Tahoe with a 4.8 or a 5.3???

[BlazerGuy]

Shopping around for an 05-06 Tahoe or Yukon. I can find more(and cheaper) trucks in my area with the 4.8 than with the 5.3.

Are there any big differences in these engines? Carsdirect.com puts the 4.8 at 285hp and the 5.3 at 295hp.

The truck will be my wife's DD but will also serve as our light-duty tow rig. I'm getting a small utility trailer for home and garden type loads(gravel, dirt, lumber etc) like this one:

and maybe a small travel trailer in a few years such as this one:

Also the mods the motor may see are cat-back exhaust and a cold-air induction. If the wife lets me.

Now, my instincts tell me to get the 5.3 for obvious reasons! But since the 4.8 seems to be more plentiful I figured I'd ask around for people's input and/or experiences. Also the fact that there are more available trucks with the 4.8 seems to say the owners don't like them as much as the 5.3 owners...

 

[resurrected_jimmy]

If you plan on towing a travel trailer I think you are really gonna want the 5.3

 

[BlazerGuy]

Yeah, I hear ya. I also just looked on http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2006-chevrolet-tahoe-13.htm and it says that the 5.3 is good for 330ft-lbs and the 4.3 has 295 ft-lbs....
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2006-chevrolet-tahoe-13.htm

 

[hmatiak]

Dont waste your time with the 4.8. The 5.3 and 4.8 share everything but the crank. Basically the 5.3 is a stroker version of the 4.8. Same block, same rods and pistons, just a shorter stroke. There will be little to no MPG difference either.

I had a '06 crew cab sierra with a 4.8. First thing i did was start modding it because it was such a turd. Ended up doing 4.10 gears, full exhaust, CAI, tune and a 3k stall with 1-2 servos and 4th apply servo.

So after around 3k worth of upgrades it was much better.

Its not like i didnt have a comparison either. Before the crew cab i dd a 06' yukon with a 5.3. That truck was bone stock. It was a much better dd and tow rig out of the box. it help that it came with 3.73's vs the crew came with 3.23.

Moral is for any type of towing or even just dd the 5.3 is hands down the better option IMO.

 

[BlazerGuy]

Thanks, that's exactly the info I was looking for.

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

My father has the 4.8L in his 05 Sierra extended cab short box and it came with the 4.10 gears and its plenty peppy for dd and towing a moderate load. I believe that the 4.10 gears are key to helping the motor deliver threw the power band. Alot of Chevy guys swear on the black bear tune and westerns tune as well so that combined with exhaust and a cold air intake would definably make a nice seat of the pants feel. His truck is still stock and we use it as a tow rig form time to time and works great.

 

[80' 427]

^I tend to agree. I had a 00 4.8 ext cab auto 3.73s I was pretty happy but always wondered what the bigger engine would have done. Bought a 04 Avalanch, 5.3 auto 3.73. Really couldn't tell the difference. Still shifted when it smelled hills. Now I have a 06 vortecmax (lq9) 6.0/4l70/4.11 and it is head and shoulders better and really about the same mpg. I think look for 4.11s instead of worrying about the motor it puts these high strung ls engines up in there hp/tq range.

 

[manchildau65]

I heard that you actually get better fuel economy out of the 5.3. As stated above the only difference is the crank and computer so there isn't additional weight, just more power. I would also assume you would have a better resale value out of the 5.3

 

[4xcrazy]

my uncle has a Tahoe with the 4.8, he's told me he really wishes he had gotten the 5.3 option, guess it really isn't all that wonderful on the hilly freeways of San Diego.

 

[BlazerGuy]

bump.

 

[hmatiak]

bump.

Bump for what? Its a no brainer. Unless there is a 3-4k price tag difference 5.3 is the only way to go.

Or go big and get the 2500 'Burban with the 6.0 if MPG is no issue.

 

[BlazerGuy]

Yeah, what was I thinking!? There's no way anyone else has a differing opinion!

 

[hmatiak]

Yeah, what was I thinking!? There's no way anyone else has a differing opinion!

You asked for opinions from experience and ive got plenty with these trucks.

Just dont want to see you make the wrong purchase for your previously stated needs and wants..........

 

[jonathon]

No replacement for displacement

 

[supersize75k5]

4.8 they are not that bad, get a tuner and it will feel more peppy than a stock 5.3


For arguments sake what is the price difference?

 

[Dogman12]

5.3 all the way, I have had two and no problems and good power, you also need to look at the gears most tahoes are 342, 373 are an option and i think standard on z71 package. I have towed with the 342,s and it is ok with an empty truck and a decent load on the trailer. Anything else and it was a strain on the tahoe. I would recomend the 373 if you can find them the gas mpg waqs not that big of a differance.

good luck

 

[original balzer]

My brother had the 5.3 it seamed like a great DD engine but fell flat with much of a load. I would imagine the 4.8 would be even worse.

I mention this cuz both trailers you showed are tandem axle, I dont really think either engine is a great idea for those loads. Im not saying they wont do the job, I just dont think they will do it very well.

Granted you dont have to load the utility trailer to max capasity, but the camper (even the light wieght version) is going to be a strain on both engines. Although the few times a year your going to be pulling it doesnt justify a 3/4 ton truck either.

That was my long way of saying get the 5.3.