i have this one i could let go, i have my eye on a sportchassis
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i don't know the price on used Diesels is crazy, its why I ordered a new 7.3 gas. The price was not that far off a few year old 150K mile out of warranty Diesel, but would help if you have cash. Older means higher rates and now those are up. Add up $2 more per gallon and unless you pull heavy and a lot just hard to make the numbers work.

I mean he is pulling a 27 fountain single engine fountain.

__

IMO your expecting too much out of a gas truck.

Gas engines need RPM to make power. Period.

A newer truck with an 8 or 10 speed will handle that boat no problem.

I also have a 27' Fountain. My last 4 trucks have been as follows. 2007 Silverado 5.3L 4 speed, 2016 Silverado 5.3L 6 speed, 2019 Silverado 5.3L 8 speed, 2021 F-150 3.5L 10 Speed.

The more gears the transmission has the better the truck pulls from a power standpoint. It's easier to find a gear around 3,500-4,000rpm that feels effortless with the 8 speed truck vs the 4 speed truck needing to go to 5,000rpm at what seems like WOT because the gear spread was massive.

So true! I pulled a 27 with a 5.3 Yukon 4 speed with standard gears. It did just fine, but my foot was welded to the floor on any hint of an incline. The engine didn't complain one bit but my wife did! "Why is the engine screaming like that?" And at that high RPM the fuel gauge was very busy going down.

2021 F-150 3.5L 10 Speed.

Does the twin turbo 3.5 make a good tow vehicle? Turbos power it up the hills without a lot of downshifting?

That's decent mileage.
In comparison, Nov of 2021 we towed 3 touring Harleys (3000#) on an open steel car hauler (I'd say 2500 to 3000#) from Cincinnati to Marathon FL with my buddies F150 with the 3.5 Eco, uncertain of what year maybe a 2019.
All said and done if I remember right the dash was reporting 9.8ish MPG. We threw a ton of fuel in it. When I drove it highway, I'd say 75 to 80, noticed it very rarely went into 10th gear, few instances where stayed in 8th.

Oh how I miss my 8.1/Allison Dually !!!

This is the best towing 1500 I have ever towed with. I pull a 10,000lb camper with it.

The torque curve is completely different than a standard naturally aspirated small block V8. It makes torque at a very low RPM. Rarely going over 4,000rpm unless you're really getting after it.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8774ea3a90.jpg
Why do you have a picture of my dog?

Techman,

Yup. We pull our PQ 280 with a 2010 Avalanche w/ the 5.3. The problem we've got is that it was built with the highest axle ratio Chevy offered, which wasn't even supposed to be available in the 4WD trucks; it's blocked out in the owner's manual on the towing capacity chart. It was obviously special ordered as a non-working wannabe Cadillac (it's the LTZ), and does, indeed, make for a great daily driver. It didn't even have the OEM auxiliary transmission cooler, which I had installed to pull our previous boat (5100 lbs, boat and trailer). When we started pulling our PQ, at 7000lbs, I added an aftermarket transmission cooler, with a thermostat-controlled fan, that seemed to resolve MOST of the transmission temperature issues. But it still struggles with inclines, and I am constantly notified by the war dept that the engine is running really hard. I just tell her it's fine and running well within the RPM range it was designed to run. I try not to punish it too much, and allow it to slow down as we climb. Still, though, the climb up the "cut-in-the-hill" going south from the Ohio River has us trying to stay out of the truckers' way.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

Going from gas to diesel was a revelation as many have said when it comes to towing. My 8.1 ran around 3200 RPM's at max weight running level on the highway 65-70 mph. The same load with the diesel is around 1500 RPM barely breaking a sweat.

Apologizes to the OP for the side tracking...but at least some flavor for different experiences. Diesels are the king of towing but properly equipped gas trucks can tow just fine within their towing limits.

Hey Brad, what gear ratio do you have in it? I have the exact same truck.with 3:42 gears and was thinking of finding some 4:10 geared axles out of a suburban or caddy escalade (RPO CODE GT5) and doing a swap. Ive pulled my buddy's 28 Cig SS and the truck felt every pound of it! Felt like i was driving with the e-brake on! Never got hot or anything just felt hindered and i was thinking of gearing up a bit. :)

Couple things, towing with that 5.3L gas I would think has to be work, that is a small motor.

On the Diesel running at a lower rpm true, but what is the redline? My point is what percentage of redline is it compared to a gas motor at 3000, that has a redline of 6,000? Don't get me wrong,the Diesel is hands down better but we are talking the OP has a small 6,000LB boat and trailer.

Ron Forbus that used to be on here currently tows a 39 NorTech with a gas Tundra!.

As far as the OP goes.....i have been looking at turbos for some time now...just dont have the time to pull the trigger on one just yet....depending on what year your turck is you will probably have to modify a basic kit to fit your application...i have been looking at the Trick performance turbo kits or the On3Performance stuff...

Was that 8.1 with an Allison or a 4L80E? That's a lot of rpm for that speed, even with 4.10s. My 2002 8.1/Ally at 70 is 2000 rpm.

From the OP
Gas engines make their torque at high RPM's, just the nature of the beast. Mod's to his motor will make more power but the power curve will not change that much so it will still be a screamer just making more HP. Yes, diesels have a much narrower powerband but when you make all your torque down low you don't need to spin it that fast. I found some people just more sensitive to higher RPM operation. (my wife included) It's just noise and you aren't hurting a well maintained motor as long as it isn't overheating.

Tune into the Gauntlet series from TFL (YouTube) They take stock trucks on torture test tow runs for miles at redline. Modern gas trucks just roll with it....at single digit MPG's. Fun.

4L80E, tow haul mode engaged towing 13K lbs.

Wally,

3.10. Like I said, if you look in the manual, the chart that gives you towing capacities for the various axle ratios has that block X'd out. Talking to the service guy at our local dealership, he tells me it shouldn't have even been an option to order; 4WD/3.10. Don't know....

I've looked into swapping gears myself, and all the transmission shops suggest swapping the axles entirely, as shimming gears is not for the layman and the labor to have them do it is pretty cost prohibitive for me. An axle swap is something I can do myself with some strong-backed help, and they can be found pretty affordably.

I can definitely tell the boat is back there, but the only problematic aspect is climbing hills. The truck handles the load well, as far as control and stopping. If I understand correctly, the Avalanche is built on the Suburban platform, so the control aspect is understandable. I very often find myself at 75+ on flat highway and never have a concern about controlling the boat.

I'm pretty happy with the truck, overall. It's a great daily driver. It gets decent milage, due to that axle ratio, and it rides pretty nice, being the LTZ. I have a buddy that has a, F-250 PSD, and I feel like I'm going to be passing blood for a week if we take anything resembling a long trip in it.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

Got it, makes sense now.

540 Fever I’m in the exact situation and looking now too. I have a 2015 1500 6.2 8 speed that I bought new. It does a good job with my 26zx and of course a diesel would be vastly better, but I’m probably going to buy another 6.2 with the 10 speed to replace it. As far as high RPM on hills I look at it this way I run a 23 year old big block all day from 3k to 5k so I’m not hurting that new tech motor down shifting it.
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not sure how I am yelling at clouds when there are plenty of real world tests with the electric trucks and they only made it 100 miles towing 6500 pounds or less and only on flat ground. add in the hills and you will be lucky to get 60 or 70 miles on a full charge. again not my opinion but actual tests that have been documented

Yup the latest lightning electric one was really not good.

Donzi,

Agreed. Keep it in its happy RPM range, and the engine will be fine. That's literally what the transmission is for. I hardly ever see anything over 4000 RPM with my 5.3.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

Fair enough. I read that is it a disappointing towing range so far. I had hoped it was farther.
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/f...k-towing-test/

We will get there, but yeah, today it's just not far enough to be practically used for moving boats around.

Go big or go home.

14 liters and 535 horse with 1800 lbs torque and a 13 speed will pull 25-30 thousand like it’s not even back there up anything but the steepest grade.

Pull 10 mpg all day empty 8 lightly loaded. Easy to work on and parts are cheap.
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It’s funny that in 1999 you couldn’t buy a diesel pick up that makes the power of todays gas engines. Guys didn’t use peterbuilts to haul their top guns to poker runs.

pretty much what you need to haul anything more than a sweet 16 donzi. 🤣

I agree. How can the get even close to 100 miles towing anything. Now 0-60 will be a riot!! :evilb:

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as he said- GO big or Go home.
Fuel milage???? if we cared we Wouldn't be in Boating

I've always wondered why guy who tow long distant and big ass boat did not go this route. Was around semi's my whole life, you could strip one down to a shorted wheelbase, lower it down, much more comfortable and you have a place to sleep. Price point for one with a couple hundred thousand miles is likely about the same as a new dually.

I found a real sweet Schwalbe conversion Pete.. but i think its just a bit too long for some ramps. esp hauling a 53 foot trailer.

I`m maxed out on my towing capacity with that jet boat , what do you suggest !?!? :D


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I tow my 27 Kryptonite (5000lbs + trailer) with my half ton just fine. Does well actually.
Just finished a florida trip towing the race boat (9500lbs, steel trailer, scooter rack and gear) with a 2022 2500 GMC 6.6 gas. Very impressed with that truck. 10-11mpg at 75mph

You need a Tundra.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e603f35dee.jpg

Nissan now!


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Have you weighed your boat on the trailer, all loaded up? I'll bet it is more than 5K.

I concur with others about rear end gears. Going to a 4.10 will give you more grunt. Back in '05 I bought a new 2500 Avalanche with 8.1 and 4.10 gear to tow my 29 Outlaw. It did a great job and would pull long steep grades at 70 MPH with ease. What I didn't like was running 4K + RPMs to do it. A gas sucker for sure.

I sold that truck and got an '08 2500 Duramax with 6 speed Alison. I just towed my new to me Fastech 271 from north of Detroit to northern NV 2300 miles with lots of hills along the way. The truck is tuned and deleted, has airbags (with on board compressor) and a Banks engine brake. With the diesel, it's not just the amazing power but the engine brake makes a huge difference descending hills. With it in #2 mode I hardly ever have to touch the brakes. I averaged 13 MPG on that trip and was running 75 MPH most of the time.

I would look at a roots or screw type supercharger over a turbo because they provide more low end grunt but I don't think you need either. I'd re-gear the truck first and see how it does. My other question would be how fast do you want to go pulling grades? Are you trying to maintain speeds of 70+ or can you just slow down to 55/60 or so?

Not a gas burner but an older 7.3 power stroke can get the job done without all the electronics to tear up or code, or the ridiculous price of a newer 1 ton truck. I know they’re rare as hens teeth but nice unmolested examples are still out there. I bought this 97 F350 in 2017 with about 175,000 on it for $8000, it’s worth more than that now with 50,000 more miles on it. 😀
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well for those who do opt for the electric trucks Ford has some tips for you guys in the cold climates

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/ford-ex...e-farther-cold

Drive slower, and don’t use the heat?!?!
Yea I want one of those.