ohio and towed back my 22 classic. The 150 did not pull like my old F250 w 7.3 power stroke, but was not bad. It did burn a hell of a lot of gas . I towes great for what i do Noe, 3 mile to the ramp and will be fine when i take the 22 down to the ocean a few times this summer.
Hope this helps.
JW

[DON N.]

The "7700" Package Is Different Than The Regular Tow Package. I Know Because It Pulls Better Than My 4 X 4 5-speed Stick F-350 With 4:10's Over Tongue Mountain @ Lake George N.y. !

[Bad-Tat]

Robert,
My Avalanche has the drive train you are looking at and does a great job of pulling the Tat. Should be similar in physical size if you are looking at the extended cab pickup. Pulls and stops great. BTW the shop manual is the same for the Av, burb, denali, escalade and pickups.

[FISHIN SUCKS]

Hey Robert,
My Z71 (w/5300) does a fine job on the interstate as well as making the grades. I towed the corvette to Las Vegas last summer (4,500 mi roundtrip) and got around 13.5 mpg. However, I did a fair amount of pulling w/my '00 and '02 chevy 4x4's and both of them had the 4800. Don't know how much your Blackhawk weighs, but I gotta believe our Blackwidow weighs more at 4200 lbs. dry weight, c'mon!

[gero1]

just sold the vette again last week, cash this time!10-4 hope he still has the 02 p/u, will find out in the morning. thanks

[Rootsy]

take a half ton... add air bags to the rear, heavy duty sway bar (optional) a trans-go kit to the valvebody, big trans oil cooler if not already equipped and toss a mild supercharger setup on top of the motor and don;t even look back... Ford or Chevy...

unless of course you're really gonna work the truck or overload it... then step up

might not want to consider this on anything that still has a "warranty" though :wink:

JR - still thinkin duramax :yes: