Posted by MG56 on 10/05/15 - 12:52 PM
#15
bcoastal wrote:
I have a 1986 outrage and pull it with a 1999 chevy z71 5.3. Probably about 6500-7000. with a fully loaded with trailer. It struggles to go over 60 with a light foot. I want a truck that can pull it with no worries but not a f350. Should I go with f150 5.4, dodge 5.7, chevy 6.0 or diesel? I pull the boat 100 miles round trip about 80 times a years on a flat road. When Im not pulling the boat Im driving 20 miles round trip 180 days a year.
In a nutshell you have a 1999 Chevy 4x4 pickup that isn't working out as your tow vehicle. Look at the label on the glovebox door and see what axle option code you have. GU6 is 3.42 and GT4 is 3.73, (G80 is posi while you are looking). A Z71 should have 3.73 gears but you never know, if you have 3.42 gears no wonder you aren't happy.
Regardless you don't drive a big load with a light foot, you have to invest fuel when the momentum isn't working for you.
A lot of people say 1/2 ton trucks are fine for the load you are towing, which is true. However, more than 2/3's of your driving is hauling this large trailer. You really need to buy a 3/4 ton, there is no question.
I occasionally tow the same weight with both a 1/2 ton & 3/4 ton Suburban of the same body style as your truck, and I only tow with the 1/2 ton when I have to. The 3/4 ton is so much nicer. It has a 6.0 engine vs 5.3, 4.11 axle vs 3.73, the transmission is geared lower, it has tow/haul mode which changes the tranny shift points, has better suspension and better brakes.
The 1/2 ton gets just under 18 mpg, and the 3/4 ton gets just under 14 mpg. That's not even $500 per year for you. If I were you I would be buying a 2004-2006 GM 2500 truck w/ 4.11 gears. It will take some time to find a nice one but wait for the right one.