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Random Quote: The short way is often the long way!
I need a new truck. It needs to be a 1500 / 150 size truck. I would like as much towing capacity as possible. I have a parking issue that i need the vehicle height under 6'4" (which based on my internet searches rules out the Toyota).
what do you guys recommend for rear axle ratio when towing? It appears that I get more towing capacity the higher the rear axle ratio gets.
I need the V-8 engine. The boat weighs around 5-6K pounds.
I have owned Fords and Chevys. Recommend Chevy, small V8. I towed a 23' WA with a Silverado V6 and while it could do it, the V6 was a little lacking. Whatever you buy put a tranny cooler in.
Nissan Titan - you can get a great deal on a leftover '08 right now. I sold my '04 Titan SE crew cab in February and had zero problems during 35K miles of driving. It towed my 4000 pound boat/motor/trailer combo like it wasn't even there; much better than the 2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 that it replaced.
get a 2500 diesel truck just in case you decide to upsize the boat
If you are fixed on a 1500 /150, chevy makes a 1500 max model with a 6.0L v8 engine and will tow 10,000+ pounds and have a bigger than average payload capacity.
too bad about the toyota. got a 2007 tundra dbl cab 4x4 with 5.7L v8 and it hauls really really well. hate to admit, but definitely better than my '98 chev 1500 4x4 with 4.3L v6, and even better than my 2007 5.3L v8 chev tahoe LTZ 4x4 with 4.10 final. (but not as good as my dad's 03' Dodge cummins 2500 diesel ).
I have owned ford and chevy... Get the chevy better motor and transmission. Plus you can get the eaton G80 rear. The 5.3l chevy motor is a great motor and more fuel efficient than the ford.
Just go with a new silverado, but make sure it's a 3:73 rear end. If you get the 4x4, it should already have that gear. We tow our boat 7000#+ with our 08 tahoe. All I need to do is put some air bags under mine to help out with the short wheelbase. A silverado would be perfect
Thanks for all the opinions. I have looked more into the Chevy and GMC and see the 6.0 L v-8 that some one mentioned. with the tow max package (something like that) it gives you the 4.10 ratio rear axle. I had always that the 3.73 was the better one for towing (as some one else mentioned above).
I wonder why GMC gives the 4.10 in the tow max package.
Thanks for all the replies.
__________________ REMEMBER SOME PEOPLE ARE ALIVE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHOOT THEM.
The 6.0 and 4.10's would be GREAT for towing. That low gear and big motor will make for a beast. My father has that in his 2500HD. However it is HORRIBLE on fuel.
The 5.3 and 3.73 is a great blend of economy and towability. Unfortuantely the standard rear for the 5.3 is like 3.42 or something. I have a silverado and a suburban with the 5.3l. One has a 3.73 rear and the other has a 3.23. I towed a 25' boat for 3 years with them and the 3.73 rear pulled A LOT better. Pleanty of motor for towing around 6800lbs. When not towing the trucks get around 16-20mpg (2wd) and when towing average around 10mpg. My fathers 2500HD gets around 13mpg on average with the6.0l an 4.10's (4wd) and gets about 9mpg towing.
2002 Tahoe/3.73/5.3. We tow 6000 lbs with passengers and gear. Zero problems to date, careful maintenance. Gets 12-13 mpg towing and just under 20 non-towing @65-70.
I would NOT go with the 6.0 and 4:10 gears. I had a 2003 silverado ss with the 6.0 and 4:10 gears. The 6.0 is an awesome engine, albeit a little thirsty. It does pick it on up and haul it down the road. Hooked up to a 4:10 gear, you have a lot of low end torque and thus a pretty good takeoff with a load behind it. However, it sucks at cruise speed. You have to haul the boat in overdrive due to the low gear. For example, anytime I tried to haul my boat at 60 -70 mph in overdrive with tow/haul engaged, the tranny would constantly change gears back and forth. This will eventually damage your tranny. If you drop it down to 3rd gear to haul your boat, you'll be running high rpms. ( I was turning over 3000 rpm's at 60.) That's why I recently sold that truck and bought a tahoe with the 5.3 and 3:73 gear. I can lock that tranny down in 3rd gear and I'm able to maintain my speed, whether it be 65 or 70 mph without turning a lot of rpm's. I miss the extra wheelbase of the pickup, but love the way this engine/gear combo tows. Again, don't go with the 6.0 and 4:10 gears. Unless you're towing at 50 mph or pulling a 5000# load or less, you won't like this IF you're towing a heavy boat liike mine, get the 3:73 gear.
check out the new silverado it has a new vortec engine or something like that its an 8 cylinder engine but to save fuel economy it only uses the cylinders needed such as if you are on a flat road not towing anything it may only be using 4 cylinders. im pretty sure it can still tow a lot havent checked just heard that it takes a little longer to accelarate.
My neighbor just bought a new GMC, it's a nice looking and riding truck. If I didn't have to have a truck for work I would buy one. It shows you when it drops to 4 cylinders but that appears to be a gimmick to me, it only does it when your drifting or going down hill, he say's it get's no better mileage than the 2001 truck he had before.
Hard to believe the Toyota is too tall. You should check again. I just got done shopping for a tow vehicle and had it narrowed down to two: Tundra with tow package (nice with a very high tow capacity) and Silverado. The Chevy was a nicer truck in my opinion, it had the 5.3L V8 with the tow package, in this package you get the 3.73 rear end and auto locking differential. Ideal for getting the boat up the ramp without killing you on gas. BTW, the 4.10 rear end will pull a load better than the 3.73, but give you slightly less mileage. My final decision: 2003 Ford F250 Superduty crew cab with the 7.3L diesel engine. No regrets!
__________________ "All bad precedents begin with justifiable measures."
Julius Caesar
2009 Dodge Ram with the new VVT 5.7 HEMI! That truck is gonna be awesome! Otherwise, you can go get an 08 QC 5.7 HEMI Ram 1500 right now for 40% off plus 0.9% for 72 months because there makin room for those new Rams!
need a new truck & need opinions 
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